Destination Middle East 2012

Destination: Middle East

Table of Contents

NEWS SECTION:

1. Visiting and Venerating by Michael Favrot.....................................................................................pg. 2 2. Sailing in the Desert by Noelle Higginson.......................................................................................pg. 3 3. Buddahs in Bamiyan by Oliver Kjellgren.......................................................................................pg. 4 4. Swimming with Sharks by Lucie Lanier........................................................................................pg. 5 5. Scoring a Steal in the Desert by Chase Schupp...............................................................................pg.6 6. Dead Sea Disappearing by Granville Kaynor.................................................................................pg. 7 7. Saudi Arabia: An Undiscovered Gem by Halle Wood....................................................................pg. 8 8. What Can I Do in the Middle East? by Granville Kaynor.............................................................pg. 15 9. What to Bring Back by Noelle Higginson.......................................................................................pg. 17 10. Six Must See Destinations by Oliver Kjellgren...........................................................................pg. 18

ARTS SECTION:

1. Thank You by Michael Favrot..........................................................................................pg. 20 2. Armagon by Halle Wood..................................................................................................pg. 21 3. Finding My Way Through Saudi Arabia by Lucie Lanier................................................pg. 22 4. Receiving Extra Credit in Egypt by Chase Schupp.........................................................pg. 23 5. Afghan Ski Challenge by Oliver Kjellgren......................................................................pg. 24 6. My Moods Swings in Turkey by Noelle Higginson........................................................pg. 25 7. Dancing With Violence by Granville Kaynor.................................................................pg. 26 8. Mind Your Manners! by Lucie Lanier and Halle Wood.................................................pg. 27 9. Timeline by Chase Schupp and Lucie Lanier................................................................pg. 28 10. Movies of the Middle East by Halle Wood...................................................................pg. 30 11. Voluntourism by Lucie Lanier.....................................................................................pg. 31 12. Books to Read...............................................................................................................pg. 32

Page 1

Visiting and Venerating By: Michael Favrot The Middle East is the birthplace of some of the world’s biggest religions.

Most of the world has been influenced by the religions that came from this region.

If you are interested in Christianity, Islam, or Judaism, then the Middle East is the place to go.

If you are attracted to Islam, Majsid al-Haram in Mecca is the largest mosque in the world. the two most important cities are Mecca and Medina, but you must be Muslim to enter them. When visiting Mecca, the most holy city of the Islamic faith, the biggest site to see is the Ka’ba where thousands of Muslims go on a pilgrimage called a hajj each year. At the Ka’ba, Muslims circle a large, black stone and pray. You can then head to the second holiest city of Islam, Medina. The main attraction in Medina is Majidar Nabawi, the Mosque of the Prophet. This mosque was built on the spot where Muhammad’s house once stood and is the site where he is buried.

The next stop on your journey is Jerusalem where there are places of interest for Muslim, Christian, and Jewish travelers. You can start with the Dome of the Rock, which is set on an important hill for all three religions. The Dome of the Rock is an Islamic shrine and a destination for Muslims pilgrimages. The shrine is important because it is adjacent to the Al-Asqa Mosque, the The Dome of the Rock in Jersulam is a very place where Muhammad ascended into heaven. holy site for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The site is very important for Jews as it covers the spot where the First and Second Temples were built.

The Dome of the Rock is important to Jews and Christians because it is built over the holy rock where Isaac was prepared for sacrifice by his father Abraham.

Another incredibly important place to stop by is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the holiest place in Christianity. This place of worship was built on the spot where Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and resurrected. The building is divided between six Christian See Visiting, pg. 9...

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Trying All the Sports You Did Not Know Existed

By Noelle Higginson Lately,( Abu( Dhabi( has( been( thought( of( as( the( international(sports(capital.(From(crashing( through( the(desert(on(a(car(to(sailing(on(land,(Abu(Dhabi(has( Many tourists en your(average(sports(like( sailing(and(your(not=quite= joy Wadi Bashing in Abu Dhabi. as=average(sports(like(sand(boarding.( Located(in(the( U n i t e d( Arab(Emirates,( Abu(Dhabi(has(the(perfect(combination( of( sand( dunes( next( to( beaches.( This( makes( prime( locations( for( tourists( who( want( to( relax( or( tourists( who( want( to( try( these( extreme(sports.( When( you( think( of( sports( though,( do( not( expect( sports( like( baseball( to(be(in(this( article(because(they( are(not.( Here(you(will( Find(sports( like( sailing(on(land.( (The( “boats�(are(a( bit( different,( but(just(as(fun(to(steer(down(the(sandy(beaches.(The(contraption( is( basically( a( three=wheeled( base( with( a( sail( attached( and( is( steered( by( pedals.( Races( are( the( same( as( they( are( in( normal( sailing.( (Some(consider(land(sailing(in(the(desert(more(fun(because(you(can( go(up(and(down(the(dunes.(Either(way(land(sailing(is(exciting(for(any(tourist( who(wants(an(extreme(sport(option.( Abu Dhabi is the capital of the Because( Abu(Dhabi( is( practically( surrounded(by( water,( land(sports( United Arab Emirates. It is are(not(the(only(sports(played(there.(You(can(do(your(generic(sailing,(or(you( considered to be an can(go(kite(surFing(and(wake(boarding.(If(you(do(not(know(what(kite(surFing( international sports capital is,( this( is( what( you(do:(stand( on( a(snowboard=like(board,( hold(on( to( large( for most water sports and kite(that(is(Flying(above(you,(and(surf,(but(you(are(being(pulled(by(the(wind.( many other extreme sports.

Therefore,(if(you(are(brave(enough,( you(can(jump(waves(and(practically(Fly( nnn through( the(air(to( do( as( many(tricks(as( you(would(like.( Wake( boarding(is( basically(the(equivalent(of(snowboarding(on(water,(but(instead(a(speedboat( is( pulling(you.( Both(are( great( for( tourists( seeking( a( thrill( at( the(beach.( In( addition,(the(World(Wakeboarding(Championship(is(often(held(in( the( crystal,( clear( waters( around( Abu( Dhabi,( so( you( can( even( watch(the(best(wake(boarders(in(the(world!

Perhaps(even(more(extraordinary( than(those( sports( is( the(sport( sand(boarding.(If(you(are(thinking(that(this(must(have(something( to( do( with( snowboarding( then( you( are( exactly( right.( It( is( snowboarding(but(on(sand.(Of(course,(if(you(are(going(to(try(sand( boarding( you(should( be(warned( that( sand( will( get( everywhere,( and(there(are(no( ski( lifts(so( do( not(expect(an(easy( time(climbing( up(the(sand(dunes.( It(is(completely(worth(the(struggle(once(you( start(zooming(down(some(of(the(tallest(dunes(in(the(world.( Who( would( not( risk( having( a( little( sand(in(their(hair(in(exchange( for(

By Michael Favrot that?

See Sports, pg. 10...

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Abu Dhabi

Buddhas in Bamiyan

By Oliver Kjellgren

When thinking of Afghanistan one might note the Taliban or Al-Qaeda. From an American point of view most people would describe these groups as terrorists, for good reason. As a result, there is no wonder why someone would be bewildered when a friend tells them that they are traveling to Afghanistan. Although there is a right to be worried for your safety while traveling in Afghanistan, it also offers many cultural and scenic wonders that may make the trip worthwhile.

Although there are some places in Afghanistan were it is considered unsafe, there are also some places that are far away from all the action. Bamiyan Province is one of the places that is considered safe to travel to because it is 2500 meters high in the mountains towards the middle of Afghanistan. It is one of the main tourist attractions in Afghanistan because of its cool climate, beautiful mountains, and rich history.

The most famous attraction in This buddha is located Bamiyan is the gigantic footprints of in Bamiyan. destroyed Buddha statues. The statues were made in the 6th century and have long been popular pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. As amazing of a spectacle as they were, in 2001 the Taliban declared the statues to be un-Islamic, tanks were rolled in, and the statues were turned into dust.

Since the destruction of the Buddha’s, a worldwide effort began to try to rebuild the statues. In addition to seeing the Buddha’s, one can This buddha is located also explore caves and passages connecting two large Buddha’s left by monks that lived there. After exploring the Buddha’s, one in Bamiyan. can also go to the Shahr-e Gholghola, which is a fort up in the mountainside overlooking the town. Also, during the winter, one can go skiing in the mountains of Bamiyan Province, but you should be careful because there are poor facilities, no ski patrol, and no lifts. Once it seems there is nothing more to be done, there is the option to take a walk on the many paths around the Buddha’s. This may be particularly interesting because of wreckage See Buddhas, pg. 11...

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Swimming with Sharks

By Lucie Lanier

When The Middle East is thought of the first thing has a pampering spa and a gym with personal that generally comes to mind is, violence or trainers so that adults will never be bored. There poverty, so the The are several kids Middle East is not clubs where teens generally thought and children can of as the most get out of the sun “family friendly� for a few hours and place to visit. In have some indoor the past couple fun.

