Considering a Teaching Position in Jordan

Welcome on board John 

I can not help you but hopefully others do. What kind of information are you looking for?
This might help others to give their experiences and knowledge.

Hiyya,

I'm a 30-year veteran of living in Arab countries, so I have different views from most.

To be quite frank, it has very little to do with the job or the country; it has much more to do with you!

If you enjoy moaning and whinging, you'll be happy here. There's plenty to moan and whinge about. And if you teach with other expats, you'll find loads of moaners and whingers to share your frustrations with.

If you can tolerate uncertainty and difference, you'll survive quite happily. if you thrive on challenge and overcoming both minor and major annoyances and can laugh in the face of adversity, you'll love it. An unshakeable sense of humour and good grace are essential to happiness here.

A few practicalities:

* It's cold and occasionally rainy and snowy here for much of the year, so bring a good, warm hooded jacket and strong shoes with you.

* Bring your work clothes with you. Good-quality clothes are horrendously expensive in Jordan. Casual clothes are cheap.

* Bring a small EDC bag with you. It's essential for days out.

* You can eat very cheaply or expensively ... just like anywhere.

* Buy locally: cheap. Buy in the malls: expensive. You choose.

* You don't need a car. Taxis are ridiculously cheap and inter-city buses are cheap and good. Don't listen to people who tell you about rip-off taxi drivers. Simply insist on the meter and pay what's displayed. No meter, no ride. Simple!

* Learn Arabic. Lots of people speak English, but most don't. Get out into the local shops and learn the names of the local foods and the numbers. When you get good at Arabic, you'll enjoy life MUCH more than the other expats who insist on speaking English only. Arabic isn't difficult, really. I learned to read Arabic in a couple of weeks of hard work ... and it's made a terrific difference to my life. And the local staff at the school will LOVE you.

* Medical and dental care is excellent, and your school will pay your insurance. If you wear glasses, bring your prescription with you. They're cheaper here. Get some made up here.

Always remember that you are the foreigner here. You don't understand even a tiny fraction of what you see. (Even I, after all this time, understand very little of the reality.)  Jordan will never change to suit you. You must change to suit Jordan. You absolutely must be slow to blame and quick to bless.

When I started my oversea career many years ago, I noticed that some people were permanently happy and excited to be where they were and others were permanently moaning. I soon came to realise that it had NOTHING to do with the place. The happy ones would be happy anywhere, and the moaners would moan anywhere. I made a decision there and then to be happy. And I have been for 30 years in many Arab countries.

If you really want to know whether or not you'll be happy here, take a long, hard look at yourself ... and you'll soon know the answer.

Hope that helps.

John, I moved from DC to Amman last year. It's definitely not DC but it's not bad at all. If you are working at an international school your salary will probably be well above what the general population makes and you will be able to live quite well, and I think that's the real kicker about what your experience will be like IMO.  Amman is an expensive city but your rent will definitely be less than DC and there are some really beautiful apartments!  I have yet to find employment here, I'm a female, married to a Jordanian with a Jordanian level salary, living in a neighborhood where I'm the only "westerner" so my experience would be quite different.  Sometimes I read posts from people living here and it doesn't even seem like we are living in the same country!  Like where I live, we definitely need a car and we don't have private health insurance and the hospital I've been to scared me to death lol.   A lot of the things that I don't like about living here only apply to me because I'm female as well.  Like the poster said above in his wonderful post, Jordan will never change to suit you, you must change and learn to accept that it's not the USA so don't expect things to be like they are back home.  Things work differently here, life is slower and I've learned to appreciate the simple things in life much more and not to sweat the small stuff. One of the first questions people always ask me from back home is if I feel it's safe here, and honestly yes I do.  The food is fantastic. The people in general are very nice and go above and beyond for friends and family. The country is beautiful. Plenty to do and see. For a small country, the different types of terrain amazes me.  Same with climate, It can be freezing at my house but warm enough for a swim 45 minutes away at the Dead Sea.  I love the shopping here but do agree bring suits and dress clothes with you. If you wear above size 10.5 men's shoes and have wide feet finding shoes is hard.  Also, if you think you'll need a new cell phone or laptop soon, buy them before you come as they are much more expensive here and tend not to be the latest technology.  Other than Cheese-It crackers and a Swiffer Wet Jet I've been able to find pretty much everything here as well.

