Syria Thoughts, Part 2
Things to watch out for while living in Syria:
-Abrupt season changes. This past week has brought a drastic change in weather. Temperatures dropped from the mid to high 80’s (F) on Monday, to the 50’s on Tuesday. Tuesday also brought the first rain we have seen since being here – it was a cold and gloomy day. Since the rain it has been clear, sunny and chilly (with less pollution in the air, which is nice). I’ve finally resorted to using the dusty bed quilts that came with our room.
-Taking pictures in inopportune places. In this country you can’t take pictures near any government building (which seem to be on every block), or of
any major infrastructure such as roads or bridges. In general if you are seen taking pictures by any kind of uniformed personnel (army, police), they have the right to question you. I’m getting better at gauging picture-taking appropriateness, but unfortunately it has been through trial and error. Josh is much better at this than I am, so I have resorted to asking him for his advice before taking a picture.
-Loud music from the neighborhood mosque. Our neighborhood mosque just got new amplifiers for Ramadan, and has started playing loud music in the afternoons. It would be fine if the speakers worked well, but they are not the greatest amplifiers and the music is pretty scratchy. It keeps us awake to study, at least!
Things to savor while living in Syria:
-Brushing your teeth in an open courtyard at night by the light of a full moon. Our room opens directly onto the central open courtyard of our traditional Arab dwelling, and to go to any other room we pass through the courtyard. It’s cold in the winter, but also magical – on the way to the bathroom each night I get to admire the stars.
-The variety of trees and flowers. How marvelous it is to be in a climate where pepper trees, eucalyptus trees, jasmine, date palms, bougainvillea, and conifer pines grow.
-Juice bars. Fruit is abundant in Syria, and one of the best ways to get your daily intake is through freshly squeezed juice. Juice bars are quite popular both among Syrians and visiting foreigners. For example, as you’re coming back from a long day at the university, you just may feel like having a large glass of pomegranate-banana-orange juice, which would set you back $1 US. It’s squeezed right there in front of you, and so delicious.
-Abrupt season changes. This past week has brought a drastic change in weather. Temperatures dropped from the mid to high 80’s (F) on Monday, to the 50’s on Tuesday. Tuesday also brought the first rain we have seen since being here – it was a cold and gloomy day. Since the rain it has been clear, sunny and chilly (with less pollution in the air, which is nice). I’ve finally resorted to using the dusty bed quilts that came with our room.
-Taking pictures in inopportune places. In this country you can’t take pictures near any government building (which seem to be on every block), or of
any major infrastructure such as roads or bridges. In general if you are seen taking pictures by any kind of uniformed personnel (army, police), they have the right to question you. I’m getting better at gauging picture-taking appropriateness, but unfortunately it has been through trial and error. Josh is much better at this than I am, so I have resorted to asking him for his advice before taking a picture.-Loud music from the neighborhood mosque. Our neighborhood mosque just got new amplifiers for Ramadan, and has started playing loud music in the afternoons. It would be fine if the speakers worked well, but they are not the greatest amplifiers and the music is pretty scratchy. It keeps us awake to study, at least!
Things to savor while living in Syria:
-Brushing your teeth in an open courtyard at night by the light of a full moon. Our room opens directly onto the central open courtyard of our traditional Arab dwelling, and to go to any other room we pass through the courtyard. It’s cold in the winter, but also magical – on the way to the bathroom each night I get to admire the stars.
-The variety of trees and flowers. How marvelous it is to be in a climate where pepper trees, eucalyptus trees, jasmine, date palms, bougainvillea, and conifer pines grow.
-Juice bars. Fruit is abundant in Syria, and one of the best ways to get your daily intake is through freshly squeezed juice. Juice bars are quite popular both among Syrians and visiting foreigners. For example, as you’re coming back from a long day at the university, you just may feel like having a large glass of pomegranate-banana-orange juice, which would set you back $1 US. It’s squeezed right there in front of you, and so delicious.
posted by Elisabeth | 9:30 PM
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