Bang-bang, bang- bang. The loud noise of the wooden clappers, hyoshigi (hyo-shigi), signaled the beginning of the Japanese story. It wasn’t your ordinary book reading session. It was Kamishibai “paper drama”. About twenty kids, with their parents, gathered at the Japanese American Service Committee in Chicago to get something their parents in the United States… [Read more…]
May 24, 2011
Each of us got one black and white post card. As we peered at the copies of picturesque landscapes and faces of our ancestors, Osman Köker, founder of BirzamanlarYayincilik (Once Upon a Time) Publications opened his notes. “Have you ever been to Turkey?” asked Köker with his weighty Turkish accent resonating from under his thick… [Read more…]
May 16, 2011
Walmart has announced that it is making a shift from “Made in China” to “Made in US”. Good news for US local business. However, this move of a notoriously tightfisted retailer signals to me that China and anything associated with it has become a tool to propagate fear at home. So, I decided to pull… [Read more…]
April 20, 2011
Youthful, rebellious, romantic young people in trendy sunglasses, and stylish jeans who share their experiences with university students overseas through Skype . Sounds like you or someone you know? Well, this is the new Middle East. “Young people will be the voice and the face of Islam and Muslims now,” says Asad Jafri, Director of… [Read more…]
March 26, 2011
It has been almost three weeks since my visit to Alexandria, Egypt where about 40 journalists gathered to discuss various issues. You can check the recollection of some of the Tweets here. The conference and the discussions were all serious and inspiring, however, Alexandria’s toilet hygiene impressed me the most. My brother appreciates a locale,… [Read more…]
July 9, 2010
Ric Gazarian, an entrepreneur in his 30s, was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. Having been to all 7 continents and traveled to 70 countries, he had never been to his native Armenia. In 2003 he felt the need to experience what it is like being in Armenia and asked his father to accompany him. … [Read more…]
August 11, 2011
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