×

Ghassan's Story

Note: For the best experience please browse the site using Chrome.

×

Image References

1. Land Farming and Grazing
1a - His land has a vacation home:
Image adapted from:
[Village in Homs], n.d., [image online] Available at: ❮https://golantimes.com/news/24268❯

1b - Throughout the conflict [quote]
Image adapted from:
Jafarnejad, H., 2018. Homs [online image] Available at: ❮https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Homs_13970819_05.jpg❯

1c - In 1985, the rain started being insufficient for agricultural crops [quote]
Pala, M., Oweis, T., Benli, B., De Pauw, E., El Mourid, M., Karrou, M., Jamal, M., and Zencirci, N., 2011. Assessment of wheat yield gap in the Mediterranean: case studies from Morocco, Syria and Turkey. Aleppo: ICARDA. Available at: ❮https://geoagro.icarda.org/downloads/publications/geo/Assessment_of_wheat.pdf❯

2. His Aunt's Treasures
2a - Al-Maenaqa & Al-Shaal:
Image adapted from:
Katsap A., Silverman F.L., 2016. Patterns, Colors, and Designs in Bedouins Rugs and Other Items. In: Ethnomathematics of Negev Bedouins’ Existence in Forms, Symbols and Geometric Patterns. SensePublishers, Rotterdam. Available at: ❮https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Gavuah-family-carpet_fig14_301266789❯

2b - Al-Maenaqa “المِعْنَقَة” [quote]
Image adapted from:
Katsap A., Silverman F.L., 2016. Ethnomathematics of Negev Bedouins’ Existence in Forms, Symbols and Geometric Patterns. Rotterdam: SensePublishers. pp. 167-205 Available at: ❮https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-94-6209-950-0_7❯

3. The Bedouins' Proudest Belongings
3a - Cut off from the Bedouin Customs:
Image adapted from:
[نونفلا ةسردمو لاله ديعس سرادملا عراش ةبلعبريد طسو], n.d., [image online] Available at: ❮https://mapio.net/pic/p-79344053❯

4. A Bedouin Tent's Must-Haves "بَيْتِ الشَعْر"
4a - Syrian Desert:
Image adapted from:
Yeowatzup, 2010. Bedouin Tent, Syrian Desert [online image] Available at: ❮https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bedouin_Tent,_Syrian_Desert_(5079932783).jpg❯

4b - Al-Rabah, Al-Khudra, & Al-Rubab:
Image adapted from:
[نونفلا ةسردمو لاله ديعس سرادملا عراش ةبلعبريد طسو], n.d., [image online] Available at: ❮https://mapio.net/pic/p-79344053❯

4c - Bringing along the Nomadic Values:
Image adapted from:
Yeowatzup, 2010. Bedouin, Syrian Desert [online image] Available at: ❮https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bedouin,_Syrian_Desert_(5080529920).jpg❯

Al-Rababah "الرَّبَابَة": [quote]
Image adapted from:
4d - SharabSalam, 2020. Rebab a musical instrument [online image] Available at: ❮https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rebab_a_musical_instrument_01.jpg❯
and
4e - Hurley, F., 1940-1946. Rebabah [online image] Available at: ❮https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rebabah.jpg❯

4f - Al-Khudra "الخُدْرة" [quote]
Image compiled using the following resources:
Hilden J.M., 2004. Changes in Nomadic Arab Weaving Due to Outside and Internal Influences, In: Textile Society of America Symposium Proceedings 486, Textile Society of America Symposium, Lincoln: University of Nebraska. Available at: ❮https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1485&context=tsaconf❯

Al-Ogayyel, R., and Oskay, C., 2020. Al-Sadu Weaving: Significance and Circulation in the Arabian Gulf. In: All Things Arabia, Leiden: Brill. Available at: ❮https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004435926_010❯

5. Most Missed at Home

6. His Children's Education

7. Tribal-focused Heritage (Bani Khaled Tribe)
7a - Location of tribes on map is informed by the following report:
Miettunen, P., Shunnaq, M., 2020. Tribal networks and informal adaptive mechanisms of Syrian refugees: The case of the Bani Khalid tribe in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Beirut: Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs. Available at: ❮https://www.aub.edu.lb/ifi/Pages/publications/research_reports/2019-2020/20200215-tribal-networks-and-informal-adaptive-mechanisms-of-the-refugees.aspx❯

Other References

Al-Sulami, M., 2018. Rababah ... the Bedouins’ violin hits the right notes with visitors at Saudi National Camel Festival. Arab News, [online].
Available at: ❮https://www.arabnews.com/node/1220461/saudi-arabia❯

×

In 1985, the rain started being insufficient for agricultural crops

Image reference: See reference list 1c

Because the last few years have been drought years, I moved to Deir Baalba, Homs. According to studies, Syria is divided into five sections: the first line, the second line, the third, the fourth, and the fifth region. According to this classification, the first line is the line that receives the most rain, the second line is less, and the third line is less. We were in the fourth line.
Extract from interview with participant

The widening of the ozone hole has impacted the climate of the Arab world in general, and Syria in particular. The Syrian Badia region is experiencing less rain. This rain is insufficient for agricultural crops. As an example, I grow a lot of barley or wheat, and most of the time it ends up being a waste.
Extract from interview with participant

In 1992, they were preventing us from farming. They claim it is due to the spread of desertification. Farming has been completely prohibited. This had an impact on us as livestock breeders.
Extract from interview with participant

×

Al-Maenaqa المِعْنَقَة

Image reference: See reference list 2b

Al-Meanaqa is a saddle bag produced by Bedouin women who spin dye and weave gorgeous colors into it, as well as other traditional crafts, for a variety of uses and as a home decoration item.