The Kids years a new area Club, for younger has been built children, has Wii, called, The Palm X B O X The Palm, one of the Atlantis islands, is located Islands. The Palm 360,Playstation 3, in Dubai.

Islands are artificially and movie showings all created islands off the day long for the kids to coast of the United Arab Emirates by Dubai. These enjoy. Club Rush is a sugar rush bar for teens that islands contain wealthy suburbs and resorts that are has, nonalcoholic drinks and fun snacks. The chill extremely upscale. The resort, The Palm, one of out lounge is a hangout and movie theater to relax the two Atlantis, resorts, has been extremely in and the Entertainment lounge is a spot where popular since its opening in 2008. The Resort has teens can listen and watch live performances by activities for the whole family including exciting bands and singers everyday. water rides and eye catching marine life The Palm has over 16 different restaurants experiences. and cafes featuring Italian, Mediterranean, French, The resort is a beach paradise surrounded and Japanese cuisine for guests to choose from and by the Persian Gulf. When families are not playing beautiful rooms with a balcony and palm terrace in on the beach they are wandering around from every one that looks over the entire tropical activity to activity attempting to take everything in. landscape. Atlantis truly is the ultimate family There is a water playground called Aquaventure for vacation spot. For a family of five to stay at The younger children and a Ziggurat Temple that contains seven waterslides, two of which that catapult you into shark filled lagoons!

The Ambassador Lagoon is a place where people go to see giant marine life habitats and learn about the fascinating creatures that dwell in them.

Dolphin Bay is another popular place for guests to visit. At Dolphin Bay the people are able to swim with sharks, dolphins, stingrays, and other fascinating marine life.

The parents have plenty to do as well.

The Emirates golf club is only two miles away This picture was taken by a helicopter and the Dubai mall is 20 minutes away. The Hotel above the Palm Islands.

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Scoring a Steal in the Desert

By Chase Schupp The desert is calling for you. This historic city is filled with extraordinary tourist attractions that will not break the bank. This entertaining North African city is great for a couple that is looking to explore the pyramids, ancient tombs, while enjoying great food and a exquisite place to sleep. All of these great attractions can also be very affordable.

You can acquire a United Airline round trip straight flight from New York to Cairo for $1,300. You can also acquire cheap transportation by renting a car at the airport from Enterprise for only $30 for the whole weekend if you rent a mid sized car. A cheap yet 4 star high quality hotel for an average rate of $90 per night at Hotel Longchamps is located in the middle of downtown Cairo. While

you are in Cairo there are a lot of very nice restaurants to eat at such as the Naguib Mahfouz Cafe which serves Egyptian cuisine mainly for dinner and the average entree usually costs from $20-40. Another very popular place for eating is Tia Maria which is a world class Italian restaurant that serves lunch specials; an average cost of $20-30. And if you are looking for Indian cuisine for either breakfast or lunch Sequoia is your place to enjoy a great meal for $10-15.

Cairo

Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is one of the oldest cities in the world. Therefore, it has a very rich history and culture. It is worth experiencing this culture next time you go to Africa.

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For some good tourist attractions you can start by visiting the Egyptian Museum which contains ancient historic artifacts such as jewelry from former kings, sculptures from ancient temples and tombs, and the most intriguing part, the King Tut collection, which contains shields and bracelets of the ancient King. The entry fee for the museum is $60 and it is $100 extra to view the mummies rooms.

Another major attraction is the Giza Pyramid tour, while on the tour you will have an air conditioned vehicle transport you from your hotel to the

The Sphinx is located in Giza and was built in 2500 BC.

See Steal, pg. 12 6

Dead Sea Disappearing

By Granville Kaynor

It has recently been discovered that the Dead Sea is slowly disappearing at a rate of one meter per year and it is now at a shocking 424 meters below sea level. Every year, the Jordan River transports 100,000,000 cubic meters of fresh water to the Dead Sea to provide Israel, Palestine, and Syria with fresh drinking water. This has been a major issue for The Kingdom of Jordan because it has the least a m o u n t o f f r e s h w a t e r.

Mousa Jama'ani, a chairman for the Jordan Valley Authority in Amman says, "Here in Jordan, there is no oil, also no water." Fresh water is also essential to the agricultural development of these countries.

Without immediate treatment, the Dead Sea will continue to shrink, and Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Syria will be left with very little fresh drinking water and their agriculture could perish as a result. In efforts to contain this situation, the World Bank has agreed to form a 180 kilometer canal with a pipeline to transport the Red Sea's fresh water to the Dead Sea to evenly distribute the Located between Israel and amount of fresh water throughout Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Jordan. The Dead Sea has Syria. Also, the water's motion inside of the pipe generates been a popular tourist electricity to power a salt-removal foundry for the Dead Sea. destination because of the fact Since Jordan is so low on fresh that you can float on top of the d r i n k i n g w a t e r, Israel, the water due to the salt content.

Palestine Authority, and Jordan are nnn working together to make the "RedDead Concept" come true.

Alex McPhail, a water and hygiene specialist for the World Bank says, "It's the only place where Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority are publicly working on a project together."Other ecologists are not so certain that the "Red-Dead Concept" will be beneficial looking forward. A group called "Friends of the Earth Middle East, or FoEME, are convinced that the plan will cost an

The Dead Sea

See Sea, pg. 13...

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Saudi Arabia: An Undiscovered Gem

By Halle Wood Like a unsullied jewel, Saudi Arabia gleams with an undeniable brilliance. Located by the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia is a phenomenal destination for young couples and families. From the contemporary hotels to the beautiful wildlife, Saudi Arabia is sure to A romantic city with hotels and restaurants that are please any traveler. perfect for honeymoons.

Overlooking the vast Red Sea, the Rosewood Hotel in Corniche, Saudi Arabia helps to enhance the late night skyline. The nnn luxury hotel includes a vast selection of rooms and prices but, for the big spender the Royal Suite is the way to go. At a whopping $2,000 per night, the room includes a private entrance, movie theatre, and dressing rooms. There are a slew of king beds, along with two separate rooms for hotel staff. with two personal butlers, a dinning room for 15 guests, two steam showers, flat screen TVs’, and a private jacuzzi overlooking the Red Sea, this Fish swim in the Red Sea bundle is worth the money. If located on the east shore of the lavish lifestyle is not quite Saudi Arabia. your cup of tea, Salam Park will most likely be what you are interested in.

Engulfing 75 acres of land, Salam Park is a historical site with a natural beauty. This park once held a palace and a 70 year old mosque. The palm grove houses delicious dates, which make a nice snack (just do not get caught stealing any). There is also a wildlife conservation center and a boating experience on the lake. There are now four prayer buildings open everyday.

With the beautiful scenery and relaxing atmosphere make Salam Park another wonderful place to go.

Jeddah

See Gem, pg. 14...

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Visiting from pg. 2... sects: Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian, Ethiopian, and Coptic churches. The most holy location in all of Judaism is the Western Wall located in Old Jerusalem. Built by King Herod, it is part of the original wall that surrounded the temple Mount. The perfectly carved stones that make the wall are all that remains of the Second Temple.

From the Western Wall, you can go right outside the city to the Mount of Olives. This historic site was where Jesus was arrested and then later ascended into heaven.

From here, there is a magnificent view of Jerusalem. The mount is also a site for Jewish pilgrims because of the ancient Jewish graveyard located there. For travelers who are brave and are not afraid of a little danger, there is the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem just six miles from the center of Jerusalem. The church marks the spot where Jesus was born and is the oldest church in the Holy Land. The United States has put the highest of warnings on travelling there because it is located on the West Bank, which is an area of Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

By visiting just these few sites, you have learned a great deal not just about these religions, but also about world religion.

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Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem

Three of the most important religious cities in the world. If you are going on a religious journey, you must visit these cities.

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Sports from pg. 3...

The(most(popular(sport( though(in(Abu(Dhabi(is( considered(by(most(to(be(wabi(bashing.(The(Liwa(Oasis,( the( largest( sand( desert( in( the( world,( is( located( just( outside( Abu( Dhabi( and( provides( some( of( the( largest( dunes( in(the( world( and( dried,( rocky( riverbeds,( which( are(the(usual( locations( for(wabi( bashing.(All(you(do( in( wabi( bashing( is( drive( as( fast( as( you(want( on( the(sand( dunes.( This( sport( is( unique( to( Abu( Dhabi( and( a( few( select( other( cities( around( the( world.( It( is( perfect( for( excitement=seeking( tourists( who( want( to( just( go( out( and( enjoy( driving( into( dunes( for( a( day.( Some( people( even( choose( to( spend( a( night( in( the( desert( and( continue(the(next( day!( And(if(you(are(looking(for(some( extreme( activities( to( do( on( vacation,( why(not( spend( a( night(in(the(desert?( So( next( time( you( are( looking( for( an( action= packed(trip(do(not(skip(Abu(Dhabi.

