Do you know what it is with which you have been gifted? And do you wish it had been other than this? We spent the better part of our evening down the…

I’ve mentioned before what some of my girlfriends have referred to as my ‘witchy senses’. Always, it is specific to men. Always, it shows itself as absolutely, beyond a shadow…

We found an as-of-yet unopened art gallery, and the gentlemen were kind enough to let us poke around inside and enjoy the art work. I am absolutely in love with…

It was a lounging day, and quite a welcome one at that. Except for one minor tooth incident. When I arrived home last night, I felt something slightly off on…

All over Tunis, there are areas and monuments beginning with ‘Sidi’. Today I learned that each one of these men and women are mukarameen. They were former residents of the area,…

She comes from Nabeul, an approximate hour away from Tunis proper. It’s a small town, with an old traditional souq, rarely visited by tourists (much to our loss). Haifa is…

Tunis is known as El Khadra (The Green), because of its lushness. Forget about what you know as ‘North Africa’ and look at this beauty. Driving through the city today,…

We sat with coffees in hand and ten years of catch-ups to start unraveling. I am surrounded by more extraordinary women, and our mouths are whirling dervishes between French, Arabic,…

It hailed in Paris today, so we decided to neither get out of our cozies, nor leave the apartment. Instead, it was a day filled with hearty conversation, home-cooked ‘ruffage’,…

I had my coffee in bed this morning, while creepily watching the woman in the photo. She spent over 30 minutes tending to her small window-garden (the equivalent of two…

I was the only one on the carousel again today. This time at Hôtel de Ville. Do French people not like merry-go-rounds? Why are these rides always stationary? I realised…

It’s my favourite one, Musée d’Orsay. Unpopular opinion in this city, but I will always prefer it here to any other. My entire day was spent enjoying its beauty before…

My first stop, en route to Montmartre was Le Menhir. The woman in the below photo is Eva, the proprietor. Eva and I discussed politics. All in French. I may…

Someone asked me today how I knew I was good. I had to think about it for a moment, because healing is more emotional than it is cognitive. I explained…

At lunch, I was sat next to a photographer who showed me where to look on my phone; he recommended this as the best angle. He took this pic and…

The elevator in the apartment is meant for three. I am a small person, as is Jennifer. Facing one another in the elevator, we can barely breathe. I would take…

We spent five hours wandering the insanely frigid and wet streets of this beautiful city. I wore a beret, because that’s what one does here (with naturally curly hair that…

I forgot how handsome the men are in Paris. And how well put together they all are. How am I so dumb? Not to mention how helpful they are when…

My last day in the UAE, this evening, and shortly I head to the airport. Reemo, Omar, and me became proper little roommates these last two weeks, and I’m sad…

Our skin has memory. When I dip into salt-water, it is a homecoming. Sun-kissed, I spent the evening with Nizar. We started off at Shades, at Address Hotel in Marina,…

He sits quietly outside of his laundromat, alone, wearing a jalabyah and a traditional taqiyah (a short, rounded cap). Daily, as I walk past him, this lovely, elderly Sudanese man…

Later in high school and in early Uni, I would pop into her apartment daily on my way home. We’d eat tuna on toast, drink coffee, and talk talk talk…

On the first night here, we drove past these little kiosks along the water. Each one is an individual space, surrounded by white lights. They have never been, so tonight,…

His momma cooked me one of the best Palestinian meals I have had since my own momma cooked for me in late November, right before the sabbatical began – ma2looba…

My heart is so full, it might explode. First, I spent the entire day with my beloved uncle and his family. I have not seen them in years, and only…

Interesting, isn’t it? We call someone shooting crack a ‘junkie’, while we offer the gentler ‘active addict’ to someone snorting cocaine (secretly, they think; not so secretly, in reality) from…

A few hours of walking a day ain’t never a shabby way to play. We spent a couple of these hours at The Global Village where Omar ate his way…

I am happy. At both my present, and at the circumstance which led me here; which means that I am moving further and further away from where the rock landed…

There are many extravagant masjids across the UAE. This one, however, is the one which makes me most at peace, the one closest to representing Islam as I understand it….

He turns 92 in March, inshAllah. His intention is to keep working until he is 100, so that he enter the Guinness World Book of Records. Nizar and me spent…

Unplanned, and with the best falafel sandwiches I have had since Gaza, Reemo and Omar took me out to the Arabian Gulf. This ridiculously simple afternoon, I wouldn’t trade for…

We had just finished Friday prayers when I stood to pray asr. Reem was sitting next to me, so did not notice when a random stranger woman came up to…

“Mother.” “Nice.” We played a word association game called Password, and this was the littlest 6 years old’s answer. As lovely as this unfiltered sunset, it was. Today, I am…

They received the news just recently, that he has been approved for PR status in Canada. (💃💃!!) Domino to that shortly, they plan on leaving the UAE. Domino to that…

They flew in yesterday, so I didn’t anticipate I would have a chance to see them before I head out tomorrow. When I received a message from Y asking if…

Superpowers told me to go to The Greek Club, “a Downtown institution and a popular hangout with liberal Egyptians, artists and foreign residents.” (Lonely Planet) At first, I thought that…

We did the selfie, and isn’t she the loveliest? There is a religious / cultural thing which belongs to Muslims / Arabs – it is the belief that there are…

We did all of the puzzles this morning, and ate all of the cheese. I can stare at Baby A, The Philosopher King, all day; so easy on the eyes…

My mother’s cousin whom I’d only met as a child, found out I was in the country. As did a relative of my father’s, who is my namesake. One person…

At home, I don’t have or want a car. We have excellent public transportation, and I have my legs. If needed, there’s uber and both momma and baba’s cars. Really,…