Part of our history in Amman… the 80’s and 90’s

I just received this email from a friend, which eventually she summarized the culture which i grew up on. it brought me back some wonderful memories and i thanked GOD for what a happy childhood he gave me. I thought it would be great to she it with you

For those of you who still do not know what “Kummesteir” means, let me know!

Grew up in Amman in 80’s and 90’s and can relate to the following:

- You watched Al Manahel everytime it’s on, and you know what does “Aqwa men al Shadda, Ahda2 men Al Sukoon” mean!

- You can recite the theme songs of Jongar, Grendizer, Al Rajol El Hadidi, Lady Lady, Sally, Adnan Wa Lina, Al Haddaf

- You watched: Captain Majed, Sandy Bell (even if you’re a boy), Judy Abbott, Bell wa Sebastian, Al 7oot El Abyad, Lady Oscar (bass balash lady, abu el shabaab), Labeeba (who we never tend to know she got hair for hands or hands for hair), Sonbol, Tamtamm, Jazeerat El Kanz, Maymouna, Al Ra7alou El Sa3′eer, Flona, Sindibad, Tom Sawyer
- You watched Eftah Ya Semsem, and later on in your life found out it’s the Arabic version of Sesame Street.

- You know the two flavours of ‘Shokalatet Moody’. Yellow and Pink

- You bought from Dukkaneh: Dam3a, Zaki, Double Wheel, Tootoo (Tweety), Raas El 3abed, SB 3elket Ma5addat, Roco, Tiger Chocolate, Shebs Ringo, Askimo, Shukala 3ammar, 3elket Mentaad, Halawani Shebs, Baskoat Marie, Katakeet, Mr Shebs (not CHIPS, SHEBS - haha), Petra Ice Cream (the ‘expensive’ one with double layers), the red ULKER chocolate with the cubes.

- You know the tune the Cotton candy man does (Sha3r El Banat)

- You played Ghommayeh, 6ummayeh or whatever you call it and when you touch the ‘place’ you say “Kummesteir” and ’til now you don’t know what the hell it means!

- You know “Al 7ezam El Azraq” and you own at least one VHS or Betamax from them

- You sang “Happy Nation” and “All That She Wants” and thought you’re dead-on cool!

- You know Abu Yousef, and you can at least sing one of the three songs of his

- In the back of your mind there’s a song called “Tgool Ahwak” by an ancient Jordanian band called Mirage

- You drew Fido Dido at a certain phase of your life

- You had a pair of big white sneakers, and most of you had Reebok Pump.

- Atta-Ali and Jabri were the best restaurants in town.

- You ate “7alaqaat El Basal” (onion rings) in Funny Bunny

- You had a SAKHR AX170 Keyboard and you played on it night and day. “Masafa” was written next to “Space”.

- You had an Atari, and somewhere in your house you still have that Joystick.

- You thought that “Ya Ayoha El Maleko El Ajal” by that Sofia woman was the new Anthem for Jordan

- Your family had a workshop in the house, laminating your books’ covers with what is called “Tajleed Contact”

- You took ages to pick the ’suitable’ name labels for your books

- After laminating the books, you go to school with some having bubbles in them. And you know what you did in class with these

- you watched American movies on “3amman El Tanyeh”

- “Yahya El Thakaa2!”

- You know three bees: Zeina, Nahool and Sewar el Asal.

- “Bestek Bestek Bestek NAW, Shukalata Jersey makla el GAW”

- You Had nightmares about Abu Shakoosh

- You wore “Boat Amigo Bedwi w Betfi”, and walked proudly in the Jordanian streets

- You actually saw a Monkey in “7adiqat al Tuyoor”

- You know the song “The Final Countdown” as the theme for Dehanaat National (National Paints)

- You consumed Zeit and Za3tar sandwiches in school that could feed 50 families for 10 years

- Your local Disney Land was Mujamma3 Bank El Iskan
- Your other Disney Land was Luna Park
- Your third Disney Land was Da3saan Lel Tarfeeh

- You cut your classes in school to go buy Falafel sandwiches from the restaurant next to the school.
Posted by Wael Attili
Filed in Local, Culture, Amman, History, life
courtesy of sha3teely.com