Getting used to a new place takes some time, no matter where you are. Whether it's Justice High School or Jordan, you might need to learn a little about the traditions of your new home! For the first couple of weeks in Jordan, I learned about traditions here through the language, the gestures and the common sayings.
First, the language here is a little different. Don't get me wrong: I speak Arabic! But the Arabic in Jordan is not the same as the Arabic I learned in America. For example, to say "How are you?" in MY Arabic, I say Kayf halek? In Jordan, you say Shoo akhbarek? Here's another one: in MY Arabic, words for "I want coffee" are Oreed al-kahuwa. In Jordan, though, people say Biddee gah-wah! There are even more differences as you learn more words. For example, some people pronounce the Arabic letter qaf as a hard "G" sound, like in "good." However, other people pronounce the same letter silently--imagine if "good" sounded like "ood"!
Second, gestures here are really important. Jordanians use sign language in their communications every day. If you want to say "Thank you," you put your hand on your chest. If you want to say, "Wait a moment," you pinch your fingers in the air.
