Jordan – Arabian Misadventures

Great Arab Revolt Centennial

It was suppose to be my last day in Jordan. However, due to the Great Arab Revolt centennial celebration, I almost ended up getting stuck again in Amman.

Many people were celebrating and making their way to a party. Consequently, the roads were choc-o-bloc with vehicles and my already booked taxi arrived late (to pick me up). Fortunately, the driver said he knew a short-cut to the airport.

At the airport, (at least one minute before check-in officially closes), the Qatar airline counter staff member informed me that check-in was closed. Internally, I had already resigned to the eventuality that I might remain in Jordan indefinitely. However, I explained what had happened and, to my relief, she checked me in.

Had I missed my flight, what would I have done that day? Celebrate with the locals? Probably not. I would have booked the next flight back to the UK or made my way to Cairo to complete my learning.

Some admirers of the Ottoman empire believe that it was primarily defeated by the Saudis (in collaboration by the Wahabis) in collusion with the British empire. However, this is far from the truth. Unfortunately, certain Middle Eastern political movements/parties further compound the myth through their publications.

For instance, as will be explained below, the book How the Khilafah was Destroyed, by Abdul Qadeem Zallum (endorsed by Hizb ut-Tahrir) contains a number of misunderstandings.

Let us begin with ibn Abd al-Wahhab, his supporters would say that in the 18th century (backed by the Saudis) he established law and order in the Najd area (not part of the Ottoman state) and secured the pilgrim routes to Mecca and Medina, and in his letters made it clear that it is wrong to rebel against the rulers (unless they call to sin).

According to M. S. al-Munajjid, ibn Abd al-Wahhaab said to the people of al-Qaseem: “I believe that it is obligatory to hear and obey the leaders of the Muslims, whether they are righteous or immoral, so long as they do not enjoin disobedience towards Allaah. Whoever has become Caliph and the people have given him their support and accepted him, even if he has gained the position of caliph by force, is to be obeyed and it is haraam to rebel against him.” (Majmoo’at Mu’allafaat al-Shaykh, 5/11).

Actually, Kuwait was not under Ottoman rule in 1788. In the 20th century, the Saudis (with their Bedouin army – Ikhwan) established their current kingdom, but they played a minor role in World War One (possibly a single skirmish with an Ottoman garrison, then war with Kuwait).

They were more concerned with local conflicts (e.g. Rashid dynasty). As far as I know, the Saudis never reached Amman, let alone Damascus. At the southern border of Jordan, they were bombed by the British Royal Air Force.

As for Abdul-Aziz ibn Muhammad, while it is clear that ibn Saud was not an ally of the Ottomans and might of had negotiations with the British, it has never been proven that he was an agent of the British empire.

The Sharifian Army of Mecca, who were the leaders of the Arab Revolt (1916), were bribed with gold and supplied with explosives (by the British empire). Their aim was a United Arab Kingdom, perhaps with Damascus as its capitol. Faisal (or his army) made it to Damascus.

Later, Faisal was made king of Iraq (by the British). His brother Abdullah was made king of Transjordan. Apparently, their father, in the Hijaz, al-Sharif Hussein bin Ali proclaimed himself caliph in 1924. Soon after, the Hejazi Army (after defeating the Ottomans in Mecca and Medina) lost the Hijaz to the Saudis.

Today, the remaining Sharifian royal family rule the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. One need only visit the Martyrs museum in Amman or the World War One memorial in Salt, to understand that the Arab Revolt was led by Sharifian forces (initially near the Suez Canal, supported by British forces) and not by Saudi Bedouins in Najd.

Sources:
A History of the Modern Middle East, William L. Cleveland
Saudi Arabia: a case study in development, Fouad al-Fars
The Road to Mecca, Muhammad Asad
A History of Jordan, Philip Robins
A history of Iraq, Charles R. H. Tripp
https://islamqa.info/en/answers/9243/did-shaykh-muhammad-ibn-abd-al-wahhaab-rebel-against-the-ottoman-caliphate-and-what-was-the-reason-for-its-fall
https://www.britannica.com/place/Kuwait/History
https://cdn.britannica.com/89/4789-050-B6176F52/Expansion-Ottoman-Empire.jpg
https://cdn.britannica.com/40/131540-050-EFC5F6A7/Map-Arabia-insets-edition-Palestine-Jerusalem-Encyclopaedia-1902.jpg
http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_arabrevolt.html
https://cdn.britannica.com/49/183749-050-8A2CE93D/World-Data-Locator-Map-Saudi-Arabia.jpg
https://cdn.britannica.com/95/5795-050-F7E34466/Saudi-Arabia-map-features-locator.jpg

You get what you pay for (sometimes)

A Jordanian (with Palestinian background, who had grown-up in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) suggested to me that I could study Arabic in Saudi Arabia (KSA) – for free!

