Photo Credit: Rostyslav Savchyn
In Jordan, apartment buildings are managed and run by mostly Egyptian migrant workers, often referred to as boabs or janitors. They live in small nooks in the basement-level parking garages of the buildings they maintain. Most of these men leave behind families and are seldom given the chance to return home for visits.
AMMAN, Jordan: As cholera grows rampant across drought-stricken countries, impacted further by climate change, war-torn regions such as Syria and Lebanon face additional challenges from the disease, leaving medical and volunteer teams scrambling to keep up.
Light, and specifically the contrast of light, plays a dominant role in the photo labeled “November 06, 2016,” from the series Banned Beauty by photographer Heba Khamis (see fig. 1). The image documents a family of women gathered together in their home—a mother with her four children. The mother assists her eldest daughter who is participating in the cultural tradition of breast ironing or flattening, in Cameroon. The girl’s younger sibling stands beside her—her chest wrapped and taped, depicting her involvement as well in the breast flattening tradition.
Most refugees are fleeing war or violence. But for rainbow refugees like Sulah, identifying as LGBTQ+ is reason enough to flee violence and persecution back home.
Sulah Mawejji, a refugee from Uganda, went to live with relatives after his mother and later father passed away—both from HIV. When those relatives learned he was gay, Sulah was bullied and told to leave at just 16 years old.
When I was single and in my 20s, the winter holiday months were filled with angst, loneliness and feelings of emptiness.
Then I met my now husband and rejoiced at finding my person. It finally meant the end of all holiday-induced torment. Sure, we’d have arguments along the way, but the Christmas season would be filled with joy and cherished memories and only the happiest of holiday RomComs.
Fast forward a decade.
Last year my husband treated our two small children and me to the ultimate Christmas destination—Europe. We spent 10 days in Austria visiting holiday markets, drinking mulled wine and enjoying all the wintry treats.
Light, and specifically the contrast of light, plays a dominant role in the photo labeled “November 06, 2016,” from the series Banned Beauty by photographer Heba Khamis (see fig. 1). The image documents a family of women gathered together in their home—a mother with her four children. The mother assists her eldest daughter who is participating in the cultural tradition of breast ironing or flattening, in Cameroon. The girl’s younger sibling stands beside her—her chest wrapped and taped, depicting her involvement as well in the breast flattening tradition.
The National Association of REALTORS recently published its 2013 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, which covered existing and new home transactions for 2012—specifically all transactions related to vacation homes. Vacation home sales are continuing to rise this year. Last year vacation home sales rose by 10.1.
Even in 2020, a year filled with misery and disappointment for all, the holiday season is filled with a magical hope—the promise of Santa Claus, a delicious supply of baked goods, and the anticipation of presents. But, lurking among the beautiful mystery of the season is an air of torment. For out there, among the twinkly lights, the pine-scented homes, and the cookie-covered kitchens is another holiday mystery.