These posts were originally written by SASSYandsisters.
Lesson 75
1# Somalia Is situated in the Horn of Africa on the easternmost edge of Africa with the Indian Ocean to the east, Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Yemen across the Gulf of Aden to the north and Kenya to the southwest.
2# Somalia is a semiarid land in the Horn of Africa, and it is flat in the south, with mountains in the north reaching more than 2,000 meters (6,500 feet)
3# Mogadishu is the capital of Somalia and its largest city. It is also known as Xamar.
4# Somalia experiences a very hot climate as it is located close to the equator. The average temperature round the year is 20 to 40⁰C. Some parts in the north experience temperatures above 45⁰C.
5# Agricultural products include cattle, goats, sheep, corn, sorghum, coconuts, sugarcane, mangoes, rice, sesame seeds and beans. They export livestock, hides, bananas, fish and charcoal.
6# Somalia highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m, lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m.
7# Jubba-Shebelle River is the Longest River in Somalia
8# About 2% of Somalia’s land is arable. [suitable for growing crops]
9# In area it is slightly smaller than Texas.
10# Generally arid and barren, Somalia has two chief rivers, the Shebelle and the Juba.
11# This country is the first African nation that was used for flying warplanes by the British.
12# Somalia is the only country in the world that does not possess a central form of government.
13# Somalia is a Home to infamous pirates.
14# The Egyptians referred to Somalia as the Land of Punt that was rendered famous for frankincense and myrrh.
15# The Portuguese were the first European explorers to visit Somalia.
16# The customary law of Somalia is known as Xeer, a polycentric legal system with no institution or legal agents to determine or interpret the laws.
17# Somalia has one of the most advanced telecommunications systems in Africa.
18# Somalia is the only Islamic country in the world that boasts of a 100% concentration of Sunni Muslims.
19# Somalia has the largest refugee camp in the world.
20# Somalia is the only African nation that can boast of the cheapest cellular tariff rates with some companies charging less than a cent per minute.
21# Somalia comprises of 27 regions and was colonized by both Britain and France before it gained independence in July 1, 1960.
22# British Somaliland gained independence from Britain on June 26, 1960 and Italian Somaliland gained independence from Italy just a few days after that on July 1, 1960.
23# Provisional Constitution for the Federal Republic of Somalia, approved by a constitutional assembly 1 August 2012
24# The origin of the Somali people is not known. Nevertheless, historians opine that the Somali tribe originated in the south European highlands but gradually migrated to populate Horn of Africa at around B.C. 100.
25# Somalia has a rich musical tradition that has evolved out of Somalian folklore.
26# People gather around a communal bowl or platter, and eat only with the right hand.
27# Somali people are usually tall and slender. Men often wear a flowing plaid “ma’awiis” or kilt or pants [trousers XD]
28# When eating, people in Somalia scoops the food from their bowl using their first three fingers. Some will roll a banana leaf and use that for scooping. Urban Somalis will use silverware while dining, but many would still rather use their fingers.
29# Nomads in Somalia consider the country’s pastureland available to all. If a family digs a water well, the property is then considered to be theirs.
30# The most widely recognized symbol in Somalia is the camel. Camels provide meat, milk, transportation, income and status for those who own one.
31# The Civil War in Somalia has been going on for over a decade. The war has been going on primarily against Ethiopia, though U.S. troops have been killed as well when intervening [rolls eyes] 
32# On March 25, 1994, the United States withdrew from Somalia and the Civil War after being there for 15 months.
33# Lag Badana National Park is located on the far southern coast. It was the first national park to be established in the country. During the second half of the 1980s, the Ministry of Tourism under the Siad Barre administration sought to center the tourist industry in the vicinity of the park, with nearby coral reefs and offshore islands likewise envisioned as part of the development.
34# Laas Geel are cave formation on the rural outskirts of Hargeisa. They have some of the earliest known cave paintings in the Horn of Africa.
35# Laas Geel’s rock art is estimated to date somewhere between 9,000 and 3,000 years B.C. The cave paintings are thought to be some of the most vivid rock art in all of Africa.
36# Located in the heart of Mogadishu, Shanghai Old City is one of the most popular landmarks in the city and is best known for its interesting and unique Chinese architecture. This relatively wealthy area has been controlled by warlords at different periods during the civil war.
37# The Mosque of Islamic Solidarity is a mosque located in Mogadishu. It was constructed in 1987 with financial support from the Saudi Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation. It’s the main mosque in Somalia’s capital city, and an iconic building in Somali society.
38# The Mosque of Islamic Solidarity is the single biggest masjid in the Horn of Africa. It’s capable of accommodating up to 10,000 worshipers.
39# The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Mogadishu is a monument erected in honor of the Somali men and women who died in defense of the Somali Republic. It’s popularly known as Daljirka Dahsoon and it’s an important landmark in Mogadishu.
40# According to most scholars, Somalia was an important center for commerce with the rest of the ancient world. It’s among the most probably locations of the fabled ancient Land of Punt.
41# During the Middle Ages, several powerful Somali empires dominated the regional trade, including the Ajuran Sultanate, the Adal Sultanate, the Warsangali Sultanate, the Sultanate of the Geledi and the Majeerteen Sultanate.
42# Somalia is made up of 27 regions and was colonized by both the British and the French before it gained independence in July 1, 1960.
