Tonight my host brother got into a half-lighthearted, half-serious argument with his father about where he could get his Master’s in Business Administration.  Osama, my host brother, wants to go to London or Manchester for his studies; however, his father said that he would go to Switzerland because they have family there that he could live with.  This angered Osama as he told me of his desire to live away from home, a desire that was quite acute on account of his also living at home during college.  I later learned that this lack of independence from one’s own family is quite common; although, the reasons for this fact are apparently more than just cultural. 

Money is a huge reason for sons staying with their families after college.  People do not get either the wages or student loans that Americans receive; therefore, Jordanians in their twenties can not afford (literally) to live away from their parents.  My oldest brother, Marwan, is a perfect example.  Educated at the highly regarded American University in Beruit, stabiley employed at a graphics design company, 28 years old, Marwan would without question be living on his own if he were an American; however, this is not the case as he lives in Jordan.  Because of the low wages, new couples that are married often live in additions to their parents’ homes.  Once again, culture may have something to do with this, but it is not the only thing.