Farewell, Fake Husband

In Egypt, I was constantly questioned about my marriage status. As I explained in an earlier post, I began to tell men that I had a husband waiting for me at the hotel/museum/station/city. By letting people know that someone was expecting me and would miss me and come looking for me, I was (presumably) protecting myself from being taken somewhere without fear of being caught. My fake husband was initially a French diplomat/royal living with me in Paris, but I changed him to a New York businessman because it was more plausible and caused fewer translation problems.

Other female travellers I met in Egypt had fake husbands -- sometimes in addition to an actual husband. "My pretend husband always goes where I want and I don't have to miss him," one married woman explained. "My pretend husband is named Edward Cullen," another told me. "Mine looks like Barack Obama," chimed in a third.

But in Jordan, I don't feel any need for a fake husband. I always feel extremely safe. No one's questioned me about my marital status (yet). Men don't approach me or speak to me unless I initiate the conversation. I have real people who are expecting to see me and keeping tabs on me. And I lost my fake (glass) engagement ring and spilled water on the picture I was using, so it's just as well.

And the situation gives me a good excuse to learn a new Arabic phrase. The next time someone asks me why I am not married or do not have children, I will say "Insha'allah [As G-d wills it]."