Blogs from Syria, Middle East
El parque Octubre, Ekin pargi, October park
Published: March 10th 2012Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus
March 10th 2012
El parque Tisherin se llama así por la guerra que tuvo lugar en octobre de 1973 contra Israel todos los viernes y sábados voy a pasear por la mañana, las fotos son de hoy entre las 11 y las 12:30h. TURKÇE: Ekin 1973 Süriye Israel yle savas yaptilar, her cuma cumartesi dolasmaya gdierin, resimlr bu sabah 11-12:30 yaptim. ENGLISH: In 1973 there was a war between Israel and Syria, I go to this park on fridays and saturdays, I took the pictures today between 11 and 12:30h.... read more
Zoco del Hamidiye, Hamidiye Çarsisi, Al-Hamidiyah Souq,
Published: February 9th 2012Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus
February 9th 2012
Una visita al bazar, Burdaki kapali çarsi kisa bir gezisi, A small trip to this souq.... read more
Remains of the Roman past in old Damascus
Published: October 20th 2011Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus
October 20th 2011
Restos del pasado romano en la parte vieja de Damasco Roma dönemin kalma eserleri eski Sams... read more
August 24th 2011
I came to Syria at a time of uncertainty, a time when most people and analysts around the world were unsure of what was happening. There was a moment in late May where I had to decide for myself whether I should continue with my plans to visit Syria. I could have taken a job on campus, lived with friends, and had an easy summer. There is no doubt that I would have loved to have done that! But there was something unsettling about the whole idea- it felt like I was turning away from what was important to me in exchange for the assurance of security. And I thought, since when had anything I had ever done went without risk? 2012 is an election year, and I want to be in Chicago for it. ... read more
August 12th 2011
Shame on me for waiting this long to write about such an important topic. The cuisine in Syria is absolutely delicious as it is diverse and satisfying. One of the best ways to get a taste (literally) of Arab culture is through its food. The food holds a deep representation of the traditions, history, and culture of Arab society. It borrows and shares its flavors with the Greeks, Turks, North Africans, and dare I say, Romans, because after centuries of conquest and civilization, food from around the Mediterranean hold similar flavors and bases. The flavor around Syrian cuisine is based off olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper. The staples in every lunch table are grains like bulghar wheat, rice, and bread. A typical meal will consist of salad, beef or chicken, and some “focal point” (or ... read more
August 4th 2011
August 1st marked the beginning of Ramadan, the holy Muslim month in which followers fast from sunrise to sunset. August is also the hottest month in Syria, and many countries in the Middle East, so fasting continues on for hours. Fasting in this definition include the abstinence of any food or drink during daylight hours. It begins at around 4:00 in the morning and continues until 7:40 at night. Ramadan began when my father and I were in our village two hours north west of Damascus. I met a farmer (also the village mayor) who had been working on his fields and fasting at the same time. The amount of water lost just standing outside in this humid area is enough to cause dehydration, and yet here he was talking to us as if it was ... read more
July 31st 2011
La iglesia de Santo Tomás es un antiguo templo romano convertido en iglesia o una tumba romana. This church was a former roman grave or temple. Bu kilise önceden bir roma tapinatiti veya turve imis.... read more
July 27th 2011
It's two o'clock in the morning here in Syria, and like many college nights I spent tossing in my bed wide awake with thought, I have found that the same awful habit has followed me here. So here I am writing my thoughts down. I took an Arabic course at Damascus University, and met some pretty remarkable and brave Europeans. Most had been here far longer than I had, and are genuinely enjoying their time in Syria. They are not afraid to travel and take charge of their lives, and for that I greatly admire. I had been toying with the idea of taking a train to Boston or flying down to Savannah, and yet I am meeting people not much older than I taking buses (buses!) around Syria. Syria is my home, a part of ... read more
July 15th 2011
No doubt American and Arab societies vary greatly, but what I am finding is that no matter what the differences, the same elements, such as love, trust, and friendship, remain the same. I will explain the process of courtship in Syria that may seem a little different than the process of courtship in the United States. I find that in America, people “accidentally” get married- if I ask many of my college friends now, very few have the intention of getting married in the near future. Indeed most of them will, but perhaps sometime down the road. Most are focused on educational advancements and their careers. Marriage is something that comes along later, after we’ve “found” ourselves, we seek to find someone else. But in Syria, the process is different. Whereas in the West the person ... read more
