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 After a long day of travel and exploring Wadi Rum on the back of a pickup and camel, we arrived f
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 [20220222_212648.jpg] After a long day of travel and exploring Wadi Rum on the back of a pickup and camel, we arrived for dinner at Amena’s family home in Petra quite tired. A homestay dinner had been arranged with Amena’s family, including her brother, daughters, nieces, and nephews for a unique cultural experience. Our energy levels picked up the minute we sat down in the living room and her brother, Sohaeb began pouring us a shot of coffee and explaining the coffee customs of the Bedouin (desert nomads). In Jordanian culture, drinking coffee has more meaning and ritual than drinking tea, which is just like having a beer in the pub with friends and easy conversation. After three shots of coffee, it’s customary to stop drinking, otherwise you’re telling the host her coffee is too weak. You can stop after one or two shots with a simple shake of your coffee glass. If you push your coffee glass in front of you, it’s a sign you are asking for a request – this is usually done for serious business and conflict resolution. For the host, it means you have to do whatever is possible to fulfil the request of the person asking! The family took us into the kitchen to show how they dish up goat mansaf, a traditional Jordanian dish. Amena’s secret for the most tender meat is to use fresh meat – like right from the fields fresh. And in order for it to be its most tender, it must be under 20kg. She then does all the cleaning and preparation herself. She refuses to use anything other than fresh food in her cooking – nothing frozen has ever passed her lips.
Then we all sat down in the dining room to a feast of mansaf, roast chicken, salad, and eggplant fatteh. Amena and Sohaeb shared more about their family and their traditions and customs like weddings that host up to 1500 people for a week of celebrations and how the community pulls together when there is a death and funeral to help the grieving families. [20220222_215123.jpg] Amena beamed with pride and love when she spoke of her children and how successful they are. Her eldest daughter, Subrina was due to fly out at 4:30am the next morning to Chicago to begin an internship with a doctor. And instead of spending these last precious moments together, they chose to spend it with us. (We only later found out that all her children were death, and only for a slight speech impediment, you never would have known.) Throughout the meal, my eyes kept pricking with tears, so overcome I was by their warmth and hospitality. They welcomed 11 strangers into their home to “share from their heart, their happiness and gratitude that we would sit with them and get to know the Bedouin and Jordanian people to then share it with you.” Would my own culture do the same, especially with people who are so different? Those tears threatened to spill over when Subrina walked over to sit behind her mother and warmly embrace her with such love. It made me instantly long for the warm embrace of my own daughters and the special bond we share. We moved to the living room for sage tea and dessert to further share our cultures. We were shocked to discover that the eldest son knew our friends Anne and Mike from Honeytrek, they had experienced a similar experience with the family five years ago! Subrina (amongst her packing) had cooked a mouth-watering gluten free carrot cake especially for me. I was overwhelmed by her consideration and kindness. I took a bite, my eyes widening in surprise at how moist and delicious it was, and I turned to my friend Michael to tell him he needed to go get a slice. I spied Subrina watching for my reaction, and I shouted, “this is absolutely delicious,” She sighed and broke into a broad grin. These are the moments I live for and seek out when I travel. These are the moments I most want to share with you – the warmth, goodness, and love that is present in all people around the world. We often forget, or refuse to see it, because of negative (sometimes false) narratives spilling out through our digital monitors. In my travels spanning 24 years across over 50 countries and cultures, I’ve rarely experienced a reality that strays too far from what we experienced in this Muslim home in Petra. From people, who like you and me, just want to be seen and heard for their unique stories and the love and joy that emanates from within their hearts and homes. Now more than ever we need to “build bridges of peace and love” between our differing cultures. (Story coming soon of Rushkin who shared this phrase with us!) I am so happy I get to do that in some small way through my email stories to you! Caroline ------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you randomly arrived here and want to join my email community who receives stories like this on our travels, [subscribe here.]( Â
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