43# Somalia has a rich musical tradition that has evolved out of Somalian folklore.
44# They’re also obsessed with adding bananas to everything. So if you ever find yellow mush between your pasta, or between your rice, then yeah ;p It’s a banana. [they have it like fish and chips in England XD JK]
Lesson 76
1# Sudan is an Arab republic in the Nile Valley of North Africa, bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west and Libya to the northwest.
2# It is the third largest country in Africa. The Nile River divides the country into eastern and western halves.
3# Rich mineral resources are available in Sudan including asbestos, chromite, cobalt, copper, gold, granite, gypsum, iron, kaolin, lead, manganese, mica, natural gas, nickel, petroleum, silver, tin, uranium and zinc.
4# The nation’s wildlife is threatened by hunting. As of 2001, twenty-one mammal species and nine bird species are endangered, as well as two species of plants. Endangered species include: the Wald Rapp, Northern White Rhinoceros, Tora Hartebeest, Slender-horned Gazelle, and Hawksbill Turtle. The Sahara Oryx has become extinct in the wild.
5# In 2010, Sudan was considered the 17th-fastest-growing economy in the world and the rapid development of the country largely from oil profits even when facing international sanctions was noted by The New York Times in a 2006 article.
6# El-obeid is the capital city of the Kordofan region in Western Sudan, and was once the Mahdi’s capital and political centre. Situated in the middle of a vast stretch of barren desert, it has a population of 200,000 people and is an important centre for the production of Arabic gum. This substance is used in the manufacture of food thickening, ink and medicinal products, and is obtained from acacia trees.
7# Port Sudan was founded by the British in 1909 as the terminus of a rail linking the Red Sea to the River Nile. It served as a new modern port to replace Sawakin. The railroad was used to transport the nation’s cotton and sesame seed, as well as sorghum, from the agriculturally rich areas of the Nile valley to export markets. Port Sudan is known among tourists for its excellent scuba-diving and beaches.
8# Suakin island is situated 58km south of Port Sudan and was once a major trading centre, particularly in the 19th century, during the boom years of slavery. As far back as the 10th century BC, Suakin was used by Pharaoh Rameses III as a trading port, but declined in importance after the close of the 19th century AD, and in 1905 was superseded in importance by Port Sudan.
9# Kassala is situated in Eastern Sudan and has a population of 150,000. The city is built on the Gash River and is the power centre of one of the Sudan’s traditional families — the Khatmiya Brotherhood, which opposed the Mahdi family in the last century. On the outskirts of the city live the Rashaida tribe, mostly inhabiting goatskin tents. They are a nomadic people who breed camels and goats, and are closely related to the Saudi Arabian Bedouin, having migrated from the Arabian Peninsula about 150 years ago. It is the mysteriously-veiled Rashaida women who make a great deal of the silver jewellery sold in the Kassala souq.
10# Located at the conjunction of the Atbara tributary, flowing down from Ethiopia, and the River Nile, Atbara is on two main railway routes: from Atbara to Port Sudan, and from Khartoum to Wadi Halfa. The city has a population of 75,000 people. In 1898 it was the site of a battle between the British and the Mahdists, when 2,000 of the latter were wiped out by Kitchener. After the battle, British officials settled here, building colonial-style houses, which are now used as government offices.
11# Jebel Marra Mountains -This western-Sudanese mountain range is dominated by the second-highest mountain in the Sudan, known as Jebel Marra. This is an extinct volcano which rises to a height of 3071 metres. The combination of hills, rivers, and beautiful valleys surrounding the mountain is a good spot to experience [if you’re not scared of heights like me ;p]
12# As well as Manute Bol, who in his time was the tallest basketball player to appear in the NBA, two other Sudanese have made appearances, however briefly. They were Deng Gai (Philadelphia 76ers) and Luol Deng (Chicago Bulls and Great Britain national team).
13# There are a large number of old Egyptian ruins and pyramids in Sudan, as the area once formed part of the Egyptian realm.
14# Sudan used to be the largest country in Africa (area wise), before the country split in two last year (North Sudan and South Sudan).
15# Sudan had one of the first and most active women’s movements in the African and Arab world during the 1960s–70s. In addition, Sudanese women are also pioneers in science, politics and activism. Sudan boasts the first female parliamentarian in Africa and the Middle East (1965), the first female Minister of Health (1974); and the Middle East’s first female judge, cinematographer, football referee, army and police officers
16# Sudan is the first Muslim and Arab country to appoint a female as a judge. This took place in the 1960s. There are at least 67 judges in the Sudanese judiciary today, which is more than any other Arab or Muslim country in the world.
17# About 400 BC, the ox-driven water wheel was introduced to the Sudan. It still plays a vital role in the country’s economy.
18# According to Sudanese law, the minimum age for a male to get married is 18 and above, while a female must be 16 years old or above.
19# In Sudan, there is a marriage tradition called ghost marriage. A ghost marriage is the practice by which people marry for a deceased brother to bring up an heir for him. In other words, a deceased groom is replaced by his brother. The brother serves as a stand in to the bride, and any resulting children are considered children of the deceased spouse. It’s a predominant practice in the Nilotic tradition. The Nuer and Dinka (people of South Sudan) particularly still socially adopt the marriage as a means of extending the family number. Ghost marriages have also occurred in France and China.
