Hospitality Builds Bridges

I had the opportunity to study abroad this past semester in Amman, Jordan. I’m not going to lie, I was a bit nervous about living in a foreign country for four months and attempting to learn the basics of a challenging language, while learning the ins and outs of a culture so opposite of mine in many ways.  

As soon as we walked up the street, he blew his whistle and beckoned us over.

But experiencing Arab hospitality made transitioning into a foreign country easier. One of my first encounters with this hospitality was through a security guard named Abu Ali, posted on one of the main streets near our apartment in Amman. We were sent on a scavenger hunt to get a feel for our neighbourhood. As soon as we walked up the street, he blew his whistle and beckoned us over. He introduced himself in what little English he knew and explained that every time we come down the street we should say hello to him. It was so comforting to have this kind of welcome, and made me feel so much better about getting out and exploring the city.

Another experience that amazed me was going downtown to all the shops and markets. In almost every store I entered, I was greeted with an “ahlan wa sahlan” (welcome) and a small cup of Arabic coffee. Shop keepers wanted to get to know me, and took the time to hear my story as well as share about their lives. Can you imagine walking into a department store, and being greeted by a salesperson who pulled up a chair for you and handed you a cup of tea?! It came as a shock to me but I quickly grew to love this show of hospitality and kindness.

In almost every store, I was greeted with an “ahlan wa sahlan” (welcome) and a small cup of Arabic coffee.

Practicing hospitality, such a biblical practice, is ingrained into Arab culture. People asked me if it was hard to be in a Muslim-majority country, but I’d never seen the values of Jesus being practiced so clearly and visibly, especially towards us “foreigners in the land”.

The family and tribe are very important in Arab culture. This is one of the areas where our cultures differ. Jordan is a very collectivist society, while in North America, we tend to be more individualistic. For Arabs, your family is your protection. They provide for you and help you find connections such as jobs or a future spouse.

Hearing that our travel agent invited us into his tribe as family was a great honour. They hosted us for a traditional Jordanian dinner, and served us the national dish, mansaf (rice, lamb, and yogurt sauce). It is served on giant platers and eaten with only your hands. This visible display of hospitality to strangers again astounded me. This family prepared this time consuming and costly meal for twenty people!

I’d never seen the values of Jesus being practiced so clearly and visibly, especially towards us “foreigners in the land”.

I sat across from the father of the house, Abu Nidal, and throughout the whole dinner, he kept giving us the best pieces of meat from the dish. I learned that this was what a host always does for his guests. It was such a kind gesture that reminded me that we should always do our best for others, as if we are serving God, just as the Israelites were told to sacrifice the best meat in the Old Testament.

Hospitality builds bridges. When you get to know someone and share food and drink with them, you start to break down barriers of judgement and misconceptions. Someone you once thought was so different from you can quickly go from stranger to friend. Hospitality is all about serving others with an open heart and mind. We can begin the process of humanization when we sit down and hear people’s stories. Look for the image of God in every person you interact with.

I want to become more aware of opportunities to have conversations with people.

For me, I want to practice seeking out friendly interactions with people. I want to become more aware of opportunities to have conversations with people, especially during everyday activities like walking down the street, riding the bus, and interacting with customers at work. I want to practice a posture of openness and invitation. I was really wowed by people’s service of their time in fellowship and I want to be more giving of my time in this way. My time in Jordan challenged my faith—for the better.