I remember a Jordanian (with Palestinian background) working at the Ali Baba library reception desk, who kept talking about random topics with me every time I came in. At first I took him seriously, but then I realised he just wanted to practice his English with me (and it turned out that he actually resented me).
Once he told me that he was on an English language university degree programme and dropped out after two years…that he was surrounded by girls (he assumed I would understand)…so I asked – does he not like women?
Later, (but not much later), I guessed that he could not marry any of those women or that they were not allowed to marry him. I’ve heard of this marriage/class/racism issue in Jordan before, but it was always explained to me in an indirect way. While I was still in Jordan, he got engaged, but the situation between us became more toxic. The reason, I imagine, is that he was marrying the wrong girl…or he did not like the remuneration in his career.
Whose fault is it that he (dropped out of university and) chose a career in concierge over an engineering career (for which, there are lots of jobs in the Arab world, and in Dubai it is relatively highly paid)? In fact, I know a Palestinian from UAE who told me his father earns 3000 JDs per month – NET. Is it his, his parent’s, friend’s and family’s responsibility or the fault of foreigners (trying to learn Arabic) that he is marrying the wrong woman or will need to do two jobs to pay for his marriage?
I think life’s lesson is had the receptionist (in Ali Baba library) been a little more respectable and proactive he would have landed himself a nice lady – a woman he liked. He had plenty of choice and opportunities. Amman is perhaps up to 80% Palestinian – some poor and some rich. Furthermore, he could marry an Egyptian lady (approximately four million to choose from), but then she would face racism from his society. Also, surely it’s his fault that he’s too lazy to learn engineering or accounting or to complete his English degree, etc.
As a Muslim (or Muslim by name only), he should also understand that while some choices are definitely with him and his guardians, the result is with God alone,* and therefore (rather than hating his life and blaming foreigners) he should be asking in prayer to be increased in favour and bounty as well as using his brain and putting more effort in good works (as the Quran says those who believe and do righteous deeds..). *Consequently, if (whatever it is that he actually desired) never happened then surely it was never going to happen. All he can do now is learn from his mistakes, focus on today and hope for tomorrow.
This Ali Baba Jordanian Palestinian guy (with a foreign chip on his shoulder) continued to harass me until I started to ignore and avoid him (by leaving the library before the evening when he’d start work) and his colleague (in reception) became fed-up with him asking about me and started to be rude to him.
Then he turned his attention to Ali (the Chechen one from Kazakhstan) until he stopped coming to the library.
Finally, the chippy Palestinian guy started harassing the teenager (who really was from Chechnya) – the one who was living with Ali, but instead of ignoring him or not renewing his membership the teenager started harassing Mr Chippy (like a boxer does) until Chippy started to ignore and avoid us all.
The last thing I remember is not renewing my membership and having dinner with Muharam (the Turk) and Antony (Frenchman) in that glass pizza-type restaurant and Chippy walking past giving me a dirty look.
Much later, he tried to add me on Facebook, but naturally I ignored his request.
Arabian Misadventures 