Eastern culture in Europe?

If I was ethnologist I guess I would like to analyze 2 geographical areas: Mediterranean and Middle-East. Leaving for about one year in Syria, I had one month break time in Greece and I felt quite impressed by cultural similarities between the 2 countries. I’ve already been to Turkey in 2005 so I was not surprise by founding something similar with Syria, both countries being located at the ‘geographical east’ (beyond the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles straight) but I was not expecting it in Greece*. These details are first of all feelings that I tried to understand and I found some tangible examples: About the general behavior of the people, family is the central reference inside the society. For example, as the Muslims Syrian’s have their important family time during the Ramadan, the Greek orthodox have a strong family customs with the Easter. I saw also this typical ‘family company’ in which I recognize both Syrians and Greeks when I enter a shop and everybody working is from the same family.
Some more fine details like when I saw a complete family bringing her 20 years old son in the bus station and the mother cry (Greece, Turkey) or on the airport a complete family wait for some familiar and everybody cry when they arrive (Damascus).
- In the style of the food like with the Mezze**
- Then there's objects like the Komboloi (Greek), Misbaha (Arabic), Tespih (Turkish) that Armenians have also.

*I may also should not have forget that Greece was under the Ottoman empire! They may have interfered inside the societies rules, it is of course not only about ottoman red hat (Fez)…
**Many little dishes on the table at the diner time

Level 5

Sorry to everybody that was expecting news...
I am now in the 5th level of the University of Damascus and I have so much to study to keep my minds up to date with the Classic Arabic (Fusrah, like 'correct') that I left a bit the blog. I have been very sick for one week in end of december. I also had some problems with my flat. I moved to Mezze Jebel (Like 'mountain of Mezze') with Anaïs and Fadi.
After the 5th level, I'll make a break of 2 months with the University. I have to practice all the grammar and vocabulary we learn in a so short time. I am thinking in taking private classes. My mother will also visit me in April for 3 weeks to visit Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. These are the 2 reasons for a smart break! The last exam of this level will be within one week.

PS: You can still check all the old post by clicking on 2007 in Blog Archive.

Mezze

Victory!
This is my first night at home! What an enjoyment to bring all my stuff to our house!
We going to live in 3 with Juan and Anaïs. Life in Mezze is little bit different : people living here are younger, there is not only ultra-conservative families.

-Click on the title link to look on google maps about mezze district in Damascus.-

Home, sweet home?

After one week of trying to find home, it seems that today is a success day?
Last Wednesday, I met a Syrian guy that would like to live with a foreigner. It is very difficult to meet arabic student to live with because mos of them live with their family or in the student residence. He is not a student, he is working as graphic designer (http://www.juanzero.com).
If everything works, after signing papers, will be home in 2 days, inch Allah!
Will live in Mezze so I will be nearer to the university than in Baramkeh!

Looking for a new home...

As I planned my coming in Syria, I am now looking for a new student house or residence to live in during this year. My current home was only for the first month because I am living with foreigners and I want to live only with arabs. I would like to experience the arabic way of life and had a cheaper bill than the Baramkeh fee. I am searching for about 2 weeks but I did not find any contacts that succeed. Here, it works diferent, they is not any board in the university where to look about it. I asked many Syrian, I know that there is a residence in Mezze.