20# Before a wedding, it’s a tradition for a bride to sit in a smoke bath of burning perfumed acacia wood called Dukhan, twice a day for 40 days (shorter or longer). During that period, she wouldn’t wash. Her body would be covered with aromatic oils as well until a thick layer forms on her skin. On day 40, the thick sooty layer would be peeled off revealing glowing skin underneath.
21# What is now northern Sudan was in ancient times the kingdom of Nubia, which came under Egyptian rule after 2600 B.C. An Egyptian and Nubian civilization called Kush flourished until A.D. 350. Missionaries converted the region to Christianity in the 6th century, but an influx of Muslim Arabs, who had already conquered Egypt, eventually controlled the area and replaced Christianity with Islam.
22# During the 1500s a people called the Funj conquered much of Sudan, and several other black African groups settled in the south, including the Dinka, Shilluk, Nuer, and Azande. Egyptians again conquered Sudan in 1874, and after Britain occupied Egypt in 1882, it took over Sudan in 1898, ruling the country in conjunction with Egypt. It was known as the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan between 1898 and 1955.
23# The 20th century saw the growth of Sudanese nationalism, and in 1953 Egypt and Britain granted Sudan self-government. Independence was proclaimed on Jan. 1, 1956. Since independence, Sudan has been ruled by a series of unstable parliamentary governments and military regimes. Under Maj. Gen. Gaafar Mohamed Nimeiri,
24# The day usually begins with a cup of tea. Breakfast is eaten in the mid- to late morning, generally consisting of beans, salad, liver, and bread. Millet is the staple food, and is prepared as a “porridge” [It’s more like dough rather than porridge but ok] called asida [3asida] or a flat bread are prepared in stews or salads.
25# Ful [said like "You Fool!" :3], a dish of broad beans cooked in oil, is common, as are cassavas and sweet potatoes. Nomads in the north rely on dairy products and meat from camels. In general, meat is expensive and not often consumed. Sheep are killed for feasts or to honour a special guest. The intestines, lungs, and liver of the animal are prepared with chili pepper in a special dish called marara.
26# Greetings and leave-takings are interactions with religious overtones.
27# The indigenous religion is Animist, ascribing spirits to natural objects such as trees, rivers, and rocks. Often an individual clan will have its own totem, which embodies the clan’s first ancestor. The spirits of ancestors are worshiped and are believed to exercise an influence in everyday life. There are multiple gods who serve different purposes. Specific beliefs and practices vary widely from tribe to tribe and from region to region. Certain cattle-herding tribes in the south place great symbolic and spiritual value on cows, which sometimes are sacrificed in religious rituals.
28# The indigenous Sudanese literary tradition is oral rather than written and includes a variety of stories, myths, and proverbs. The written tradition is based in the Arab north. Sudanese writers of this tradition are known throughout the Arab world. The country’s most popular writer, Tayeb Salih, is author of two novels, The Wedding of Zein and Season of Migration to the North, which have been translated into English. Contemporary Sudanese poetry blends African and Arab influences. The form’s best-known practitioner is Muhammad al-Madhi al-Majdhub.
29# Music and dance are central to Sudanese culture and serve many purposes, both recreational and religious. In the north, music reveals strong Arabic influence, and often involves dramatic recitations of verses from the Qur’an. In the south, the indigenous music relies heavily on drums and complex rhythms.
30# One ritual in which music plays a large part is the zar, a ceremony intended to cure a woman of possession by spirits; it is a uniquely female ritual that can last up to seven days. A group of women play drums and rattles, to which the possessed woman dances, using a prop as an object associated with her particular spirit.
31# The traditional Sudanese clothes are very unique and beautiful. Women wear traditional clothes called Toob which is a long kind of clothes and there are many different colours to it. Toob is made of different materials.
Lesson 77
1# A country of fertile plains, high mountains, and deserts, it is home to diverse ethnic and religious groups, including the majority Arab population.
2# It’s a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.
3# The Euphrates, Syria’s most important river, crosses the country in the east. It is considered to be one of the fifteen states that comprise the so-called “Cradle of civilization”
4# Petroleum became Syria’s leading natural resource and chief export after 1974. Natural gas was discovered at the field of Jbessa in 1940.
5# Syria’s main exports include crude oil, refined products, raw cotton, clothing, fruits, and grains. The bulk of Syrian imports are raw materials essential for industry, vehicles, agricultural equipment, and heavy machinery. Earnings from oil exports as well as remittances from Syrian workers are the government’s most important sources of foreign exchange.
6# The great architectural jewel of Damascus is the stunning 8th century Umayyad Mosque with its exquisite interiors and glittering gold and coloured mosaic. The mosque is considered to be one of the most sacred places in the Islamic world and is a highlight of any visit to Syria.
7# The desert oasis of Palmyra was the premier caravan city in the Middle East in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The resulting revenues enabled the citizens of Palmyra to construct the grandest of civic buildings. Using a local sandy honey coloured stone the resulting Roman-style columns, temple facades, theatres, and tombs, are particularly beautiful.
8# Described by T.E. Lawrence as: “the best preserved and most wholly admirable castle in the world”, this stunning example of Crusader military architecture was built to secure the Homs Gap – the easiest access between the Mediterranean and the Syrian interior. Crac des Chevaliers was never captured by force and is hugely impressive.
