Three Months in Egypt, Jordan and Israel – Month Two
It feels wonderful to be back in my favorite region of the world for Part 2 of my annual trip to the Middle East. I arrived in Jordan a few weeks ago and am now in Israel. I lived in…
Al Haderech Theatre Company – Trying to Bring Unity to Jerusalem’s Old City
I was sipping a cappuccino inside an alcove of Jerusalem’s Old City, when suddenly a man dressed as a medieval gypsy appeared. The Old City is not a place of smiles and light-hearted happiness, as every day members…
Jamil and His Loved Ones – Desensitized to the War in Syria
My new Syrian friends invited me to dinner in Jordan one night. In their airy white apartment we ate kubba nayeh, a dish native to their village in Idlib, we watched their children play and talked about the war. In…
If You Have a Problem, Call Mokhtar
Jordan is a tribal country. All Jordanians are members of tribes. These are not primitive tribes as we tend to think of the word tribe in the Western World. A tribe in Jordan is a huge extension of one’s…
Yalla! Part 2 of My Middle East Journey
Yalla! (Arabic for let’s go.) Six months ago I arrived back in the U.S. after Part 1 of my Middle East journey. Part 2 begins September 17, 2017 when I return to the region of the world that fascinates me most.…
Making Koshary in Dahab, Egypt with Ali
There is only one Egyptian entree that I have found just in Egypt and nowhere else in the world, and that is koshary. This dish is made of rice, noodles, lentils and tomatoes with slivers of fried onions sprinkled on top,…
Interview With a Female Expat in Oman – Lessons in Omani Culture and Life
Brooke Templin is a female expat in Oman who is beginning her second year of teaching in the city of Muscat. I interviewed her about her life and what she's learned about Omani culture. She has some very enlightening insight to…
My Son Nelio – An Egyptian Father Reconnects with his German Son
The plane from Germany was late and I was really worried. I hadn't seen my son Nelio since he came to visit me in Egypt exactly five years ago. Nelio was born here in Egypt but left before he was old…
Love in the Middle East – A Jewish Woman’s Romances with Arab Men
Love in the Middle East can be as sweet as in any other part of the world. But when it involves a couple from different cultures or religions, the stories rarely have happy endings. Love does happen, though. In Israel sometimes you…
Making Mosaics in Madaba, Jordan
While road tripping through Jordan in 2012, I made a stop along the Kings’ Highway in Madaba. Art is one of the means of gaining insight into a region’s cultures, and this town holds a lot of artwork in the…