However, I had already met a Korean, who had moved from KSA, who was then studying at the Arab Community College (ACC) in Amman. On a hill opposite the hospital – a boring place, which is as effective as the Language Centre of Jordan University except that you get what you pay for (whereas at UJLC you pay way more for what you gain – if anything).

As usual, the smart students are the ones who had already studied elsewhere or who already knew some colloquial Arabic. The rest of the students simply stagnate and end-up repeating levels (so no real cost-saving here). I also knew a few Chinese students who had already studied at the UJLC, but they still could not (or would not) speak Arabic so no benefit on that front either.

As for the Korean, he started off as intermediate and came alone (like myself) and was forced to communicate (in Arabic) with those who knew no English. Most of the students at ACC were from the country-side in South-Eastern Europe, southern Russia and the ex-Soviet states, and (unfortunately for them, but fortunately for me) did not learn English effectively while they were at school (unlike in UJLC where most of the students already knew basic English and would rather practice improving this with those of us who were from England).

When asked why he had left Saudi, the Korean described KSA as a harsh place. In fact, as well as learning Arabic, he was also interested in getting married in Jordan and, luckily (but unfortunately luck might not help him when dealing with nationalism), at least some of the girls, studying Korean, at the University of Jordan wanted to practice speaking with him.

He also asked me if it was easier to get married in Egypt. By that time, I’d only lived in Alexandria, which was not very different to Jordan (in terms of final outcome) so was unsure what to say to him. Too bad I didn’t speak to him after Cairo (see below).

Continue reading “You get what you pay for (sometimes)”

Psychopath

He told me he was Chechen, which was unusual as most of them would hardly talk to me (or to anyone other than their own). He was actually from Kazakhstan. I never got the details, but I remembered having once learned that, during the time of Stalin’s reign, some Chechens had been deported from their native homeland.

I first met this Chechen from Kazakhstan in a private library in Jordan and noticed that his spoken Arabic was not great (despite him studying in the Faculty of Literature). So I took it with a pinch of salt when he told me that he knew an awesome centre in Alexandria. However, I started to like him due to the fact he tried to speak in Arabic and we shared a common nostalgia regarding Alexandria.

Guess we became friends after I went through a crisis at the language centre, UJLC. He had suggested I talk to the president of the centre and so I did. By that time, the Chechen had studied Arabic for three years (including one year at the Faculty of Literature) and his spoken skills were impressive. I even had arguments with him about politics and religion in Arabic (with great difficulty).

Things became really complicated when he made a big issue of a friendship I had with a 65 year old woman in London. According to him, this is forbidden in religion. I was puzzled by his argument. How could it be like this when he had become busy hanging out with a Russian lady at the language centre (who had been briefed before departure from her country that she could count on him)? I challenged him on this point and the Chechen said that he could conceivably develop feelings for her and therefore it was wrong, (but strangely he would continue his friendship with her). So I asked why that was an issue when he could simply marry her. Why prefer to stay single when he could marry a girl he trusts? However, his response was that he would never marry a Russian after how they destroyed his homeland.

In fact, on the basis of this debate we were having, his teenage flat-mate (also Chechen and actually from Chechnya) told me that they are good Muslims and I am a bad Muslim (while shouting at me in the street). He then explained that at least they admit it is haraam. However, the truth is (according to ibn Taymiyya* as I understand it) faith is not simply words, but it is also actions, which is why God says in the Quran ‘those who believe and do righteous deeds’ or ‘believe and establish the prayer’ (for example).

Explaining this to them made no difference, just as explaining to them that in religion they can not make something forbidden unless there is a textual evidence for it (with regard to matters other than those relating directly with God or in other words – the worldly life, i.e. transacting with the creation).