9# Visiting the medieval covered souqs (markets) of Aleppo is a real immersion in the Middle Eastern experience. Said to be over 15 km in length everything from luxury goods to aromatic spaces and household goods is on sale here amidst an intoxicating atmosphere that can hardly have changed for centuries.
10# St Simeon’s Monastery is a Byzantine masterpiece built to support the cult of Simeon – an aesthete monk who is remembered for having lived on top of a column for 42 years. According to an expert: ‘The great cruciform church is … the most beautiful and important monument of architecture between the buildings of the Roman period of the second century and the great church of Santa Sophia of Justinian’s time.
11# One of the most attractively located Roman ruins in Syria. Apamea’s main feature is a magnificent colonnaded street, over 1.5 kilometres in length, and lined with columns along almost its entire route. Here you can walk along the wheel-rutted Cardo Maximus though what was once the bustling heart of one of the most important Roman cities in Syria.
12# Regarded as one of the finest survivals from the World Of Late Antiquity the Dead Cities of northern Syria are a group of approximately 600 abandoned Byzantine churches, villages and monuments. Some of these are extraordinarily well preserved, and many have charming rural locations.
13# During public speeches in Syria, it is customary to applaud each time the name of President Assad is mentioned.
14# It was on the road to Damascus, according to the Bible, that St Paul was dazzled by a heavenly light and converted to Christianity. He later escaped arrest in the city by being lowered from a window in a basket.
15# Swords made from Damascus steel have been much prized over the centuries. According to written sources, blades were prepared by heating and then cooling them rapidly.
16# The ancient legend said, that the world’s first murder occurred on the territory of modern Syria. It is here the biblical Cain killed his brother because of jealousy.
17# Syria does not recognize Israel. If in passport you have visa of Israel, then you can’t visit Syria.
18# The earliest account of a mermaid is the story of the Syrian goddess Atargatis who became half-fish after accidentally killing a shepherd she loved.
19# The Golden (or Syrian) hamster was discovered in Aleppo, Syria, in 1930.
20# All the hamsters kept as pets today are descendants of hamsters found in Syria.
21# Syria has competed at the Olympics since 1948 winning one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.The gold medal was for the women’s heptathlon in 1996.
22# Ugarit is the place where the oldest alphabet of the world is believed to have originated.
23# The New York Times reported that the Assad family paid public relations firm Brown Lloyd James $5,000 a month to facilitate Syrian first lady Asma Assad’s March 2011 profile in Vogue headlined “Rose in the Desert.” When Syria’s image became less fashionable, Vogue took the profile off its website.
24# One of this century’s most admired people was Syrian-American — and didn’t know it for most of his life. Steve Jobs’ biological parents, University of Wisconsin student Joanne Schieble and Syrian-born teaching assistant Abdulfattah “John” Jandali, gave him up for adoption to Paul and Clara Jobs. While in his 30s, the consumer electronics genius tracked down his birth mother and learned he had a sister, novelist Mona Simpson. Jobs remained estranged from his biological father, who was working as a casino manager in Reno, Nev., when his famous son died.
25# Syria was the cradle of civilization, at least 10 thousand years. In this area, there is the ancient imperial city – Ebla. Ebla flourished from the 1800 BC to 1650 AD. In Ebla was found 20 thousand precious cuneiform tablets. The records on these tablets allowed to know a lot about everyday life of Mesopotamia at ancient time. The territory of Syria, at various times was ruled by Egyptians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Persians, Macedonians and Romans.
26# The Golan Heights, a mountainous and strategically import area bordering the Sea of Galilee, was captured by Israel during the 1967 war. Part of it was handed back after the 1973 war, but the return of the remaining territory has been one of the Syrian regime’s principal goals ever since. There is a spot on the ceasefire line known as Shouting Valley where Syrians use megaphones to hail their relatives on the other side.
27# The Hama massacre: In 1982 Syrian forces launched a brutal assault on the city of Hama to quell an uprising by the Muslim Brotherhood, killing thousands. Memories of the event, which is rarely mentioned publicly in Syria, continue to cast a long shadow over political opposition to the regime.
28# Lebanon was separated from Syria under the French mandate, since it was largely a Christian enclave, and became officially independent in 1943. From Damascus, Lebanon still tends to be viewed as part of Syria’s traditional sphere of influence. Syria used its military to stabilise Lebanon after the 1975-91 civil war but also meddled extensively in Lebanese politics.
29# Damascus was once a major centre for weaving and trading in textiles. Damask – using an ancient technique for weaving patterns into cloth – derives its name from the city.
30# Syria’s national dish – is Burguli. Burguli – it is wheat, boiled steamed, dried and milled. It is added to many dishes, Burguli must be on the table during all holiday dinners.
31# In social interactions, people stand close together, speak loudly, and gesture widely with their hands and heads. Greetings hold great social significance. They are often lengthy, including questions about health. They usually are accompanied by a handshake and sometimes by a hug and a kiss on each cheek. Placing the right hand on the heart when meeting someone is a signal of affection.
