And if you want to get the check in a restaurant, you make a fist with one hand, and you put the other hand on top of it. People use these symbols all the time: they are a good way to talk with people if you are out of ear-shot, and they help you express yourself more effectively. These gestures are also really useful when you are not sure how to say something in Arabic!
Finally, the common sayings are really important. Common sayings help me fit in a little more because they show that I know more about Jordan. For instance, the phrase for, "How are you?" has a very specific response. There are also common sayings for the following: if you go to the hospital, if you are full at the end of a meal and even if you get a haircut! My favorite is what you say before a meal: Sah-TAYN wa AH-fi-yah, which means, "To your health and happiness!" The response is: Ala GEL-bik, which means, "On your heart!"
Jordanian culture is full of these small details, and the early days here were about figuring them out. More than anything, these details added context to my daily life. Knowing the local language, the gestures and the common sayings made a big difference. Before long, Jordanians were telling me that I was really fitting in. I hope I fit in even more now!
