The Can of Sprite – Amman

On our way to downtown Amman, Marc told me he was thirsty. I asked Ammo Nabil if he could stop in a small shop to get something to drink. It was Friday and most shops were closed. But we found a small counter in a street corner who was selling soft drinks and fruit juices, all settled in a fridge.

Ammo Nabil bought us each a can of Sprite. It was going to cool down our body temperature in that awfully hot weather. After a few sips, Marc noticed the shape of the cans of sprite. They were thinner and longer than the cans of Sprite in North America. I had the impression that there was a little less liquid inside, but it was the format used and sold in this Jordan. Marc appreciated the originality of these cans and said they were beautifully designed.

Drinking the cold fluid was almost necessary before our mini-tour of Amman because most of the monuments we were going to visit were outside, under the blazing sun. That day, we would stop at the Roman Amphitheatre and the Temple of Hercules. When Marc and I each finished drinking our sprites, we asked Ammo Nabil where we could throw away the empty cans. He simply took Marc’s can and threw it out of the car’s window. I was in shock! I think he wanted to make a simple joke, but I didn’t like that! I gave a little morality speech on how we shouldn’t throw out rubbish anywhere. I asked my uncle to look at how beautiful the city of Amman is, and how it should remain clean. But at the same time I understood that we were in the Middle East and the mentality was different.

Other Photographs

• Amman’s Roman Amphitheatre (1)