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By Noelle Higginson

Buddhas from pg. 4... from the war. For example there are destroyed buildings, abandoned jeeps, and scraped weapons. Be careful and do not stray for well used paths, for there are still many unexploded land mines in the area. An easy way to stay safe on these paths is to not walk where the stones are marked with red; where the stones are marked with white the mines have been cleared from the area.

Although Bamiyan has much to offer, the trip to get there can be a difficult and dangerous one. To start, there are no commercial air services that run to Bamiyan. There are however some NGO’s (non-government organization) and military flights that run to Bamiyan. If one is not able to organize a flight to Bamiyan, there is the option the fly to Kabul and take a bus to Bamiyan. The road to Bamiyan is dangerous so it is advised to cover your head with a scarf, which helps lower your profile and also keeps dust out of your face.

For a place to stay for the night, there are different hotels that accommodate to your budget. For the cheapest, low end, place to stay there is the Zuhak Hotel. The Roof of Bamiyan Hotel has a great view of the town and serve all three meals, but the rooms are not very well maintained. The most expensive and high end hotel is the Hotel Silk Road, which also offers great food.

Afghanistan may be a dangerous country, but do not be blinded by all the war, terrorism, and oppression. Afghanistan has been overlooked by many travelers that have not seen the real culture and exiting experiences Afghanistan has to offer. Since the Taliban was overthrown in 2001, Afghanistan’s tourism has slowly crept up until the country has gained much attention.

Many tourists are gaining the bravery to travel to Afghanistan and this is why you should too.

Bamiyan

Although it is dangerous because of the war against Afghanistan, Bamiyan is one of the most beautiful provinces in Afghaistan and the buddha statues are definitely a site to see.

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By Oliver Kjellgren

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Steal from pg.5 ... dessert. The pyramids that you will see will be Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinus. On this tour you will also see the valley temple where the purification of the mummies was done. This tour will cost a grand of total $50 for 2 people.

Over all this amazing, ancient Egyptian city located on the Nile River is a great place to visit to learn about world history while having a romantic yet cheap vacation with your counterpart. !

Populations

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Red Sea from pg. 6... building coral, and potentially the entire ecosystem of the Red Sea. They believe that the plan should use other methods of preservation besides ruining ecosystems. To put an end to the debating and arguing, a final report by the World Bank will decide whether or not the plan will continue to progress and move forward. The disappearing of the Dead Sea has left behind many deposits of salt that are causing some plants to cease growth. This will badly damage agriculture throughout the region. In addition, the tourism rate (tourists enjoy floating in the Dead Sea because it is so salty) has decreased tremendously and hotels in the region have stopped construction. Despite the horrible effects, authorities are confident that the Dead Sea will still live. Ittai Gavrieli, the Director of Geological Survey in Jerusalem, Israel believes, "The Dead Sea will not die."

By Chase Schupp 13

Gem from pg. 8...

What about dinner? For the risk takers out there, the next 3 restaurants have an array of cuisines. The Al Dana Fish Restaurant specializes in the area of seafood. From crab to lobster the Al Dana Fish Restaurant puts it own twist on simple seafood. Next, is the Hadek Albahr Restaurant. The literal translation of Hadaek Albahr is sea garden. Being one of the more interesting restaurants, the Hadaek Albahr combines the flavors of Lebanese, Chinese, and Hindi cuisine. This restaurant is more kid friendly and even has a play structure for children. Last but not least, is the Green Island Cafe. Featuring an array of tapas, the Green Island Cafe is a faster and more economically-friendly restaurant. The view of the Red Sea adds a sense of calm to the restaurant but, be careful of the rain because, there is no awning. For a spectacular view of the sunset, visit the Al-Faisaliah Tower.

The Al-Faisaliah tower stands an astounding 267 meters from the ground and, has 34 floors. The Bin Laden Construction Company built the magnificent tower with the architectural blueprint provided by Norman Foster, a British architect, in the year 2000. this beautiful tower help to add to the Saudi Arabian skyline. Inside of the tower is a hotel, multiple offices, and plenty of shopping. When standing from the viewing platform you can over look the Red Sea and bask in the beauty of the sunset.

Furthermore the calm atmosphere, and enthralling beauty of Saudi Arabia is a sure fire destination that will please anyone. The Red Sea will tantalize you wanting for adventure and

By Chase Schupp 14

What Can I Do in the Middle East?

Float in the Dead Sea

1. There are plenty people who would love to swim in the Dead Sea, which is bordered by Israel and Jordan. Because it is the most salty sea in the world, people can literally float on their backs while reading an enjoyable magazine or book. One may also find it interesting to see the deposits of salt sitting along its shores.

Take a Hot Air Balloon over Dubai

2. Take an hot air balloon ride departing early in the morning from the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Sit back, relax, and watch the sun rise as your pilot serves you drinks while you enjoy gliding above the heart of the desert.

Find Your Own Pearl

3. Have you ever wanted an oyster pearl that you found by yourself ? At the Aquatique Scuba Centre in Manama Bahrain, one can go diving for these pearls. If you wish to Many hot air balloon festivals like participate in this one take place in Dubai. the diving course, you will learn about the history of pearl diving in Bahrain and how it has shaped Bahrain's economy today.

This pearl was just found by someone in that oyster.

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What Can I Do in the Middle East?

By Granville Kaynor

Visit the Roman Baths in Jordan

4. The classical (Roman), public baths in the village of Mukheiba, Jordan (ancient al-Himma) are a pleasant site to visit or to swim in if you wish. The baths have one hot outdoor pool and three indoor heated pools. It is recommended that most travelers visit during winter or any time when it is somewhat chilly in Jordan.

Golf on a Professional Course in Dubai

5. If you are interested in golf, then you might enjoy playing the nine hole (if you wish to play quickly) or eight-teen hole Doha Golf Course in Qatar, which is also the site of the Qatar Masters professional golfer's tournament in March every year. The course is also publicly open to non-members.

Visit the Via Dolorosa

6. If you are moved by religion, Via Dolorosa is the walking tour for you!

In one of the world's most sacred cities Jerusalem, Israel, you can walk the path of Jesus took as he carried his cross on his back. During your tour, you will also see the site where Simon the Cyrene was instructed to help Jesus carry his cross to his destination.(Fifth Station)

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What to Bring Back

By Noelle Higginson

Onyx

sought after carpets in the world. Each design is unique and the colors stand out perfectly.

Authentic carpets are usually handmade, which causes them to be a bit expensive. They Onyx is a rare stone, are high quality and w h i c h c a n b e i n definitely worth looking

almost any color like blue, green, and even purple. Onyx is used to make anything from jewelry to chess pieces.

The jewelry makes for amazing birthday presents, anniversary presents, etc. This stone is sold in many bazaars throughout the Middle East.

places around the Middle East to ward off evil and bad luck. It is usually made or seen in the form of an amulet or small piece of jewelry. This, too, can be a great birthday present or even something to bring back just as a memento of your trip to the Middle East.

Turkish Delight at though if you happen to be in the Middle East, especially Turkey, which is most famous for these carpets.

Turkish Delight is a famous jelly-like, sugary candy that is sold all The Blue Eye, or nazar, over the Middle East, Persian carpets, or kilim, is a symbol used in but especially Turkey. are some of the most Turkey and some other This will be a great

Persian Carpets The Blue Eye

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present to bring back. It is cheap and kids love it.

Turkish Coffee

Turkish coffee is not as famous as the other items on this list, but it is certainly a good present for any coffee-lover who likes a rich, strong, black coffee.

Six Must See Destinations

By Oliver Kjellgren Topaki( Palace( is( a( huge( 15th( century( place( in( Istanbul,(Turkey.((Not(only(is(it(7,500,000(sq(ft,( but( it( also( has( six( centuries( of( rich( and( interesting(history.( (Hours(are(9:00(am(to(5:00( pm(and(prices(are(between($10(to($15.

The(Hagia(SoFia(was(First( made(as(a(church(in( 537( but( was( then( conquered( by( Muslims( in( 1453(and(was( turned(into(a(mosque.( (It(was(a( mosque( till( 1935( when( it( was( turned( into( a( museum.( ( The( museum( hours(are( 9:30( am(to( 4:30(pm(and(the(prices(are(around(15(USD.

T h e s e( l a r g e( s t a t u e s( o f( Topaki Palace is a huge castle located in Turkey.

B u d d h a s( a re( located( in( Bamiyan( Province,( Afghanistan.( The( 6th( century=made( statues(are(carved(out(of(the(side(of(a(mountain(and(the(tallest(statue( is( 175(feet.( (The(statues(are(free(of(admission(to( see(but(it(would(be( worth(it( to( hire( a( guide( for( 15(dollars.

The Grand Bazaar in Turkey is one ofthe biggest bazaars in the world.

