red sea reality

yesterday I went swimming in the Red Sea for about an hour, I probably swam at least 300 yards, back and forth from dock to dock in our private beach area. The Red Sea is my favorite body of water because there is little current and it is never too cold (I have been there before, just a few miles to the west in Eilat, Israel). 24 hours in Aqaba was the perfect ending to an amazing tour of Jordan, though not long enough. We did not have any major scheduled tour activities, so I was able to enjoy the city, meet some of the locals, and take advantage of the 5+ star amenities at the Intercontinental Resort (perhaps the nicest resort I've ever stayed in - and I've stayed in many). From the amazing sunset and evening walk on the beach, to a relaxing time in the luxurious room with private deck. My evening with King Abdullah (king of myself) was a fun tour of Aqaba's night scene, and gave me a good lay of the land. My morning started out with a workout in one of the nicest gyms/spas where i cranked the Arabic music. Then a luxurious brunch on the patio in the amazingly warm weather, waited on by the Arab staff, I felt like a queen. It was shortly thereafter that I enjoyed my swim in the vast Sea of Tranquility, and basked in the sun in this relaxing tropical paradise.

Highlights of Jordan for me included being able to watch Arabic TV as well as the AlJazeera English channel at the hotels, the integration of Arabic and English together (without Hebrew as I am exposed to in the Israel mix), the packaging and signs, including the small "energy drink" sized cans, containing "regular" beverages, like juice or Pepsi. The similarities to Mexico and Brazil made me feel comfortable and nostalgic at the same time. The main person I hung out with for most of the trip had also traveled to many of the places I was constantly comparing Jordan to, making our connection and new friendship even more exciting. The most memorable aspect was the warmth and kindness of the Jordanian people, like the Bedoins I met in Petra, and the locals in Aqaba. The Western perspective of the Arab World is FAR DIFFERENT from anything I've experienced here personally. I have NEVER met a hostile, terroristic, or even unkind Arab person. Within just 24 hours in Aqaba I met so many people, full of kindness and reaching out in friendship, and hearing about their lives and culture one-on-one was the most valuable part of the tour.

I will go back to Jordan again before the end of my Middle East residency. Its rich cultural history and society creates such an amazing vibe, leaving me thirsty for more. I am attracted to the peacefulness and (in most areas) simplistic lifestyle of this country, despite its geographic proximity to more intense areas in the Middle East. And having the much needed personal time at the Red Sea, after about a month of traveling and writing research papers was just what I needed to re-focus on reality, or perhaps to transcend it.