In Jordan, it is more smoky inside buildings than outside them. Now I know what poor Alice must have felt like in Alice and Wonderland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrJJMCccLxU
The pollution caused by cars is significantly less than in any other capital city I have been in. However, the Hookah-induced clouds are deadly. The city smells like a thousand flavors of sheesha. Argila, or hookah, is pronounced "ageela" like the spanish word for eagle. Most flavors come with mint, or "bAanaa" نعناع . For example, Watermelon with mint is delectable. Apple is not. Apple tastes like the black licorice necco wafers and leaves you with the same leathery taste in your mouth. Lesson learned.
I enjoy Argila from time to time but I enjoy long walks on the street and leather bound books more...
The above books are among the best sellers of all time. Have you ever looked in the bedside table drawer at a hotel? This particular picture was taken at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Amman, where I stayed for three nights. The Qur'an and the Bible have similar values and yet, each has been the foundation of a respective culture and civilization that appear to conflict with one another. The intellectual reason I am in Jordan is to reckon with the above phenomenon. Furthermore, I hope to address the West's growing disillusionment with Islam and the perceived radicalization and politicization of Islam. Is this a rash perception, or is Islam a growing threat? Will Islam ever be compatible with globalization and modernization? Is Islam to blame for chaos in the Middle East? This picture will define my intellectual journey throughout the next two months, of that I have no doubt.
One thing that has come to my attention is the vecinity of the "old" parts of the city's heritage and the "new" parts of the city extending westward to the nicest, newest additions. This is evident below:
These observations shed light on the validity of our program's topic: "Modernization and Social Change". We can see the modernization here, and we feel the social change all around us.
The city does not hide its ties to Islam. This is an Islamic state at heart, ruled by none other than King Abdullah, a man descended from the prophet Muhammad. The coordinated call to prayer (أَذَان, Al Adhan) echoes through speakers in distant mosques five times a day. It serves as a way to tell time... The third prayer of the day marks 30 minutes to the end of class. The prayer itself sounds both beautiful, and somber. There is no way to ignore it, even with Daddy Yankee pounding in your ear. Though, it does create a memorable and contradictory combination.
Now I will share a quote from me to Lauryn on gchat last week...
"hahaha It's almost tomorrow and you will be in yesterday soon." Suckahh
It's midnight in Heshemite
so good night
moonlight
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE
-Al Hob
The pollution caused by cars is significantly less than in any other capital city I have been in. However, the Hookah-induced clouds are deadly. The city smells like a thousand flavors of sheesha. Argila, or hookah, is pronounced "ageela" like the spanish word for eagle. Most flavors come with mint, or "bAanaa" نعناع . For example, Watermelon with mint is delectable. Apple is not. Apple tastes like the black licorice necco wafers and leaves you with the same leathery taste in your mouth. Lesson learned.
 |
| Someone somewhere is seriously confused in their identification of flavors. |
The above books are among the best sellers of all time. Have you ever looked in the bedside table drawer at a hotel? This particular picture was taken at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Amman, where I stayed for three nights. The Qur'an and the Bible have similar values and yet, each has been the foundation of a respective culture and civilization that appear to conflict with one another. The intellectual reason I am in Jordan is to reckon with the above phenomenon. Furthermore, I hope to address the West's growing disillusionment with Islam and the perceived radicalization and politicization of Islam. Is this a rash perception, or is Islam a growing threat? Will Islam ever be compatible with globalization and modernization? Is Islam to blame for chaos in the Middle East? This picture will define my intellectual journey throughout the next two months, of that I have no doubt.
One thing that has come to my attention is the vecinity of the "old" parts of the city's heritage and the "new" parts of the city extending westward to the nicest, newest additions. This is evident below:
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| Dying Olive Tree vs. Young Jordanian |
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| Roman Citadel vs. Downtown Amman |
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| Young Jordanians vs. old pillars |
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| Citadel vs. East Amman |
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| Citadel and Amphitheater vs. Amman |
These observations shed light on the validity of our program's topic: "Modernization and Social Change". We can see the modernization here, and we feel the social change all around us.
The city does not hide its ties to Islam. This is an Islamic state at heart, ruled by none other than King Abdullah, a man descended from the prophet Muhammad. The coordinated call to prayer (أَذَان, Al Adhan) echoes through speakers in distant mosques five times a day. It serves as a way to tell time... The third prayer of the day marks 30 minutes to the end of class. The prayer itself sounds both beautiful, and somber. There is no way to ignore it, even with Daddy Yankee pounding in your ear. Though, it does create a memorable and contradictory combination.
Now I will share a quote from me to Lauryn on gchat last week...
"hahaha It's almost tomorrow and you will be in yesterday soon." Suckahh
It's midnight in Heshemite
so good night
moonlight
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE
-Al Hob
In the great green room
ReplyDeleteThere was a telephone
And a red balloon
And a picture of --
The cow jumping over the moon
And there were three little bears sitting on chairs
And two little kittens
And a pair of mittens
And a little toyhouse
And a young mouse
And a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush
And a quiet old lady who was whispering "hush"