My personal experience and stories from the time I lived in the Middle East, the US and Europe
“So here you are too foreign for home too foreign for here, never enough for both” Ijeoma Umebinyuo “Mozart wrote the requiem in 1791, the year of his death. Mozart died before he finished his requiem. The requiem was distanced for immortality not shared with its creator” Fact “Maybe I do not belong in this …
Continue reading “This One is for Sarah, For Homa, for them all…”
I took one hit and my world shattered. I lived a million lives in the span of 20 minutes or less. I had full lives, friendships, partners, jobs and whatever elements that might be present in the day to day life of any individual. What happened next was a disaster. “It is ok, I am …
It was supposed to be another lazy Sunday in Paris when I received a message from a Syrian friend I met a long time ago that he will join me for an afternoon drink and a snack. He came to my apartment in the 13th and I promised him a homemade meal of Hawawshi. Today …
مع أني ترددت كثيرا في أن اكتب بلغتي الأم إلا أنه لا مفر من العودة لها لان افكارا بعينها لا سبيل لها لان ترى النور الا من وراء ستار تلك اللغة حتى إن أنقص من بريقها ما أكاد أن اقترفه من اخطاء لغوية و نحوية من شأنها ان تدفع من درسونيها للإنتحار. الخريف و ما …
It was the early hours of the morning of the next day. I was going back home with a friend I met. I think I blacked out many times on the way because suddenly I was on one of the bridges that connect the south part of the Seine to the north part. Me: How …
The cassette tape Interviewer: When you go to the school library, what kind of books attract you? 4th Grader: I try to read about animals and nature. This type of book allows me to know why we are here. I also like to read science fiction. Interviewer: Tell me what you like about science fiction. …
I still remember the exact moment I said goodbye to my family and my in-laws. My mother started crying when I hugged her and my father tried to stay solid. Part of me felt sad as I hugged my in-laws who had no idea about the divorce plans. They said we will see you later …
In December 2016, I was informed by my company that there has been an organizational change I can either choose to relocate to Poland or Singapore. The news came as a shock as I was not interested in the weak financial proposal from Poland and the prospect of moving to the far east. I had …
The excitement and happiness with the revolution of 2011 waned completely for me and others by the arrival of 2013. At this point the counter-revolution proved very strong and we simply came to realise the society was not ready for what we called for during the revolution: bread, liberty and social justice. One might wonder …
As I try to understand my own emotions, contradictions and desires I find that every thought takes me back to the year 2008, right after my visit and study in California. I grew up believing that I lived in paradise. I was taught from a very early age that all civilizations tried to and occupied …
On the Search for Home