today i was leaving irbid and going to amman, stopping in jerash to see the ruins. i don't know if i need to see anymore ruins, but i couldn't think of anything else to do.
when i saw the ruins as we approached town, i indicated to the bus driver that i wanted off. he did as i asked, but it was no where near the entrance. i walked and walked. a taxi driver going by stopped, asked if i wanted the entrance, yes, get in i'll take you - free. thank you.
but when i got out and saw the hundreds and hundreds of school kids going in i wanted to get back in. my version of a migraine. the noise. endless hello what's your name hello what's your name hello....
i wandered around the site for a couple of hours, trying to avoid the school girls, but something just wasn't right, i wasn't feeling nice at all, maybe pms?
enuf. i might as well start trying to get to amman. i needed a taxi to get to the bus station and typical, never any taxis when you want one. a chocolate bar would've helped, but nothing... no shops, no taxis, just lots of noisy traffic.
this was also one of those days when it seemed everyone was staring at me.
hello what's your name hello what's your name, staring, no taxis, no chocolate. aghhh!
then there was a taxi. yay! but man oh man, the two guys in the taxi were taking forever to settle things and get out. finally, i put my bag in the back, shut the trunk, the back door and the front door, as i got in, a little too loudly. with a big smile, he said, shhh... sorry.
i explained i would like to go to the bus station, to go to amman. he is going to amman. oh no. just the bus station please (bus fare to amman, 1 JOD). he will take me to amman for 5 JOD. are you serious (taxi to amman, minimum 15 JOD)? yes, he just brought those two men from amman and is going back empty. i still couldn't believe my fortune. yes, i am a foolish man, and i want you to be happy. and i am a lucky woman.
then he asked if i had time.. he took a little detour and drove me up into the hills outside of town, to the top where there was peace, olive trees, birds chirping, and a beautiful view in all directions. i went off to breathe, he went to pray.
ezzeddine, 50, was a teacher and has been driving taxi for three years. he asked about my trip. i told him i am going to palestine next. he is from palestine, from nablus, but unlike me, he can't go. he bought me a juice and water for the ride. he told me stories and we talked about islam.
he dropped me right at the place i wanted to be in amman. of course i paid him more than 5 JOD, but he wouldn't take what i wanted to give.
he had arrived just in time saving me from the rough patch i was in. and i was left feeling overwhelmed by the kindness, again.
when i saw the ruins as we approached town, i indicated to the bus driver that i wanted off. he did as i asked, but it was no where near the entrance. i walked and walked. a taxi driver going by stopped, asked if i wanted the entrance, yes, get in i'll take you - free. thank you.
but when i got out and saw the hundreds and hundreds of school kids going in i wanted to get back in. my version of a migraine. the noise. endless hello what's your name hello what's your name hello....
i wandered around the site for a couple of hours, trying to avoid the school girls, but something just wasn't right, i wasn't feeling nice at all, maybe pms?
enuf. i might as well start trying to get to amman. i needed a taxi to get to the bus station and typical, never any taxis when you want one. a chocolate bar would've helped, but nothing... no shops, no taxis, just lots of noisy traffic.
this was also one of those days when it seemed everyone was staring at me.
hello what's your name hello what's your name, staring, no taxis, no chocolate. aghhh!
then there was a taxi. yay! but man oh man, the two guys in the taxi were taking forever to settle things and get out. finally, i put my bag in the back, shut the trunk, the back door and the front door, as i got in, a little too loudly. with a big smile, he said, shhh... sorry.
i explained i would like to go to the bus station, to go to amman. he is going to amman. oh no. just the bus station please (bus fare to amman, 1 JOD). he will take me to amman for 5 JOD. are you serious (taxi to amman, minimum 15 JOD)? yes, he just brought those two men from amman and is going back empty. i still couldn't believe my fortune. yes, i am a foolish man, and i want you to be happy. and i am a lucky woman.
then he asked if i had time.. he took a little detour and drove me up into the hills outside of town, to the top where there was peace, olive trees, birds chirping, and a beautiful view in all directions. i went off to breathe, he went to pray.
ezzeddine, 50, was a teacher and has been driving taxi for three years. he asked about my trip. i told him i am going to palestine next. he is from palestine, from nablus, but unlike me, he can't go. he bought me a juice and water for the ride. he told me stories and we talked about islam.
he dropped me right at the place i wanted to be in amman. of course i paid him more than 5 JOD, but he wouldn't take what i wanted to give.
he had arrived just in time saving me from the rough patch i was in. and i was left feeling overwhelmed by the kindness, again.
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