Family

In the Middle East, family is at the core of cultural values. Even names are about how we relate to one another within the family.… Read More »All in the Family

This past week has been an eventful one regarding family and has prompted me to reflect on the nature of family. I spent the past… Read More »Reflection on Family

My father was a complicated man. The man that our family knew when he was a young man in Syria is not the man I… Read More »Dad – A Complicated Man.

During my brother Razi’s recent visit, we of course spent time reminiscing. We listened to old music and recounted old tales of childhood. I watched… Read More »Time’s Soft Echo

Today my elder brother Razi will fly down from Wyoming to visit me in Houston for a few days. He called up a few weeks ago and… Read More »A Visit from the Old Man

Since starting the Saydjari Family Private Facebook page, I have been fortunate to connect with over 180 members of our distant family. They have been… Read More »A Literal Bridge to Our Past

I was born in the United States but feel a deep connection to a place I have never seen. My parents were born and raised… Read More »Memories of a Place I Have Never Been

My parents Mohamed and Badrieh Saydjari were both born in Jisr al Shughur. They grew up and married there. They then educated themselves at the… Read More »A City of Rebels – Jisr al-Shughur

My brothers and I were not always as patient or obedient as perhaps we should have been. We would commonly prod our mother to hurry with one thing or another. When’s dinner? When can we leave to go swimming? Can we go out and play now? Are we there yet?

My older brother Razi was born in Jisr-Al-Shughur. Our parents Mohamed and Badrieh were forced to leave him there while establishing a life in the… Read More »Memories of Jisr