things i like about being in jordan

skype:
well it’s not jordanian,
but i can make calls here to the states for, like, 2 cents a minute.

affordable healthcare:
i met the local midwife here for the first time yesterday.
she’s a likeable auntie (as they call them here) with 9 fingers.
she’s caught about 2000 babies a year in a 20-something year career
of bringing children in the world,
so them nine fingers know how to do their thing.
she charges JD200 for prenatal care and homebirths.
that’s a little less than US$300.
i had my hemoglobin tested for JD3.
not only was it cheap, but they tested by blood and gave me the results in less than 15 minutes.

unfortunately rahmah is sick with a bronchial infection.
we got to see a pediatrician, last minute, on the same day for JD8!
her medications cost more.
she had 5 different medications costing about JD15.