It-Tabbeeb Il-Ordan--Jordan

The Middle East lies between Europe and all that lies beyond, a convenient first stop on the way from the Western World to the East. For this journey, we consult Jaber Abawi. Abawi is a family doctor who specialized in Internal Medicine and was born and raised, even attending medical school, in Jordan.

Location is not everything, though. Abawi recommended that students learn from whatever is around them. Education is important, even essential, but formal schooling is not available to everyone.

Abawi pointed out flaws in the American educational system. He pointed out that it is far behind Europe and Japan and varies from state to state. The solution lies standardizing the system, he said, and helping students to pick an educational emphasis while in high school. In other words, he would reject the American preference for a broad and general educational basis in favor of Europe’s more specialized training.

Unsurprisingly, given Abawi’s profession, he wishes the government would do something about healthcare. It ought to have a regulatory role, but it ought to protect rather than prosecute general practitioners.

The political commentary required some prodding though, as Abawi is, first and foremost and kind person who puts family first. He continues to offer support and advice in his children’s lives, although they are now grown, and believes that all should do the same. He has but one complaint about his current home in America: he lives in a small rural town, and he wishes that he could attend the opera more often.