Gas Trucks and Gun Shots

Today is Saturday and according to an email we received a few days ago, this is the day the Jordanian Ministry of Education releases interim results of the high-school exam. "Families throughout Amman often celebrate when the results are announced, and for some the celebration is exuberant. Groups of young adults may drive around in cars blowing horns, and some individuals may shoot into the air. The direct threat is minimal, but traffic can be congested. Please do not be surprised if you hear shooting." I was woken up by the shooting and honking and that's when I realized, Jordanians have a little different way of celebrating - Americans have a nice, quiet meal at the local Olive Garden, and Jordanians honk and shoot into the air. I don't mind it at all, it's kind of fun to see how the guns are being used in a more celebratory way.
Another interesting sound I hear every morning is the Gas Truck. Similar to an ice cream truck in the US, the Gas Truck drives around playing obnoxious music until men and women run out to buy some fuel. The Gas Trucks slowly, with their emergency lights on and the music blaring, drive around different neighborhoods until they make their sales. It's an interesting concept but people need their gas.

So here's a quick update on the family situation. Dema came over and had to talk to Susan about me leaving, they gave me the choice of whether I wanted to stay or not and Dema and I both agree it would be best if I left. I figured out the reason Susan took in two students is because they get paid to host, so Susan was trying to get more money for hosting two. She's very kind but it's kind of weird to figure out your being used to earn some money. So, I'll be moving out tomorrow to my new host family, Dema will be calling me later today to tell me about them, I'm hoping these ones have wireless too. I'm also hoping my new host family has heat, I had to buy a jacket last night, I thought this was the Middle East, what's that all about? The picture is the view from my room in Susan's apartment.