Bodrum Castle in Turkey is another huge castle located in Turkey.

T h e( G r a n d( B a z a a r( i n( Marmaris,( Turkey( has( over( 1 0 0 0( l i t t l e( s h o p s( concentrated( into( a( little( space.((The(stores(in(the(Bazaar(have(about(every(thing(you( could(image(in( them.( ( In( most( of( the(stores( there(are( set( prices( but( in( other( stores( you( will( have( to( bargin(for(prices.

The(Dead(Sea(is(a(large( inland( sea( located( in( the( Jordan( Rift( Valley( were( the( water( is( so( concentrated( with( salt,( which( enables( you( to( Float( while( reading( a( book!( (The(sea(in(400(m( These salt clumps are often found below( sea( level,( ( the( along the shore of the Dead Sea. lowest(point(in(earth!

The(Bodrum(Castle(is(located(in(the(city(of(Bodrum,(Turkey.(( It( was( built( by(the( Knights(Hospitaller( in( 1402.( ( It(is( open( from(9a.m.(to(7p.m.(and(costs(10(Turkish(Lira.

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Arts

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Thank You

By: Michael Favrot overpowering smell of Arabian spices blew me away. As I started walking through the streets of I started my pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia Mecca, everyone stopped and stared at me and thinking I would leave with answers about myself, made room for me to walk. The street vendors but I also left with many questions. approached me.

I had no family, no friends, and I hated my “American, come visit my stall.” job. One day, as I was driving home from an awful day at the office, I noticed a mosque on my “I sell the finest jewelry.” ride home. I had never seen it before and was As I continued my walk through the city, I drawn inside by a feeling I could not explain. stopped at a square. A crowd of angry screaming Islam changed everything. Islam helped me see men surrounded a stage in the middle of the like I had never seen before. For once in a long square.

The time, I felt as uproar turned though I even louder belonged when a woman somewhere. As was led up onto I was talking to the platform. a n o t h e r I m m e d i a t e l y, member of my the men started mosque, he throwing stones said that he had at her.

What been on a hajj a could she have couple of years done to have ago, and it had deserved this? h e l p e d I never found strengthen his Muslims camp out in Mecca During the Hajj. out as I was so faith. I asked terrified that I ran out of the square without him what a hajj was, and he told me that it was a looking back. pilgrimage to Mecca that was required of all capable Muslims. I thought that this trip would The next day, I started my hajj by entering benefit me even more than it had him, and I the Holy Mosque right foot first and reciting the decided to go. traditional prayer, which is the first act done by all pilgrims.

I then performed the tawaf, a A week later, I took off on my flight to processional walk around the Ka’ba. The next Mecca. As I landed and exited the airport, the step of the hajj was to circle the two nearby hills crowds of people filling the streets and the of Marwah and Safa.

See, Thanks, pg. 36....

20

Armagan

By: Halle Wood clothes, a bed, but on my own I have nothing. My Weird. That is how most would describe dad gives me money all the time, I guess he thinks me I guess it is because I do not go to parties or that is love but, I do not want material items, I maybe it is because I actually care about my want real, fatherly love. I told my father’s wife I grades and what I do with my life. Now, I will not was leaving. go on and on about how the people who call me “Instead of leaving you should go to the “weird” do not matter because, quite frankly, they gym!” do but, there is one person I actually like, I told my dad I was leaving. He was not very Armagan. The love of my life, my shining star, happy. my sole interest. He is weird too, like me. He was “After everything I do for you, this is born in Konya, Turkey. He has a mother, a father, how you show me your appreciation? Just because a brother, and a sister, but, he is the only one who your mother died when you were young, does not is important. His shaggy deep brown hair mean you have to lash out at me! I have to work surrounds his warm face. for you, to feed you, to His green eyes glisten. clothe you. I have to do His skin looks like everything for you while porcelain, almost like his you just sit around and skin is painted on his cry about how horrible semi-defined muscles. He and miserable your life is moved here, to New and now...”

York, when he was 12, I hung up. I did not care. but now, he is 18, like I do not need him or his me. I never really liked stupid wife. It seems as if Mosques in Turkey are huge and have extremely my parents much. My he has worked on her 100 detailed architecture. father, Dexter King, is a times. First it was her well known plastic boobs, then it was surgeon, who is never home. My mother died liposuction, then it was a face lift. He cares more when I was seven but, I do not like to talk about it about her than he does me. Why can I not be much. After she died, my father threw out all of perfect, like her. I am packing my clothes, any her photo but, I found one small picture and, I money I have left, and my pride. have never gone a day without looking at it. My “ I’m ready.” I say to Armagan underneath step mom is Janet, I hate her. hot breath and anticipation of what he will say.

“Go clean your room! Don’t eat so much! “ So am I.” No one wants you here!”

He rides his bike over to my house and we ride, Thats about everything she says to me but, when I we ride all the way, all the way to the John F. get to see Armagan, everything gets better.

Kennedy International Airport.

Armagan and I have been talking, thinking, and dreaming about getting away from this place we call home. I am old enough to leave my parents but, im scared. With them I have food,

We hesitate to go into the airport but, soon enough we are in. The busy halls and smell of cleaner chemicals engulf my senses. People are swarming around our gate like bees to honey, and See, Armagan, pg. 37....

21

Finding My Way Through Saudi Arabia By: Lucie Lanier

“Wait, what? I was just eating an apple!” I screamed. The policeman muttered something in Arabic and pulled me farther away from my friends. Zac and Austin had not noticed I was gone until they heard me screaming bloody murder at them. I still had not figured out why I ever decided to bring the two most clueless people I know to Riyadh with me. Austin was my twin brother and Zac had been his best friend since freshman year of college and my boyfriend since junior year.

We had all graduated from Washington and Lee University in May and decided we were going to travel throughout Saudi Arabia until I started law school at Tulane in the fall. Austin and I’s Grandmother, on our Dad’s side, was from Riyadh, so we decided it would be an appropriate first stop on our summer journey.

Her name was Baseema, which as children Austin and I could not even begin to pronounce, so we called her “B.” Baseema meant smiling in Arabic, which she always was. She lived in Riyadh until the age of 14 when she came to The United States with her parents and two younger

Riyadh is one of the largest cities in The Middle East.

died at age 64. The day of his funeral is the day that she decided that she was going to teach Austin and I our family backround and Muslim roots. She said that when we graduated college she would bring us to Saudi Arabia so that we could see where she had grown up and then to Mecca and Medina to learn about Islam. That was 12 years ago and since then Grandma B. had passed away. Austin and I had made her a promise that we would go and so last year when she succumbed to cancer we began to plan our trip to Saudi Arabia.

“Ainsley!” Zac screeched. The boys ran over and pulled out there Arabic dictionary to communicate with the policeman who was holding me uncomfortably tight. It took a full ten minutes for the boys to translate his screams. The policeman was trying to explain that it was Ramadan and it was disrespectful to his culture for me to eat in public while all the people around me were fasting. I had totally forgot, and I felt horrible. I realized that I knew nothing about Grandma B.’s culture, about my family’s culture.

I suddenly felt as if I had let B down. Austin and Zac handled everything with the policeman and even calmed me down. I was so lucky to have them.

See, Finding, pg. 38....

The city of Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia.

siblings. She lived in New Orleans until she left at age 17 to attend Southern Methodist University, where she met my Grandfather, William. They were married for 40 years until my grandfather 22

Receiving Extra Credit in Egypt By: Chase Schupp

My stomach was full, my feet are tired, and my eyes are glazed as I look across the clear blue sea. These are the symptoms of spending five days in the resort town of El Gouna just outside of Cairo. In the first week of December, every year this town is transformed into a serene place of relaxation and enjoyment. This span of five days is known as the Sphinx Festival which celebrates the element and meaning of “water.� The Egyptians believe that water is the element of sensuality and emotion, and they embrace this element and try to teach it. During this festival there are many different kinds of workshops, music, dancing, cuisine, and cultural learning experiences. Until you experience the element of water like this you will never know the true meaning of it.

African cultures we would have to take a trip to a place that had a cultural festival and when we came back we would have to write a research paper. After thorough research we decided to take our trip to El Gouna, Egypt for the Sphinx Festival. I am going to tell you the reasons we picked this place and then I will tell you the reasons that we told our teacher. We picked this place because we got to stay at a resort, Shakira was performing, and because we were staying in the same hotel as the U.S.A gymnastics team that had the Olympic trials in Cairo the same week. The reasons that we told our teacher was that we could learn about Bedouin lifestyle, Middle Eastern artists, and explore the element of water throughout the Middle East. Whatever our motivations were we were going their and we were going to have fun and we might learn something along the way.

