Going to the Movie Theater Alone Isn't So Bad

   Going alone to the theater was actually quite fun and wasn't as awkward as I planned on it being. My husband, Mohammad, works all day at the mall and when I decided to go on a shopping trip while he was working I decided to catch a movie before the mall closed. Since I'm in another country I was a little scared that the actors' voices would be talked over in Arabic but thankfully there was just Arabian subtitles and I could comfortably watch the movie. I went to go see the second Sherlock Holmes movie which may be the reason I didn't become bored but I felt as though it was a great experience and a liberating step for me in dealing with  the restrictions of the middle eastern customs.
     I wasn't in the mood for popcorn, even though it did smell quite wonderful, I opted to skip out on buttered chapped lips and go for an orange smoothie instead. This drink was really great and wish I knew where they sold them outside of the movie theater. After I was directed to my seat the movie was set to start in another 10-15 minutes. The whole row I  was sitting at was completely empty and the rows in front and behind me were quite full which made me feel a little weird at first. However, once the movie started things became enjoyable and I loved the overall experience of being by myself and not having to deal with someone hogging the arm holders or the sound of chewing in my ear. Within the last few minutes of the movie Mohammad walked in the theater to make sure I was there since I had no service and he wasn't able to reach me.
     Although Jordan is a very open country compared to its surrounding neighbors, it's still a middle eastern country and therefore due to a mix of different cultural reasons I don't feel so comfortable  doing too many things alone. It would be different if I was just a tourist for a few weeks but this will be a year-long trip for me and I have to learn to cope with the everyday life here in the city of Amman. So since my options are quite limited during Mohammad's workweek I feel as though I would be completely comfortable with going to the movies alone everyday and I have complete certainty that I'd enjoy myself.
I know this may seem a bit silly for some and going to the movie theater alone is not a big deal but what kinds of things have you done to make you feel a bit more at home while traveling? Maybe I'll try them out too! Thanks for reading!

A Few Tips For Driving In Amman

So I've been in Amman, Jordan for a little over five months now and besides all the cultural changes I've been experiencing the traffic in this city still gets to me. Maybe if I didn't grow up in a small town where your only neighbors were your trees this wouldn't be too big of a shock. However I did, and traffic jams with constant beeping and smoke from large trucks is just something I can't seem to get used to. So I've decided to put together a few tips I've found useful while driving in this ancient crowded city:

• Parking is a free for all and wherever you can fit your car it seems people will park. This means there is a great possibility you will find cars parked behind you and with just enough space on the side you might not be able to open all of your doors. I suggest taking up a lot of space when you park (parking diagonally works great) that way it will be very difficult for other drivers to get too close and when it's time to pull out there will be extra space for your car to maneuver back to the road.
• Always be aware of your surroundings. This should be a no-brainer when driving anywhere but I cannot stress the importance of this tip enough until you actually see for yourself. I used to think NYC was pretty crazy when it came to traffic but at least it was organized! Drivers do not always keep their cars in one lane and stop signs are not at each and every four-way so cars can literally come from any direction. 
• There are tons of extremely narrow side streets that are meant to be two-way roads. However, because cars are parked on both sides of the street only one car can fit through there. If you come across a street like this, which is more than likely, use some kind of hand signal or light flashing technique while pulling to the first available open spot to pull over so they can pass through. Make sure to slow down while driving on these roads and if you notice the other car hasn't noticed you beep a few times to get their attention.
• If you decide to visit this beautiful city and opt for public transportation taxis are the way to go. From what I've seen bus schedules are not always accurate and without any notice the bus may not come at all. There are plenty of taxis driving around and if you're close to a main road this will make it even easier to find one. Rates are quite cheap but if the driver realizes you are a tourist some may overprice it a bit.

Have any of you been to Amman and witnessed their crazy traffic or been to a place and have your own traffic experience? I would love hear some of your stories!
Thanks for reading, Tiffany.

Welcome, This Is My Life!

This is an introduction to my new blog Tiffany's Traveling Journal. I had started a previous blog before but did not keep up with it and instead of randomly posting months later I've decided to create a fresh new blog to start out the New Year of 2012. I love writing about my life but due to work obligations and a little laziness creeping in every now and then I tend not to write as much as I'd like. This blog will be different and I may post too much just to prove to my old self that I CAN put my mind to what I want to accomplish. Years from now I want to look back and compare what my outlook on life is now to what it may be in the future. This is my personal journal and wherever I go (and have internet access) I will be able to share my experiences and even the places I personally can't be my journal can be read by people all around the world through here. Now that's what I call modern day traveling! I love meeting new people and learning new things if you ever want to get in touch with me or want my view on a subject send me a comment and I'll make sure to respond!