"Week 5 & the 5 Things I Wish I Knew" by Ghufran Salih

It has been a whirlwind of emotions these last five weeks in Amman and during them I have learned so much. And I have also realized that I wished I learned some of those things before this week…

Peer pressure will get to your head.

Peer pressure, whether direct or indirect, can still affect you. I felt (and still sometimes feel) an indirect and strong sense a peer pressure while being in Amman. Studying abroad is a very difficult and at times, extremely draining thing, and it leaves you feeling vulnerable. In the first few weeks, you want to find your friends, the group of people that you vibe with and will spend the rest of this incredible experience with. And sometimes to find those people, you have to go out with the big group, go to places that you don’t know or may not have an interest in going to. Not to say you won’t have fun and that the people aren’t amazing, but the group mentality, constantly being surrounded by other people, and going through the stages of culture shock will pile up.

I wish I had learned how to say no.

Don’t pack your shampoo – that just adds to your bag weight.

To me, this statement has a double meaning to it. Obviously packing is stressful and at times you’re unsure of what you should or shouldn’t bring with you (this article saved me a headache during packing) and if you’re like me, you may have underestimated what you can get in country. I am someone who has a particular haircare routine that requires a particular shampoo and conditioner and when it came time to pack my toiletries, I brought an industrial-sized shampoo and conditioner with me. I ended up finding my shampoo and conditioner at a supermarket three days into being in Jordan. I am not saying that this is going to be the case with every single brand, but it’s worth doing some research about what you can or can’t find.

I wish I did my research and packed just a little lighter.

Small bills, small bills, small bills!

I cannot emphasize this enough: CARRY SMALL BILLS. While you’re in Amman, you’ll more than likely have cash transactions more than card transactions in places like the Friday market, select cafes, taxis, restaurants (when you’re splitting a check), and clothing stores. It is so important to have a few 1, 5, and 10 JOD bills on hand so you’re not stuck with four people with only 50 JOD and no change. Most ATMs dispense 50 JOD, so I recommend going into a supermarket or into a bank branch and getting change for that 50.

I wish I carried small bills that one time I was in a taxi. Boy was that awkward.

Your stomach is going to hurt during the first few weeks; you’ll get through it. But bring antacid.

Adjusting to the diet of Jordanian food is a long process. The meals here are heavily bread, cheese, oil, rice, and meat based. I have a vegetable maybe thrice a week and my stomach is not the biggest fan of this concept. But I spent so much time being worried about being sick or if something was wrong with the way I was digesting. There is a certain adjustment period to the food of Jordan that your body will go through and it may take longer than you think but as long as you stick through it and are cognizant of what you’re eating, you’ll get through it. But talking to your host parents about your comfort level with the food they’re making is vital in this process.

I wish I talked to my host mom about food sooner.

Your time alone is going to be precious.

As mentioned in the first section, there is a certain amount of peer pressure and social adjustment that is going to occur as you settle into your life abroad. There are so many amazing group activities that AMIDEAST organizes for students, so many outings that we as students plan ourselves, and so many people who want to go to the mall or a newly discovered cafe around the corner. I put so much pressure on myself to go to every single event and spend time with people outside of class, and then coming home to a roommate and a house full of a family that doesn’t know me yet. I forgot for a second that I am an introvert; I need time to recharge and be alone. And even if you’re not an introvert, you might need that too. Now, I meditate every morning before my roommate gets up, I take walks between my Arabic class and my content classes, and I will lay in my bed and watch Queer Eye alone on a Thursday night because that’s what I need.

I wish I let myself be alone in the first few weeks.