If it was not for my high school AP world geography teacher I would still be a virgin traveler. It is hard to believe that a person that travels as much as me had not been out of the country, I have been to almost every city in the United States from Dothan, Alabama to Kalamazoo, Michigan for tennis tournaments, but I had never set foot on grounds not governed by the United States. In this class of mine a couple of my friends and I had found ourselves in a little whole grade wise. Because of this we had one extra credit project that we could do for the summer, and since we were learning about Middle Eastern and North

When the taxi driver asks where we are from we answer hesitantly, but we say the U.S. and he just laughs in a sarcastic voice. At this point we were a little worried about how the people would accept us but on the other hand at least he spoke decent english.

When we arrive at our hotel we were stunned by the resort we were staying at, it looked like a palace for gods. While we were preceding to our room we saw the gymnastic team and we got their autographs, and to my surprise this was not even the high point of my See, Extra Credit, pg. 39....

Belly dancers are usually dancing at The Sphinx Festival 23

Afghan Ski Challenge By: Oliver Kjellgren

“Afghanistan, we’re going to Afghanistan!” down. As I tried to sleep I realized that the bumpy At first I thought she was joking, so I asked again dirt road and the loud commotion of the exchange of where we were going skiing next week. “You heard stories between the many people on the bus made it me right, we’re going to Afghanistan, Bamiyan pratically impossible to be comfortable, eventhough Province to be exact,” my mother responded. My we had been lucky enough to get seats. The bus had parents had already bought the tickets. When I been piled in with people and even goats. Once I suggested a new, exotic destination to go skiing, I forced myself asleep, I was awakened by a warm lick never dreamed that my parents would decide on such to the face by and innocent looking goat. After four a place. All kinds of thoughts rushed in to my head; hours on the road, we finally arrived at 11 p.m. at the war, atrocity stories, Hotel Silk Road. and danger.

Sure The next day we enough, my parents woke up early in the had entered the whole morning to get to the family in the Afghan race. We picked up a Ski Challenge, a race quick snack at Mama organized by the Najafs Restaurant, a Bamiyan Ski Club. local chaikhana, or Before I knew street food vendor. We it, I found myself in the then rented one of the Kabul International minivans at Mama Airport. The trip had Najafs Restaurant and taken 10 hours with a drove to the Bamiyan connection through Ski Club building.

Chicago. The first Once we arrived, we Bamiyan is a popular skiing sight in The Middle East. difference I noticed were greeted by our was the form of dress. guide for the day. He The only form of dress for women seemed to be the stood out more than us because of his bright blue long dress with a head scarf or hijab, also the jacket and his orange ski goggles. At last we began occasional burqa. When my mother and sisters saw our long trek up the mountain, since there are no lifts. this they immediately went to the bathroom to change This was no small feat; it took two hours just to reach in an attempt to fit in. After our hour and a half wait the summit to even start the race. Then we had to for our luggage for what was said to be technical wait another hour for the other groups to arrive. difficulties, we waited two more hours for the next Fortunately the start was finally called, unfortunately, buss to arrive. It was quite intimidating to see being the clumsy person I am, I face planted right out security with loaded AK-47’s at the entrance glancing of the start, creating a domino line of people behind curiously at you once in a while. Once we boarded me. I finished 12th in that race but the real prize was the bus, I covered my head with a scarf, partialy to getting the satisfaction of skiing down a mountain in keep the dust out of my face, partialy to just blend in. five minutes that took two hours to summit.

I looked out the window and saw the beautiful By the time we had finished it was six mountains in the distance that I will soon be racing o’clock, so we drove back to the hotel to take See, Ski, pg. 40....

24

My Mood Swings in Turkey By: Noelle Higgonson

The older buildings in Turkey date back to around 1200 B.C. !

When! I! heard! we! were! going! to! leave!

Istanbul! and! go! to! Selçuk,! my! initial! reaction! was!that!that!was!the!worst!idea!ever.! Istanbul! was! amazing! and! Selçuk! would! no! doubt! be! awful.!At!least!that!is!what!I!thought.! !

In!Istanbul,!we!had!spent!the!majority!of! the! time! in! the! bazaar! buying! whatever! we! wanted,! eating! Turkish! food,! attempting! to! learn!Turkish,!and!making!fun!of!other!tourists! who! were! just! as! clueless! as! we! were.! It! was! awesome!!The!only!bad!few!hours!we!had!were! those!hours!when!Mom!forced!us!to!go!to!some! architectural! sites.!She!went!on!talking! forever! without! even! noticing! the! heat! of! the! 2013!

Turkish!summer!at!all.! !Just%smile% and%nod.%I!am! Turkey! the! day! after! our! trip! to! Selçuk!! I! almost!sure!I!was!not!the!only! person!thinking! needed!to!Jind!a!dessert!quickly.

The!next!day!we!left!for!Selçuk.!I!already! that! either! based! on! the! looks! on! the! faces! of! !

Cadie! and! Chris.! I! imagined! Cadie! as! one! of! knew! that!this!would!turn! out!to! be!almost! as! those!animated!characters!with!the!little,!black! bad! as! Cadie’s! trip! to! Wales,! but! at! least! her! storm! cloud! above! her! head! raining! down! on! trip!turned!out!well!in!the!end.!Naturally,!I!was! her.! The! thought! made! me! laugh.! I! was! in! a! not! in! a! very! good! mood.! We! were! leaving! better!mood!after!that.!We!even!went!to!go!buy! Istanbul! and!going!to! some!old! camel! town!to! watch!camels!wrestle!each!other!in!the!heat! of! more!food.!

That! is! where! the! problem! came! up.! summer!!It!was!not!going!to!be!fun.

When!we!Jinally!arrived!at!Selçuk,!I!was!

They! did! not! have! good! desserts! in! Turkey.! !

They! had!Turkish! delight,! but! I! did! not! really! still! in! a! bad! mood.! This! mood! immediately! like!that.!Of!course,!this!was!a!problem!because! changed! at! the! smell! of!the! authentic! Arabian!

I! always! tried! to! take! home! dessert! recipes! food!that!was!Jloating!out!of!some!of!the!kiosks! from!where!ever!I!had!traveled.!So!far!I!had!not! along!the! streets!in!the!bazaar.! Unfortunately! I! found! a! good! dessert,! and! we! were! leaving! did!not! smell! anything! sugary! that!would!have! revealed! a! good! dessert! kiosk.! I! bought! some! rice! dish! and! watermelon,! which! tasted! amazing! in!the! heat.! I! looked! around!and! was! surprised!by!how!many!people!had!showed!up.!

It! did! not! occur! to! me! that! people! would! actually!come!to!watch!this!festival.! !

It%is%so%hot%here!%How%am%I%supposed%cool% down% without% ice% cream% or% even% a% snowball?% Ugh,% this%place% is% awful.% I%have% not% even% seen% a% single% dessert% at% all!% Where% am% I% going% to% ?ind% my% recipe?% While! I! was! thinking! about! this,! I! was! completely! ignoring! the! camel! wrestling,! which! was! not! interesting! at! all.! One! camel!

Tulumba is a delicious dessert served all around Turkey. would!run!away!after!only!about!three!minutes.!

See, Mood Swings, pg. 41....

25

Dancing With Violence By: Granville Kaynor

My name is Steve Winthrorp and I am an to grab a young Syrian patriot ; scared, wearing American journalist who has read the news about threadbare clothing and no shoes. He told me his Syria and felt somewhat informed about the name was Osama Ben Almir and that he had studied unfortunate events civilians in Syria have had political science at Georgetown University in recently experienced. I was particularly interested Washington, D.C. Ben Almir claimed that the in the demonstrations occurring in the city of Homs, constant roar of rockets had been "terrifying" but which is also known as “The Center of the felt that" There are always consequences in war, but Uprising.�

Others might have been afraid and that fighting for freedom from the oppressive devil, closed themselves al-Assad was his These beautiful architectural sights are a popular place to visit for off to this duty." Seeing that I tourists. adventure.

Being was a journalist, he the thrill-seeking realized that I could journalist I am, I potentially become decided to travel to a weapon against Homs with only my the Syrian notepad, iPhone, President. He said" and my Syrian-born Yo u A m e r i c a n s translator, Adad. I with your cameras departed New York and iPhones could st City on January 1 , provide evidence to 2011 and arrived in the rest of the Homs on January world." I saw the 4th, 2011. desperation in his eyes; Ben Almir I noticed clearly seemed immediately that loyal to his country the city was under severe crackdown by President and his people and seemed ready to risk everything, Bashar- al Assad's military forces. I chose to travel even if it meant his life. He asked me to join in to Syria in January because the Syrians celebrate the helping his fellow Syrians liberate the country. In "Eid al Adha." In this festival, Syrians celebrate spite of my occupation, I felt drawn to Ben Amir's Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for God. cause by his spirit of devotion to his country under Indeed we celebrated a festival of sacrifice but not extreme hardships. the one I most would expect.

