Jordan is one of the most smallest countries I've known in Asia and not even half of my native country, the Philippines. But like many, it's rich in culture, history and religion. The Middle East kingdom of Jordan is bordered on the west by Israel and the Dead Sea, on the north by Syria, on the east by Iraq, and on the south by Saudi Arabia. It is comparable in size to Indiana. Arid hills and mountains make up most of the country. The southern section of the Jordan River flows through the country.
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| At NAIA International Airport, Manila |
Last February 2010, I flew to Jordan to practice my profession as a nurse, leaving my family and friends to have a greener pasture and personal growth as well.
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| New found friends in the airport.. =) |
It was never easy for me to leave my home land, for which I'm living for the past 22 years of my life. There's so many "FIRSTs" : first time to board the plane, first time in the immigration, first time to be away with my family for more than a year and first time to go out of my comfort zone. For 22 years, I live with the same routine, with the same people and with the same environment. It's a big leap as I opened a new chapter in my life in a different place wherein I don't know anyone, I don't know about anything, language, culture, even one word of Arabic, I'm totally confused and agitated at that time. Mixed emotions of excitement and cowardness enveloped me through out the whole 16 hours journey. Thanks for this new people whom I considered as my new friends, my new "ates" who helped me passed through it.
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| Picture picture in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1: lobby area. |
I'm like a little kid, staring at everything in the plane, observing what other people do and should I do. =) I'm like in pantomime, copying everything from them.
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| Inside the airplane, Oh, I'm so nervous. This is it! |
Aboard the airplane, the food was great although taste was kinda different from the traditional Filipino cuisine that I used to. There was a television attached to every chair and a lofty pillow and a blanket to provide comfort when you sleep. These were some of my observations when I first rode the plane. I'm happy that time, really.
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| Yummy food.. =) |
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| Arriving at Dubai International Airport |
Soon enough, we arrived in Dubai International Airport, our transit airport. As you saw above, the land was all desert. Houses are like matches or those parts on Lego toys or small as houses in the Monopoly. It made me really cry. Am I ready for this? Can I live in Jordan for 2 years? If Dubai, which considered as an open and progressive country looked so deserted for me, how much Jordan would be? Things started to sink in, I'm no longer in the Philippines, I'm miles and miles away from them.
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| At Dubai International Airport |
We stayed in Dubai for around 3 hours before our next flight to Amman, Jordan. While waiting, we grabbed the opportunity to capture some photos.
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| So sleepy while in Dubai |
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| Picture Picture |
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| Two more hours to go for our next flight.. =) |
Those doubt and fear that cast upon me, started to vanish because of the support and encouragement from my fellow nurses who just started their journey with me. Although, it would be tough and lots of trials will come our way, we stayed strong for we know that through this, we will aim our goals.
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| Innocent and strong girls making new journey in life |
At last, Jordan here we come!!
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| A traffic aid in Queen Alia International Airport. This shot was taken in the screen monitor found in passsengers' seats. The man signalling the direction for the airplane to take so it's park accordingly. |
We were greeted by a Jordanian, whom we think a manager or head department of the hospital which we're suppose to work with. His name is Hamzeh, whom we later found out to be the head of the human resource department. =) We were also briefed before that it will be winter time in Jordan when we will arrive there but because I haven't experienced winter yet, I failed to bring a heavier coat with me. I freezing to death when we came out the Queen Alia Airport.
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| My first site of AMC and those raindrops were actually fleet (snow flakes)... =) |
We went to the hospital to have an early lunch, and to have a short tour. The food is grilled chicken. Yehey! Looks so familiar. But oops the rice is yellow??? Yellow??? Hmmm, first taste of arabic food. The hospital was big compared to my previous employment.
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| On our way to the hospital |
After 2 hours in the hospital, we finally went to our hostel. On our way, you can noticed that most of their streets have this circle or loop.
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Seouk Sultan ("seouk" is an arabic word for market)
Look at the snow, it's getting heavier.. =) |
Snow continuously pouring on our way home, like welcoming us and saying "Hey, don't you love snow!" hahaha.. Some of my co-nurses, went down here in Seouk Sultan to buy their coats but me, still embracing the cold day.
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| Vacant lot near our hostel.. with snow. =) |
Just few more blocks and we finally settled in our hostel. We now lived in T'la Al Ali (pronounced as Tlal Ali). Houses were all the same made of stones, like boxes, no paints, same color, no roof nor wood outside. The place was so quiet not like the busy streets of Manila or my place Antipolo. You can't see anyone walking outside, no pollution, no "tambays". I miss my place already, I miss Philippines. I got home sick right there and then, tears fell down my face. For some, it might be happy when your relatives are working abroad, but for us outside the country it's the other way around. We sacrifice more and it frightens us.
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| Outside our Hostel |
This was my new home, my new place where my journey truly begins and memories that will be cherish in the future. This is my Jordan Life.
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| The top view outside our hostel |
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| Winter moments =) |
The following days was our orientation where we were taught of policies, procedures and other matters pertaining to our work.
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| At the Auditorium |
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| While waiting for the bus to come |
We were also given a chance to have our own uniforms in 2 days and do the necessary adjustments if needed. We were oriented about the different areas or departments in the hospital.
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| fitting our new uniforms.. oh I love the blue green =) |
It was also our free time to adjust to this new place and to roam around nearby places such as Carrefour grocery, Sheraton Hotel and Catholic churches. We attend our first mass in Jabbal Hussein, to which I never came back until my last day in Jordan. I really can't memorize the place or the direction. I just overwhelmed with what I see, like ancient times, wide space, old infrastructures and the different aura the place has. Sad to say, I don't have camera that time nor cellphone to capture those moment.
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| Our first mass in Jabbal Hussein. Look, I'm like a lost child here. hahaha.. =) |
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| My new Ates (okti) Elaine (left) and Trina (right) |
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| City Mall Carrefour |
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| grocery time |
We also found new shopping mall: Carrefour, our favorite place for doing our grocery with lots of sale and freebies.. =)
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| Sheraton Hotel, just across our hospital |
And this was how my life in Jordan started and the rest was history. There were lots of memories to share and cherish and lots of lessons learned. I'm thankful for the great opportunity I have there and the people I've met was truly be sculptured in my heart forever.
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| My AMC family |
This is how it all started. The following are the places I've been through or visited in Jordan with my new found friends. Check them out and see the beauty behind JORDAN. =) Click each one for specific post.
J E R A S H
A J L U N C A S T L E
M T. M A I N
D E A D S E A
M A D A B A
M O U N T N E B O
J O R D A N R I V E R
A Q A B A
P E T R A
W A D I R U M
W A D I M U J I B
C I T A D E L
Z A Y A L - S A L T
P.S. Enjoy touring the Ancient Jordan.
