This is my driver, Talal, really nice guy and very knowledgable about Jordan. We spent a lot f time in the car going from place to place, talking about all sorts of things, trying to help me learn a few phrases in Arabic. He kept telling me that with my beard I could pass as a local (at least until I opened my mouth). This was actually really nice because I could walk around the city at night (don’t tell my mom) and keep a low profile. Further confirmation came when we were driving on the highways there were a couple times we were stooped by police who were looking for a lift in whatever direction we were going. Talal would explain that I was a tourist and we would be on our way. One of the times he starts talking to the officer and I hear “blah blah blah American blah blah blah Hammas blah blah” The guy looks at me and then waves us on through. As we were heading down the road I asked Talal, “Did you just say that I was American even though I look like Hamas?” He sheepishly grinned, I hit it right on the nose.