Syria in a Fortnight

During August of 2023, I had the opportunity of going to Syria for two weeks to see my beloved family. The last time I had the chance to see them in person was fifteen years ago. 2007. Some cousins were babies, some not even born yet. The two weeks have felt like as short as a weekend and as long as a month.

Teta at her daughter’s home in Marmarita, Syria

Thee chicken coop slippers.

Pre-teen rebels.

I already miss the moments of watching my grandpa harvesting from the family garden. Or my uncle awake at 5 AM playing Fayrouz and smoking Cedars. My grandmother hanging our clothes to dry in the Al-Wadi sun. The gut-wrenching feeling of having to release my sobbing cousin after saying goodbye for five minutes.

Teta prepping food after just waking up.

Jido in the chicken coop.

Uncle Adnan improvising ways to keep cool.