New Years Day in Jordan

New Years Day is celebrated in the Middle Eastern country of Jordan. 01/01/2010.

Dozens of Southeast Asian and South Asian domestics traveled by local buses from Jordan's capital, Amman, to the nearby city of Mandaba, which has a large Christian population to welcome in the new year.

The various women I chatted with had worked in Jordan for anywhere from six to more than 20 years. Most spoke rudimentary Arabic and are rarely able to visit their home countries.

Mandaba's St. George's Greek Orthodox Church is famed for its Byzantine mosaics, but the domestics came for the spiritual atmosphere, quietly lighting candles amidst the din of tourist cameras.

Here, two women enjoy Nescafes at a coffeeshop across from the church.