I get easily attached to places. Once I know my way around I develop an intimate relationship with my surroundings. A relationship composed of little rituals that are not so obvious to me at while I am there but put a smile on my face when I think back.
- Catching a cab to work or being taught a new Arabic word by the shopkeeper around the corner in Jordan.
- Endless hours on public transport between Nordeck-Winnen and Gießen in Germany combined with the ever-present search for purpose in life besides the regular school work.
- Ordering the same three items over and over again at Boulder Coffee as well as roaming up and down Monroe and Park Avenue day after day in Rochester, NY
Daily routine makes up a large part of our existence and most of the time we forget to appreciate its beauty. While everything else changes it is the one thing that stays the same until we move on.
Those forgotten rituals make me feel homesick for the places I have been to – homesick in a pleasant way as they bring along other memories. Writing about them will hopefully help me not to forget about my homes away from home.
Hello Jonathan,
You forgot the visits to Abu Hatem BBQ place downtown in Amman.
Hussein and me are missing you there :)
Wishing you all the best
by Hassan
on December 29th, 2011
I’ll try to put this to good use immedietlay.
by Chuck
on January 19th, 2012
Yes, Hassan you are absolutely right: Abu Hatem is a quite fabulous place.
by Jonathan Muth
on February 11th, 2012