An American Abroad
This appeared recently on the wall near a school here in Sousse and was photographed by my friend Sybil Bullock: Yes, that's the ISIS flag. But I'm not sure of the meaning behind it. It could just be the work of some zealous but misguided … [Continue reading]
I've put together a film series for the American Corner here, a library and cultural center jointly funded by Amideast and the US State Department. The idea is to present different genres of American music through the presentation of movies that … [Continue reading]
There are always some photographs and memories that don’t fit neatly into a trip’s narrative. These three photos were taken in or near Taksim Square. There is an old funicular line that still carries people up and down the hill from the sea. … [Continue reading]
One advantage of being in town when many shops were closed for a holiday weekend was that I got to see more tagging, graffiti, and other UPA (Unauthorized Public Art). The artists of Karaköy use security grates and decaying buildings as their … [Continue reading]
Karaköy is grittier than Sultanahmet, with small shops, cafes, narrow streets, graffiti, studios, music stores, vintage clothing boutiques, and picturesquely derelict buildings. In other words, my kind of place. After a trolley ride across the … [Continue reading]
The Blue Mosque, the Haggia Sophia, and the Grand Bazar: the big three Istanbul tourist attractions are all located in the Sultanahmet neighborhood. But at the time I was there, the Haggia Sophia and the Grand Bazar were closed for Eid weekend. So I … [Continue reading]
As I walked through my residential neighborhood at 5:45 Friday morning, I heard the unexpected bleating of sheep waking up on one of their last days on earth. Eid is not a good time to be a sheep in Tunisia. Mr. Dahoud picked me up right on schedule … [Continue reading]
As Eid al-Adha approaches, sheep are everywhere in and around Sousse. Sacrificing a sheep or other animal is a symbolic acknowledgement of the story of Abraham's willingness to kill his son Ishmael because god commanded it, and god's last minute … [Continue reading]
On Friday, my Access class took the TOEFL Junior, a high-stress testing experience for all. And so on Saturday, we celebrated by doing a beach clean-up. Litter is a big problem in Sousse and community service projects are a component of the Access … [Continue reading]
One of my resolutions on coming to Tunisia was to make my living space cozier than what I had in China. True, my apartment here will probably not be a long-term home, but even so I want it to be comfortable and pleasing. I wanted a big desk, and … [Continue reading]
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