32# The major secular holidays are New Year’s Day on 1 January, Revolution Day on 8 March, and the anniversary of the formation of the Arab League, 22 March. Syrians celebrate Martyrs Day in memory of the nation’s heroes on 6 April; National Day (also known as Evacuation Day, celebrating independence), on 17 April; and the Day of Mourning on 29 November.
33# There is a long literary tradition that dates back to poets such as al-Mutanabbi in the 900s and al-Maarri in the 1000s. Writers must contend with government censorship, but fiction writing is not as tightly monitored as is nonfiction. Whereas the punishment for breaking laws concerning nonfiction is usually imprisonment, fiction writers generally are reprimanded.
34# Seventy-four percent of the population is Sunni Muslim. Sixteen percent belongs to Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects, and 10 percent is Christian. There are small Jewish communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo. As in many Arabic countries, religion is an integral part of the culture and daily life. The word “Islam” means “submission to God.” The religion shares certain prophets, traditions, and beliefs with Judaism and Christianity. The foundation of Islamic belief is called the Five Pillars.
Lesson 78
Hi! Today we’re going to move on from Syria to a tiny country in North Africa called Tunisia, or in Arabic Tunis [which is, in fact, its capital city]. Tunisia is probably known for totally failing on the last world cup lol, but at least it qualified! Anyways, let’s see….
1# It is the northernmost country in Africa and, at almost 165,000 square kilometres (64,000 sq mi) in area, the smallest country in the Maghreb region of North Africa.
2# It is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east.
3# Geographically, Tunisia contains the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains and the northern reaches of the Sahara Desert. Much of the rest of the country’s land is fertile soil. Its 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) of coastline includes the African conjunction of the western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Basin and, by means of the Sicilian Strait and Sardinian Channel, features the African mainland’s second and third nearest points to Europe after Gibraltar.
4# Though it is relatively small in size, Tunisia has great environmental diversity due to its north-south extent. Its east-west extent is limited.
5# The Sahel, a broadening coastal plain along Tunisia’s eastern Mediterranean coast, is among the world’s premier areas of olive cultivation.
6# Carthage was the capital of Phoenician government, and later also became the capital of the Roman government in the South of the Mediterranean Sea when mastering Tunisia. Its location is very strategic, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea with beautiful scenery. In this area, you can see the ruins of the ancient wake of Roman architecture, the former palace (capitol) Roman.
7# Tunis is situated on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The area commonly called the old city of Medina. This area is surrounded by a wall fence with some of the main door and some of the smaller doors. Wall fence aims for keep the city from enemy attack.
8# Bardo Museum - For those interested in history and want to know about the history of Tunisia, it is suitable for visiting. The museum is open every day except Monday. Prior to independence, the Bardo Museum is a palace of the Bey (the title King of Tunisia). In this museum is a store of historical civilizations that once lived in Tunisia.
9# Acropolium- Is an old church located in Carthage. Its real name is Saint Louis Cathedral, the largest church in North Africa. Now this church functions as a tourist attraction.
10# Sidi Bou Said - This area consists of buildings that motivated Andalusia, the white buildings and blue doors and windows. Sidi Bou Said is 10km west of Tunis. Its location is high due to the hilltop area, and is suitable to be for those who want to enjoy the beautiful views of Mediterranean Sea.
11# The country has only ever had two presidents.
12# Tunis is currently the only town in Tunisia to be equipped with a metro (“tube”) service, which is more like a tramway.
13# Tunisia has served as a popular location for some of Hollywood’s biggest films, among which include Star wars, Jesus of Nazareth, The English Patient and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
14# Tunisia’ most famous Olympian is Mohammed Gammoudi who won four Olympic medals over the three games. In the 1964 Tokyo games he won a Silver medal in the 10,000m race, four years later in the 1968 Mexico games he won a Gold medal in the 5,000m and Bronze in the 10,000m and in 1972 he won a silver medal in the Munich games.
15# In the Matmata area, people still live in underground houses.
16# Camel is eaten, mainly in the south-west, but it can be really tough and chewy [Idk why they had to add “chewy” but ok?]
17# The city Kairouan is the fourth most important city in the Islamic world after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.
18# When the film Raiders of the Lost Ark was shot in Tunisia, crew members had to remove 300 televisions antennas from homes in Kairouan, Tunisia for one scene to make a rooftop shot look like 1936.
19# Scorpions are all over the place in the south. Only things worse than the scorpions are the snakes. Woo! Also, the most venomous spider in the world can be found in Tunisia [Oh that’s lovely! I’m going there this summer! Now it’s 100% I’m gonna die on the trip]
20# Polygamy and repudiation (when a man divorces his wife by simply declaring it is so) are outlawed.
21# Women can pass on their names and nationalities to their children.
22# Tunisia was settled by the Phoenicians in the 12th century B.C. By the sixth and fifth centuries B.C. , the great city-state of Carthage (derived from the Phoenician name for “new city”) dominated much of the western Mediterranean. The three Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage (the second was the most famous, pitting the Roman general Scipio Africanus against Carthage’s Hannibal) led to the complete destruction of Carthage by 146 B.C.
23# Except for an interval of Vandal conquest in A.D. 439–533, Carthage was part of the Roman Empire until the Arab conquest of 648–669. It was then ruled by various Arab and Berber dynasties, followed by the Turks, who took it in 1570–1574 and made it part of the Ottoman Empire until the 19th century.
