Black guy in arabia

[sasjamal]

Originally Posted by sasjamal

(ok got to go) - (but for a VERY Good reason which i'll post about insha Allah)

Sas

So I chose to answer this question on a very interesting day, (though each day is interesting) -

Well, just some reasons why I find jordan very nice and welcoming - (note, a bunch of other countries may be like this)

but a couple of reasons:

There is a shaikh (shaikh idris) who teaches our son qur'an.
Hhis father's name is Abu Idris, it turns out he is from Houston for 9 years and he used to do some work for the school our children used to go to, hes a very nice gentlemen - and since we got here, they have been so nice to us - they give Ibrahim more treats then we do sometimes for successfully memorizing passages of the quran - and since the day he met me, he has been trying to meet me and come and sit with us and talk with all of us (my wife, and my 3 step children as well) -

So, he was sick for the 2nd or 3rd day, and a bunch of the younger brothers (meaning 20-24) at the masjid wanted to go visit on him, so we did - and we were sitting with him, and you have all sorts of arabs in the same room, jordanians, palestinians, egyptians, myself

So i get a work emergency, and have to leave - but I left my door open at my familys home when I left, - I just don't like to lock doors, and its just not the end of the world for me - but there is my neigbor a veteranrian about my age, maybe a bit older - and he spends a lot of time with me, and takes care of everything i ever need help with - he got our kids in school, hes finding them a tutor, negotates with our landlord for us, advises me, etc. so he wanted to check on me, so he did not find me home and was concerned that the door was unlocked - so he called me, no one answered - (the phone was with Fatima, and she and the kids were asleep because of long study sessions (the kids are in an ALL Arabic school, and dont know arabic, studying is very long!) - so he freaks out since hes concerend about my well being and my families, so he calls, and he is able to walk into the home, he knocks trying to get anyones attention - can't find me, and no one is at home or seems to be home - but since its a school night, it does not seem right that thekids are not athome, so they are concerend - and they kinda walk around (he gets some more of my friends) looking for me until they finally find me at the mall - where I am to use the free wireless - though the food and stuf costs more then if you use a net cafe! (but its easier to work)

So - then at 11pm/12pm they come in *yes the malls stay open that late as do other places* - and they have this alarmed look on their face (and they have been trying to find me and/or contact me) -

So i get a lecture on how i should always answer the phone (and getmy own phone) and always lock the door

Basically, I have been trested incredibly nice by so many jordanisns over the last few weeks, its not even funny, and they are honest upright professional people (very godo honest work ethic, unllike some other countires), we had some taxi drivers try to rip us off but really not much -

As for them being not religous or anything, i get sms messages fromthem telling me off if i dont pray fajr at the masjid, or phone calls, and they hate the fact I was in amall (some of these guys went to the mall for the first time because of me, and they live IN AMMAN) - most of them have a huge portion of the quran memorized and everyone is at least somewhat into religon -

And they like sharing things and teaching AND learning- and have a lot of interest in british/american culture -

Thats just kiinda what happeneed today

Also, if you can come - you have no reason not to come, because your free to stay with us for as long as you want - until you get settled and find your own place and job - so Ahlan wa Sahlan!

Sas

[Ibn Jafaar]

Sas, what type of work (if any) is avabile to an English (only) speaking brother with no 'marketable' skills whatsoever. [i.e. no degrees or such] in Jordan?

[makky]

bro imma be real with you - most places you go in the Muslim world you will face 2 problems (I can only really speak for Pakistan - but I'm sure it applies to the rest)

1) You will be American so people will think you are madd rich and rob you, even if you're broke in reality - and especially in Pakistan if you dont give them any money (say in all honesty you dont have any money) I read about at least 12 incidents where they just kill you

2) In America if you have dont have " marketable" skills or so on, you can work at McDonalds, as a janitor, at the Airport pushing old peoples wheel chairs, and so on - theres no such " minimum " job in the Muslim countries - a lot of people are only employed because of the hookups and connections they have - For those " minimum " type jobs there, you are competing with a large percentage of population.. From my understanding the 3rab and Muslim countries dont just want westerners to come be employees for them - they have hoards of unemploy'd peope who can just labor - they want you to Manage their employees - so hence they will look for Management experience and so on, this is what a lot of locals told me from Pakistan at least.

Again my experiences mainly represent Pakistan, I could be wrong about other countries or even Pakistan heh..

Money isn't crap, but the son of Adaam has to have the basics.

[Ibn Jafaar]

Originally Posted by makky

Again my experiences mainly represent Pakistan, I could be wrong about other countries or even Pakistan heh..

You sound pretty spot on. And thats not just Pakistan. Yeah, I alreadly knew the above, its just that Sas always puts a really happy spin on everything... so I wanted to hear what he would say


BTW, I would face alot more than those 2 problems..

[sasjamal]

Though that is true, its not always the case: -

I can go into how to avoid it, I have successfully avoided it and point blank put myself into it a few times just to see 'how I would handle'

For example, one of my close friends in Jordan has been to Burger King all but once in his life - and hes from a well to do family who can afford it, and I have been to 'Pizza Places and Malls' at least 5-6 times in my life here in Amman -

If you act like a westerner, or typical western things you may be putting yourself out there more to be 'taken advantage of'

But, even if you put yourself out there, I have only been tried to been ripped off once - and my wife only once - and we (well me especially) LOOK like pure tourists and draw a lot of attention, and I have not 'yet' been ripped off here in Jordan or been tried to been taken advantage of (except once)

Sas

[sayftawhid]

With you off the north american tectonic plate, life is not the same.

Come back , please come back.

[cihadi]

Kuwait

[Umm Kulthum]

Originally Posted by cihadi

Kuwait

Asalamo3alaikumwara7matulahiwabarakatuh

Why kuwait?

Wa3alaikumsaalamwara7matulahiwabarakatuh

[jondallah]

Originally Posted by Umm Kulthum

Why kuwait?

monies