Damascus, 1950 I enjoyed reading your blog about Damascus. My family moved to Damascus in 1950; my Father was the U.S. Air Force Attache. We lived on the 2nd or 3rd floor of a brand new apartment which was located on Abou Roumane. There were no English speaking middle schools in Damascus so I ended up living on the campus of the American Community School (ACS) in Beirut. Things have certainly changed in the past 65 years. Back in the day my parents allowed me to travel all over Damascus (and Beirut) by myself or with a friend. I recall one day we climbed the mountain which hovers over the town, finding an old French fort at the top. I did find a fossil seashell half way up the mountain, so we know where the sea level was millions of years ago. I walked down all the souks, the Street Called Straight, and through many parks. I never had a problem. Yes, all has changed. The picture of your apartment looks quite similar to the one where I lived, our place was about a block up the hill from what is now called the Adawda Square, and I believe Abou Roumane become Al Jalaa. The American Embassy was about a block away. Oh well, can't go back. I had a couple of fuzzy photos of my apartment showing the wonderful garden and the front door area while it was under construction, but don't think you accept photos on this blog. Bill C.
We
Thanks! Hi Bill, I don't check this blog site very often but wanted to thank you for sharing your memories. Damascus was much as you recall it, even in early 2011. I spent lots of time wandering in your old neighbourhood. My apartment was a few km east in a newer area. I would love to go back to visit, but I know everything has changed. Let's hope there is peace and security soon.
Re I found your blog Hi Kat, are you one of the Friday morning runners I met at Suze's for brunch? I'm not in Damascus anymore, unfortunately, as the company I work for sent some of us home at the end of April. I hope to get back there soon, because I really miss the place and the people. If you're still there, tell me what it's like and send me some news from the expat world. All the best, Brenda bmerskine@hotmail.com
I found your blog I found your blog while looking at photos of Umawiyeen circle and I was wondering if you are still in Sham. You look familiar and we might know each other since this is a small English-speaking community.
I enjoyed your blog. This particular one is not blocked in Syria, so I might move over to this site too :)
Hi! Hi Brenda - love the blog! I've been thinking about you lots & hope you are safe and doing ok. I'm sure this is turning out to be a much more exciting posting than you ever imagined! All is good here. I had my surgery about 3 weeks ago now and doing pretty good. Not back to work yet but I imagine that will come in the next couple weeks. Stay safe, take care & keep up the great updates. Good luck with the cats too! Although I am a cat lover, I know how annoying they can be especially when they are not cared for & hungry! Hang in there :)
From Jock & Gerry:We much enjoy these blogs, Brenda. They are very enlightening and the pics are great but specially they - the blogs - give more clues to you and the great qualities you exhibit as parts of your character that we hadn't known before - thanks for all!
Love and please continue as able.
J & G
Envious! It is always interesting and thought provoking to read your blogs Brenda....the curious person in me wishes that I were there too to experience the uniqueness of the ME and Syria. Meanwhile we continue to sit in our backyard and watch (not the swallows) but the kookaburras singing their melodies from the treetops...all too secure. We admire your adventurous spirit and look forward to reading your blogs...keep up the good work.
PS We just had Dave and Lyndel Donald from Fort McMurray here for 4 days. It was a good chance to catch up on all the news from the north and hear what everyone is doing these days. Life goes on and for LYndel and Dave, retirement from teaching and from Syncrude and another life in Victoria! Lucky souls!
Brian Harvey
running Hi Lynne, guess what? I discovered a running group! Hurrah! They are all expats but one, mostly Canadian and mostly women. They run on Mt Quaission every Friday morning. The Australians also do some road biking once in a while. Life is good...
How is training for Sinister 7 going? I don't think I'll be back till Sept but will be with you in spirit :+(
checking in with you hey Brenda - these photos are fabulous, especially the Roman ruins - those folks certainly did get around. After the news here of the violence in Syria last week, i am, again getting worried about your safety. please send an update when you can. all is well here in Toronto - very peaceful, relatively speaking, although i did have a rather rowdy St. Patricks Day in Cleveland, still tame by comparison. i've been reading a lot of Daniel Pink's work this past week, re: speed of communication and new-ish motivation models - what he's calling Motivation 3.0 - Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose and Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic motivation drivers. www.DanielPink.com It has me thinking more about what is driving the change NOW in the middle east - largely because of the mean age groups. CBC radio did a really good Town Hall on it last week also - Turir in Toronto, with Matt Galloway. i only heard bits of it, but thought you might be interested.
come home safely soon!
hugs
N
Love hearing your news! Thanks Brenda - I really enjoy your blog. It sounds like you are enjoying your adventure so far.
Its still cold up here - I'm just back from a ski.
Sue a.
Great updates... stay safe Thanks for sharing your experience while on assignment. Got this blog from your daughter, Emma - we hope to hear about your experiences of Turkey as well.
Please stay safe.
Benjamin Sim
better late than never Hi Brenda
Have been back east to visit my folks and then away working in the U.S. I am very late in reading this but found it fascinating. Where are you now? I wish I had been more on the ball and followed your travels post Damascus.
Karen
Thinking of you Hey Brenda - thinking of you in Syria with all the uprisings in the Arab world. Good thing you aren't in Libya right now! Anyway keep on blogging so we know what's up. You write well, girl!
Never have I felt more enticed to visit a place and your blog is not even an advert.! What an incredible escape (just reading your blog!). I feel like I'm reading a novel and can't wait for the next chapter! One can only imagine the gathering (in time) of supporters in the streets encouraging
and monitoring your runs (heck, you probably won't even need your Garmin-they'll be looking at their stopwatches...).
Hugs,
Lynn
Bill Covington
non-member comment
Damascus, 1950
I enjoyed reading your blog about Damascus. My family moved to Damascus in 1950; my Father was the U.S. Air Force Attache. We lived on the 2nd or 3rd floor of a brand new apartment which was located on Abou Roumane. There were no English speaking middle schools in Damascus so I ended up living on the campus of the American Community School (ACS) in Beirut. Things have certainly changed in the past 65 years. Back in the day my parents allowed me to travel all over Damascus (and Beirut) by myself or with a friend. I recall one day we climbed the mountain which hovers over the town, finding an old French fort at the top. I did find a fossil seashell half way up the mountain, so we know where the sea level was millions of years ago. I walked down all the souks, the Street Called Straight, and through many parks. I never had a problem. Yes, all has changed. The picture of your apartment looks quite similar to the one where I lived, our place was about a block up the hill from what is now called the Adawda Square, and I believe Abou Roumane become Al Jalaa. The American Embassy was about a block away. Oh well, can't go back. I had a couple of fuzzy photos of my apartment showing the wonderful garden and the front door area while it was under construction, but don't think you accept photos on this blog. Bill C. We