It has been an amazing season for bloggers, and quite an amazing festival of amazing celebration our beloved country. On so many scales, the whole event has been unprecedented in success. For so many people it brought so much joy and quite strong emotions. Love was certainly in the air. You could feel it electrifying our senses post after fantastic post.
To humbly put it, I felt a great sense of honor to be a servant of this vibrant community. But there's nothing humble about my sense of pride of what we have done. You people were the stars of the day. Everything else dwarfed to oblivion.
The day has come and passed, but the memories we made, will last for ever, I couldn't be more happy to have participated in this glorious day.
To put all articles under one roof, I am collecting them here below, just as a simple token of appreciation to this amazing community that has honored me by serving it.
For the first time in 3 years, people were racing to post their articles at 12AM. I haven't seen such enthusiasm about any single topic on the Internet. Not even once, on any of tons of initiatives.
Not only that, but even after the event officially finished, we had to go into After hours so people could continue to follow on articles, tweets, and wonderful comments going on. Amazing is putting it lightly.
First on the scene was Kinzi, who just could not hold her enthusiasm until 12AM, she posted a wonderful article on the main theme of this year's Blog 4 Jordan day: She called it: #B4JO 2010/World Day Against Cyber Censorship
Then a little after 4 AM, the amazingly eloquent spelling queen Ola Eleiwat, shared her own masterpiece: Why it's Easy to Be Creative in Jordan. To be quite frank, this is one of my favorites.
Then the lovely Whisper, shouted this lovely piece, simply titled: احبه.... واكرههم, where she talks about her love to Jordan and hate of people who love to obstruct our inevitable progress.
Followed by Haitham's take on Padestrians in Jordan. A topic that interests many Jordanians as you know.
Hamede makes us nostalgic in need to visit Madaba soon with his contribution: Blog for Jordan day مادبا.
Then there was a lot of chatter on Twitter about #B4JO, but the winner was most certainly #Mansaf
Omar Al Abdallat was voted most favorite Jordanian singer, Followed by Mohammad Qwaider and Toni Qattan. Arab Superstar winner Diana Karazon, got no votes!
Mariam shared the words of a great Jordanian song, "Haddabatly" written by Majed Zraigat and performed by Omar Abdallat
هدبتلي شماغي الاحمر بيدها وغزلت علم قالت يا بني خلي راسك فوق عالي بالقمم شكشكتني بالكرامة وطرزتني بالكرم أنا امي اردنية همها تربي زلم مهرتي الحرة الاصيلة شرشبّلي سرجها يوم ترمح في ميادين البطولة ترجها الوطن زعرودة حلوة لما امي اتعجها تدبك الافراج جوفيه على احلى نغم لو يشوفوا طيب افعالي وأصالة معدني رح يقولوا يسلم البطن اللي جاب الاردني عينك بنجمة علمنا تلمع بعمري الهنا احنا ترباية كفوفك قوة قلب وهمم هذي امي والملاحة كلها من ملحها خيمة تجمعنا ابحضنها وخبزنا من قمحها القمر من ليلها ونور الشمسمن صبحها تنسج خيوط المفاخر ثوبنا بين الامم
Then Yazan shared his thoughts on Why he Loves Being an Ammani. Where he talks about everything including his view on Jordanian Taxis
A poll run during the live even showed that 25% of Jordanians didn't know that Jordanian women don't have the right to grant her children or her husband the Jordanian nationality. A painful women's rights issue that is still seeking a satisfactory conclusion.
The Amazing Nido, shared Seeing Jordan Through Netflix, her account and feelings of longing to Jordan while watching the beautiful scenes in Captain Abu Raed, the Jordanian feature film, which she has rented from NetFlix. She chose to watch it with her family on the day of #B4JO.
Rola shared her own experience of passing pretty hard things, from tawjihi but most disappointingly driving license test, then she talks about the joys of driving around in her car -Paris- seeking the perfect vantage point to take pictures of her home garden? :)
On Twitter, former Blogger Arab Observer, shared his take on Blog about Jordan day, how he misses blogging on occasions like this, and called out to all his followers, and Jordanians to participate. A real kind gesture.
The exceedingly talented Ahmad Al Mahrouq[raso] :), shared a post and a picture where he shared his view on Jordanian solidarity.
