By Qais Shqair
The first graders at my son Modar’s school, located in Brasília, the federal capital of Brazil, yearned to wear the Shemagh (traditional scarf worn around the head by men from the Arabian Peninsula) and Agal (black cord used to fasten the Shemagh) and remember these moments through selfies and group photos, in which pictures of the Columns of Jerash and the Treasure of Petra were in the background. They were delighted with what they saw and heard during the presentation at the school’s “Nations Day” celebration, in which Jordan was honored. The fact made a country geographically very distant from Brazil much closer.
The children, who have a splendid and sincere imagination, traveled in this dream, getting to know a country of brilliance, modernity, and originality, and were taken to the city of Petra and the Wadi Rum, reaching the main entrance to the city, Al -Siq, through a camel ride, diving in trails dating back to a civilization of thousands of years, discovering a part of the objects used by the people of Wadi Musa, a place known for its hot summer and penetrating cold. The people, always friendly and kind, more robust than the weather, didn’t care about it, which is sometimes brutal.
Then, the imagination of these children took them to spend the night in a tent in the Wadi Rum desert, contemplating the rays of the sun embracing the pink rocks of the place. And so, I gradually said goodbye to these little children, a farewell that would be replaced by “see you later,” as they implored their parents to visit Jordan to get to know this wonderful country personally. They deserve to live and touch this beautiful experience with their delicate hands.
The presentation took place on Monday, September 19, when the teachers chose Jordan to celebrate “Nations Day,” held annually by the school in Brasilia. After viewing a short video about the country, my wife and I saw such admiration and praise, free from flattery, since children do not flatter, for their hearts are expressed through their lips.
Some of them said: “How beautiful your country is!” while others were amazed at the simplicity and beauty of the country’s king. The questions continued: “What is the queen’s name?” When answering “Rania,” the children were delighted to discover the phonetic proximity of Rania with the word for queen in Portuguese, “Rainha.” The British director of the school even said he would love to live and work in Jordan. The children’s parents and faculty agreed to organize a trip to the country as soon as possible.
Not only through the eyes of Brazilian children, but Jordan’s beauty is also considered an indisputable concrete reality. I don’t report this just because we love our country but because we are committed to admiring it the way it is. This way, our beloved homeland remains beautiful, and your love blossoms in our hearts. Its charm is reflected in the brightness of the eyes of those who know it, especially the eyes of children, who convey a true vision and never hide their feelings.
Ambassador Qais Shqair is head of the Arab League mission to Brazil
Translated by Moein Alaia & Elúsio Brasileiro
