Thoughts upon returning home (for this writer, home = Brooklyn, New York, United States):
I.
As I did my damndest to leave all expectation at the border, I was surprised to discover the difference between Jerusalem and Fes for me: while both cities were impactful and fascinating, I experienced Jerusalem intellectually and Fes emotionally. Jerusalem ignited my mind, while Fes moved me to tears. Cerebral versus sensual. Head versus heart.
II.
Re. the beginner’s mind:
Kaz: “finding ease in the chaos”
Gary: “finding joy in the humility”
Ognjen: “decolonizing our idea of a strange place”
Eddin: “how are we different from tourists, if at all?”
Carol: “If I hosted someone from Morocco in Illinois, what would I show her?”
III.
Borrowing again from Susan Orlean:
“To be honest, I view all stories as journeys. Journeys are the essential text of the human experience—the journey from birth to death, from innocence to wisdom, from ignorance to knowledge, from where we start to where we end. There is almost no piece of important writing…that isn’t explicitly or implicitly the story of a journey.”
IV.
My first stop back in Brooklyn was to our local independent bookstore, seeking a Moroccan cookbook. I chose a lovely little volume with colorful photos, simply called Tagine, by Ghillie Basan. I then headed to the best Middle Eastern grocery store in town, Sahadi’s, on Atlantic Avenue, to purchase ingredients like fresh ginger, saffron, cracked green olives, preserved lemons (for which I thanked the salesperson in Arabic: shokran). But my favorite ingredient: the recipe called for the “freshly squeezed juice of one lemon,” and I realized that I had one from Aziz Bousfiha’s organic garden still in my suitcase (don’t tell the folks at JFK customs). Plucked from a tree in Fes, and, perhaps 30 hours later, squeezed into a chicken tagine in Brooklyn.
V.
We’ll get back to Jerusalem and Fes, and reunite with our new, far-flung friends, one day—insha’Allah, g-d willing. Meantime, some storytelling of the non-verbal variety (click on the photo to access the whole album). Salaam!
Fes
Tags: Aziz Bousfiha, Carol Spindel, Gary Nabhan, Karen Connelly, Ognjen Spahic, Sarah Saffian
Peace Work: writers in e-motion 
May 3, 2010 at 1:38 pm |
I love the elliptical nature of this entry. It feels exactly right for reflection, for piecing together the memories of a powerful travel experience. Feels good to read it. I’d love to see the story of the lemon expanded, the life of the lemon as it traveled across borders. Breaking bread–food–it’s a symbol of peace almost everywhere. This little lemon carried all that weight, for me, as I read that section. I’m in love with that little lemon. Thank you, Sarah!
May 3, 2010 at 2:25 pm |
Hey there – just finished taking a little tour through your photos, and loved the variety of people, places and landscapes. It was so nice to see a little bit of what you experienced. And I love the Susan Orlean quote. You always have just the thing at your fingertips — such a good reader, you. 🙂