on my way to a recommended restaurant
View from inside the school I’m working in
Hello, hello. I wanted to share some interesting anecdotes. Starting with a few days ago…My supervisor at work is very sweet and caring. The other day, she was telling me about a great restaurant that is small and humble, but worth going to and close to work. They’re a charity organization called CARITAS Jordan, and I figured if I am going to pay money it might as well be for a good cause. I walked from work and arrived at a door just underneath a church, with 7 people welcoming me. They sat me down and brought me a plate of food, without question. I ate quietly by myself and when I finished I got up and went to go pay at the desk. They looked at me with great big smiles, “This is a charity restaurant, it is free.” I was so confused and not aware that the charity aspect of this restaurant was that it was providing local residents with free food. I was so thankful and went on my way.
Yesterday, I actually went back and they welcomed me again with such care. This time, they were more talkative to me and asked me questions about what I was doing in Jordan. By the time I left, they told me I was welcome to eat there everyday if I wanted to. From the consistency of the people working there, I think it could be a good opportunity for me to converse with local Jordanians, build a system of trust with them, and ultimately cultivate a family-like relation, while getting a nice meal too.
These next few pictures are about myself and another Fulbrighter checking out some other Amman Design week exhibitions.
A documentary that was made about the Duke (his face on it), so I put his face on his face
Duke’s Design Center (Duke himself). He was very nice, showed us his whole center, explaining everything
At an exhibition called Turbo, the words in back say “Yes, yes”
The Duke had us go across the street to a little mosaic shop just up these stairs
The mosaic was very small, quaint, and even had some books in Arabic
view of Al Balad (downtown) from the mosaic shop
The Duke also suggested we go inside the oldest home in Amman in downtown, which was only a few blocks down from the Turbo exhibition
Next stop: Raghadan Tourist Terminal – Amman design week was hosting live music, craft/artisan exhibitions, and local food. I loved this place so much, I came here like four times with friends
Lastly, we needed food! This is Hashem’s– a local favorite, like the Taco Bell kinda of Jordan– cheap, delicious, but not always the healthiest (except not a chain)
This was another day: El Seed is a Tunisian artist living in France who does calligraphy graffiti– I randomly found an event he was going to be speaking in, and made sure to be there!
walking towards the exhibitions down town from the Calligrapher’s workshop studio
in front of the Jordan Museum
In light of making new friends, if you recall the Arabic calligrapher in my other post, I met up with his son yesterday, in my mission to befriend Jordanians. So we went downtown to check out some of the same exhibitions I had already seen, but every time I see something I didn’t notice before. I was also meeting up with a VCUQatar alumni, who was here in Amman for design week. I made sure to catch up with her, and she came along with me and my new Jordanian friend.
There was one exhibition in particular that was inside a vacant garage. You walk in, you see a lit up room all the way in the back. Inside, the exhibition consisted of rectangular cut fabric pieces with printed images of a chandelier reflections. Then you turn around, and find another fabric inside an even smaller space, which could’ve been a bathroom or closet. Why is this exhibition in this oddly deserted building? I loved it for the contrast in making the images that much more beautiful–the light shining through the fabrics. Walking out, if you looked up, you saw a hole in the ceiling, revealing the same chandelier from the images. What the heck? Where is this room? Why can’t we go there? So, my friend and I decided to be adventurous and find a way to get up. There was a door ajar next door, didn’t look like it was occupied, but seemed logical that it was the same building. We went upstairs, everything pitch dark, and found the room! The chandelier was even more gorgeous in person. Not only was it beautiful, but we experienced getting drowned in the reflections casted by this chandelier. It was truly magical.
From inside, during the day (we came back when it was dark too)
From down below, at night
from down below (in the day)
In general update: I haven’t properly started teaching yet. I have just been observing the teachers, their teaching methods, and the students. I got in contact with an Arabic tutor, so I can start taking those lessons after Eid break. She is a nice lady who lives in my neighborhood, so it’s easy to walk to. Eid break is a whole week I get off for religious observances, and I want to go to Palestine and venture out to the deserts in Jordan. I am excited! This week I hope to get some lesson planning done as well. My landlord is too cute, always bringing us food and keeping up-to-date with our lives. The other day him and his wife invited me downstairs just for tea, because he just wanted to say hi. Today is last day of design week, so I will attend that and then be off on my desert adventure.
Peace from the Middle East!