Made in China

The fig and grape season started. They have now become part of the breakfast and serve as snacks.

The hottest period of the year is the healthiest, as watermelons, melons, tomatoes, eggplants and cucumbers are also available in abundance.

The olive trees promise a good harvest too. Olive oil is not only good to keep the cholesterol level low. It keeps the skin young and it serves as medicine. It is rubbed in on limbs with arthritis. It is good for the eyes and… if you have got too high a sugar level, boil a liter of water with 20 leaves (of an olive tree) every day and drink it during the next 24 hours.

Last winter, I had an ear infection. It was treated by warming up a spoonful of oil, putting it in a piece of onion and then pouring it into my ear. It did no harm, but I’m not sure it was the remedy that cured the infection, as I took antibiotics at the same time.

By the way, if you need medicine, just go to the pharmacy and explain the problem or just ask for a specific drug. You can get anything here without a prescription. And, there’s always a cheap version and the original brand which is more expensive, of course.

This is the case for any kind of goods on the market. China is not far away. Often, it is not possible anymore to find the original brand.

The taps in my house are “Made in China”, so are the electrical wires, lamps, sockets, etc. The knives are “Made in China”. The cups and glasses are. The ladder is… But my washing machine is “Made in Egypt”.

I used it again today. Now have a bed. All doors and windows are installed. The house is starting to feel clean and have more time to work on my social life again.

And I’ve got interphone with electric lock. Am probably the only one in the village. Most people don’t even have a doorbell here. They just leave the door open when they are at home. I prefer it this way. Need my privacy.

Moved in

Finally. It took 2 months of patience.

And I’ve got a washing machine. Have been washing and cleaning for 3 days.
And bit by bit it is starting to feel like home.

It felt good to unpack all the luggage that I brought with me (45 kg). It’s good to have some of your own stuff. The stuff that you’re used to since many years.
There is still to bring over; though.

Next time I can transport some more of my own is in September. I will be going to Belgium on August 25th and coming back on September 20th.

Am afraid it will be too soon for my espresso machine, as there are other things to bring over first.

On the day I decided to move in, I started by taking all my belongings across the field where the cucumbers are growing. It took 5 crossings in the burning afternoon sun. Got some help from Mohamed and Ahmed. Soon Mariam, their mother who accepted me in her house for 2 months, baby Jasmine and Rehaaf were also in the house. Immediately followed by some visitors.

It was hard for me to have all this company, because I wanted to savour this moment I had been waiting for for such a long time, but as I mentioned in a previous article : “privacy” is not something they know here. Syrians can’t stand to be alone and don’t understand the need to be alone.

The day after I took revenge. Did not come out of the house and ignored the hellos from the neighbour’s children.

Yesterday, I felt the need to see Rehaaf again. I had seen her pointing to me every time she saw me on the balcony. Invited her to come to my house and have some watermelon. She ate a whole bowl of it all by herself while telling me the news of the last few days.
Remember… she is nearly 3 and talks baby language. As usual, she needed a wash after having eaten and discovered the shower with much pleasure. Satisfied she agreed to go home to see her baby sister.

I’ve got internet (slow), running water, electricity installed. Still need some furniture, but that is not the most important thing. Glasses, tea, coffee, some food and a tray are indispensable, as any moment visitors can come by.

THE

Although the every day life has not changed, Israel’s aggression against Lebanon is on everybody’s mind.

It is THE topic of (every) day and has pushed the money matters to number 2 in the hit parade of the conversation items.

All day, Syrian television is broadcasting on this situation.

It’s not easy for the Syrians who feel deeply touched by the images of babies and small children being killed or injured by bombings, be it Israeli attacks in Lebanon or terrorist attacks in Iraq.

They feel one with these people. A few months ago, when the Palestinian government ran out of money, a lot of Syrians donated money to the Palestinian people.

I tell them that for me nothing new is under the sun. Actually, the peaceful situation in Lebanon of the last years has been an exception in my mind. But, they do not seem to recall the trouble Lebanon has known before.

