Unexpected Exit
Well folks, it looks as though my time here in Jordan has come to an end. I’m not going to go into details, but the short and skinny of it is that I’ll be leaving in just a couple of days.
I’m going to truly miss Jordan and the wonderful friends I’ve made here. This country and its people will always have a special place in my heart. My wish is to one day see Jordan reach its potential as the jewel of the Middle East. There are still many things that must be accomplished before that goal is reached, but it is obtainable and you (yes, you) can make difference.
I’ll be sure to keep in touch with my close friends, and I’ll still be reading all of my favorite Jordanian blogs in order to stay current with local news and cultural happenings. Until (and if) we meet again, I bid you Adieu.
Dave
(The person formally known as The American in Jordan)
Hani Obaid May 3rd, 2008 2:06 pm
I hope it wasn’t an emergency.
Good luck wherever you will go.
Will you maintain this blog ?
7aki fadi May 3rd, 2008 3:03 pm
Bummer
But as they say all good things have to come to an end. So good luck and I hope you keep blogging. If not on this site then on new one
Nour May 3rd, 2008 3:13 pm
Good Luck
kinzi May 3rd, 2008 3:31 pm
Dave, 3anjad we’ll miss you! No time for a good-bye party??? God bless you on your next leg of the journey.
Qabbani May 3rd, 2008 4:10 pm
Hey ,
We should do something for u before u leave
hatem abunimeh May 3rd, 2008 4:54 pm
Dave,
If you are returning to the US I say welcome home buddy. If at any time in the future you happen to be in the land of Lincoln , please don’t hesitate to stop by my house.
Dave May 3rd, 2008 5:13 pm
Thank you, everyone, for the well wishes. Hani, it’s not an emergency per se, but it is something that needs to be taken care of in the States. And sorry, Kinzi, there’s no time for a good-bye party. I simply have too many logistical details to take care of in the next couple of days before we leave. And Hatem, if I’m ever in Illinois, I’ll be sure to let you know.
YFA May 3rd, 2008 7:10 pm
Best wishes dude!
hamede May 3rd, 2008 7:46 pm
Ar you keeping the blog name the same.
Mohanned May 3rd, 2008 8:00 pm
Good luck man.
Summer May 3rd, 2008 9:15 pm
Wish you and your family safe travel and many good things to come your way wherever you are going to settle…the thing that sucks about it, is that your departure is so sudden!!I guess no time for goodbyes to your friends but i know you will be around online and i will be following your blog for sure!
Wish you the best.
mab3oos May 3rd, 2008 10:03 pm
Good luck and help us spread the word that Jordan is really a nice place to be.
UmmZaid May 3rd, 2008 11:01 pm
What a bittersweet surprise. I counted on A.i.J. to keep me aware of happenings in the HKJ that I don’t have the Arabic skillz or connections to understand or know about (like Papa John’s not offering delivery). But this is such a beautiful time in the States… I wish I was going.
Tala May 3rd, 2008 11:46 pm
safe trip and all the luck wherever you go, it was nice reading your blog during your stay and flickr too
Ziad d May 4th, 2008 5:39 am
Godspeed! Please keep us updated through your blog.
Ola May 4th, 2008 7:37 am
Good luck to you and your family… So now the blog’s name is going to change? I imagine it would be “An American ONCE in Jordan”
Have a safe trip
Zed May 4th, 2008 7:50 am
good luck and keep blogging, you can change your blogs name to just An American lol… maybe not
UmmFarouq May 4th, 2008 9:40 am
We will miss your insight, your sarcasm, your observations. Thanks for being an American in Jordan!
Farah May 4th, 2008 4:44 pm
I hope you keep blogging!
and good luck!
MommaBean May 4th, 2008 5:14 pm
WAAAAAAHHHHH!!! No Dave No! Well, we’ll want to follow you as you get settled and we’ll keep you on notice for the next event. You’ll just have to come back for it. I suppose the blog name could become Once an American in Jordan? Know that we’re all crying in our beer (or aple juice actually) and will miss you.
bakkouz May 5th, 2008 8:00 am
Good luck in all your endeavors my friend, and best of wishes to you and your family.
Um Omar May 5th, 2008 9:22 am
Wow! Sorry to see you go and stop being an American in Jordan. I guess the rest of us will have to pick up the slack. Take care of yourself and your family. Hope to see your photos around online. Best wishes in your travels.
Dave May 5th, 2008 1:23 pm
Thanks, everyone, for the virtual send-off. Having to leave Jordan is, indeed, bittersweet. I’m really going to miss so many people, places and things. Today is my final day in the country and I’m finding myself in a state of hurried depression as I pack and work out the remaining logistical details.
I will probably maintain the blog (yes, even under the same URL, although I may change the style and the name at the top of the page eventually), although I’m not sure how often I will have a chance to blog in the immediate future. As things settle down and I figure out my groove, I’m hoping to be back in full force.
I wish everyone the best. Adios!
Dean Peters May 5th, 2008 2:59 pm
No, no, no!
I just discovered your blog - hoping to live vicariously through it - and now you’re leaving!
No, I refuse to believe it!
Moey May 6th, 2008 6:12 am
bye Dave.
I will understand the reason I know.
I’m leaving Jordan as well, sooner than I expected. Amman is a nice place, drives me into depression.
Hareega May 8th, 2008 6:50 am
I hope you’ll continue blogging and have a safe trip back,
if you come near Tucson let me know we’ll have have some mansaf together
Jano May 10th, 2008 10:37 pm
oooh i just saw this! too bad … wish u all the best here or there..
funny how you wrote this post the same day i was leaving the US coming back to Jordan
Best of luck to you and your family
mo May 17th, 2008 1:33 pm
so now ur just a plain american :/
well, for what its worth i like your blog so i hope you continue blogging
MommaBean June 25th, 2008 3:11 pm
Still missing you, will you EVER blog again?!
Yazan July 14th, 2008 1:32 am
That’s so sad! I really enjoyed your blog, and hoped for more to come. Having an American’s point of view on the happenings of the country was really enjoyable.
I refuse to believe that it’s over.
zeina July 17th, 2008 6:17 am
lucky.
i wish i could leave too. but sadly im here another four years. i moved to jordan last year and i would occasionally read this blog.im only fourteen. i love the fresh sarcasm in your entries, its nice to know there are things that oher americans find amusing about the country, but i cant help but wonder if you have even noticed that women are treated horribly. people are incredibly superficial. i cant be taken seriously by anyone because i have blonde hair. i am half jordanian and still cant stand the country. im glad you feel like less of an arrogant american for getting some sort of a cultural experience or whatever all the expats call it.
happy travels.