Eventually, I suggested we go to the Faculty of Religion in the University of Jordan to ask one of the experts about the issue. He did not like this idea and said that Jordan is not the place for learning religion.

Continue reading “Psychopath”

Ali Baba

The Ali Baba International Center focuses on learning both German and standard Arabic.

Ali Baabaa is not very well known, which is probably why I was only able to study here for one month. After that there were no more students of intermediate level. Their busy period might of been during the summer and the month of January.

For a private institute, I was quite impressed. There was no bored director greedy for US dollars or playing games with the student’s level.

Perhaps more importantly, the teachers were very polite and clearly skilled professionals (or at least trying to appear as such). In fact, the teaching style was similar to that of the TAFL Center in Alexandria, but without the abuse and discrimination.

Yes, initially, the name made me laugh too, but in the end the joke was on me. This really is a genuine place for the serious student of Arabic.

Although I only studied here for four weeks, I gained a lot more than I expected, much more than from the so-called university opposite.

Foreign Exchange

At the end of 2013, I planned to spend just a few months in the Middle East. Somehow that eventually stretched to a couple of years. Needless to say that I ran out of cash and had to withdraw from automated teller machines (ATM).

Here lies the problem. Back in London I was told by HSBC that the charge is only for using an ATM of a different bank and that there was no charge for using the ATM of my own bank. However, in reality, ATM transactions were costing me almost 30 pounds for every 300 pounds I withdrew. How was this?

Firstly, HSBC changed its policy after I went abroad. So it made no difference whether I used my own bank or an ATM of some other bank in Jordan.

As for Citibank, I was hoping to use one of their ATMs in Alexandria at no extra charge, but it closed its retail banking in Egypt.

Then there were other charges that they did not tell me about. Here is the breakdown of the cost, which is available on most bank websites. So the total cost is made up of the following fees: use of ATM, international transaction, exchange rate and for the actual conversion.

My only solution then was to open a local bank account and make a large single transfer.

The day I went out to make a final withdrawal, which was on the 2nd June 2016, my bank was closed for the Great Arab Revolt centennial.

Never mind. Since it’s so much hassle to open a bank account, it’s probably better to leave one open for when I might return to Jordan.

To be honest, that might never happen.

Update: Recently, I learned that if there is no activity on your bank account for more six months it can become ‘inactive’ and after a year it becomes ‘dormant’. Beyond that your account will not exist and you may lose the money.

Qasid

I use to doubt an institute that grew out of a sufi order could teach me Arabic. I was probably wrong!

In fact, it is suppose to be the best centre in Jordan for studying Arabic. However, the way it was described to me by the director it sounded a little too intense. More than any US university and probably more than SOAS, he also claimed. It’s possible that he was not in a position to really know.

I use to fear that enrolling here might include being harassed to participate in extra-curricular activities. In fact, back at the TAFL center in Alexandria, I was pressured by the director to attend a sufi dance event (I think for cultural and entertainment reasons and not religious) yet it was being held on the same day as one of the centre’s weekly trips (how would I find time for all of this and still learn Arabic, especially with my troubles in the apartment full of cat fleas). On another occasion, I felt obliged to attend (by myself) a lecture in Egyptian Colloquial Arabic being held at the French institute. When it came to ECA I was weakest in my class, yet somehow I was the most suitable to attend.

However, having met the director of Qasid I feel it would have been a different story here. He seemed too humble, friendly and content to play that kind of game. So I reckon (and from what I have heard) the only harassment a student would face here is the teachers making him or her do the homework. And that’s almost always a good thing.

From the reception (where I ended up sitting for a long time so went looking for somebody helpful) when I first entered (perhaps it was just a caretaker/janitor) I did not feel very welcomed (as in, we have enough students and we do not care if you join or not). Perhaps that could be a good thing. I was tired of directors desperate after my money and totally uninterested in education.

With hindsight, this is probably all I needed to complete my Modern Standard Arabic studies. Too bad I never enrolled here.

مركز لغات الجامعة الأردنية

أرسل هذه الرسالة الى رئيس الجامعة الأردنية.

الدراسة في مركز اللغات.

السلام عليكم.

أنا طالب من بريطانيا و أكتب هذه الرسالة لأصف تجاربي الجيدة و السيئة في مركز اللغات الجامعة الأردنية.