The always creative Nadine Touqan, gave her thoughts on how your freedom of thought and expression can never be taken from a person in a piece she called, "What do you really want?" One of the really great reads of the day.
The lovely lady Mama Bean, shared this lovely list: The Jordan of My Heart on things she enjoys about Jordan.
Lady Dee Batshoun, shared her thoughts on the main theme of Blog for Jordan Day, On Cyber Censorship, where she too tackled what is going on, and the hopes for a better censorship free future.
Followed by 5hads (Shady Haddad) who also opted to speak his mind about the main theme, but pointing out that Cyber Censorship is but one of a long list of challenges in the Jordanian society, read: Web Censorship.
A quick poll during the live event showed that two thirds of the participants are not worried about Cyber Censorship, while a third voted that it doesn't concern them.
It was appropriate to share this wonderful Jordanian gem...
يا أردن الشومات يا لمة هلي ..
يا محوطة بزين الملوك اتدللي
يا دارنا رايات عزك عالية ...
الغار عــاجبالك وتاجك معتلي
يامحجلة ... يامطيبة ... كلك وفى ... يا حبيبة
هيبة ملكنا مهيّبة ... تدللي ... تدللي
يا مطرزة بالعز رايات العرب ..
يا ملبسة رجالك عبايات القصب
يا ميلين العقل زينها الهدب ..
ومسرجين الخيل سرجٍ مخملي
Then we went into extended time...
The start was a wonderful addition by Jordanian celebrity, Mrs Aroub Sobh, titled simply: "We will", where she gives a very accurate reality check for everyone, with all the challenges of the Jordanian society. Many are shocking to most. But no progress will ever be achieved without true and honest criticism of our issues.
Then a cosmologist (bona fide with a PhD to prove it) shares the day with all of us, Laila writes: Jordan - 9 years on. Away from theoretical, empirical and scientific method, she shares the unmeasurable personal account she has of a place we fondly love and call Jordan
Next the Palestinian Sharifo, shared what he loved about Jordan: و ليش بحب الأردن. Where it turned out that he actually worked at one of my most favorite Ice cream stores in Jordan.
And finally, the hilarious account of Dina with this entertaining post Al Gurdon.
But that was not the end of it, even after the event and the day was over, the astonishing lady, Mayyasi, posted her account of spring in Jordan in this article: الربيع في الأردن
But the main article from Mayyasi dedicated for the great day, was her social critique of the unfortunate backward practices that still plage the Jordanian society, she titled it: كرت العرس واسم المره
A bunch of rumors circulated from people who started noticing some interesting traffic coming from certain location in Jordan and concluded that Queen Rania has joined the day. I think these rumors are unsubstantiated, but can't authoritatively dismiss them. Queen Rania is know for her love and follow up on events in social media. So everything is possible.
There was a lot of chatter after that on twitter, but that concludes the list of Articles.
Please note, I'm only human, and it's only me doing this. So there is a chance that I might have forgotten someone. If you think someone is missing. PLEASE let me know.
Happy Blog for Jordan day to all, thank you very much for the wonderful opportunity to be a member of this society.
PS, the gadgets will now point to this post. So everyone can share the credit.
Qwaider, thanks so much for leading us on! I was def enthusiastic, but had to write early as I was busy all Friday - didn't know it, but with a surprise 50th b-day party with some of the people that make Jordan so special. :)
It was amazing !! so glad to be part of this amazing project .... thanx Qwaider for such wonderful idea and for this opportunity and looking forward to participate next year in sha2 allah ....
Definitely a fun experience, very pleased to be a part of it. I spent a whole night reading everyone's posts and tried too comment on all of them! It was a festive feeling of Eid. Thanks to everyone who participated for letting us into your Jordan.
Thank you Qwaider for making this wonderful event possible. Indeed it was a very enjoyable day for bloggers and readers alike. Many thanks to those who participated too, I look forward to next year!
Memories....
inshallah next year :D
Thanks Samer for giving us a nice documented memories
and thanks for all your effort to make it as wonderful as it was :)
As the gadget says.. See you next year insha Alla :)
it was a beautiful event...even for not Jordanians !
Inshalla ydal heek..
:D