Ben Amir took me to the street where he I stationed my gear in the Baba Amr lived, close to a makeshift hospital in Baba Amr. As neighborhood near the site of much of the we walked by the wounded and injured, I was previously reported violence in Homs. About three moved by their bravery. With no medical staff and hours into the festival, I heard gunshots at close few who knew about first aid, these brave men range, and explosions soon followed. All around seemed willing to endure pain and suffering for their me, civilians fled in panic as I tried to stop them and freedom. Ben Amir introduced me to some of the ask questions about the situation. Luckily I was able men; one of them was his uncle Fazle. Fazle, an See, Dancing, pg. 42....

26

Mind Your Manners!

By: Lucie Lanier and Halle Wood

When traveling to a foreign country, it is imperative to know the customs and culture of your destination. Here are a few tips to show respect and class in the middle east.

Middle East -Blasphemy of the religion and holy books of Islam and the Koran are not taken lightly.

-The hijab, a traditional veil worn by Middle Eastern women, is a very respectful covering and when traveling to some countries, must be worn by law.

-When traveling to a country in the Middle East that does not enforce the hijab, modesty is expected from all people, especially women.

-If you find yourself in a Muslim holy site be sure to wear a headscarf if you are a woman, and if you are a man you must wear a taghian, turban, or keffiyeh.

-If you find yourself in a Jewish Orthodox church men are expected to wear a kippah and women must wear something similar to a hijab.

-When greeting Muslims you must shake their hand and eat with your right hand.

- The left hand in Muslim culture is considered unclean and is taken as an insult if used to shake another hand with.

- Showing affection in public is a big no, no in the Middle East.

- if someone is showing hospitality, be sure not to decline for this can be conveyed as rude and your being ungrateful.

27

1948 Arab Israeli War

Timeline

By: Chase Schupp and Lucie Lanier

1967 Six Day War

1976 Syria Invades Lebanon

1978 1979 Camp David Accords Saddam Hussein becomes President of Irag

1980 Iran-Iraq War

1981 Murder of Anwar Sadat

1993 Oslo Accords

1991 The gulf War

See, Timeline, pg.

28

2003 Iraq War

2006 Saddam Hussein is Executed

2010-2012 Arab Spring Spreads throughout Middle East

McDonald’s; I’m Lovin It

By Lucie Lanier 29

Movies of the Middle East

By Halle Wood

For an inside look at the life and culture of the Middle East, movies are a great tool. Children of Heaven illustrates the hardships of life in iran plagued with war, poverty, and hunger.

This film helps create an image of sadness, as was directed by Miajid Majidi. Osama is set in the Middle East where a young girl is forced to cut her hair and help her family. When she is sent to an Al-Qaeda training camp chaos ensues as she tries to get back to her mother. For a faster paced movie, Syrian, is a fun thriller following a CIA agent, played by George Clooney, and his fight to end corruption.

30

Voluntourism By: Lucie Lanier

Afghans4tomorrow- The Afghans4tomorrow organization is a voluntourism opportunity that targets helping Afghan people restore education, health, and agriculture to there society. The organization has several projects that volunteers may choose from: Education: -A4T Kabul School -Shekh Yassin School of Wardak -A4T Grant Program Agriculture: -Trees Project Health: -Health Post of Wardak Volunteers stay in guest houses that cost $50 dollars a night to stay in.

For more information go to www.Afghans4tomorrow.org.

Healthnet TPO- Healthnet TPO is and aid organization in Afghanistan that focuses on the reconstruction of health care in places that have been affected by war or disasters.

Volunteers stay in guest houses around Afghanistan. For more information go to www.healthnettpo.org.

Middle East Fellowship- The Middle East Fellowship is an organization that holds different camps around The Middle East where volunteers can help schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations.

The Damascus Encounter: -Volunteers will be able to travel through Damascus and learn the culture while also volunteering with several nonprofit organizations.

Palestine Encounter: -The Palestine Encounter is a one to three month opportunity where volunteers will be traveling to Palestine and Bethlehem to help schools and churches.

Volunteers will stay at local family’s homes during there stay. For more information go to www.middleeastfellowships.org.

The United Planet- The United Planet is a nonprofit organization that lets volunteers explore 6 different countries in The Middle East for a stay of two to fifty-two weeks.

Volunteers will be traveling constantly during there trip and staying different camps and houses on there journey. For more information go to www.unitedplanet.org.

Go Abroad- Go Abroad is a one to four week program for volunteers 18 or older who would like to help people in Jerusalem and Tel aviv, Israel.

Volunteers will stay at local families homes. For more information go to www.goabroad.org.

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Books to Read Wanting Mor Keeps Young Readers at the Edge of Their Seats

By Halle Wood From author Rukhsana Khan, Wanting Mor illustrates the harsh conditions of living in post-Taliban Afghanistan. A young Jameela must work for money for her father after the devastating finding of her dead mother, Mor. As they travel through the streets of Kabul, Jameela’s will is tested as she is faced with strange situations and her customs are viewed as “old fashioned”. Follow Jameela as she is sent to an orphanage away from her father. This book will capture you with never the ending struggle and compassion of Jameela.

Travel Baghdad With a Map

By Michael Favrot Tony Horwitz’s travel memoir, Baghdad Without a Map, tells of his travel experiences through the Middle East. While travelling as a journalist through Iran, Sudan, Yemen, and almost every other country in the region, Tony meets the people and learns the culture of the countries. Working as a free-lance journalist, he periodically receives phone calls telling him to report on important events in the region such as when he is sent to report on the Iranians threatening to shut down the Strait of Hormuz. In each country he visits, he explores that country’s openness towards foreigners. Before travelling to the Middle East, one should read this book to learn the important lessons about this region.

Experience the Adversity of a Middle Eastern Teenager in Rooftops of Tehran

By Chase Schupp On a hot summers day in Tehran, Iran, there are only a few places to escape the heat. Two 17 year olds spent their summer nights and some days on the rooftops talking about girls and other adventures that they are dreaming of. These two teenagers endure the troubles and adversity of the dictatorship in Iran, disagreeing with your fathers life plan, and fighting for your love. Rooftops of Tehran will have you attached with the characters from beginning to end and will also show you a different side of Middle Eastern culture.

32

Books to Read Surviving Heart-Breaking Hardships and Hope in A Thousand Splendid Suns

By Noelle Higginson Read the heart-breaking story of the lives of two women in Afghanistan who find friendship and love in one another amidst pain and suffering at the hands of their abusive husband. The love they find with each other and their children is one of the only truly loving relationships in the entire novel. Together they must face the injustice of their world and try to overcome it no matter what the price. The novel goes from one depressing event to another, but also truly tells us what has been happening in Afghanistan since the 1950’s. Reading this novel will cause you to pity these women and all of the other women to whom this is actually happening to right now, but the women will also inspire you through their courage and endurance of all of their hardships.

Asne Seierstad Paints a Picture of Afghanistan With Her Non-Fictional Novel

By Granville Kaynor Asne Seierstad, a western journalist from Norway, tells the story of an Afghan suitor and bookseller named Sultan Kahn, who allows her live with him in his home, with the rest of his family.

Set shortly after the fall of the Taliban (2001-2003), a fundamentalist Islamic militia, Seierstad's The Bookseller of Kabul gives audiences a picture of Sultan Kahn's family's personal life experiences from the point of view of women and the point of view of a man like Sultan Kahn, who was thrown in jail for selling books that the Taliban and others considered "Un-Islamic." The Bookseller of Kabul appeals to young adults and adults whom are eager to learn about Afghan culture after the Taliban fall from the perspective of both women and men.

33

Books to Read This Novel Will Be Leaving You Laughing Without an Accent

By Oliver Kjellgren Laughing Without an Accent by Firoozeh Dumas will leave you either falling on the floor laughing or shoving your head into a pillow while crying. The novel takes you on a journey through the various stories of Firoozeh Dumas’s interesting, but hilarious attempt to fit in to American society around the time the Iranian Revolution. It also includes numerous hysterical stories from the time she was a little girl living in Iran. Laughing Without an Accent is a definite must read for the humor-loving armchair traveler!

Deborah Rodriguez Captivates Readers With Her Compassion for The Women of Afghanistan

By Lucie Lanier Compassion, something that can be translated several ways, love for a pet, friend, family member, or in some cases love for someone you just met. Deborah Rodriguez leaves her life and family in the U.S., to follow her heart and engulge herself in the brave women who motivate her for greatness. She opens a beauty school in Kabul to save the women that inspire her more than anything else. Rodriguez elevates these women to greatness by giving them a husband free sanctum where they can express themselves through beauty and escape there horrible lives.

Readers will be laughing and crying throughout this emotional classic.

34

Thanks, from pg. 20...

get ready to head to Muzdalifa to stay that night, a message went through our camp that a woman was missing, and her husband wanted her back. Hearing this made me very scared, and I immediately told her, “Stay next to me.” She nodded. As we arrived in Muzdalifa, a man with a thick black beard was asking if anybody had seen his wife and when he asked me, I responded, “I do not speak Arabic.” We fell asleep the same way as before, the woman lying beside me in the tent, and I lost in my thoughts.

