Rain in Damascus. Is it the city's way of saying goodbye to me? I doubt it, though the few drops were a refreshing break from the dry heat (100 F, and I still feel at times that I need to wear a scarf, jeans, and cardigan for modesty). I hate packing and saying goodbye. It's one of my least favorite things to do. Maybe I should be used to it, growing up in a military lifestyle, but I don't think the heart ever gets used to leaving or being left by loved ones.
Yesterday Nora and Karim (Am Anas's daughter and grandson - grandson one and a half years) visited the house to say goodbye. I enjoyed sitting outside with everyone, sipping tea first, followed by Arabic coffee. Nora was telling me stories about her pregnancies and family names - apparently one of her great grandmothers is named Sea, because her mother gave birth to her while on a boat. It was hard to say masalaama to them both. While I was hugging Nora goodbye, Karim lifted his arms up to me for a hug, which was really sweet. He's never hugged me as I left before.
Today after checking my grade at university (I passed! Ahumdu Allah!), I walked to Souq Al-Hamidiyyah. Running low on Syrian money at the end of my travels in this country, I bought some sweets and pretended to be a tourist, walking through the spice souq and behind the Omayyad Mosque. Some things I felt uncomfortable taking pictures of, such as the young boy (maybe 10 years) selling sweets on the street, alone, or the beggar with an outstretched arm and cane, or the group of Iranian women, with their long cloth that covers their heads and reaches the floor. I'll have to leave it as a memory.
Hmm. It's hard to come up with overarching reflections from my home for the past four months. It doesn't feel like I'm really leaving yet, so maybe ask me once I return to the states. I also have some stories and thoughts I'm not able to express here. Overall though, Syria has been great. There have definitely been some frustrating moments, but on the whole, Syrian people are really welcoming and friendly. Being totally immersed in a foreign culture is challenging, but every bit worth it.
"Just keep on moving, it's such a wondrous world out there." - Johannes Stakowski
Ela aqa, ya Syria. Masalaama.
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