Going to Jordan

       The start of my summer was pretty boring. Nothing against that; I was actually enjoying it. No worries, I could pretty much just chill. I mean, we went on a few occasional family trips, nothing too crazy. But, that was until my mom got a phone call.

      We were all standing in the kitchen when my mom broke the news to us. She just got off the phone with my grandpa who told her that my uncle was engaged! Yay! We were so happy for him! But, the thing was, the wedding was at the end of the month, in THREE weeks, on the other side of the world, in JORDAN! Why they decided to put together a wedding so quickly? Honestly, I still don't even know. But, it didn't matter, my grandpa insisted that we went. So, the next thing I knew I was on some 14-hour flight to a country I've never been to before.

     The plane ride there was exhausting. Oh my God. Our flight left at 9PM and I could barely catch any sleep. For forever I sat, ears throbbing from the sound of two babies crying, no, screaming in the row in front of me. I just remember staring up at the map on the little TV in front of me showing me how much longer it would take for me to get to my destination, a little-animated plane inching millimeters over the Atlantic every half an hour or so. Urgh! Why couldn't that little plane go faster?

     Finally, we were there! We made it! I was ecstatic. We immediately went to the bathrooms and then walked through the airport and stood in line, waiting to get our passports checked by security. 

     As I stood there red-eyed and exhausted, I grabbed at my back for my drawstring bag. It was lighter than I remembered. Oh my God! I left my jacket in the bathroom!!!

     I grabbed my cousin and we ran out of the line and as fast we could to the bathrooms when all of a sudden I heard somebody yelling. Uh Oh. I stopped, turned around and a security officer was gesturing for the both of us to come over to him. We walked back. He started yelling at us in Arabic. I had no idea what he was saying. I don't know Arabic. I mean, there are some words I have picked up on that I recognized him saying, but that was it. He asked us what we were doing, I think.  My cousin and I started to yell back at him, not a very smart idea, telling him we didn't understand and how we only speak English, and how I just wanted my jacket back. He looked at me extremely confused. He started to grab random people walking by seeing if they could translate. I was furious. Why couldn't he just let me go back?! I decided to leave, yelling at him about how dumb the whole thing was... Even if he didn't understand me.

      After that whole fiasco, I angrily walked down to the baggage claim to find out that I had no bag to claim. The conveyor belt went around and around and everyone was able to get their things. Except for me. I started looking for my Swiss Army suitcase, for that little red symbol. And as time went by everyone had gotten their bag and I just stared, teary-eyed, at the empty conveyor belt hoping another bag would come down. It never did. They lost my luggage. So, I ended up walking out of that airport with no luggage, and no jacket. 

     But then, for the next few days, things started to take a turn for the better. We got to see family, meet the bride, shop for some clothes to replace some that I lost, and buy dresses for the wedding! And, lucky for me, on the third day we were in Jordan we were told that they found my suitcase! Turns out the tags and stickers were mysteriously ripped off at JFK. Because of this, they had no idea where to send the bag so they sent it to Chicago, then to Jordan, and they were about to send it to Kuwait before we identified it as ours. I know, super complicated. Finally, the nightmares were over, the celebration could begin.  

     Arab weddings are a big deal. There are tons of traditions and customs that occur and lead up to the actual wedding. One of them is a party that occurs the night before the wedding. It is called Henna. They call it that because in most Hennas the bride and groom get henna done on their hands in preparation for the wedding. All the women put on a thobe, a traditional, hand embroidered, Palestinian dress and their best gold. I actually was wearing one of mom's old outfits. It was not a thobe, but a skirt with Indian accents. Although it is a whole different culture, Arabic and Indian fashion are pretty similar. I guess I just wanted to be apart from the crowd. I don't know. This was the first time I'd ever been to one of these parties, and my sisters, cousin and I were all pretty excited. We all put on our dresses and went to my uncle's house where we danced for hours.

      I don't know how other weddings work, but when you go to an Arab wedding you have to be decked out. The more closely related you are to the couple, the fancier you have to get. Being the nieces of the groom, we had to wake up nice and early the next morning to go get our hair and makeup professionally done. Once that was all over we got dressed and we got the party started. 

     What traditionally starts the wedding is another party, called a Zaffa. The grooms family stands outside his house and holds a little dance for him singing and wishing him good luck. There are drummers, we sing traditional songs, we dance and wave around ornamental swords. Then, he gets into the limo and everyone behind him follows in their own cars to the bride's house. The whole way there people were beeping and shouting in celebration, letting the entire world know that the groom was coming. 

     When we finally got to the bride's house, we held another little celebration and guided her to the limo. Everyone got back in their cars and we drove to the venue where the wedding began. 

      Everyone sat at their tables and then after half an hour so, we went outside to see the groom and bride come down the stairs and into the hall where they began to dance. Soon, everyone was dancing. 

     Although it was put together in such little time, it was beautiful. The lights, the food, the dancing, the music, the culture, everything was so over the top. I was so glad we came. Even though the trip didn't start off as I had planned, I  was thrilled to have been able to experience something so important and special.  

A typical day in Jordan. (Sheep walking in the middle of the road)

At the Henna, traditionally dressed (the picture is blurry, sorry about that) 

Getting my hair and makeup done for the wedding!

At the wedding!!!