preparing for jordan

in less than one week i'll be riding a camel in the desert...

i've started doing some research on what to expect, how to behave, and most importantly how to dress... though jordan is, of course, much more tolerant of western behaviors than other places in the middle east, i still want to be prepared.

here are a few things i've learned.

1. though it will be warm, it is best to wear long pants and long sleeve shirts. opaque clothing that covers the arms and legs is fine. the neck should be covered with a scarf. sean misled me into thinking anything goes, so i'm glad i read up on this.

2. jordanian women typically don't wear their long hair falling below their shoulders. so i guess i'll be clipping mine up as it is currently pretty long.

3. never point or reveal the sole of your shoes to someone. keep them pointing down. speaking of pointing, don't point. in jordan pointing casts the evil eye.

4. one cannot drink alcohol in public. the few places where alcohol can be consumed are in your hotel room, around private hotel pools, and in restaruants and cafes where you find alcohol on the menu.

5. because of the temperatures one must drink upwards of five liters of water a day during the summer months. the bedouin people will typically not drink water in front of tourists. following their lead will quickly leave you dehydrated.

6. i am likely to experience stomach problems.

overall, from what i've read and heard jordan sounds like an easy place to travel, thank goodness. to tell you the truth, it's nice to travel to a place where it IS necessary to make adjustments in dress and behavior for a change. i'm excited to try different foods, drink lots of tea, do a little bargaining, partake of the hubbly-bubbly, and ride the aforementioned camel.

now i just need to go shopping for a few appropriate clothing items. this girl is way too used to stripping down to a tank top and shorts when the temperature rises above 70 degrees...