Wednesday, August 22, 2007

what I do not love about Amman


Ok so the list may be a tad long...but it is things I can get used to eventually because I am really liking it here...


The sidewalks!! Remember that sidewalk on that I complained about the other day..The narrowest sidewalk in the world with a pole in the middle..Well yesterday I noticed that there are plants sticking out from the house attached to it, making it even harder to walk on!! I wanted to rip those darned flowers and plants off!


The no hot water all day long thing...I do not like washing my face with cold water in the morning. And I can not just jump in the shower, I have to turn the buttons on and wait for 30min...although I do remember how it was even worse in Lebanon 20 some years ago...we had to go get wood from the store across the hmmm a tiny teeny hill and my dad would start the fire to heat the water for showers...OMG now that was horrible..


The no water pressure! Showers are not fun here...my poor hair! My kids can not take a bath here; it would take a year to fill the bathtub to a decent amount of water.


Waiting for a taxi! I hate just standing there waiting for one. Although Ziad loves it! He loves calling for a taxi!:)


The steps on the sidewalks...


The ants in my apartment! I even found one on my bed yesterday!


The constant stares from guys...sometimes I get the urge to get out my mirror and check if I have grown another head...but so far no one has been rude so I guess it is not too bad.


The tiny washing machines, how the heck am I supposed to wash our bed spreads? Even the twin ones are too huge for the washing machine...


No Tim Horton’s coffee...where the heck is there a place that sells American coffee around here? I am dying for a cup!


How school starts so early! The bus picks Ziad up at 6:30-6:50 and they start at 7:30. Gosh I can not wait until Friday so I can sleep in! In Canada they started at 8:55, now that is more like it *yawn*


Walmart! I do not care about the blah blah blah around it...I love going in there and finding everything I need and do not need for the house and the kids.


How people just drop by without calling first...


Ok that is it for now...

I just remembered one more thing I like about Amman...


The kid’s school bus stops at the building door, in Canada there was a meeting place so all the kids in the neighbourhood would gather there. It was such a hassle to wait for Ziad’s bus especially crossing the icy side street with Bolbol in his heavy snow suit and boots to get there...it was not far but it was such a hassle. I was so happy when he switched to morning class and started coming home in a taxi that stopped downstairs and the driver buzzed me.

8 comments:

Front Porch Society said...

I read how you moved to Amman so your children could experience their heritage/culture firsthand. What an amazing and brave thing to do! :) I am sure your children will appreciate it when they become adults and look back on their journey from Canada to Amman.

Anonymous said...

You'll get used to all that ..it just takes some time..
About coffee, all big supermarkets have perculaor coffees..not a huge variety of brands but they do..My favorite is the Melita one it is really good,but rather expensive ..something like 6 Jds..I alos found that carrefour sell coffee with their name , carrefour..which is also pretty good..otherwise, if you feel like having a cup of coffee out, head to cups and kilos in Abdoon, or their other place right in front of the Radisson Hotel..enjoy!

Me said...

Your complaints are reasonable...you will get used to it.
As for the sidewalks, i think nothing can be done...
As for the water pressure you need to install a pump to help it go up and have a regular shower...
As for the washing machine, get a bigger one, they are sold there, huge ones and dryers too and affordable too.
As for the taxi wait, get your own car and start driving; it is not fun waiting for a taxi in the winter time with cars splashing you with rain water.
Best of luck!

Jundi said...

lol i actually laughed at the water pressure thing .. that's one of the things i hate about our house in amman :D

and the hot water also .. the terms "solar" and "geezar" are words i only use when i am in jordan lol .. and how about not having an endless flow of water .. u have to check the khazzan :D

and yes the sidewalks thing kaman i know what ur talking about .. sometimes the sidewalk is big but the problem is there are trees planted in it every few feet so you can't walk on it .. ino haik sidewalk manzar bas :D

Anonymous said...

The sidewalks in Lebanon are the same thing, I don't think we can call them sidewalks !! As for the coffee, if you can find an electric coffee maker like the ones we use here and any strong coffee,I think this will help..Maybe you can look at walmart!! Good luck :)
Are your kids adjusting well with other kids ?

Hamza said...

lol...I understand your concerns. But carrefour is a good replacement for wal-mart.
Be thankful regarding the water flow. at my grandparents house, they get water 2 days a week to fill their tanks. Iza khalas, they are screwed.

as for guys, guys will always and will never stop looking. Unless you are wearing or doing your non-jordanian moves. I dunno like your walk, your dress or maybe the way you love your kids or bitsayreehom. Normal jordanians just bikhla3oo booz il walad bil sormayeh :D.

Maher said...

are you sure the school starts at 7:30? i think most schools starts at 8:00

o honestly your house is so close to the school how come the bus come so early???
if that really disturbs you and your kids, when you go to school the next time, check the manager of the buses, maybe he/she can find you another bus that can pick your sons after 7:10.

PŕōuđPāŀĩ said...

arghhhhh! the lack of privacy in amman! i hate the fact that noone believes in calls before visits, signal before changing lanes, privacy and limits and the fact that there are some things u like to keep to urself! i also hate the taxi bit, bi7amlouki jmeeleh inno they stopped to pick u up! w if the destination mish 3a mazajon ur out! good thing is ur boy seems to enjoy it :D at least u dont have to worry bout a restless kid :)

bless!