A day in the life of Turky
- Pseudonym: Turky
- Age: 20 years old
- Nationality: Jordanian
- School status: Out of School, failed Tawjihi (national secondary school completion exam) and stopped education
- Work status: Working since he was 13 years old
Waking up
Turky wakes up every day at 7am except on Friday which is his day off. He washes his face and has breakfast, then gets ready for work. When Turky turned 13 years of age, he had a decision to make, either to continue his education or to start work, especially after his father’s death. He reluctantly chose to work to support his family, mother and sisters.
Before going to work
Before heading to work, Turky checks his phone and answers messages. He likes to be always informed about the latest news and sports games, to catch up with his friends, and to solve work-related issues. He also spends a lot of time playing online games, especially (Lodo) an online interactive game, where he can talk to other online players via voice chatting. This gives him an opportunity to talk with both boys and girls from different nationalities, creating new friendships.
Walking to work
Turky really enjoys walking in Mafraq, the city he was born and raised. He is very social and knows most of the people there; he likes to greet them, talk, and hear their stories while passing by their shops and houses. While walking past the bike shop, Turky says: “I hope someday I can get a bike for myself, I have been saving up for one. On a bike, I would be able to get to work faster and have fun riding it”.
Work
‘When I decided to stop studying and start working, my brother supported my decision. In Mafraq, it is not unusual for boys to start working at a younger age compared to other communities’.
Turky’s first job was at a greengrocer. He worked from 5 am till 10 pm and made 5 JOD per day. “It was the best of all the four jobs I’ve had in the past 7 years” says Turky, “the shop owner was young like me, he understood my needs and was supportive, allowing me to leave when I needed to” he adds.
Working at a young age was not easy on Turky. Some employers used to bully him, take his money and take advantage of him. It was devastating for Turky when someone took advantage of him and didn’t pay him for his hard work, because at the time, all the money he made he spent on stationary and supporting his family with rent and groceries, as well as covering his own needs.
Now Turky works at a water station, where he produces and sells cups and refills big drinking water bottles. His dream job is to work in the army like his father used to.
Work break and shopping for the house
One of Turky’s numerous responsibilities is shopping for the house so his family can cook lunch. In his work break he gets water, goes to the greengrocers to buy fresh vegetables and then heads to the bakery to buy bread. Turky says: “In my free time, I used to go to an organization in Mafraq, where we attended awareness sessions and various other programs, but now with my new job, I can’t find the time to attend”.
Hanging out with friends
After work, Turky goes to his friends’ tent in the desert. Turky says: ”We usually meet 2 to 4 times a week, we play cards, chat, drink coffee, eat, and smoke hookah”. “I love the desert” says Turky, “it has a certain calmness that makes me feel relaxed after a hard day’s work” he adds.
Sometimes, Turky and his friends decide to go on a road trip to Amman for some fun. They go to the downtown area, explore the old buildings and have a drink at the coffee shops. Turky says: ”I also enjoy the street food in Amman, which is not so common in Mafraq where I live”.
With the camels
On his days off, Turky goes to his relative’s camel farm, where he helps them with the work, milks them, takes care of them, and spend hours walking them in the hot sun of the desert, “It’s not an easy job but I really like being around camels” says Turky. This trade is very common in Mafraq, and sometime can be very rewarding, one camel can be sold up to 1500 – 2000 JOD.
End of day
Turky’s friend owns a shop in the Mafraq market, selling sports equipment and clothing. Sometimes Turky goes there in the evenings to support him or when he has a lot of customers. Turky says: “I really enjoy having conversations with people in the shop, a busy spot being in the middle of the market. In my friend’s shop I feel like I have a chance to interact with others, get to know them, convince them to buy items, and to pass the time”.