24# In the late 16th century, it was a stronghold for the Barbary pirates. French troops occupied the country in 1881, and the bey, the local Tunisian ruler, signed a treaty acknowledging it as a French protectorate.
25# Nationalist agitation forced France to recognize Tunisian independence and sovereignty in 1956. The constituent assembly deposed the bey on July 25, 1957, declared Tunisia a republic.
26# Traditional Tunisian cuisine reflects local agriculture. It stresses wheat, in the form of bread or couscous, olives and olive oil, meat (above all, mutton), fruit, and vegetables. Couscous (semolina wheat prepared with a stew of meat and vegetables) is the national dish, and most people eat it daily in simple forms, and in more complex forms for celebrations.
27# Tunisian mourners wear traditional bright red costumes at funerals. Corpses are laid on the left side, facing Mecca.
28# Independent Tunisia under Bourguiba made a major effort to improve women’s status by encouraging education and employment, improving the conditions of marriage, and encouraging family planning. This has reduced rather than eliminated the gap between the status of women and men.
29# Tunisians are relatively egalitarian in their interpersonal relations, but there is a strong sense of etiquette. People should be addressed respectfully. A man should not show too much curiosity towards the women in his friend’s family, and may not even know their names. In some cases, men do not visit each other’s homes because the women would inevitably be present. Some people with a sense of their own status do not visit those they consider lower in rank. These rules are relaxed in the urbanized upper classes.
30# Tunisia has produced some fine writers, more in Arabic than in French.
Lesson 79
1# UAE is a country located in the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south, as well as sharing sea borders with Qatar and Iran.
2# The UAE’s oil reserves are ranked as the seventh-largest in the world, along with the world’s seventeenth largest natural gas reserves.
3# South and west of Abu Dhabi, vast, rolling sand dunes merge into the Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) of Saudi Arabia. The desert area of Abu Dhabi includes two important oases with adequate underground water for permanent settlements and cultivation.
4# In 2011, UAE is ranked as the 14th best nation in the world for doing business based on its economy and regulatory environment, ranked by the Doing Business 2011 Report published by the World Bank Group.
5# Dubai International Airport was the busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic from January to May 2013, overtaking London Heathrow.
6# Burj Dubai renamed Burj Khalifa in honour of the Emir of Abu Dhabi when it was inaugurated in 2010, 818m-high Burj Dubai has held the record for the highest building on the planet since 27 March 2008.
7# Burj Al Arab is not a religious or historical monument that symbolises Dubai’s excesses, but a hotel shaped like a sail. Shooting up 321m into the air from the man-made island on which it is built, Burj Al Arab, designed by British architect Tom Wright, is the tallest hotel in the world, and the first to have seven stars!
8# Dubai Creek, or Khor Dubai in Arabic, this saltwater creek reaches 15km inland. It led to the creation of a city of two parts: Bur Dubai to the west and Deira to the east. To get across, you can take an abra, a picturesque little boat, or use the pedestrian tunnel.
9# The two triumphant Emirates Towers (1999-2000) are a showpiece of modern architecture that marked a bold entrance into the 21C. The pair dominate the start of bustling Sheikh Zayed Road and, depending on where you are standing, they seem to change shape, lean towards each other or pierce the sky.
10# Dubai’s top attraction Wild Wadi Waterpark is incontestably one of the most impressive of its kind in the world. A multitude of gardens, wave pools, a network of waterslides including the 33m-long Jumeirah Scierah for an exhilarating 80kmph ride.
11# A temple of consumerism with a maze of shops, the three-storey Mall of Emirates is the most astounding shopping centre in Dubai, until, that is, the Mall of Arabia in Dubai-land is completed. You can even ski all year round in the indoor resort, never mind the desert all around.
12# The Dubai police fleet includes a Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bentley…[waste of money]…This is to allow them to catch speeders who can outrun other cars…[still a waste of money]…
13# When the Founding Father of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid, was asked about the future of Dubai, he said: “My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son drives a Land Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will ride a camel”
14# A British man was sentenced to four years in jail in Dubai after cannabis weighing less than a grain of sugar was found embedded in the tread of his shoe. He was later pardoned.
15# There are ATMs in Dubai that dispense gold bars O.O
16# Dubai has no address system, no zip codes, no area codes and no postal system. For a package to be sent properly, the sender would have to leave proper directions to the destination of said package [lol]
17# Dubai has no sewer system, instead they use poop trucks to haul the entire cities’ excrement away
18# After the global financial crisis in 2008, many exotic cars were abandoned all over Dubai and its airport. Most of these cars were bought with easy credit during the boom and the owners were unable to meet car payments after job cutbacks due to financial recession.
19# In Dubai, you must obtain a “liquor license” to drink from the privacy of your own home.
20# People living over the 80th floor of Dubai’s tallest building in the world have to wait 2 extra minutes before breaking their fast during the holy month of Ramadan because they will be able to see the sun longer than those on the ground.[I don’t know anyone who watches the sky to find out but ok?]
21# The United Arab Emirates donated a laptop to every high school student in Joplin, Missouri, after the city had been devastated by a tornado.[what are they gonna do with a laptop and a trashed city? :p don’t even ask me]
22# In 1956, Frank Lloyd Wright wanted to build a mile-high building (528 stories) in Chicago. The World’s current tallest building, the Burj Khalifa is only 1/2 a mile high and was inspired by Wright’s design.
