laughter flash mob

 

 

Recently, we were able to do something special together with a group of friends.

For all we know it was the first time that a ‘laugh flash mob’ was organised in Jordan. It was such a positive experience that we feel we should share it.

How does such a laughter flash mob look like?

We were with a group of people, who had been briefed before. They all came from different backgrounds and sat in a landmark café in Amman, spread out over several tables. The cafe is known for its varied number of patrons: locals, tourists, students, businessmen and -women. The cafe, situated on a hillside, has a large terrace that was still open (at the time, end October, it was around 25 degrees during the day). Because of its hillside location the sound of laughter spreads easily over the city below. The café was packed as it was lunch time, with people eating, smoking nargileh (water pipe), playing chess, talking to one another, working on laptops.

We had agreed with a lady friend that she would take position with a video camera and a camera in order to make a video and take pictures of the flash mob, and there was a back-up photographer who would take pictures from another angle.

Just after two o’clock a group of our friends sitting together at a table started to laugh at something funny on a laptop screen, as an excuse to start laughing is always good to have.  Within a couple of seconds it had developed into  a full contagious laughter, which was picked up by a second table with accomplices. Then the laughter spiralled out of control and a chain reaction set in. The laughter was taken over by patrons who were not in the plot which was in turn reinforced by those who were, and it spread rapidly over the cafe.

Some patrons looked on, trying not to laugh but started to smile instead. For others  the laughter was too contagious and they gave in, joining the laugher .

As a result a cheerful energy permeated the cafe. After a couple of minutes the laughter became less and dissolved but may patrons still smiled and started to ask: ‘was it pre-arranged? ‘ Others walked up and said  that they had truly enjoyed the event.

A number of friends who arrived at the café a little later told us that our laughter could be heard resonating though the wadi with people looking up: ‘What is that laughter? It sure sounds nice!’

After the laughter had died down we slowly filed out to the back  of the café to rejoin with one another and debrief. The atmosphere remained wonderful and we felt truly connected as can be seen in the gorgeous group picture we made afterwards.

Why did we do this? One of the reasons is that more and more people in Jordan feel that there is not enough laughter in the country. There are plenty of reasons not to laugh because for many living in Jordan certainly isn’t easy.  We state that laughter will not solve your problems but will create some space in your head; and this concept is new in this country.  There is a need to smile more, as can be seen by the regularly requests for laughter yoga sessions, though some find it difficult. If you’re not used to laughing it is difficult, even more so when laughing out loud is considered improper by many.

All of us were happy with the afternoon’s result anyway and I think because we were such a mixed group the maximum effect possible was reached. The intention is to organise these laughter flash mobs more often and in different locations and go slowly but surely towards spreading smiles over Amman and across Jordan.