Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DAILY LIFE
Importance of Family
Family ties are all-important to both modern and
traditional Jordanians and paying respect to par-
ents is where the sense of obeisance to elders is
engendered. Socialising generally entails some
kind of get-together with the extended family,
with lines drawn loosely between the genders.
This is reflected in terms of physical divisions
within the house, where separate seating areas
Jordan has a regionally renowned education sys-
tem; literacy levels are 95% for Jordanian males,
and 85% for females. About 97% of children attend
primary school, and school is compulsory for chil-
dren from the ages of five to 14.
are reserved for men and women.
Meals are generally eaten on the floor, with everyone gathered around several trays of
food shared by all. More traditional families are often quite hierarchical at meal times. The
grandparents and male head of the house may eat in one circle, the latter's wife and the
older children and other women in the family in another, and the small children in yet an-
other.
In the evenings locals in the cities may window shop, stroll around the streets, enjoy a
leisurely meal, go to the cinema or watch TV. Men may pass the time in a local coffee-
house, playing cards, smoking a nargileh (water pipe) or perhaps watching European foot-
ball on the TV, while the kids play the real thing on the streets outside or diligently attend
to homework.
THE ROYAL WOMEN OF JORDAN
Two influential women have helped shaped the modern face of Jordan. Both have used their marriage into royalty to
make positive social changes and have set up nationally respected charities.
Queen Noor
Royal Connection
Fourth wife of former king, King Hussein (now deceased); married in 1978.
Former Name
Lisa Halaby; adopted the name Queen Noor upon conversion to Islam.
Former Occupation
Architect and urban planner.
From
Washington DC; studied at Princeton.
