Who would’ve known
I know I’ve been missing for more than two months, but you people have no idea what I’m going through. Sophomore year is SO hard and everyone, including me, wish there are more hours in a day.
Anyway, so besides re-assuring you that I am alive, JK Rowling apparently is an attention whore and decided to tell the world about Dumbeldore’s sexuality. Read here
Not that I care/mind or anything, it just too late, and even past national coming out day!
This is how low people can stoop!
I hope this group will be shut down.
UPDATE: This is the group website. I am afraid it’s much more than “children” bashing Iraq.
More on the Airport Crisis
There has been a lot of talking about the violations of human rights at Queen Alia Airport against Iraqis. Jordanian bloggers had mixed feelings of shame and pride. However, I haven’t come across a blog of a non-Jordanian who has expressed his or her views of the matter and therefore decided to write about what I think as an Iraqi who has lived in Jordan for about 6 years.
First, I’d like to tell my fellow bloggers that they shouldn’t be ashamed of what is going on, because, frankly, they had nothing to do with whats going on (at least at the airport), but also, they shouldn’t be clapping with pride.
Second, I’d like to show how its like to be an Iraqi living in Jordan from my experience. I myself have been in many situations where I was treated as a second class citizen. Starting in high school, I never had the same opportunities Jordanian citizens had. You might think it’s fair, but it’s not. Really. I lost a scholarship to do the IB at the UWC, and wasn’t allowed to participate in many competitions just because I wasn’t an Jordanian citizen(I know this isn’t exclusive to Iraqis, but its still some sort of discrimination). Whenever my parents had to renew our residency, we’d be insulted and treated like filth at the various police stations we had to go to. Is this fair?
Now this is nothing compared to what is happening now. Treating any human in this degrading way is unacceptable. Although people would argue that many countries have tightened their securities measures, in fact, Jordan has tightened them the most. There are another million or so in Syria, but Syrians nor the Syrian government are complaining as much as people here do. The thing is many Jordanians think that Iraqis are parasites and are just consumers. Wrong. Many, and I mean, a huge proportion of Iraqis are contributing to the prosperity of this country, whether through teaching, investment or other ways. It’s enough that you have to keep $150,000 in a saving account to get a residency (which is used by the Jordanian government apparently).
Not only are Iraqis being mistreated in the previous means, but they are also being limited to health facilities. All hospitals charge Iraqis and ONLY Iraqis double the cost for almost everything. If someone would want to get an x-ray that costs 4 JD, s/he’ll end up paying more than 8. Is that fair? Do people realize that not every Iraqi can afford it? Is it me, or do a majority of people think Iraqis who come here are 7awasem and have stolen millions when Baghdad fell in 2003?
The whole purpose of this post was to show the Jordanian blogosphere what Iraqis have suffered pre and post the war. It wasn’t easy living and it’s definitely not getting any easier. The Jordanian government is most probably afraid that the whole Iraqi refuge crisis will turn to another Palestinian drama, where more than half of the people living here aren’t of Jordanian origins, although are passport holders, and will therefore, “ruin” the country.
Shopping in Amman is a complete disaster
Today I went to both Mecca and City Mall in the hopes to find a Ralph Lauren/Tommy/any decent black shirt. It was a complete disaster. My friend and I toured around 20 shops and found almost nothing. Why aren’t there specific shops for specific brandnames? The only thing I was able to find was a weird designed, semi-formal, ranger-like black shirt from Celio, which I didn’t end up buying because it just wasn’t satisfying enough!
It was a complete shock when I entered AiZone and found items for JD 5000. That’s just way TOO much!
Um, realization(s)?
I just discovered that 6lyani means Italian! omg. I thought it was i6ali!
Also, its been a bit over a year since I started my blog. Yay, happy anniversary 
Cheesiness
Yalla, let’s see where your I-Studied-All-Night-And-I’m-Happy 98.7% will get you! [No hatred, seriously...just reacting to the cheesiness of the article, and the dumbness that is Tawjihi]
Hilarity
رسالة وزارة التربية والتعليم
تطوير نظام تربوي عماده “التميز”، يعتمد على موارده البشرية، استناداً إلى معايير عالمية وقيم اجتماعيـة، وروح تنافسية عالية، ممـا يسهـم في تقـدم الأردن فـي خضـم “الاقتصاد المعرفي العالمي” .
Yeah, right!
White Person Syndrom
Since I have a lot of time in my hands I thought I’ll introduce you guys to my new acronym WPS. The definition of WPS states that in any Third World Country (TWC), a white person will be given preferential treatment over those from the same country. The definition extends to include those who are fluent in English, dress similarly to Whites, or looks like one.
Evidence:
1. I work at an international organization and everyone treats me with caution and give me preferential treatment because I speak English and look like a White person (see: green eyes, white skin and light brown hair)
2. My friends and I decided to go to Tche Tche without booking so my friend called and he was told that there aren’t any free tables. Two minutes later, I call and speak in English, and poof, suddenly there is extra space. [Although this failed once, but my point still stands]
3. The scornful taxi drivers suddenly forget about the miseries of the World and have to engage you in a nice simple conversation.
There are many other incidents that I can’t remember out of the top my head, but however its sad. Why do you need to be white to be treated decently? Why would someone treat a stranger better than a countrymate? Oh well, life goes on…*sarcasm*
