The Armstrong of Syria: Muhammed Faris
Muhammad Faris, an exceptional and prominent figure in the history of space, is considered the second Arab person to set foot in space. He was born in the city of
June 10, 2024
Marie Therese & Mayssa Dhiab Marie Therese & Mayssa Dhiab
Unwavering friendship transcending boundaries: The enduring bond between Mayssa and Marie Thérèse defies differences, celebrating 42 years of companionship amid diverse cultures and changing landscapes.
Really wanted to share this story of my mother and her best friend, hope you like it!
Mom on the right and Marie Thérèse who everyone calls “Mitsi” are both Syrian women from Damascus. They met in Grade 8 at the École Franciscaine à Damas (currently known as the Dar el Salam School). “We’ve been friends for 42 years, and nothing gets in our way. We used to be a group of 4 at school, she’s Catholic, I’m Sunni, and our other two friends were Shia and Druze, but we’re all Syrian. No one cared about your religion”, mom says.
“Your mother Mayssa was crazy about sports and I could barely go down the stairs”, Mitsi laughed. Even when mom decided to wear a hijab at 38, that didn’t affect their friendship in any way. In 2010, mom took my sister and I to spend a day at tante Mitsi’s summer house in Saidnaya, a beautiful village on the mountains of the outskirts of Damascus, and I also remember spending a winter night in Old Damascus together and they took me around to show me all the beautiful Christmas decorations in the Christian quarters of the city. We lived in Abu Dhabi, UAE and are currently in Canada, while auntie Mitsi lives between Beirut and Damascus and visits Canada during the summers, as her son studies here. This summer was another chance for these two besties to reunite again after a couple years apart. Seeing them together brings me happiness and a little bit closer to home.
