Job Discussion Forums

[AltHold]

Some Q's for expats in Amman:

1. What it like living there (family and two kids).

2. What's the tuition like for the Int'l schools for the kids?

3. What's the best area to live in?

4. How much does it take for a family of 4 to live on? I know, big generalities... depnds a lot... just assume an average family.

5. Can foreigners own property? How much would a half decent apartment in a good area cost to buy? Just middle of the line.

Thanks!

[ghost]

I went to Amman in 1996. I enrolled at the University for the Arabic course for foreigners. I did not stay long (moving on to Egypt), finding Amman to be a concrete jungle with few redeeming qualities. Most of the people I met were either of Palistinian origin, or refugees from Iraq. There was nothing to do there, except go to the Old City ruins, and walk the streets - but the people, I found, were not so friendly. Civil - yes...friendly - not really.

Jogging on the trail above the city, one afternoon, resulted in stones being thrown by the local boys. Questioning the price of fruit in the market, one day, resulted in angry words from the storekeeper. A visit to the local fun fair one evening, resulted in a verbal attack from a local who exclaimed that all foreigners should be banished from Jordan.

Maybe, I was unlucky, but when you have experiences like the above, it does not want to make you stay for long in that place.

Aqaba, I found, to be a much more pleasant city. All the travellers that I met, told me that Damascus, Syria, was a much more pleasant city to live in, for foreigners.

Ghost in Korea

[bigbadsuzie]

Ghost certainly is a determined traveller. To keep on travelling yet never finding a place he can call home. Bravo!

[scot47]

Given the historical background it is surprising that the locals are not more hostile to visitors from the West ! (and Canada !)

[Cleopatra]

I visited Amman - albeit briefly - and had quite a different experience from the above poster. I found people there to be quite friendly - though perhaps not as outgoing as in neighbouring Syria - and encountered little or no hostility.

Mind you, I didn't go jogging on 'trails'. Or anywhere else, for that matter.

[007]

[veiledsentiments]

[Cleopatra]

I could be wrong, VS, but I suspect the above remark was Abba's attempt at irony and wit...

[007]

[cmp45]

My experience of Amman was a positive one as well. Although I never worked there I have spent holidays there and have never incountered any hostility in the markets, shops, local bars, heritage sites or just exploring the neighbourhoods...the people were always very helpful and friendly. The children were very inquisitive, but they never threw stones at me, mind you I wasn't jogging either
So perhaps Ghost maybe you were the exception???

[veiledsentiments]

[Bindair Dundat]

[bigbadsuzie]

[veiledsentiments]

[Bindair Dundat]