On the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah, the beginning of the hajj started with me walking to Mina where I would camp overnight along with everyone else on the hajj.

I left my tent to get water before I went to sleep. As I was returning, I saw a figure running toward me. I did not know who it could be so I walked toward it. As the person came closer, I noticed that she had blood running down her clothing.

As I woke up, I suddenly noticed that I was alone in my tent. I rapidly looked around to see what could have happened when I noticed a card lying on the ground next to my open dictionary. The card read two mere words, “Thank you.”

She was screaming, “!"#$%&,!"#$%&” [HELP, HELP]. I stopped her, trying to understand what she was saying with the little Arabic I had learned before coming to Mecca.

As the rest of the pilgrims and I returned to Mina and threw pebbles at the pillar, I wondered. What had I done to make this foreign woman trust me with her life? If I had not helped her, people could have been throwing stones at her and not this pillar.

“(HELP HELP) !"#$%& !"#$%&”

I told her, “Come with me.” She listened, and we quickly returned to my tent. I used my Arabic-English dictionary to slowly translate what she was saying and respond. “What were you running from?” I slowly asked.

“My husband. He beats me. I talked back to him, and he threatened me and cut me.”

After returning to Mecca, I performed the final rituals of prayers and circling the Ka’ba. I completed the hajj by cutting my hair.

I said, “You are safe with me. I will protect you from him.” After I said this, she put her head down and almost immediately fell deep asleep. I have seen what happens to women who do not listen to their husbands, and I promise that I will protect this woman. I became lost in my thoughts and also quickly fell asleep.

I left my hajj with many answers but also many questions. I had learned that I would help someone even if it put my life at risk. I learned that two complete strangers could in a weird sort-of-way become confidants to one another. Still, I left wondering about so much. Had fate led me to meet this woman or was it just a coincidence? And after all that had happened, we had not even told each other our names.

The next day I woke up, and there she was, still lying beside me. Today was the Day of Arafah, the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah. The day was devoted to prayer. The woman did not talk, and I did not bother her with any more questions. As we started to

35

Armagan, from pg. 21.... these are not just any kind of bees, these are killer bees, willing to do anything to get in line for their seats. Shaking and swaying from side to side the plane takes off. We are flying, flying away, so far away. I awaken from a deep sleep and hear the best thing I have heard all day.

“Thank you for flying with Delta airlines and enjoy your stay in Turkey” I adjust myself in my small seat. Armagan is still asleep so, I wake him up but before I do realize something. This is the most beautiful human being on the face of the earth, I snap myself back into reality.

“Armagan, we are here.” I whisper This is his home. His real home, and he finally gets to come back after six years. I begin to wonder.

Why did he move to New York?

“Why did you and your family go to New York?”

“I am not really sure I guess we got bored in Turkey.” He states as I intently listen, clinging to his every word.

We are let out of the plane and the airport is exactly the same as it is in New York, busy. We step foot outside and crowds of people engulf us. Where did he go? I feel like a kid lost in a grocery store. I am frozen with fear and do not know where to turn. I see an alley which, normally I would never go into but, I had nowhere else to turn. A man waits for me in there. I am a bit suspicious but, I wait. He approaches me and starts speaking to me in turkish and, me being the polite tourist just nodded and smiled but, this would get me in a whopping amount of trouble.

He grabs my hand and we run to a nearby park.

The looming trees and chirping birds make me calm well, calmer.

“What is a whirling dervish?” I timidly ask “Every year from the 10th to the 17th of december they have a festival to commemorate the death of the Sufi poet, Rumi. The whirling dervishes twirl for what seems like hours and the weights put in their dresses let the clothing twirl.”

I do not really understand it but I pretend to be interested. We walk and we see the twirling. There is food in every booth. The spices engulf our senses as we walk. We sit by the lake and share a short kiss. It was Amazing. After being at the festival for a while I feel myself being taken away.

The force is so strong I can not fight back. I catch a glimpse of the man dragging me away, he was the one in the alley.

Black, thats all I see. I am blindfolded in the back of a putrid smelling van. I hear men speaking in the background. My heart is beating like a steady drum. I am scared out of my mind. We stop. They force me out of the van with my blindfold still on.

“What are you doing with me?! Stop, please!” I yell.

“Siz yabancılar işte istedim değildir, şimdi size bakmak zorunda” Why did I even come here? What will they do with me? I should have never left, how stupid could I be? I hear gun shots as I wrestle around on the hard dirt covered floor. I always thought this would be the perfect fairytale but, not it is a nightmare. I am worried about Armagan.

Have they gotten him too? The sad thing is that we never had a future together. I wanted so much more. I wanted him to get down on one knee and propose to me one day, I wanted to take care of our children together but, now there is nothing. Should I just forget about him?

Should I just forget about him?

I begin to walk away, out of the alley where I see Aramagan. I run to his arms. This moment was a magical infact, so magical that I could barely breath.

“We have to go!” he says “Go where?”

“We are just in time for the whirling dervish festival!”

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Finding, from pg. 22....

Zac suggested we go to the national museum of Riyadh to take my mind off of the police encounter earlier. I had a lousy time and could not stop thinking that I had let Grandma B. down. That night we went back to our hotel and heard loud music and cheers from the street below us. We ran downstairs and asked the concierge what was going on. He said that tonight was the last night of Ramadan, and that everyone was getting ready for Eid Ul-Fitr, a festival originated by the Islamic prophet Muhammed to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. He said that tomorrow they were going to preform the Salah to start up festivities if we wanted to go.

The Salah was amazing it was a prayer that was said specially on the first day of the month of

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Shawwal. Hundreds of people gathered in the streets with us listening to it and cheering, “Eid Sa’eed!”

“Eid Mubarak” Happy Eid or Blessed Eid is what they were saying, just like we say Merry Christmas. I felt incredible, and I was having a fantastic time. I realized that Grandma B. did not care if I ate an apple during Ramadan, I was not even Muslim! She just wanted Austin and me to be able to see how she grew up and learn about where our family had come from.

I was so glad I was able to celebrate something that my Grandma had celebrated years before.

Extra Credit, from pg. 23.... trip. As soon as we got to our rooms we went to sleep to try to get rid of the jet lag. The next morning we went to the festival and while waiting at the entrance we prepared our wallets for the worst after seeing how exquisite the whole festival looked. To our great disbelief there was no entry fee, this is when you knew you are not in America anymore.

The only event like this that I have been to is Jazz Fest, at Jazz Fest the entry fee costs around $50 and I can assure you that this festival makes Jazz Fest look like a garage sale with music and food. When Egypt’s ancient monuments are visited often by tourists

America. In the U.S. we tend to think literally and logically and we only think in the way that would benefit our success. I will admit that in America we tend to never embrace things in life we kinda of go through life like a race or a game.

This is apposed to some Eastern cultures that tend to live more in the moment and past and think in a more spiritual way. In America we could not have a festival like this because we would just think of water as a source of life and not look at the deeper meanings. After fully understanding the meaning of the festival I decided to finally enjoy it. On our final day before we left we just solely relaxed and we ate great food and saw wonderful performances from Shakira and other talented artists. When we headed for the airport the next day I actually stopped and thought unlike an American and I realized how much I had learned about myself, water, Egypt, and Middle Eastern cultures in only three days.

On the last day of summer when I finally started writing my essay for once I did not have writers block. That very essay eventually saved me from the hole I dug myself in AP world geography. I will always remember my first trip out the country as the one where I saw Shakira, met U.S. gymnastic team, learned about the true meaning of water, hung out with friends, and received my inspiration for my life saving extra credit project. Although it does not matter how I remember it but what a life changing experience it was.

you enter the gates there are so many options, you can either relax in five star accommodations and listen to music or you can learn about the culture. I decided to try do something that I have never been able to do, yoga. Yoga takes extreme focus, flexibility, and relaxation. These are three qualities that I do not posses, but I am going to give it a try.

After having a very peaceful hour of yoga I had worked up an appetite. I wanted to try some Egyptian food so I gave it a go. It was great it tasted like a mixture of Indian, Italian, and Asian. The next day I was determined to understand how water had a connection to emotion and sensuality. While listing to a man speak about the element of water it all clicked in my brain not only is water a necessity of human life but it also is the way that feelings are expressed through tears of joy or tears of sadness (tears = water). This is so different than it is in

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Ski, from pg. 24... advantage of the $12 dinner. I ordered lamb kebabs and they arrived at the table still sizzling on the plate. The first bite was the pure heaven; it was cooked and seasoned to perfection.

I also had a side Bata, or sticky rice. After the meal, I had the misfortune of showering last, even though the water only lasted to the third person, and went to bed.