Small correction about the reply from shortfatbaldy: a big part of the year its warm and not snowy or rainy, this is a huge mistake. Not every year there is snow, and when if falls its for a day or four but then you need to stock some food and gas to survive those days.
As for the rain: the official rain season is from October until March, but the rain falls in January and February and most of the time occasionally.

I have no experiences with the weather in Washington, I come from the Netherlands and I can tell  you that the winter here feels colder and more uncomfortable than there.
This has to do with the poor or lack of isolation of the houses and Amman is build on mountains so it lies 800 meter above sea level. Mainly it's warmer outside than inside the house.

I  partly agree about taxi's, if you live close to the school you are going to teach, you probably don't need a car. But if you want to explore the country I suggest to have one, the public transportation outside Amman is not bad but not to your convenient as well.

Spot on ....  what a wonderful contribution ..
If only others would read and take that excellent advice in...
Thanks for such a refreshing post  sfb

Thank you for your most wonderful post. I really enjoyed reading it and I agree with many things you've said. I have a sister living in Jordan, she is very happy with her life.  My husband is also Jordanian, I'm American, and I've been collecting my things to bring to Jordan, to settle, for a year. I am bringing my sister things that she can't get cheaply such as undergarments a computer and the nice warm thermals, some perfume as a gift. I think we're  going to be just fine. Jordan is such a beautiful place and I'm blessed to be able to live there...Again,thank you for the time you spent expressing your experiences, take care . . Fatima

I think the reality is quite easy to understand, u just need to be honest with yourself and others. Then u can decide according to the reactions whether it suits you, is it what u expected, is it a give and take...
Life is different for the ones depending on themselves or the ones married into it. Moaning is up to u, it all depends whether you want to adjust or keep your personality, which attitute you like more.  People around the globe tend to expect a lot and offer little. If u are not married here then u can live ur own life, its a free country. I would rather find out myself since life experiences of others is a world of its own even though in the same country.

Thank you!

There’s an old story about a man and his family walking along a desert road. They came to a small oasis and stopped to rest in the shade and feed and water themselves. As they were sitting, along came an old man who lived there with a small flock of goats.

After the formal greetings, the old man asked, “Where are you going?”.

“We’re going to Medinat Ash-Shimaal,” replied the young man.

“Ah, yes. I know it well,” said the old man.

“Tell me,” asked the younger man, “What are the people like there?”

“Certainly,” replied the old man, “But first tell me where you have come from and how were the people there?”

“Oh, we’ve come from Madinat Al-Janub,” replied the younger, “And the people there were wonderful; friendly, generous and helpful, especially to my wife and young children. I was really sorry to leave so many good friends behind."

“Well, replied the old goatherd, “I’m happy to tell you that you’ll find the people where you going are very much the same.”

After the young family were rested, fed and watered they went on their way happy and looking forward to reaching their destination..

A few days later another young man and his family came the same way and stopped to rest for a while in the cool of the shade of the date palms. As they were sitting, along came the same old goatherd.

After the formal greetings, the old man asked, “Where are you going?”.

“We’re going to Mediat Ash-Shimaal,” replied the young man.

“Ah, yes. I know it well,” said the old man.

“Tell me,” asked the younger man, “What are the people like there?”

“Certainly,” replied the old man, “But first tell me where you have come from and how were the people there?”

“Oh, we’ve come from Madinat Al-Janub,” replied the younger, “And the people there were terrible; unfriendly, mean and obstructive, especially to my wife and young children. I was really happy to leave."

“Well, replied the old goatherd, “I’m sorry to tell you that you’ll find the people where you going are very much the same.”

After the young family were rested, fed and watered they went on their way unhappy and not looking forward to reaching their destination.