While in Syria..

In 2020 I moved to Syria with the United Nations to work in one of the largest humanitarian operations. Eventually, I lived
in the country for almost four years building a strong connection with its people and the culture.

My time in Syria was marked by major events that impacted me deeply on different levels and have evoked realizations about life.

Keeping a "diary of thoughts" was one way to cope; to try to make sense of the irrational; to understand and to express my feelings and emotions, and to self reflect.

I share with you some of my thoughts in this book in the form of short phrases, poems, and paragraphs accompanied with visual elements such as watercolors, photos, and Arabic calligraphy. I hope these lines can be a trigger for others' thoughts and self-reflection in their life.

One element of the book that I am particularly proud of is how the final output is a collective effort involving artists from Syria and Palestine, who live and work in Damascus and they are able to really comprehend at a deeper level the ideas and meanings behind these words. I have to say that the most rewarding part of creating this book was working together and closely with these local artists.