The generation I come from is when girls could get married at a young age and have it be okay. People in Jordan believe that it doesn't’ matter how old you are as long as you can provide for yourself and your family, and you show that you are capable of beginning a new life with a new family. My family used to live in Jordan before I was born. My mom wanted at least one of her kids to be from our home town. And luckily it was me. My dad, at the age of 22, had build up the opportunity to begin a new family business in Jordan. My parents lived their whole life in Jordan, and my dad decided to come to America for better business. He opened up a clothing/shoe store not far from where we live. I was only a year old when we came to America, so I never had the chance to live the life like my parents did in Jordan, but I don’t regret it. When my mom tells me stories about when she was little, it makes me feel as if I were there. The way she describes the sounds, the taste of food, the warmth of people’s hands when you greet someone, makes me feel as if never grew up there my whole life. I haven’t visited since, but I am planning to go soon, hopefully the summer before I start college. My life would have been different if I stayed in Jordan, especially my friends and the language I speak. The clothes I wear wouldn't be the same as i choose today. My mentality would be duller since everything is so serious there compared to here. It would be hard for me to play sports, go outside, or even go swimming since a lot of people like to judge. Middle Eastern parents expect everyone’s kids to be doctors. That’s why I’m going to major in biology. I want to get in to the medical field, growing up that’s what I was told to do. But I actually liked studying it in school. So, you can say my parents picked my lifestyle, but I’m the one who’s going to live it. Growing up as a child I never thought I would be going to college so soon. I still remember the day I started kindergarten and as a senior I’m still getting dropped off by Mommy at school. Some things never change, but growing up a lot has changed. And soon more things will change but for good. Maybe better. And I’m glad my parents raised me the way they did, with strictness and with kindness that allowed me to grow up with a mentality of getting my life on track and to be successful in life.
Map of jordan, amman
Map of Jordan, Amman. Where I was born on october 8, 1994 and spent the first few years of my life here. I moved to California when I was just 3 years old and didn't speak English, untill I started school. I never been to Jordan since my birth. When I have my life settled, I want to visit my family and old friends, and to have my parents tell me stories about the times I had in my home town. Its a chapter in life where you have to go back in time when you first started your life to continue futher opportunities. I hope to learn about my culture and how my parents and family grew up. Its an oppprtunity to learn my background and a deeper meaning of being "Middle Eastern."