There was the young widow in Baghdad who couldn’t look at the moon because its beauty reminded her of her slain husband. The boy in a Mogadishu hospital who pulled aside a sheet to reveal his tiny torso perforated with bullet holes.
Or maybe the wild Saudi girls who dance on tables till dawn in the underground parties known as “comps” because they take place in heavily guarded oil compounds. The list goes on: the Iranian fashion model who changed her name to Honey, the anti-American Jordanian who works at Uncle Sam Restaurant, the Egyptian mystic who coaxed the world’s sweetest peaches from his patch of salty, sandy land in the Sinai.
This is just a sampling of the colorful, memorable, unexpected characters I’ve bumped into since I began reporting from the Middle East in 2003. These encounters usually didn’t fit into whatever story I was covering at the time, so all those larger-than-life personalities became entries in my journal, footnotes in my memory.
I hope that changes now.
This blog will be dedicated to all those characters who don’t fit into conventional news stories, but whose insights and observations help to make this infuriating, endearing region come alive. I’m not quite sure yet of the tone and format of this experiment – maybe part travelogue, part observations, with lots of links and feedback opportunities.
Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco and Saudi Arabia are just a few of the fabled lands on my “beat.” So, welcome, armchair explorers, thrill seekers, news junkies and Arabists. Send along your insights, travel tips and favorite links on the Middle East. We have a lot of ground to cover in a region that’s dynamic and unpredictable, sometimes dangerous, often heartwarming and always an adventure.
Impressed with you and your writing, I just thought how much I would love to hear from you at this time in my life. An American whom is hired to go to Cairo soon for one year as an instructor. Vail or not to vail? Any other thoughts for me. I want to fit in as much as possible and avoid complication or conflict.
Thank you for your time.
Shawn
Posted by: shawn mccready | December 01, 2007 at 02:52 PM
I love what you have started - about gathering all the info here ... great going .
and i liked your writing too ... good work..
will surely try and pitch in my stories soon..
thanks
Posted by: Travel Agency In Jordan | November 06, 2008 at 08:50 AM
With the aim to prevent the mistakes in the mini dissertation, that will be much better to purchase the well done writing associated with this topic in the thesis service in web. It’s not so hard to reach the doctoral degree taking that great way.
Posted by: aqSophie | January 03, 2010 at 01:25 PM
I was moved by this blog. I appreciate the way you color your words with the truth, avoiding any political opinions. You open people's eyes, Hannah, to what's going on out there and your experiences are stories we don't hear about on the 'news'. Thank you for keeping us informed on the little things major media tend to overlook!
Posted by: Athena Zerillo | January 13, 2010 at 05:15 PM
It is curious to learn these things about the sun, every day we learn more about this sort of thing, and I think it is good that we open our understanding so that each day we are less ignorant.
Posted by: buy viagra | April 19, 2010 at 04:33 PM
yesterday I was conducting an investigation regarding this issue. Although navigate by numerous nternet sites found no information as complete as that shown in this blog. The information presented in your blog is really interesting so I want to thank and also congratulate the great work. thanks again.
Posted by: generic cialis | April 26, 2010 at 02:16 PM
In 2005, the company piqued the interest of long-time customer, Mark Wattles, the founder of Hollywood Video. Mark recognized the great potential for Ultimate Electronics and purchased it with the hope of expanding the concept and growing the chain, much like he did with Hollywood Video. Under Mark's leadership, Hollywood Video grew to become an industry leader with more than 1,300 Hollywood Video superstores and more than 550 Game Crazy specialty retail outlets nationwide.
Posted by: generic viagra online | April 26, 2010 at 06:36 PM
hello. I really find it very interesting info from your blog. is interesting, entertaining, well great. well just wanted to thank you for the info. great job. thanks again
Posted by: frontline plus | April 28, 2010 at 10:31 AM
Hallo,
ich kam durch Zufall auf diese Seite und möchte einen netten Gruß hinterlassen. Ich würde mich freuen, wenn ihr auf meiner Homepage auch einmal vorbei schauen würdet! Vielleicht wollt ihr einmal auf Sylt Westerland http://www.MeerblickSylt.de oder an der Ostsee http://www.OstseeblickHolm.de Urlaub machen?! Wir haben dort sehr schöne Meerblickwohnungen. Vielleicht bis bald einmal!
Herzliche Grüße
Posted by: Werner from Germany | May 27, 2010 at 01:55 PM
Viele Grüße aus dem schönen Fischerdorf Greetsiel
Posted by: Ferienwohnung Greetsiel | June 20, 2010 at 04:48 AM
Very interesting content. It's to late for me to find this area.
Posted by: prom dresses on sale | June 22, 2010 at 04:04 AM
The motivation to succeed comes from the burning desire to achieve a purpose. Napoleon Hill wrote, “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.”
Posted by: discount coach | July 05, 2010 at 10:48 PM
As you stated, it's clear that many people were misleading some people, and from the very beginning.
Posted by: Abercrombie fitch outlet | July 26, 2010 at 11:32 AM
If you want to buy a car, you would have to receive the loan. Moreover, my brother always utilizes a small business loan, which occurs to be really fast.
Posted by: credit loans | January 09, 2011 at 05:03 PM
Thank you very much and greetings from germany!
Posted by: Urlaub im Harz | March 17, 2011 at 05:43 PM
Nice blog...keep on going like this
Posted by: Ferienwohnungen | July 20, 2011 at 07:37 AM
Thank you, your article really impressed me.
http://partnerhoroskope.blogmonster.de/
Posted by: gesunde ayurveda Ernährung | September 28, 2011 at 05:09 AM
Thanks for your share. I want to fit in as much as possible and avoid complication or conflict.
Posted by: Partnerhoroskope | November 22, 2011 at 06:42 AM