أَساتذة مركز اللغات للمستوى الرابعة و الخامس لُطفاء و أذكياء للغاية و لا بد أشكرك على ذلك, و مكتب الارشاد ساعد ني كثيراً: بموضوع الرحلات في عطلة نهاية الأسبوع و طلب الاقامة وتمديد التأشيرة و حاول أن يجيبني عن أي استفسار يتعلق بالمركز والأردن.

ولكن يوجد لدي أمر بالنسبة الى دراستي في المركز و أريد أن أشرح لك أسبابه:

أولًا درستُ في المستوى الرابع في أثناء فصل الشتاء 2014 ثمّ لفصل الربيع (2015), قدمتُ اختبار لتحديد المستوى و حصلتُ على علامة 65, أخبرتْ احدى المرشدات أنّني سأكون في المستوى الثامن و كنتُ موافقاً.

شَعَرْتُ بالراحة في المستوى الثامن و فهمتُ النقاش في الصف, ولكن بعْدَ نصف ساعة أَخْرَجَتْني المرشدة من الصف و قالتْ لي المستوى الثامن غير ممكن لأنّني كنت في المستوى الرابع في فصل الماضي, فقدّمتْ لي اختيارين: المستوى السادس و السابع, واخترتُ السّادس لأنّني فهمتُ من كلامها أنّني أستطيع أنْ أغيّرَ مستواي بعْدَ يوم واحد و بعدَ ذلك فلا أستطيع… فأردتُ أنْ أتفادى اختيار مُسْتوى غير مناسب لي, مثل أن يكون مستوى صعبٌ بعض الشيء.

في يوم التالي سألتْ ني أي مستوى أريده, و قلْتُ الخامس دونَ أنْ أعرفَ ما هو الكتاب و ما هي القواعد في المستوى السّادس.

أول أسبوعين كان سهْلاً لي و أيْضاً نَصَحَني أستاذي أنّني مناسب للْمستوى السادس, ففي عطلة نهاية الأسبوع استعرْتُ كتابَ زميلتي التي كانتْ في المستوى السادس في الفصل السّابق و بعْد القراءة ظننْتُ أنّ الفَرْق بينَهُ و كتاب الخامس قليلٌ.

قرَرْتُ في الأسبوع الثالث أنّ المستوى الخامس لم يكُنْ مناسباً لي بسببِ القواعدِ التي كانتْ سهْلةً و درستُ بعدها من قبل.

أمّا بقية الطلاب في صَفّي, اِعْتَبَرَ بعضُهم القواعدَ صعبةٌ جداً, أيضاً لا أحد مِنْهم يَسْتطيع أنْ يتكلّم باللغة العربية في خارج الصّف, أحبُّ زملائي في المستوى الخامس ولكنّني لمْ أَسْتَفِدْ مِنْهم.

Continue reading “مركز لغات الجامعة الأردنية”

Das Sprachzentrum

Ich war wirklich gelangweilt. Warum? Sprachzentrum, Universität Jordan haben mich in die falsche Stufe gesteckt.

…so gelangweilt, das ich meinen chinesischen Freunden einen Gefallen getan habe und nicht mit ihren Freunden getroffen habe, um uns mit Englisch und Arabisch auszutauschen.

Letztendlich fand ich die Tandem-Treffen eine Zeitverschwendung. Sie wollten mir zeigen, wie man ein richtiger Muslim ist.

Ich hatte jedoch eine positivere Erfahrung mit den Tandem-Portnern meiner chinesischen Freunde.

Was hat sich das Sprachzentrum eigentlich gedacht?

Ich wollte unbedingt von Level fünf (5) auf sechs (6) wechseln. Das Testergebnis hat sogar gezeigt, dass ich für Level acht (8) geeignet bin.

Die Direkturin und ihre Kollegen ließen mich allerdings nicht. Auf der anderen Seite kannten anderen Sprachschüler in einen anderen Kurs wechseln. Sie behaupteten sogar, klasse die Grammatik in Level 5 und 6 dieselbe ist. Entweder ist das eine Luge, oder das ist das zurückgebliebene Zentrum, in dem ich jemals war.

Sie waren entweder zu faul, oder zu arrogant, um mich umzulaufen.

Nachdem meine Lehrer mit der Direktorin gesprochen haben, wurde sie nur noch arroganter.

Am nächsten Morgen war sie unverschämt zu mir und gab mir eine Aufgabe, die nicht einmal mit meinem Kurs zu tun hatte.

Genug ist genug! Endlich habe ich mich beim Präsidenten beschwert. Ich habe ihm meine Grammatik liste gezeigt, die ich bereits gelernt habe (ganze 90%).

Er hat zugehört, aber es hat sich immer noch nichts geändert.

Also war es nur noch ein Monat voller Langeweile, und dann Prüfungen, oder so dachte ich zumindest…

In der letzten Woche des Semesters habe ich herausgefunden, dass die Direktorin Gerüchte verbreitet hat, dass ich mich über meine Lehrerin beschwert habe. Ich habe dieser Lehrerin erklärt, was ich wirklich gesagt habe. Sie hat mir geglaubt und mir einen Kaffee ausgegeben.

Die Ungerechtigkeit und Spielchen der Direktorin als auch die Langeweile, der ich ausgesetzt war verursachten einen Persönlichkeitswandel und der Umgang mit meinen Kommilitonen und Lehrern hat sich verändert.

Ich konnte nicht glauben, das so ein simples Problem nicht gelöst werden kann. Was war deren Motivation? Ist Jordanien wirklich das Haschemitische Königreich der Langeweile?

Eine Sache, die die Universität richtig macht, ist Religiose Ethik, z. B. globalen Frieden und Toleranz zu lehren. Leider macht die Sprachschule keine Gebrauch davon.

Alles in Allem hat mich meine Erfahrung mit dem Gefühl hinterlassen, dass Jordanien eine Zeit- und Geldverschwendung ist.

Abgesehen von dem Bösen, das ich in Alexandria erlebt habe, wäre ich zufriedener gewesen als in Jordanien.

Auf der anderen Seite glaube ich, dass Jordanien Potenzial hat, aber die Korruption halt die hart – arbeitenden und talentierten Menschen zurück.

Jordanier haben mir auch gesagt, dass Mitglieder der oberen Klassen direkt General sein wollen, ohne davor Soldat gewesen zu sein.

Eigentlich war mein größtes Bedauern, dass ich nicht nach Ägypten zurückgegangen bin. Mit dem einzigen Sprachzentrum, das ich in Alexandria kannte, hatte ich allerdings schlimme Erfahrungen. Obwohl ich gehört habe, dass Kairo professionellere Sprachzentren hat, hat sich niemand dort-hin getraut wegen der politischen Tumulte.

Den winzig anderen Ort, den ich, zu dem Zeitpunkt noch kannte, war Tunesien, aber die Sicherheits-Situation dort sah noch schlimmer aus.

Language Center, Jordan University

Finally, I had my last examination for level 5 at the Language Center, University of Jordan (UJLC). The teachers are okay and the style of teaching is not bad. However, I was really bored. It’s possible that I even loved the students in my class, but they did not speak Arabic. Some of my previous class-mates had been more advanced. Also, most of the grammar was the same as before or was too easy. I started to lose concentration and felt like I was going backwards.

To stop myself from dying of boredom I agreed to take on the language partners of my Chinese colleagues (as they were majoring in Chinese and English) and, in fact, not only did they make my remaining time more interesting, I also benefited from them.

Generally, I had found the language partner scheme a waste of time. It really depended on who you ended up with. Most times I spent chasing my language partners up (the ones allocated to me by UJLC) and agreeing to appointments that they could not honour. They usually lost interest after the first week. One of the better experiences I had also did not turn out very well when his friends did not think I was a real Muslim (since for them, that was the real reason I was learning Arabic) and started to preach to me because they felt sorry for me.

However, the language partners of my Chinese colleagues were more enthusiastic, professional, committed and helpful. On the other hand, there was only so much I could benefit from them and them from me (as they were suppose to be focusing on their own studies and they were already actually quite smart with English and were asking some difficult questions).

What was I doing there? For crying out loud, I paid for an Arabic course!

Therefore, I really wanted to move up to level 6, but it seemed almost impossible, even though I scored 65 in the placement test that made me eligible for level 8.
The new director, Fatima Omari, misled me and her colleague shouted at me when I asked about changing. According to the director, the grammar in level 6 is the same as the grammar in level 5. Either she was lying or this is the most retarded centre I have ever tried to study in. There was also discrimination with regard to choosing a level. Some people were given one day (for example, myself) whilst others were given ten days.