×

Al-Khudra الخُدْرة

Image reference: See reference list 4f

The separator between men and women is called Khudra (الخردة), and it is a piece of fabric made of sheep's wool that they weave. They take it to a dying shop to be colored. According to the cleverness and art of the house owner, she enters beautiful colors so, it is a separator and a house décor.
Extract from interview with participant

×

Al-Rababah "الرَّبَابَة"

Image reference:
[Left] See reference list 4e / [Right] See reference list 4d

Most people enjoy playing Al-Rababah and some of them like to tell poetry while playing it.
Extract from interview with participant

Al Rababah is a musical instrument consisting of a rectangular wood plank with leather, strings from a horse's tail, and an ark. The instrument allows the player to perform all kinds of songs and music.

Reference: Al-Sulami, M., 2018.

×

Morning coffee القَهْوَة وقت الضُّحَى

One of the Tent's requirements is to honor the guest, along with the black Arabic coffee. This coffee is known as Duha coffee (Morning coffee -القَهْوَة وقت الضُّحَى ); when a man is left with nothing to do after feeding and drinking his livestock, he gathers with his friends and family. Between the hours of 8 and 10 am, everyone gathers at an elderly person to discuss the latest news and other discussions.
Extract from interview with participant

×

His land has a vacation home

Image reference: See reference list 1a

I was living in the city, but my eyes were on the village.
Extract from interview with participant

×

Throughout the conflict

Image reference: See reference list 1b

The first is that Syrians have lost their homeland. No one understands the pain of losing one's homeland except for those who have experienced it. One lost a homeland, a house, a land, and properties, which meant the destruction of life. The second is education; I was eager to teach my children to obtain at least a certificate that would allow them to work in any state job. However, The war began with a turning point in their studies; the beginning of their preparing stage.
Extract from interview with participant

Around 2011. From Sep. onwards, the events became more intense. Previously, there were clashes from Mar. to Sep.; on Friday, there were demonstrations and a few gunshots. Following that, there was an increase in checkpoints and beatings.
Extract from interview with participant

×

Having No Work

The painful thing is that I'm not allowed to drive a car in Jordan with this license number. Now I am a refugee with no rights. They are referred to as human rights. Nothing has been seen, only a few of our rights.
Extract from interview with participant

×

Tribal-focused Heritage (Bani Khaled Tribe)

The Syrian adaptation in Jordan has been largely influenced by tribal relations. The Bani Khaled tribe is a significant Bedouin tribe that spans Syria, Jordan, and other nations, providing a long-standing link between its members. Several Jordanian Bani Khaled members invited Syrian members to their homes or lands during the Syrian events, reconfiguring tribe relations as a social resilience practice.

Suggested research report:
Tribal networks and informal adaptive mechanisms of Syrian refugees: The case of the Bani Khalid tribe in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon
Written by Paivi Miettunen, University of Helsinki and Mohammed Shunnaq, Yarmouk University
Link to the Research Report

