Marriage problems

As said before, spring has started. Everyday is changing like eating habits. We’re savouring the last buckets of sheep yoghurt and everywhere salads are served. Carpets are being cleaned or just hanging over the wall. Onions and hummus are being planted. And nature is full of colourful flowers.

It also seems like spring brings changes in mood. When visiting, marriage problems are the main issue. Some daughters returned to live with their parents or are sent back home. I wonder whether this is a chronic or an acute problem. Time will tell.

Often, women leave the house after a big row with their husband. Usually, the husband takes them home the next day. But, now the problems are of a different nature and the husband does not come and fetch the wife home the next day, nor the next, nor the next…

When couples row, immediately family and friends start negotiating to get them back together. A lot of talking and drinking tea. More than usual. Each time, the frustrated ones become less frustrated.

When somebody is ill, friends and family are visiting all the time - or at least phoning – until the ill one is cured. I find this strange, because I like to be alone when I am ill. Here ill people asks family to stay with them, even when they are in big pain or just sleeping the whole time.

Syrians are afraid to be alone and when they are weak this fear is even bigger.

Sleeping rooms have fixed little night lamps and they are used all the time.

At night the village looks like a Xmas tree. Every house has at least one outside lamp burning. Some have several in different colours. And some are equipped like discotheques.

Some 30 years ago there wasn’t even electricity in the village.