This is typical for the people I have become to know here. They live in the present and are very emotional. Tears flow regularly while watching the television.

Other than that, I have been eating THE delicatessen of this region : lamb’s head, paws, stomach and intestines. Or better, I tasted it. Not my favourite.

Also saw the whole process of preparing it from delivery in a black plastic bag (flies and bad smell included) to it being served in several dishes on a big plate.

I stick to the vegetables and fruit that are available in abundance, yoghurt and from time to time chicken or kebab.

The tomatoes are in season. They are deep red. So are the melons and watermelons. Within 2 weeks, the figs will be ripe. And soon after the pomegranates.

And, the big news is that The floor is finished in my house. I can move in. There is still lot to do, but it is liveable.

Syrian dialect

In the Syrian dialect, there are plenty of words borrowed from the French language. This is due to the fact that the French have been here a long time. When exactly I don't know, but Dzjidde remembers the French very well.

He was in prison several times when the French were here. Yes, believe it or not, the (about) 100-year sweet old man was a juvenile delinquent. Got involved in fights. It is not easy to have details about it. He came completely to rest after having married his second wive.

But back to the Syrian dialect... the latest new words are mostly borrowed from the English language.

Here are examples of perfectly understandable Arabic words :
- pantroon = trousers
- roob = dress
- pidzjama
- dish = sattelite television
- kwafer(a) = hairdresser
- kamies = T-shirt
- shoob = hot, warm
- ceedee = CD... believe it or not
- computer
- mobile, also helliaway.

I noticed also that often the same word has several meanings :
- helway = beautiful, tasty
- maay = water, sauce.

But, at the same time there are many words for the same thing, like :
- money = masari, foulous, and something else that I forgot.

Not very surprising, as I experience all the time that Syrians do nothing else than talk about money and the value of things.

Dzjidde does not need any money, as he divided his goods among his sons and his sons now have the duty to take care of him. And they do.
But every time 1 of them visits, he asks for money. He likes to have some in his pocket in case someone is in need.

Licensed to kill

It seems like everybody has a weapon here. Maybe not so much in the cities, but certainly in the countryside. And, if possible, more than one.

Most guns are from Italy and Russia. Italian guns are not considered to be the best ones. Russian are good quality. But a Belgian gun is particularly wanted.

Each time I mention I'm from Belgium, I am told that Belgian guns are the best. And do I know how to get one.

Some men find it normal to walk around with a pistol, as if they belong to the police force or the army.

In Syria, you need a license to possess arm(s). As usual with such law enforced rules, this one is in most cases not respected neither.

A motorbike needs to be registered, but 99% are not. I'm sure that not even all the cars are registered. As long as you use the vehicle in your village or nearby, there is no problem.

Also useful to know is that the cars are not insured here. When you have an accident, you need to settle between all parties involved. If no agreement is reached, the police is called to intervene. I do not know what happens when the police intervenes. Syrians prefer to come to an agreement on who will pay which damages.

Myself, I would like to have asap Internet at home. For this I need a computer, a card and a phone. I've got a computer. That's easy. Bought one. A card can be procured at several places. The only minor difficulty is getting the telephone line/number. I am told last week that since the 80', all lines/numbers are taken and that some day the capacity will be increased.

In the meantime, there are many people who are on the waiting list to have a telephone line/number. They actually already paid for it to get one. So, the only to get one quickly is to find someone who has got a telephone line/number that he doesn't use. He will sell it to me for a lot of money. I will put myself on the waiting list for another one, and will sell that one for a lot of money. The process has started...

Did I mention, I've got running water in my house since last week ? This was also a peculiar process. I am not taking water from the village water tower. I got authorization (7 signatures) to draw water from a water pipe leading to ???. The result is that I've got water 24 hours a day every day. In the village it is normal not to have running water a few hours a day.
Furthermore, I paid for a meter, but there is no meter at hand. No problem, I can take water for free the coming months until there is a meter installed.

I also have electricity since last week, but unfortunately the meter was in stock.