A Bar in Beirut

            I hope that somewhere in the world, there is a bar whose bouncers deny admittance to people for being over-dressed.  “Ma’am, you’ll have to put a hooded sweatshirt over that glitter-top and push-up bra, and please, find some more comfortable shoes.”  “I’m sorry sir, but that popped collar is a bit too pointy.”
            Where [...]

New Pictures

I’ve posted many new pictures of my trip to Lebanon.  You can see them on my Flicker page (look for the link on the left-hand side of the screen).
I’ve got some stories to post about the trip, perhaps they’ll be ready later tonight.  But for now there’s pictures.  Wonderful Wonderful pictures.

Friends in the News

I realize I haven’t written much in a long time.  I keep saying I will soon, but haven’t had the inspiration quite yet.  But I’ll say it again… soon.
In the meantime, I thought I would share that I was teaching English to a group of Iraqi students for about a month before they went over [...]

Sex Slavery

Here is a very interesting radio-short on a recently developing problem in Damascus (where I live). 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2008/04/080418_syria_sex_wt_sl.shtml
If you want to learn more about this, I would also recommend watching this documentary, which is about Iraqi refugees living in Damascus and Amman (a couple hours south of me).
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6277982867673096457

To Turkey: First Attempt

My first semester of Arabic is finished, and I decided to spend my 6 day holiday with some friends in southern Turkey.  These next two posts are rough narratives of the trip.
 
Written on the Train before making it to Turkey
 
           It’s difficult to write by pen’n pad on a shaky train when your on your 26th [...]

2nd Attempt to Turkey

            The last leg of the trip to the border was uneventful until my taxi driver almost beat me up.  He tried charging me 6 times the normal fare, as so an argument ensued.  This move had worked on me in my first couple days in Damascus, but I’ve learned my lessons since.  Taxi drivers [...]

My abstinence-only education

            Sitting in the back of the candy store, 53 year-old Samir was waiting for my response.  He looked at me with an inquisitive, slightly concerned gaze that a silent-film actor would use to convey, “What do you want to do with your life young man?”  But this was not what he was asking.  You [...]

My Friend’s “This American Life” episode.

This is my friend’s segment on the show “This American Life.”  Although it came out on Showtime a month or two ago, I was only now just able to see it.  It’s about an Iraqi (him) traveling around the U.S. talking to people about the war.  It’s about 20 minutes long, and very well done.
Enjoy!
Part [...]

Soccer Game (paragraphs to be read in no particular order)

In this post, I will seamlessly weave together frat boys, the Persian Empire, fetishes, and fruit juice.
 
Cultural obsessions often lead to overwhelming desires in the minds of the individual.  Whether it is idolizing fame, wealth, sex… people learn what to want and which venues are deemed expectable in order to pursue it.  But what [...]

Climbing pictures

Check out my flicker page for some new photos…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestinthemideast/