Men and women finding themselves without a partner on "Singles Awareness Day," look no further than a blind date.
This Valentine's Day, Issa Gammoh is setting up the lonely hearts responding to an ad with a simple Facebook message.
"Singles don't like to stay single for Valentine's Day," Gammoh said. "I thought, 'You know what? Let's do something fun.'"
Reiki Grandmaster Academy Jordan is a business that deals with "alternative and holistic health," and this year it's facilitating dinner dates upon request.
With 10 JD ($14), singles looking for a date on Saturday simply messaged the organization, and a name specialist paired the two up based on "similar spiritual paths" or "spiritual energy" found in their name. Gammoh then makes a reservation in the organization's name, compromising budgets and preferences between the pair and providing anonymity to the clients.
Gammoh said "95 percent of the time," the name-matching is accurate. The name specialist operates mostly on instinct and "deeply meditating on the name," he said.
"Spirituality has nothing to do with gender," so the clients should specify if they have a sexual preference. "Otherwise you might end up with the wrong sex," Gammoh said.
But the service isn't solely focused on finding a lover.
"It's a nice idea," said Fatima Qatarneh, a 36-year-old Jordanian widow, "to meet someone new and create a friendship."
It's an experience that gives courage and confidence, Gammoh said, providing a better alternative to the club and pub scenes. "It's stepping up and getting to know a complete stranger. ... You expand your security space and your comfort zone."
Gammoh originally thought to only provide the service for Valentine's Day, but he now plans to provide the service once a month.