The next day, we hired a guide to show us the ruined Buddha statues carved into the side of a mountain. Our guide, Mohammed, could hardly speak any English so we mostly made the majority of the communication through hand motions. The statues were really amazing sites to see. The remains of the tallest statue was as tall as a fifty story building! In addition to their immense size, they also come with a rich history.

They were long the tallest statues in the world and also a popular pilgrimage site for Buddhists.

In 2001, the Taliban, a fundamentalist Islamic Militia, decided the statues were un-Islamic and they were destroyed with tanks and dynamite.

After seeing the statues, I explored the many caves around and was surprised when I found a whole other village in the caves. After we

regrouped, we decided to go for a walk. We saw dozens of wrecked tanks, guns, and houses. The first time I saw a tank I had the urge to go and climb on it. After two steps, Mohammed caught me and gave me a death stare. He pointed to a stone with red paint on it but it was like charades trying to figure out what he was saying. Finally, my mom stepped in and said that the red marked stone means that it may an active mine field.

From then on I stayed on the well used paths and the paths marked with white.

Unfortunately, after three days it was time to depart from Kabul. We took the bus back to the air port. On the way, however, traffic had been stopped because of a roadside bomb that hit a sedan. The car sat upside down on the side of a road, but the man and woman in the car were killed by the fire. At the airport, once we got through security, I stared at the distant mountains and remembered that I had been to the top of one of those peaks, the one that I was so opposed to going to. I learned that if you keep your mind open, you will learn more than you ever imagined.

Afghans enjoy skiing in Bamiyan.

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Mood Swings, from pg. 25.... would!run!away!after!only!about!three!minutes.!

Occasionally!they!would!actually!start!a!weird! sort!of!wrestling,!but!in!general!it!was!really! boring. !

Then!I!smelled!the!beignets.!Wait%why%are% there%beignets%here?%That%does%not%really%make% sense.%But%whatever!%“Am!I!the!only!one!who! smells!beignets?”!I!asked. !

“No,!I!just!smelled!something!like!that! too!”!Replied!Cadie.! !

“Oh!we!are!deJinitely!going!to!buy! beignets,!Mom!I!need!money.”! !

So!we!followed!the!smell!of!fried!dough! and!sugar!past!a!few!kiosks!selling!everything! from!rugs!to!onyx!jewelry.!Then!I!saw!what!was! actually!at!the!fried!dough!and!sugar!smelling! kiosk.!Those%are%not%beignets.%Those% are….tulumba.%What%is%that? % “Oh!those!are!like!those!churros!things! they!have!in!Spain!”!said!Chris. !

He!was!right.!The!tulumba!was!basically! deepUfried!dough!with!syrup!on!top.!Oh%solid,% churros%are%awesome!%“Alright!let’s!buy!some!”! !

We!ended!up!with!many!more!tulumba! than!we!had!initially!thought!to!buy.!We!always! ended!up!with!more!than!we!planned!for! because!we!could!barely!understand!the!vender! who!knew!limited!amounts!of!English!and!what! he!did!know!was!heavily!accented.!So!I!walked! with!about!8!tulumba!back!to!the!arena!slowly.!I! wanted!to!enjoy!my!tulumba!in!peace.! !

As!I!walked!I!could!see!that!we!were!not! the!only!people!struggling!to!understand!the! vendors.!The!British!man!who!had!helped!us! understand!what!the!bazaar!guy!had!said!was! trying!to!buy!some!pieces!of!onyx.!Although!he! could!understand!the!vendor,!he!did!not!quite! know!how!to!bargain!well,!which!ended!badly!for! him.!

He!walked!away!with!only!two! pieces!of!onyx!and! considerably!less!money!in! his!pocket.!Meanwhile,! the!vendor!looked! ecstatic.!Many!other! people!could!not!even! understand!the!vendors! at!all. !

Another!man!had!

found!a!slushieUlike! drink.!I!was!about!to!go! ask!him!where!he! found!it,!but!then!I! saw!that!the!drink! was!melting!in!the! heat!anyway!!So!I! guess!my!tulumba!was! the!perfect!dessert!to! eat!to!Jinally!change!my! mood.!I!decided!that!maybe!

Selçuk!was!not!that!bad!after!all.!Selçuk!had! provided!the!new!dessert!to!add!to!the!many!I! already!have!in!at!home.!Of!course!I!still!had!to!

Jind!a!recipe,!but!that!could!wait. !

When!I!arrived!back!in!the!stands,!the! camel!wrestling!festival!was!reaching!the!end.!

The!last!two!camels!looked!exhausted,!but!were! still!Jighting.!I!saw!people!still!making!bets!about! which!camel!would!win.!The!heat!did!not!even! bother!me!anymore!!Finally,!one!of!the!camels! gave!up!and!ran!towards!the!stands.!I!watched! and!laughed!as!people!dove!out!of!the!way!trying! not!to!get!trampled.!So!the!festival!ended!well!in! my!opinion,!and!we!left!feeling!much!better!than! we!had!on!the!way!to!Selçuk.! !

In!my!opinion!the!trip!was!a!success.!Once! we!were!back!in!Istanbul,!I!spent!the!last!day! there!Jinding!a!tulumba!recipe!among!the!Turks! who!actually!spoke!English!and!reJining!my! bargaining!skills!in!the!bazaar.!I!even!realized! that!I!liked!the!kiosks!in!Selçuk!better!than!the! ones!in!Istanbul.!Istanbul!tried!too!hard!to!be! less!Turkish!and!more!appealing!to!tourists,!yet! while!trying!to!do!this!Istanbul!seemed!less! unique!and!interesting!than!Selçuk.!

I!would!describe!my!experience!in!two! ways.!The!Jirst!is!that!overUused!cliché!“do!not! judge!a!book!by!its!cover.”!I!had!originally! thought!that!Selçuk!would!be!the!middle!of! nowhere,!boring,!and!nowhere!near!as!fun!as!

Istanbul.!Then!after!actually!going!to!Selçuk,!I! realized!that!I!had!judged!it!too!quickly.!The! second!is!that!you!should!never!change!what!you! truly!are!to!make!other!people!like!you!because!it! does!not!work.!Istanbul!tried!to!be!less!Turkish! and!more!fun,!but!Selçuk!was!actually!much! more!fun!without!altering!itself!to!be!that!way.

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Dancing, from pg. 26.... elderly and courageous man apparently commanded from the rest of the injured protestors. After a few minutes of discussion, Fazle spoke with Adad, my Syrian translator, and requested that we meet at his apartment several days later. Fazle also said that he would arrange to have some of the men from the hospital join us to discuss my role in exposing al-Assad's ruthlessness.

The following Monday, I met with Fazle, Ben Amir, and the other protestors. They requested that I use my iphone to film while walking with them around their neighborhood.

We first ran into a group of policemen that Fazle and Ben Amir had scouted earlier. The police were forcing small children to act as human shields as they searched area apartment buildings.

I became sick to my stomach as I watched these innocent children being wrongfully used as decoys. Fazle instructed me to hide in a nearby building where I could get a clear site of the children being pushed into the buildings by the policemen. I immediately began filming the scene and added a whispered voiceover giving a detailed description of the scene. I then sent it to my assistant in New York for immediate distribution. A few hours later, just as we were feeling comfortable enough to leave the area, one of the policemen came around the corner and began questioning us. He placed a firm grip on my shoulder and demanded my identification. Of course I lied and told him that I was a oil executive and that I was visiting Ben Amir, a friend who had stayed with me while a student in America. I had never been so close to danger in my life; the anxiety was palpable and the hairs on the back of my neck were standing straight at attention. He looked at me suspiciously but finally turned and walked away. I found his behavior confusing

until Fazle gave me a troubled look and said" We may have to cut filming short today. Please forgive me and go back to your hotel."

Ben Amir and I became friends, and my original desire to go to Homs to report on the situation from an outsider's point of view had changed into a moral obligation to help my new ally and his companions. We met several days in a row to discuss potential film locations, but every site was rejected as "too dangerous" . Maybe Ben Amir and Fazle were trying to protect me but I will never know. Just as I was leaving our last meeting, I heard gun shots and explosions near the area. I ran back to the site not knowing what I would find. My worst fears were realized. As I was anxiously searching for my friend and his uncle, I stepped on a body that cried out my name in a hoarse whisper, "Steve." I stood there helpless watching the life of my brave new friend draining slowly from his body. Before he died, he told me to carry on his work and asked me to take his iPhone from his pocket. The phone contained multiple videos showing evidence of government violence towards the people of his city. I vowed that day not to let my friend die in vein.

When I arrived in the States, I sent the videos out to multiple news stations and every one of them released the footage to their viewers.

Although it is not likely I will be able to return back to Syria anytime soon, I am still receiving a few videos from Ben Amir's group of patriots.

Unfortunately, I never learned what happened to Fazle. I hope that one day I will return to Homs when al- Assad is overthrown and that I will see Fazle again.

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!e Middle Ea"