When I first moved to Erbil 15 years ago, it was becoming a small city. Most people who could afford it were buying or building new, modern homes. There was a neighborhood called English Village where Western/American style homes were the trend and where everyone assumed I lived. I did not. My house was in [...]
The biographies of the chefs in The Kitchen without Borders: Recipes and Stories from Refugee and Immigrant Chefs featured several common themes. Many of them started cooking by growing up watching or helping loved ones cook in their home kitchens: mothers, grandmothers, and even uncles. Several also hope to pass down their cooking and cultural [...]
Last time, I explored both my familiar grocery store and an unfamiliar one to get all the ingredients to make a few Middle Eastern dishes. Now, let me tell you how those ingredients are being put to use as I (attempt to) cook. This post is not a “how to make” the following dishes, but [...]
Equipped with The Kitchen without Borders: Recipes and Stories from Refugee and Immigrant Chefs, I was tasked with creating two to three dishes from different places. Over the next three posts, I explore what it was like to find the ingredients, make the dishes, and experience the reactions toward the food as well as the [...]
Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 62 We're back with Erik! And he shares a more thorough walk through the old history of the Kurds. Learn more over on our Iraq page! And send us questions and comments to Hannah@servantgroup.org. Here's a bunch of links for resources and people Erik mentions for Kurdish history. [...]
I love to be cozy. Snuggled under a blanket on a cold day, good book in hand (or a nice social media endless scroll), and nowhere to be. It’s one of my favorite things to do. But there comes a point when it is not comfortable any more. Lounging around too long makes my body [...]
Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 61 Part 2 of our interview with Erik about life and culture in Iraq. Also, an amazing story of how he survived a 100mph crash on a highway! Learn more over on our Iraq page! And send us questions and comments to Hannah@servantgroup.org. Here's a Rough Transcript of [...]
Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 60 Hannah and Colleen interview our friend and teammate, Erik, about his life and experiences teaching and living in Iraq as well as his studies of Kurdish history and culture. Learn more over on our Iraq page! And send us questions and comments to Hannah@servantgroup.org. Here's a link [...]
Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 59 Hannah and Colleen embark on the many uses of the Iraqi Kurdish Park and the many varieties of Recreation available in Kurdish parks. There's workout equipment, food carts, fairs, amusement parks, roller skating, strange statues and more! Come take a walk with us through our favorite and [...]
Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Episode 57 Hannah and Colleen talk about Hannah's trip visiting our team in Iraq. Where we used to be the ones who were visited, now we are the visitors. And we love taking care of our team members! Learn more over on our Iraq page! And send us questions [...]
