Stockholm doesn’t have the oppulence of Vienna or the organized chaos of Berlin. It doesn’t feel as old as Prague and nowhere near as expansive as Paris. Because of that, and the generally colder weather, I didn’t think it held anything of significance to tourists and would have never really considered visiting it for a…
A Working Mother and a Pandemic
On Mother’s Day this year, I woke up to find my sleep-deprived face with my uneven foundation and slightly askew eyebrows staring back at me. I’d already had a heavy heart: due to COVID-19, I couldn’t celebrate my first with the mothers in our lives. But then the post on the hospital’s social media channels…
A Spring In Scandinavia
After a rough second half of 2018, I needed something, anything, to stop myself from spiraling and obsessing over the constant thoughts in my head. I needed a project to throw myself into: something I could plan down to the minute detail, something I could be very proud of, something nothing or no one could…
You’re Failing As a Parent: A Prenatal Class Gone Horribly Wrong
In September, just as I’d started the third trimester, I thought it would be a good idea to sign us up for a prenatal course. Our familiarity with babies, up until that point, was non-existent. I didn’t even know how to hold one properly! I mean, I know all about childhood infections and how to…
Expecting Raneem: A Pregnancy Summarized
I remember how hot and heavy my tears felt as they rolled down my cheeks on a Wednesday night in April. Ahmad held me in his arms as I sobbed and sobbed, asking him, asking the universe, “So what does this mean? What do we do now?” He continued to hold me and comfort me…
You Never Forget How To Ride A Bike
So there I was, lying on the street, clutching my left knee in pain on a busy intersection on one of Maastricht’s main bridges, trying not to feel flustered or helpless. But that was easier said than done. My hair was an utter mess. Sweat had begun to make its way down my back. We…
The Netherlands Will Always Feel Like Home
For the second time this year, I found myself crying on an airplane- something I really should stop doing. This time, it wasn’t because a sense of relief had finally washed over me after what seemed like one obstacle after the other. No, this time it was because the airplane had begun its descent to…
Amsterdam, I Was Wrong About You
I have to be very honest here: I had been trash-talking Amsterdam for the better part of the past five years. Whenever I was asked to give my opinion on the city, I would always reply that it didn’t captivate me quite as much as Maastricht or Den Haag. I would always claim that the…
The Amazing Mini-Eurotrip Race
“You know what looks really beautiful?” Ahmad yelled across the house. “What?” I yelled back from the kitchen. “Amsterdam. I’ve been seeing a lot of pictures and it seems like the kind of place we’d enjoy visiting.” “You don’t say!” I replied, rolling my eyes, as I made my way to the living room where…
This Blog Will Never Be Popular- And I Don’t Really Care
A short while ago, I wrote a post expressing my frustration at how the blogging scene in Lebanon has really taken a turn for the worst, with the so-called influencers dominating the scene with their hyper-stylized photos and their horrible take on the English language. Of course, the content is abysmal to say the least….
Beyond Beirut 