Settling in

Yesterday we finally got to move in to our new den! I say ‘den' since the apartment is underground, partly. We have windows up by the ceiling, but to protect us from unwanted attention (wouldn’t want anyone to peek in while cooking and discovering our secret recipes, right?) the windows are covered with dark film. So we are a bit shielded from the world on “the surface” and are slightly blinded every time we climb up from the den. An upside to living on the downside though is that it is warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer! Something that we will definitely be grateful for in a couple of months. 

Even though the apartment is newly, and completely, renovated, we had some issues when we moved in and I had to do one of the things I hate most - ask the landlords to fix it. So far they’ve got us a kitchen table and fixed the flood in the bathroom, but they have still to fix the heating in the living room, the bathroom door (which won’t close), the three windows that can’t be locked and the closets, which are missing the bars you hang your hangers on. And they promised to help us getting internet in the apartment. But I guess we have to get used to doing (and expecting things to be done) in Jordanian time; slightly slower than we’re used to.

The apartment is really nice though, and so is Amman. We really enjoy the culture of eating falafel and hummus, with bread as your spoon, fork and knife, shopping your vegetables at the market down town, buying fresh bread at the bakery and going to smoky cafés. Yes, our lives revolve around food. But whose doesn’t?

Especially now when it is getting warmer life is quite enjoyable in Jordan. Just last week we huddled around a gas heater in the apartment we shared with four other expats. Covered in blankets, warm socks, scarfs, hoodies and all things warm that we could find. We couldn’t wash because it was so cold and humid inside so nothing ever dried. My shoes were wet for a week because I walked in slushy snow one day and I had to were plastic bags as socks to try to stay dry and somewhat warm.