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I’m going to stop talking about the Middle East for a second. We need to focus on Ukraine and, more specifically, how to help the staggering number of refugees. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi,… Continue Reading →
The myths and heroic tales of the Persian epic Shahnameh are well known, but what about the vivid illustrations that decorate manuscripts of this beloved work? Before the arrival of the printing press, scribes hand-copied books line by line, following… Continue Reading →
Where did I first learn about AramcoWorld… Perhaps in the stacks of a university library? Or later, on visits to the Aramco compound while I lived in Dhahran? No matter the connection, the fact remain the same — the free… Continue Reading →
Images of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rarely include Fujairah, the easternmost emirate. Instead, we see shots of the Burj Khalifa, the enormous Dubai Mall, and the city skylines of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We see historic dhows sailing along… Continue Reading →
Middle Eastern street food — shawarma and falafel probably come to mind, but what do you know about street food in Egypt? I remember baked sweet potatoes, served hot off a hand-drawn cart as it wove through downtown Cairo. Or… Continue Reading →
In my pursuit of new things to read (#booknerd), I can’t resist a good book list. Recommendations from other voracious readers? Yes please! Finalists for the latest literary prizes, or classic works organized by country or era? Bring it on!… Continue Reading →
The desert landscape of Taghit is absolutely breath-taking. Nestled deep in Algeria along the Sahara, the town rests against the dunes, which rise up like towering walls of sand. Nearby, narrow roads beside dried river beds lead to outcroppings etched… Continue Reading →
In college, I fell in love with the world of street art. Multicolored murals and graffiti in France and Spain first caught my eye. The undulating lines of some pieces, the sharp tall letters of others. The small graphics hidden… Continue Reading →
Stories about Coptic sites in Egypt often focus on Cairo or the stunning landscape of St. Catherine’s in the Sinai. The tightly packed neighborhood of “Coptic Cairo” features historic churches and cemeteries, and the rich collections of the Coptic museum…. Continue Reading →
If you’ve read some Turkish literature, chances are you know the excellent work of Turkish authors Orhan Pamuk and Elif Shafak. These prolific writers have best-sellers that are published in dozens of languages around the world and frequently compete for international awards. Pamuk himself won… Continue Reading →
What do you think of when you hear the word “Marrakesh?” For many people, this city in southern Morocco conjures images of its wide plaza Jemaa el-Fnaa — a popular gathering spot in the old city with stands for fresh… Continue Reading →
In the growing genre of Middle Eastern cookbooks, you can’t escape names like Yotam Ottolenghi, Sami Tamimi, and Claudia Roden. Ottolenghi’s 2010 vegetarian cookbook Plenty launched him as an international name, for example. Tamimi’s 2020 work Falastin received numerous accolades… Continue Reading →
What comes to mind when you think of Algerian music? If you’re like me, you instantly think of the raï genre. Famous raï singers include Cheb Khaled, with hits like Didi and Aicha, or Cheb Mami with the song Ana… Continue Reading →
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Remnants of the Roman empire are visible across Jordan. But outside the ruins in Amman and Jerash, how many others do you know about? Inside Amman, a large Roman amphitheater sits at the heart of the old city and remains… Continue Reading →
I’m thrilled to welcome you to the blog Other Things, where we’ll discuss lesser known people, places, and things from Middle Eastern culture and history. As I mention on the About page, this blog will touch on famous cities, music,… Continue Reading →