1)Don't bother reaching for a seatbelt. Here in Amman they are seriously optional, and in roughly 10 cab rides so far, only one actually had both parts in working order. And only in one seat.
2)No, that's not Mr Whippy, that's the Gas Man, whose catchy tune lets the whole neighbourhood know that he's available to replace your gas cylinders. No, the Arabs do not share our obsession with BBQs, they just don't have piped gas. Hence the gas delivery man.
3)And no, that's not a bidet. If you put your rear end into it you will probably end up with a fatwa issued against you. It's purpose is for pre-prayer cleansing.
4)For every check out chick in Adelaide refusing to offer a plastic bag, there's an Arab at a Carrefour in Amman triple bagging every item.
5)It's important to build apartment blocks several stories high, so that there can continue to be vacant lots between buildings for rubbish disposal.
6)Contrary to what you may have thought, a great big puddle on the side of the road is the perfect spot to pull over and wash your cab.
6)Just like the cabbies in Melbourne, those in Amman can neither speak English, nor competently locate a street address. Why? Well, firstly, their official language is Arabic so they are not expected converse politely with me in my native tongue. And secondly, up until a few years ago there were no street names in Amman, and Google Earth here is totally rubbish. So no wonder these guys have no idea where Jamel Theeb Asfour St is. Instead you need to ask them to take you to the 7th circle Popeye's chicken, and turn 'yameen'.
7)You'll never forget you're in a Muslim country with Imams across the city reminding you several times a day. Yes, the call to prayer is beautiful, but no, I don't want to hear it at 5am.
8)Not fireworks. Gun shots. It's ok though, they're just happy gun shots. Apparently some type of exam results came out yesterday, so there were lots of teenage Arabs hanging out the top of daddy's Merc screaming something neither I nor the Arab speaker could decipher, then later on firing off just for kicks. Beats the hell out of quokka soccer.
9)Don't assume that just because a woman wears a Hijab she can't dress sexy. Skin tight jeans and stiletto heeled knee high boots are practically the urban uniform around here for veiled and unveiled alike. Honey, this ain't Iran.
10)The weekend here is Friday/ Saturday. The Friday is like Sunday, as it is the day with most religious significance, and most shops are shut until after Midday Prayers. So Saturday is, well, like Saturday, except for the fact that it is the last day of the weekend. Making it a bit like Sunday. Sunday is the day the week recommences, so it's kind of like Monday. Anyone else confused?
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