This week in class we travel to Syria, a country where political troubles continually have turned all progress upside down. Syria has suffered setback after setback. Colonization by the Ottomans, colonization by the French, several wars with Israel, tension with Jordan and Lebanon, not to mention military coup after military coup, even war after war.... Most recently, the story is bright -- an end to the rule of Basher al-Asaad and legitmate shot at stability. There are still problems and problems and problems and problems...but this is one part of the world where, at least as of this writing (October 2025), there is hope. 

Despite a misconception in the West that Syria is a monolithic Arab, Sunni Muslim state, the nation of Syria is and always has been a complex mix of peoples from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. True, most Syrians are Arab (about 90%) and about 3/4 are Sunni Muslim, but there are also ethnic and linguistic minorities like the Kurds and Armenians. Religiously, there are also Druze, Christians, Shiite Muslims and Alawis.  

In class we don't dwell on politics and instead strive to meet real Syrians–despite the political turmoil, hospitable, full of life and always willing to dance.