1 2 3 4 5 6 Ghassan’s Story SYRIA JORDAN Syrian Badia Lived here:From birth - A few years after 1992 Deir Baalbah, Homs Lived here:A few years after 1992 - 2011 Zaatari Village, Jordan Lived here:10 June, 2013 - Now Seen el Assouad Lived here:August 2011 - January 2012 Abu Katour village Lived here:January 2012 – March 2013 The desert on Jordan's borders Lived here:March 2013 - June, 2013
Select a heritage practice and follow Ghassan's journey
Heritage Reduced Heritage Disappeared Heritage Remained Heritage Reduced Heritage Disappeared Heritage Remained Heritage Invented Social Resilience Object-related Resilience Spatial Resilience Heritage-led Resilience Image ref 7a Tribal-focused Heritage (Bani Khaled Tribe) Having a Jordanian Bani Khaled relative Jordan's respected tribes Adaptation in Al-Zaatari Village Being from the same tribe, the Bani Khaled tribe, aided in his adaptation in the village Having a Jordanian Bani Khaled relative in Jordan gave him the assurance he needed to move from Zaatari Camp to Zaatari Village During his time in Jordan, he was admired by Jordan's respected tribes Social Resilience Heritage Invented Due to a shortage of resources State Laws Scarcity His Children's Education His boys rarely attend school in Jordan since they work His Children's Education Due to the events and the multiple migrations, his children were forced to drop out of school Heritage Reduced His Children's Education State Laws Most Missed at Home His favourite habit is still being practiced in Jordan Spatial Resilience Throughout the confict Although his house was demolished, his habit followed him to Jordan Most Missed at Home The balcony in front of the house In his Homs home, his favourite pastime was sitting on the balcony with his wife in the afternoon, smelling the jasmine fower Heritage Remained Climate Change State Laws Tangible & Intangible Slaughtering when a guest arrives at the tent When a guest arrived during the spring days, he favoured this time since he enjoyed slaughtering the lamb and serving food for the guest Most Missed at Home Heritage Reduced State Laws Bringing along the Nomadic Values When he arrived in Jordan, a neighbour and a well-known elderly man invited him to food feasts Hospitality is still practiced Even his youngest daughter, if anyone knocked on the door, she welcomed them He stated that the majority of the houses here provide hospitality Hospitality His daily attitude stayed unchanged, as he believed that even if the place changed, the attitude remained constant Daily Attitude Traditional knowledge aided him in living in tents when they frst arrived Coping with harsh conditions Social Resilience Bringing along the Nomadic Values His traditional knowledge of the Bedouin Lifestyle aided him during his multiple migrations, as he is used to the frequent moves Heritage Remained Image ref 4c Image ref 4b Throughout the confict His values are not affected by the confict Al-Rabah, Al-Khudra, & Al-Rubab Bringing along the Nomadic Values For him, the most important thing for a child to know is his origins Coping with harsh conditions Children & Nomadic Values Coping with harsh conditions aided him in adjusting to new situations As a result, his children are aware of their religious borders and traditions Living in Homs keeps him disconnected from the Bedouin environment, including its physical features Image ref 4a Climate Change State Laws Tangible Tangible & Intangible Some of the tent's contents Al-Rababah"الرَّبَابَة" Values in a nomadic lifestyle It’s a Bedouin violin, a bow stringed musical instrument A piece of fabric made of sheep's wool that they weave, used as a separator between men and women councils, as well as a house décor Refers to the men's council in the tent Al-Rabah "الرَّبْعَة" Al-Khudra "الخُدْرة" The Tent as a place for socializing Morning coffee "القَهْوَة وقت الضُّحَى" Coping with harsh conditions Hospitality A Bedouin Tent's Must-Haves "بَيْتِ الشَعْر" Heritage Disappeared Heritage Remained Image ref 3a Throughout the confict Cut off from the Bedouin Customs Living in Homs keeps him away from Bedouin Customs, therefore he no longer follows them His children's attachment His children have attachment to Bedouin traditions, but less than him They may have witnessed it, but have forgotten the names of the customs & elements Climate Change State Laws Heritage Disappeared Tangible Purebred Horses Houses Weapons The Bedouins are constantly concerned about having a large enough tent to accommodate all of the guests The Bedouins' Proudest Belongings State Laws Al-Maenaqa & Al-Shaal He still has his aunt’s items with him in Jordan Object-related Resilience Al-Maenaqa & Al-Shaal During his multiple migrations, he carried his aunt's Shaal and two Maenaqa with him Heritage Remained Image ref 2a Throughout the confict He continued to have them Al-Maenaqa & Al-Shaal He carried one Shaal and two Maenaqa to the city because they belonged to his aunt, to whom he was extremely close Climate Change State Laws Tangible Al-Maenaqa"المِعْنَقَة" Al-Shaal "الشَّال" Knitted Handbag " حقيبة يد من الغَزْل " "Another thing my aunt loved was something like woman bag made from spinning, with a professional closure" "A family item made of spinning yarn, in red, yellow, blue, and green of the fabric. During the winter, they used it as a cover, 3m x 5m, covering the entire family" "A decorated large fabric storage that Bedouin women use to store their clothes. It is about 1.5m x 1m" His Aunt's Treasures Heritage Remained State Laws Except in exceptional cases, Syrians in Jordan are not permitted to own property No access to land and farming He lived in Jordan in a regular rental house, so there is no land or farming available to him He is unable to own any property in Jordan Because he is not permitted to have a driver's license Having No Work He is unable to conduct his profession as a driver Throughout the confict His car was stolen Being a Freight Driver He had a valid international driver's license for 30 years He went from Farming and Grazing to being a Freight Driver Leaving the heritage-related Job Image ref 1a They lost their land as well as their homes, which were demolished on the ground > Despite the fact that his primary residence was in Homs, he owned a vacation home on his land in Abu Qatour Village His family owned 5 houses in the village His land has a vacation home Heritage Disappeared 1985: the rain started being insufficient for agricultural crops 1992: farming has been completely prohibited As a result, he lost his source of income Climate Change State Laws Tangible Tangible & Intangible Rain-fed Plant Farming Grazing Livestock "الحَلَال" The Land 1,500 dunams in Abu Qatour Village 10,000 dunums in the Syrian Desert His family owned: Barley was used as animal feed and was sometimes sold Wheat was used for food "مونة", and what was left over they sold Land Farming and Grazing Heritage Reduced Heritage Disappeared 1. SYRIAN DESERT Next place 2. DEIR BAALBAH, HOMS Next place Previous place 5. The desert on Jordan's borders 3. Seen el Assouad 4. Abu Katour village MULTIPLE INTERNAL MIGRATIONS Next place Previous place 6. ZAATARI VILLAGE, JORDAN Previous place