Familiar features: I know your last name
For one reason or the other, it seems that Jordanians are quite gifted at recognizing ones family just by looking one in the face, and studying ones features for a short while. This is not theoretical; it springs forth from personal experience.
Possibly, one of the reasons behind this unique talent these people enjoy is the size of their country. With a country as fittingly designed as Jordan is to hold its children close to heart, it is not at all uncommon to be approached by a stranger who knows your family name and, in most cases, a handsome number of your kinfolk.
Yet another reason behind the miraculous abilities of the people could be the highly social nature, good or bad, of their community. Now regarded as a setback for the growth and development of a more open society, there is no denying that the emphasis elaborated on social relationships helps the people trace each others lineage by a look.
Think of all the Jahas and wedding parties that involve large numbers of people from different families, those alone, if it is not audacious to claim, can put one together with hundreds of people. And since those social activities are never-ending; one learns of the distinctive characteristics each family carries.
Notwithstanding all that, it still is a mind-boggling phenomenon but such that makes you feel Jordan is really one big family turned into a country.
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June 9th, 2006 at 3:44 pm
Hi Tololy.. I so agree with you! It’s funny that someone out of no where and asks you that you are from this family. I got people asking me that I don’t know if so and so is my brother.. and I am like yeah.. So there is similarities there.. but just in general an entire family all looking alike.. it is amazing just guessing the right last name.
June 10th, 2006 at 1:31 am
<p>This is so true! I can almost pick out Hejazeens and Batarsis.</p>
<p>I met a very distant relative in Jordan, she was Welsh, I’m American . We are both Jones’, a very common name, and we had the same great-great-grandfather in a remote corner of Wales who was a famous poet. And we looked the same!</p>
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June 10th, 2006 at 3:18 am
<p>That’s such a good observation. You’re right, it’s exactly like that. One big family turned country. Everyone knows pretty much everyone else. Which means that it is the source of great power at a huge price</p>
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June 10th, 2006 at 9:50 am
So Tololy,it’s not just me?
June 10th, 2006 at 10:14 am
Salam, it <em>is</em> just you (so far) and I think you really should use your talent more liberally, maybe think of a project or something of the sort :)
June 10th, 2006 at 11:35 am
I think u must be finding it at times funny, but on other occasions heavy: the sense of belonging on the one hand but, on the other, to be a signifier of an entity beyond (or, even, instead of) yourself. For a westerner it could be a reason for changing his/her family name, or wearing a venetian mask :)
June 10th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
ohh, collectivism rocks!! (sarcastic)<br />Anyhow, in the end, genes do exist!<br />
July 2nd, 2006 at 5:18 pm
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">L0o0olz..</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Yesterday I was soaking in the Ahli Club pool when I was approached <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>by a lady who asked<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>: IS folan al folanei related to you ?i said yes ..am his daughter ..do I know you mam?</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">She smiled and said : Tell him that <place>Om</place> flan says hi and kiss your mom for me </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">My mom called her<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>today and told her that : how did you know that TOTO was our daughter ?!!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">She said : weel , she has your branch of the family eyes and her father upturned nose and smile I could see Khalil Saleh in her laughter ..i had to talk to her <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and know if she was whom I thought ..</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Funny .</p>