Middle East

And the People Wanted Life

Sarah Bringhurst Familia

That’s two for freedom, democracy, and the power of the people! Looks like Tunisia was NOT a fluke, and the Egyptian people were much more powerful than the pessimists predicted. Who’s next? Well, if you ask me, a village in England is missing its ophthalmologist . . .

Since Egypt eclipsed Tunisia in the press a couple of weeks ago, some of you have asked us how things are going now in Tunisia. The short answer is, great! Nearly without exception, the Tunisians are thrilled with their newfound freedom of expression, and exuberantly optimistic about a democratic future. We’ve seen fewer police and military, although they’re still around (I wasn’t here before the dictatorship fell, though.… Read more

Our Next Great International Adventure

Sarah Bringhurst Familia

Apologies for my recent silence. I hate to leave you all without suitable reading matter (although there are always my voluminous archives). But as usual, I have good reasons. I’m writing this from Tunisia! So, we’re not out manning the barricades or marching in the streets, but still. We’re in Tunisia. Remember last week when I blogged about the Tunisian revolution? Well, my obsession with recent events in Tunisia was more than a little motived by the fact that we had plane tickets to land in Tunis on Saturday, January 15th, less than 24 hours after the President fled the country.… Read more

Bridget of Arabia

Sarah Bringhurst Familia

I’ve been meaning to tell you about my friend Bridget, who is my blogging inspiration. The funny thing is, I’ve never actually met Bridget. I first heard about her from her then-fiance (now-husband), who was on an intensive Arabic study abroad program in Syria with me ten years ago. As you can imagine, my first impression of Bridget, garnered from the lips of the lovelorn Jeremy, who was at the time separated for six interminable months from his brilliant, beautiful, and perfect-in-every-way sweetheart, could not fail to be favorable. Our study abroad group still keeps in touch, and so I was eventually introduced to Bridget’s blog.… Read more

And The Chains Were Broken

Sarah Bringhurst Familia

Tunisia. It was only a month or so ago that I really started thinking about this little Mediterranean country. Coincidentally (or not), that was just about the time when the demonstrations first began. Since then, for various reasons, I’ve kept a close eye on developments there. Yesterday, in fact, at around 5:30 in the afternoon, Tony happened to be online skyping with a friend in Tunisia when President Ben Ali left the country, ending 23 years of repressive dictatorial rule.

And so here and now I want to express my heartfelt congratulations and deep respect for the people of Tunisia, who during the past four weeks have steadfastly worked and fought for their freedom.… Read more

Love is How We’ll Ask For Peace

Sarah Bringhurst Familia

Last week my husband told me about his favorite co-worker, Mauro. For the first few months that he worked at this job, Tony didn’t really get to know Mauro, who is sincere and nice, but also very quiet. But last week in the course of a rare conversation, Tony found out something truly awesome about his taciturn office mate. He’s part of an Italian NGO called Emergency. He travels to countries like Sudan, Algeria, Cambodia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, providing desperately needed medical care. Emergency builds hospitals, trains local medical staff, and provides free medical and surgical care to victims of war, landmines, and poverty.… Read more

The Sun Egg

Sarah Bringhurst Familia

Overheard in my living room last week:

Dominique (to Axa): You’re the women who did not kill her baby.
Axa: Yes, I’m not the harlot.

Before I am accused of a shocking parenting lapse, I would like to point out that this is a Biblical allusion. Bonus points to you if you can guess the story.

Dominique also has his own way of coping with the winter weather. He announced a few days ago that from now on, we will read the same story at nap time every day. His chosen story is called The Sun Egg. It is a Swedish fairy tale about a forest elf who discovers a beautiful brightly-colored sphere in the forest.… Read more

The Syria Files: Secret Rebel at the Embassy

Sarah Bringhurst Familia

On the surface, the Foreign Service seemed like the perfect career for me. After all, wasn’t it right up my alley to have an excuse for moving to a different exotic country every couple of years? When I was taking Arabic classes in college, the Foreign Service (and other more bellicose elements of the U.S. government) loved to proselyte us. What better thing than to explore the world while serving your country and making a comfortable (and unbeatably secure) living? What better thing indeed.

I thought about it. I was still thinking about it when I went on a semester abroad to Syria.… Read more

I’m in a Turkish Magazine

Sarah Bringhurst Familia

My first experience abroad (that I remember) began in Istanbul, Turkey. As I walked out of the airport, I felt like I was stepping into the Arabian Nights. Everything, from the architecture to the language to the maniacal taxi drivers, was different from what I had ever experienced, except in books. I had known about other cultures and other countries before. But that was the moment I first truly comprehended the richness of variety that exists on planet Earth.

I spent the next six months living and traveling in the Middle East, studying Arabic, and imbibing the exotic, fascinating, yet at times strangely familiar oriental air.… Read more