23# Originally the area was inhabited by a seafaring people who were converted to Islam in the 7th century. Later, a dissident sect, the Carmathians, established a powerful sheikdom, and its army conquered Mecca. After the sheikdom disintegrated, its people became pirates.
24# Threatening the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman early in the 19th century, the pirates provoked the intervention of the British, who in 1820 enforced a partial truce and in 1853 a permanent truce. Thus, what had been called the Pirate Coast was renamed the Trucial Coast. The British provided the nine Trucial states with protection but did not formally administer them as a colony.
25# The British withdrew from the Persian Gulf in 1971, and the Trucial states became a federation called the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Two of the Trucial states, Bahrain and Oman, chose not to join the federation, reducing the number of states to seven.
26# The Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, was completed in January 2010 and became the world’s tallest building at 2,716 feet (828 meters) and 160 stories. It contains the world’s fastest elevators, 20.7 acres of glass, and is expected to use about 250,000 gallons of water per day.
27# Before the 1960s, food consisted mainly of fish, rice, bread, dates, yogurt, homegrown vegetables, and meat from sheep, goats, and camels. The diet has improved in quality and variety, with modern supermarkets offering imported foods.
28# Social customs are shared throughout the Gulf Arab countries. An Islamic greeting is the most appropriate, and men follow this with a quick nose-to-nose touch while shaking hands. Women greet each other by kissing several times on both cheeks. Men normally do not shake hands with women in public.
29# It is customary to ask about the health of a person and his or her family several times before beginning light conversation. Refreshments usually are served before serious matters are discussed.
30# Islam dominates all aspects of life. Most Emiratis are members of the Sunni sect. Matters relating to marriage, divorce, inheritance, economics, politics, and personal conduct are affected by Sharia (Islamic) law.
31# The UAE national day, 2nd December, is the most important secular celebration. Cities are decorated with colored lights, and folklore troops perform in heritage villages. 1st January is a holiday but is not celebrated by nationals. Expatriate communities celebrate their own religious and secular holidays.
32# The state generously supports writers, painters, actors, and folk dancers. Sharjah is particularly active in promoting culture and was chosen by UNESCO as the Arab Cultural Capital in 1998. [Sharjah is one of the most beautiful places I’ve probably ever visited]
33# Conservative elements of the society still impede women’s participation in performance arts. In 1999, the first college for theater arts opened in Sharjah. Emiratis rely on theater and television programs produced in other Arab countries [mainly Egypt and Qatar I think]
34# There is more than one Royal Family in the UAE. Unlike other European countries or Japan, the UAE has, in fact, more than just one royal family. Each Emirate of the UAE is ruled by a different royal family, with the most famous and powerful of them being the Al Nahyan royal family of Abu Dhabi and the Al Maktoum royal family of Dubai.
35# The UAE is made up of Emirates, each ruled by a family with a distinct culture and history …Speaking of royal families and Emirates, the UAE is in fact made up of seven different Emirates, each of which have different ruling families, cultures, traditions and even dialects. It was only in 1971 when the Emirates finally did come together to form one United Arab Emirates and became the country that it is today.
36# The expat community makes up almost 80% of the entire UAE population - Another fascinating aspect about the UAE is the huge number of expats who move here for business, fashion, entrepreneurship and much more. Making up almost 80% of the entire population of the country, they help make the UAE one of the most international and culturally colourful places in the world.
Lesson 80
1# Yemen is an Arab country in Southwest Asia, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula.
2# The coastline stretches for about 2,000 km (1,200 mi). It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea to the south, and Oman to the east.
3# Yemen’s territory includes more than 200 islands, the largest of these is Socotra.
4# At 527,970 km2 (203,850 sq mi), Yemen is the world’s 50th-largest country. It is comparable in size to Thailand and larger than the U.S. state of California.
5# The Tihamah (“hot lands” or “hot earth”) form a very arid and flat coastal plain along Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline. Despite the aridity, the presence of many lagoons makes this region very marshy and a suitable breeding ground for malaria mosquitoes. There are extensive crescent-shaped sand dunes
6# Shibam is dubbed the Manhattan of the desert. This is a wonderful landscape and also receives a huge number of tourists around the year. While in Yemen, one can either enjoy the fantastic ancient structural design or have a great time appreciative the beautiful mountains and desert landscape. Yemen is a totally beautiful country.
7# Marib is another must see for people who are looking forward to explore the rich cultural heritage of Yemen. The great Marib dam is a very impressive structure and is a proof of how developed early Yemenite civilizations.
8# Zabid’s domestic and military architecture and its urban plan make it an outstanding archaeological and historical site. Besides being the capital of Yemen from the 13th to the 15th century, the city played an important role in the Arab and Muslim world for many centuries because of its Islamic university.
9# Alhajarah fort – Haraz is a village in Yemen. It is located in the Manakhah District of the Sana’a Governorate, in the Haraz Mountains. Al Hajara is built upon a precipice and is famous for the houses which are built onto the cliff faces. Al Hajara contains the former residence of Imam Yahya Muhammad, a signatory to the Italo-Yemeni Treaty of 1926.
