The other night was Jordan Fiscal Reform Project II (JFRP II)’s Iftar. An Iftar is the breaking of fast at sundown for Muslims during Ramadan. An Iftar is like Thanksgiving Dinner every night of the week for a month! It is a huge feast - Mainly celebrated with family. However, businesses will put on Iftars for counterparts, coworkers, and friends from time to time.This Iftar
was celebrated at the Hotel Intercontinental. We arrived about 6:45pm. Since Mark is the COP (Chief of Party) and his project was funding this event, he was there to meet and greet. Seating and hierarchy is of great importance to Jordanians. Mark was sitting at the head table with the Minister of Finance, his wife, and several other government officials. There is 10 to a table and I would make one too many. I offered and was asked to sit at a different table. Technically, I wasn’t suppose to be there as this was for people associated with the project only – being a wife just didn’t count. However, I was the unofficial official photographer for some of the events making me “associated with the project”. So I got to sit with the “media” group.So, why is this important? Well, it’s not really important to me, but as I said, it is important to the Jordanians. I had some wonderful people come up to me and tell me that they were very upset I was not seated at the same table as Mark. I had to reassure them that it was OK for me NOT to be sitting there; that it was OK with both Mark and me to be separated for this event. The last thing I wanted was for Mark to get flack for where I was sitting. However, I did appreciate the concern that was shown for me.
Iftar not only includes fasting from food and water but from smoking. The women at my table were more interested in smoking than eating…..I guess that’s why they were so thin! LOL! There was a huge feast with all kinds of salads, breads, meats, chicken, lamb and desserts too numerous to count!
I went to Mark’s table to say hello to the government officials as I didn’t want to be rude. Mark ended up sitting with me for the last part of the program which was a play put on in Arabic by a famous Jordanian actress of whom I’ve never heard. Although I did not understand one word, it was obviously a very funny play, poking fun at the government and specifically the Minister of Finance. He took the jokes in fun. Mark and I enjoyed watching Widad who was doing a lot of laughing herself. All in all it was a very fun evening.
Mark has been to separate Iftars. One with just men only and one with just senior staff of the project.
We enjoyed another Iftar with a woman that works with Mark. It was her husband and 3 of her 4 daughters as well as Ruba and Leo and Christina. The woman is a lawyer, her husband is a physician – specifically an OB/ GYN. The daughters were all so pleasant and personable – especially the youngest who had the most sparkling eyes! There was enough food for 2 armies. It is Jordanian custom to put the food on your plate – something I really try and avoid. I wish to TRY a bit of everything and they want you to EAT everything. I took a few grape leaves and the husband took the spoon from me and gave me about 12!! There was still so much to eat! I am really working on this. I feel like all we do is eat and I don’t have much control over this. Leo explained that the concept/philosophy/custom whatever the correct word, is to show people you have plenty, especially foreigners. This helps me understand but I still don’t want all that food!!
Well, that is my problem, not theirs. We had a wonderful time with some wonderful company.
Ramadan is coming to an end. This is called Eid which is apparently a big event. I am heading home prior to Eid. I am at London’s Heathrow Airport right now waiting for my connection to Washington DC…..home.
