The Arab ‘five minutes’ rule
Jordanians like being spontaneous and laid-back, particularly when it comes to arranging arrangements and appointments. People may just turn up and hang around, or they may request you to come over at a specified time, or they may organize a road trip and depart right away. Punctuality, on the other hand, is completely ignored. When you make arrangements with a local and they say they'll be there in "five minutes," you should assume they'll be at least 20 minutes late—so you may as well be late yourself.
Jordanians' investment in social interactions might make Europeans who prefer to keep a safe distance blush. Strangers greet each other like old friends and chat happily about nothing in particular. Passengers-by ask each other for advice or exchange opinions without hesitation, and old friends exchange salutations and cheek kisses, joyful arm-squeezing or back-slapping, and earnest inquiries about health, family, business, and the news. Foreigners who are accustomed to avoiding people and conducting business in stores swiftly and impersonally may appear cold, indifferent, and even snobby. Smiling, learning one or two basic greetings, appreciating those who welcome you, and taking the time to share pleasantries can draw you closer to people faster than anything else.
