At first, the new meal times took getting used to, especially including the fact that many households here don’t eat dinner because of the late and large lunch servings. However, I have come to appreciate that the culture emphasizes eating together and not rushing through lunch. Lunch is mostly eaten with family. There are a lot less fast food options in Jordan. too.
Also, at first a lot of the foods may seem unusual. For example, my breakfast one day included a ball of strong hard white cheese, called Labaneh, in a pool of olive oil. However, by trying all of the new foods at least once, you can have so many amazing experiences.
My host family is also really kind in helping me adapt. On days that I have classes until 6 p.m. in the evening, and will therefore miss the typical lunch time, I am given a small packed lunch to eat. Then, when I get home, my host family will save me some leftovers from their full lunch. One of the first words I learned in this dialect of Arabic after arriving here is زاكي, or "tasty", that I use on a daily basis to describe the foods I eat.
The first and most important cultural lesson we received from our language teachers is that in Jordan, food is love. That may sound a little silly, but it is true. Families come together for food often. They also ask many times a day if you are hungry or want more to eat, they save you food or dishes you like for later, and they will go out of their way to let you try foods, and share their favorite foods with you. For example, my host grandparents, who live in the same building, told me that next week they will make mansaf, the national dish, for me because they found out I haven’t had it yet.
