Everyday Life in Amman

Sunday + Monday, December 15 + 16

8 am. Hanni and Ramo woke up safely. I brought them both a hot water bottle last night (thanks for that, Mom!) so they wouldn't freeze in our cold living room, and it worked: they survived. I get Ful and Fatteh with Ramo at our familiar feeding spot, and we have a hearty Arabic breakfast at home. Mmmm. But then there's work to do: I still have three assignments to complete. Fortunately, Hanni is not alone and can keep busy with Ramo in the city. While I sit in Roamers, the café in front of the university, and attend to my responsibilities, the other two enjoy themselves in the city.

At 2 pm, I was supposed to have Arabic class, but today I'm short on time in every direction. Luckily, Hanni is here! She simply takes my place and attends the class with Ramo, writing for me. Our Arabic teacher was briefly confused to see the two new faces, but accepted my substitute. For the rest of the day, it's just university, university, university for me.

8 am. New day, new luck. Today is Tarabot day, and of course, I want to show Hanni and Ramo my work routine there. With the sun shining brightly, we walk through Downtown to East Amman a bit later than usual, where Sophia is already waiting for us at Tarabot. Today, the usual program for external children's groups is taking place: after Sophia has already done some crafts with the kids, we enter a game, after which all the children receive a backpack as a gift and then we leave Tarabot.

Then, the next item on the agenda: I had completely forgotten that aerobics takes place again on Mondays. Unfortunately, this is off-limits for Ramo, but Sophia takes Hanni with her so she can enjoy the hip-swirling aerobic instructor as well. Meanwhile, Ramo and I do crafts with our familiar Syrian children, making little works of art from glued paper rolls. "Eva?" Sara beams at me, someone we have known at Tarabot since the first day. She wants to know if the other girl is my sister. I nod and smile, making her beam even brighter. Hanni and Ramo are definitely the biggest attraction today.

When the children are gone and Sophia and Hanni return from aerobics with red faces, it's time for lunch break. Of course, there's only one place in question for that. Abu Wahid is always happy when Sophia and I bring him more guests. And as always, everything tastes really delicious.

In the afternoon, another familiar program: Dabke with Kemo. We don't even have to tell Hanni and Ramo that Kemo is often very impatient with his little students. His annoyance at every wrong step is sometimes really funny and sometimes really exaggerated. But that's how we know him. Today, a new step is also being learned, which we definitely don't want to miss. I don't think anyone in the Dabke room is paying attention to the correct sequence of steps as Sophia, Hanni, Ramo, and I jump around the room with the children, but everyone is having so much fun with the wild hopping that even Kemo no longer dares to scold us and merrily sets the beat with his drum. This was a really suitable day to introduce Tarabot to my two guests.

On our way back, we show Hanni and Ramo another absolute must-see in Amman: the market. My friends (the vendors I am a regular customer of) immediately see that my companion is my sister and beam at us in response. At the candy stand, we get to try different things, after which Sophia and I say goodbye to work on our assignments while Hanni and Ramo enjoy watching the Roman Theater at sunset.

In the evening, we have dinner together with Sophia at the small restaurant in Weibdeh where we've been before and that is once again super delicious. After that, it's just university stuff. First at Manara, then at home. It's 3 am when my eyes close and I have no choice but to postpone the rest of my assignment until tomorrow.

... at least Ramo is having fun in our university madness.