Arabesque

These SU trips to Philly, NYC, and now DC have been one of the really high spots of living in Salisbury for me. This trip was no exception. Well worth the $60.

First stop, the Syrian ambassador's personal residence near Dupont Circle. They took us downstairs to a small auditorium with a large screen TV and coffee. I love people who give me coffee. The Syrian Ambassador, Imad Moustapha, spoke to our group of about 55 people about life in Syria, the history of the country and its 22 different ethnic and religious groups that all live there, and the change in relations with the US since Obama's election. Prior to becoming the Syrian ambassador to the US, he was the Dean of Information Technology at the University of Damascus, and Secretary General of the Arab School on Science and Technology. For some reason, it makes me really comforted knowing there's people highly placed in politics who get the value of information technology (and he has a blog! http://imad_moustapha.blogs.com). His wife, whom he met while at the Univ of Damascus where she was a lecturer, also spoke to us in detail about the role of women in Syria, and how their society values education for all. Incidentally she is 8 months pregnant, and chose to speak to us. I thought that said a lot about her too. Some amusing tidbits we learned:

• Syria celebrates all Christian and Islamic holidays as national holidays. They celebrate Easter twice. The Romans would be proud, I think.
• Damascus, the capitol city, has been in existance as an inhabited city for over 10,000 years (purportedly the oldest in the world)
• The Ambassador had just returned from a trip to Syria where he accompanied John Kerry and his wife and another Senator (I think, sorry!) and his wife. It was a business trip, but also a vacation. The Ambassador told us that Syrians like that their country is marketed as a cultural tourist spot, and not a commercial one.
• The Ambassador's wife told us a story about meeting with former President George W. Bush. She was living in London working on her PhD in Computer Science when her husband was appointed to the Ambassador position. During one presentation of her husband's, she came to DC to be present for the presentation. President Bush asked her how she liked living in DC. She explained about her circumstances, and the President was flabbergasted. He couldn't believe a Syrian woman would be living away from her husband, AND be working on her PhD in CS, of all things. She told us this story to show how even President Bush didn't know the role of women in Syrian culture. then she needed to rest, and her husband, the Ambassador, picked up the story, saying that later the President took him aside, and said, "We have something in common. We both married up."
• We were also treated to hearing a Syrian musician perform for us on clarinet. He was amazing! I've never heard such dynamic and tonal control. http://www.myspace.com/kinanazmeh

then I got to be in a picture with the Ambassador, his wife, his cultural assistant (a 20-something, super fashionista), the Provost of SU, and other administration and faculty. I will try super hard to get a copy of it. I really enjoyed listening to the Syrian Ambassador and his wife. They seemed truly concerned about giving us a good perspective on Syria. The Ambassador said that even in the one month since Obama's inauguration, things have gotten better between the two countries, politically. He says he never thought the peoples of the US and Syria have ever had problems, but he's very happy for the change in political relations.

Then we headed off to see the Palestinian Center. There is no Palestinian embassy in the US, only a center for cultural understanding. We met with two members of a dance troupe in DC who taught us some dance steps. We all held hands and moved in a circle. It was something like a ceili and what I think of as "Fiddler on the Roof" dancing. Lots of stomping. It was super fun.



They also showed us a video of different artists talking about their paintings and sculptures, and how the occupation of Palestine had affected them. Then we got to walk around the center where these pieces were displayed. We also had a chance to shop there where all the proceeds form the sales went to helping refugees.

Then we moseyed on to the Embassy for Saudi Arabia. They would not allow cameras, cell phones, or any recording device inside or outside the embassy. We also had to pass through an airport style security terminal, but they seemed to think we were all fine, and let us all go through very quickly. We met with two people who work at the embassy: a woman who gave us a fashion show taking models from the audience, and a man who emigrated to Brooklyn when he was 3 yrs old, but talks as though he's Saudi Arabian. It was very amusing to hear a man with a very heavy Brooklyn accent saying things like "We Saudis... and in our country of Saudi Arabia..." etc.

• He was very considerate to the audience's questions and concerns over the very different role of women in Saudi Arabia from what we had been told about Syrian women. but he also stressed that his is a very conservative country, more concerned with the internal stability of its people than its perception in the world. So change is slow.
• He was very proud of a new university to be opened soon in Saudi Arabia that would be co-educational, but still separate classrooms for men and women.
• He also said that they don't go to beaches like we do. Wearing bathing suits just isn't done; even men on a males only beach wouldn't do this.
• One lady asked him could she visit his country with her Israeli passport, and he seemed a little flumoxed but recovered quickly.
• He was also happy to tell us about their imports/exports, the role of oil/natural gas/solar power, and how important the hajj and Mecca are to his country's priorities.

Then we had a fabulous dinner of native foods to Saudi Arabia. I was a little disappointed none of the foods were labeled. I would have liked to know what they were, so I could find them later. And also to be sure I wasn't eating meat. Alas. One other bizarre thing. I went to the bathroom. You know those hose/spray things on kitchen sinks? They had those by the toilets in the women's restroom. What is that? Some kind of bidet?

Next stop, the Kennedy Center! There was a performance by Nawal: Voice of Comoros. "Nawal, the singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known as “The Voice of Comoros,” performs her acoustic roots-based fusion, which is rhythmically compelling and beautifully lyrical." It was neat, but very crowded so I listened from the back of the room, and walked around the exhibits of wedding dresses from all over Arabia, and a Souk market of Arabic goods. Later we saw a Dance Theatre production in the KC Opera House.

Caracalla Dance Theatre: Knights of the Moon

Lebanon's Caracalla Dance Theatre performs Knights of the Moon, a theatrical extravaganza of jealousy, hidden identities, and love staged by an acclaimed creative team with an original musical score and innovative choreography.

It was super cool. Amazing set design and awesome incorporation of a film screen running behind the performers. And the dancing was of course fabulous.

Then we headed home. Not the least of the day's awesomeness, but our tour guides kept giving us bags of goodies whenever we came back to the bus. We got to have traditional candies, snack foods, sodas, and a keepsake present at the end of the day. We also watched films, had an Arabic lesson, and were told folktales on the bus. It was a great trip! I didn't take very many pictures, but what I took is posted on FB, MySp, and Flickr. If I'm able to get a copy of that picture from the Syrian residence, I'll post it too. :)