It was during my fourth year at primary school when I gave a 10 minute presentation on my preceding summer holiday in Syria. It was the first time I travelled to Syria since birth. At the time of the presentation, I was incredibly nervous and I wasn't sure whether I would do Syria any justice. I felt I knew way too little in order to say much on Syrian culture, history or geography. On the table beside me, I brought with me an argileh (نارجيلة - shisha), some home-made yabra' (يبرق - stuffed vine leaves), a prayer mat, rosary beads, a couple of popular Syrian games - Barsees (برصيس) and Backgammon (طولة) a map of Syria, some photos we took of landmarks in Damascus and some postcards. During the 10 minute presentation, I talked about each of the objects I brought in and some general history I knew.
Afterwards, the audience asked questions. One person asked "What surprised you about Syria when you went?" I can clearly remember this part of the presentation. I hesitated before answering, I didn't know what to say as there was so much (and my parents were in the audience so I didn't want to embarrass them). I answered, "A lot of things surprised me. I thought Syria would look like here. I've never seen any pictures or heard anyone talk about the country other than my parents and they normally talk about our relatives and I would avoid such stories because I couldn't picture who they were. One thing that surprised me the most was the crazy driving in Damascus and that people don't wear seat belts! I asked a few of my uncles why they don't wear seat belts and they told me they don't work! And another thing, they all honk their horns, it seems like a hundred times a minute, and what's even crazier is that they start doing it from 6 in the morning! Who is awake at 6 o'clock in the morning?!" I remember the audience burst out laughing and feeling embarrassed that I may have said something bad about Syria in front of my parents.
Lately, I've been looking back on my memories, trying to remember as much of Syria as possible. My times there seem like a distant memory that I must have dreamt. I don't know if I miss the country anymore. I remember there was somewhat a level of happiness and contentment that people had (or maybe people resigned to their fates, accepted life as it was and enjoyed what they could make out of it. At times I wonder whether I've sugarcoated my memories, made them better than how they really were). They loved to joke, to talk, to tell stories, see others smile and laugh. They loved to socialise. They were friendly, helpful and generous. It felt like nothing much ever changed with every year we went, that time was going by slowly, things stayed the same but people were one year older, and (mostly) a year ahead at school. How different people seem then to now, as if now they turned polar opposite.