10# Saber mountain is one of the most famous mountains in Yemen, (almost 3000m above sea level), which affords panoramic views over the city. The city has a Muslim madrasa that has university status.
11# Gulf of Aden is a gulf located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen, on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa. In the northwest, it connects with the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which is about 20 miles wide. It shares its name with the port city of Aden in Yemen, which forms the northern shore of the gulf. Historically the Gulf of Aden was known as “The Gulf of Berbera”, named after the ancient Somali port city of Berbera on the south side of the gulf.
12# Bar’an Temple – Marib City lies 1400 m to the northwestern direction of Mahram Balquis. It is a Sabaean Temple devoted to the Almaqah, the Moon God. This temple comes next to Awam Temple in importance, and is locally known as “al-Amaid” or the throne of Bilpuis. A German Archaeological mission explored this temple, where upon they found it to be square in shape with an open yard involving the sacred well in the middle, together with a pool supplied with water by a funnel from the mouth of the statue of the Holy Taurus.
13# More children are born in Yemen than in any other middle eastern country yearly
14# Yemen does not have many natural resources and is the poorest nation in the middle east
15# Alcohol is banned in Yemen due to strict Islamic religious policies
16# You do not have to tip in Yemen; the practice is unknown
17# Yemen’s embattled president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who rose through the military, has held power in Sana’a since 1978.
18# Shibam, in Hadramaut province, is an extraordinary city, sometimes known as “the Manhattan of the desert”. It consists of some 500 mud-built tower houses resembling skyscrapers, some of them as many as 11 storeys high. Shibam is a UNESCO world heritage site, as is the old city of Sana’a.
19# Yemen claims to be the ancient homeland of the Queen of Sheba (Balqis or Bilqis in Arabic). Her dealings with the Jewish king Solomon are mentioned in the Bible and the Qur’an
20# Yemenis take much pride in their wedding traditions. An average wedding feast lasts 21 days.
21# Shared taxis are the preferred mode of transportation in Yemen. The Yemenis call it bijou, after the Peugeot cars used for cabs.
22# Yemen is an ultraconservative Muslim country.
23# Tourists are expected to give pens (referred to as Qalam) to the local school. Sweets are also acceptable.
24# The history of Yemen dates back to the Minaean (1200–650 B.C.) and Sabaean (750–115 B.C.) kingdoms. Ancient Yemen (centred around the port of Aden) engaged in the lucrative myrrh and frankincense trade. It was invaded by the Romans (1st century A.D.) as well as the Ethiopians and Persians (6th century A.D. ).
25# In A.D. 628 it converted to Islam and in the 10th century came under the control of the Rassite dynasty of the Zaidi sect, which remained involved in North Yemeni politics until 1962. The Ottoman Turks nominally occupied the area from 1538 to the decline of their empire in 1918. The northern portion of Yemen was ruled by imams until a pro-Egyptian military coup took place in 1962. The junta proclaimed the Yemen Arab Republic, and after a civil war in which Egypt’s Nasser and the USSR supported the revolutionaries and King Saud of Saudi Arabia and King Hussein of Jordan supported the royalists, the royalists were finally defeated in mid-1969.
26# The southern port of Aden, strategically located at the opening of the Red Sea, was colonized by Britain in 1839, and by 1937, with an expansion of its territory, it was known as the Aden Protectorate. In the 1960s the Nationalist Liberation Front (NLF) fought against British rule, which led to the establishment of the People’s Republic of Southern Yemen on Nov. 30, 1967. In 1979, under strong Soviet influence, the country became the only Marxist state in the Arab world.
27# The Republic of Yemen was established on May 22, 1990, when pro-Western Yemen and the Marxist Yemen Arab Republic merged after 300 years of separation to form the new nation. The poverty and decline in Soviet economic support in the south were an important incentive for the merger. The new president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, was elected by the parliaments of both countries.
28# Yemenis usually eat three times a day at home. The traditional diet varies locally and socially and is open to innovations. Generally, there is an early breakfast of sweet strong tea with bread made of sorghum, wheat, or barley; dinner includes a porridge prepared from fenugreek with meat, eggs, vegetables, herbs, and spices, which is served hot in a stone or clay bowl; a light supper consists of vegetables and/or dates.
29# Most marriages are arranged by the families: a bridegroom’s female relatives suggest potential brides to him and his father, who come to a decision according to the rules of martial conformity. The woman’s father asks her about her wishes before the marriage contract is prepared. Groom and bride are attached to their respective descent groups through the male line: The father of the groom has to pay a bride price and the family of the bride is expected to help her in times of hardship.
30# By tradition, Yemeni men wear a long robe or a striped skirt (futa) with a curved dagger (jambiya) at the front, attached to a decorative belt. Jambiyas are unsheathed and brandished above the head when dancing.
31# Medieval culture was rich in historical, geographic, and religious works; agricultural almanacs; astronomical treatises; and rhymed prose. Poetry in classical and colloquial styles is the most popular art form. Since the Middle Ages, poetry has been spoken, sung, and improvised during social events, at performances, and in competitions.
32# Traditional performances include musical-poetical improvisations called dan in the Hadhramaut, at which singers chant a tune without words and poets offer them a freshly created text line by line. There are choral ritual processions, tribal call songs, special types of regional songs, and local and strata dances.