It is high time that I start this blog. As of today, 28 January 2010, I have been in Jordan for 100 days! Just counted! No wonder I have the itch to write about my experiences here so far.
I moved to Jordan in October of 2009 following a course of fully unexpected and trying circumstances: my boyfriend Hisham's re-entry visa was delayed for 7 months, during which we decided I would move to Amman, Jordan, to join him. Of course, after the extended visa limbo, and after I'd resigned from my job and packed our respective apartments, he was approved for entry.
We decided I should come anyway.
My 5,840 mile move has lead to much joy, challenge and adventure: in the last 100 days I got engaged, got married, hired a carpenter, fired visited four new countries and started freelancing. Given the compounded newness of my life right now (living in a new country, my first year of marriage, shifting and maybe changing careers) it's really important to me that I chronicle my experiences, and, share them with you, my friends and family.
In these first 100 days I have been hesitant to write about my experiences, partly because I was still processing them myself, and, partly because I wanted to be sure that I communicated everything with full context; the Levant region is so frequently stereotyped and pigeonholed that I wanted to be sure that I didn't misrepresent this region, this country and it's people. I still feel that way, but, it is impossible for me to control your reactions, and, impossible to fully communicate ALL context to you. Finally, my friends and family are simply too important to me to NOT know about this time in my life. Plus, you guys know how I love to communicate :)
On that note, I'd like to clarify something: Yes, Hisham and I did get married here in Jordan! I'll tell you all about that process which was rich with anecdotes.
However, I had a hard time imagining getting married without my friends and family (and Hisham's US friends and family), so we will also have a US wedding when we get back from our adventures. This is really the quick and dirty version but many of you have asked about it so wanted to get it up in the first post.
(here we are the night we got engaged)
On that note, I'd like to clarify something: Yes, Hisham and I did get married here in Jordan! I'll tell you all about that process which was rich with anecdotes.
However, I had a hard time imagining getting married without my friends and family (and Hisham's US friends and family), so we will also have a US wedding when we get back from our adventures. This is really the quick and dirty version but many of you have asked about it so wanted to get it up in the first post.(here we are the night we got engaged)
Also, I'm hoping this might be of some use to other American women moving to Jordan or elsewhere in the region who are living and working here for the first time or....are also perhaps getting married to a Palestinian Jordanian?
I hope you enjoy it!
