MTVI was walking back to my house from the supermarket Cozmo, a walk of some 5 minutes. It was 7 pm, and I had just gotten out of work. Tired and kind of cranky. I had been a shitty day.

Strolling down the slightly sloped road, I was passed on the right by two Arabs. Well, Arab, but not really. Their features were Arab, but their clothes were, well, urban. Ghetto if you will. I passed them and cracked a smile. I knew what I was in for.

“Sup? Where ya from?”
I turned around and raised my hand, and consequently my three plastic bags with groceries, in a greeting. “Hi. I’m from Holland.”
“Where?”
“Holland.”
“What?”
“The Netherlands, man. Holland?”, I stated again.
“Aw, yeah, you gotsta speak up yo. Sup?”, the first guy went on. “My name’s Tarek. Dis is Munir.”
“Pleasure. My name’s Sander.”

Imagine you’re in a 50 Cent music video. Grown men in oversized shirts, decorated with fake gold around their necks. Wearing jeans with the crotch between their knees. You know, old skool ghetto boys.

“So, where are you guys from?”, I enquired naturally.
“Always lived in Chicago, man. But I’m Jordanian. Just came back here for good…”, Tarek smiled. Munir nodded and added, “We be chillin’ in da sun yaknowmsayin, dis summer is gonbe hot. So, you from Holland huh? You gots weed bro?”
I shook my head. “No man. That stuff’s dangerous down here.” They looked at each other and laughed. Tarek shook his head, revealing a glimpse of his name tattooed on his neck. “Shit man, you gotsa be kiddin’. Dat shit is so good down here. We gotta hook up some time, aight? What’s yo numba?”

I gave them my number and we shook hands (an automatic ghetto shake). I turned around the corner and laughed to myself. No matter how far away from home you are, there’s a constant in the world wherever you go. That constant is called Music Television, MTV. Isn’t it beautifully frightening? We’re all children of mass media.

Speaking of mass media: if you have the chance, I would suggest checking out the site of a knowledgable man I met in Amman last month. Rob Williams PhD., an American expert on mass media and professor, writer, singer, composer, blogger, proud Vermont citizen, party animal (as seen with my own eyes) and public speaker. Listen to his song ‘Kill your television’ right here.