They were simply too lazy or too arrogant to make the change!

And I think my teachers did not want to confront her. Eventually, they had a chat with her, but she became a bit unstable!!

The following morning she was rude to me. She demanded that I write a report about the differences between level 4 and 5. How the hell would I get time to do that and it was not my job anyway. They were suppose to be teaching me Arabic. That’s what I paid for.

Enough was enough!!! I decided to listen to the advice of the Chechen guy and complain to the president of the centre (if there was such a thing, as nothing was very clear or consistent in this place). It’s a long story and there was no positive result. Eventually I did complained to the president of the centre (showing him the list of grammar that I had already learned, actually 90%).

Had I known the president of the centre existed I would have complained to him much sooner. Hopefully, a lot of lessons learned here.

It had been quite a stressful and depressing experience. Thought things had changed here for the better, but clearly for the better and for the worse.

Undoubtedly, some people in the centre hate me, but the main change was that the director was no longer confrontational. She was also asking what she could do to help, but it was actually too late and she already ignored my teacher’s suggestions and was uninterested in what I wanted and what my rights were.

So it was just a month more of boredom, then examinations. Or so I thought…

In the last week of term, the grammar teacher asked me why I had complained about her to the director (saying that she is a bad teacher) and I was so surprised to hear that. And I explained how all I’d said was that I’d already studied most of he grammar and wanted to go one level up, but that the director was indifferent to my request even though it was my right (I had scored more than high enough in the placement test). The teacher said that she believed me and offered me coffee.

There seemed to be no end to this saga. Admittedly, these were not my favourite teachers, but outside of class they were likable (decent perhaps). I did not actually want to leave their classes (and they were really trying to help me), but I needed to (learning was the whole point of being there and paying 1800 USD). I also liked the students in my class, but that not the point. I started to feel as though I was going backwards and losing interest in my studies, was not going to the library and began loitering more. Unfortunately also, as time went by, I felt my relations with my teachers were really straining. Of course, it was just suppose to be professional, but it still did not feel right.

I just could not believe that such a retarded issue could not be fixed. What could possibly be the motivation for this behaviour? Is Jordan really the Hashemite Kingdom of Boredom?

One thing they do right here in Jordan university is a conference known as the Amman Message. They claim that Islam calls for tolerance and unity and that true Muslims are totally against terrorism. They make the challenge that you will not find even one student (of University of Jordan) in the faculty of sharia who, after graduation, joins Al-Qaeda separatists in Iraq and Syria. Their point being that extremist groups recruit from those who are actually ignorant.

I think the Language Centre should also understand that their prophet said: “Allah curses the thief who steals (even) an egg” (Bukhaari).

Unfortunately, this experience has left me with the feeling that Jordan is a waste of time and waste of money for the student of Arabic. However, with not many choices of location, what can you do?

Always thought I’d end up returning to Alexandria, but the character of some of the people who worked at the centre there was in question. With hindsight, getting abused whilst really studying Arabic and then being able to go home on schedule (satisfied with what I had learned) seemed preferable to what had happened in Jordan. Some of the staff here were no better. Perhaps I had mis-judged Alexandria? Perhaps it was just all a mis-understanding!

On the other hand, I also believe that Jordan has potential, but that the corruption is holding the hard-working and talented people back. Sometimes I feel sorry for them. It is all about who you know and not what you know. There is hardly any meritocracy.

Jordanians have also told me that everybody wants to be a general without being a solider first. Consequently, there are too many cow-boys and not enough Indians.

Actually, my biggest regret was that I did not return to Egypt, though it just did not seem like a choice anymore and I knew no other useful centre. Cairo still was unexplored territory for me, but it seemed (perhaps wrongly) too plain scary (at the time). Much later, I heard that the language centres in the capital of Egypt are quite professional and well-known for their high standards, as opposed to those centres existing elsewhere, but perhaps I will never really know.

The only other location I knew at the time was Tunisia, but the security situation there was starting to look worse.

(Image Copyright Andres Rodriguez | Dreamstime).

Chip on shoulder

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.