Dear ج, What do you think of these doll soldiers. They marched all the way to Ethiopia to bring back gold and ivory and ostrich feathers. I think you would have liked that.
Postcard home n°23
Dear ك, What do you think about finding a hippo in your bath tub? There are many elephants and wild donkeys here, also people who wear turbans and long colored gowns and speak strange languages like Fulani and Bambara. I will soon go to camel country and sleep under the stars all by myself.
Postcard home n°22
Dear ج, I am fine and want to see you in Cairo. Why don’t we visit the Sphinx and climb the Great Pyramid together? Maybe إ will come too and bring baby ك in the stroller. The orange juice here is very sweet.
Postcard home n°21
Dear ج, This Wicked is milking a goat. If you don’t drink your milk then you’ll have to drink hers, so bottoms up! I hope you are learning something everyday in school and putting on your snow pants and playing in the snow and riding ك’s red birthday sled. But it will soon be spring and you will wear your Easter dress and hunt eggs.
Postcard home n°20
Dear ج, What do you think of this lady with a basket on her head and a puddle duck in her hand? She has a pretty dress and a very funny hat. But where are her shoes?
Postcard home n°19
Dear ج, What do you think about coming here to live in a mud hut and swim in the River Niger.
Postcard home n°18
Hi ج from Cairo, Wandering around ancient mosques and medieval palaces, dodging donkeys in narrow lanes and drinking sugar tea and black coffee, and saying Salaam to old friends.
Postcard home n°17
Dear ج, Greetings from Baalbek, I had a nice tour of Beirut by night with Rachid, ate tabouli at his favorite seaside restaurant, now on to Damascus, same food, different country!
Postcard home n°16
Dear ج, There are many camels here waiting for you and me to ride them together a short way across the desert until we come to the Nile River and go for a swim just like at the YMCA.
Postcard home n°15
Dear ج, Would you like a bright orange scarf like this lady has around her face to keep cool? You could wear it to school and say to your teacher, Open Ô Sesame! I am Queen of Sheba!
Postcard home n°14
Dear ج, How would you like to sleep on this bed. You could pretend these spotted cows were taking you to Bovina, but their milk is only for Queen Nefertiti.
Postcard home n°13
Dear ج, This is the old part of Cairo where many donkeys and cats run in the streets and men put too much sugar in their tea. I hope you brush your teeth twice a day so they stay white and strong and don’t fall out like they do here.
Postcard home n°12
Dearج, How would you like to study like this girl by lamplight? Most people in Mauritania live in tents without electricity and drink camel milk for breakfast. Please don’t fight too much with your brother.
Postcard home n°11
Dearج, Greetings from Khartoum which means Elephant Trunk in Arabic. When Jumbo walks the streets here you can guess how fast people scatter!
Postcard home n°10
Dear ج, Look at those monkeys on the wall. They are sitting on red balls! And what is that man doing in the bath tub? I don’t know but I’ll find out!
Postcard home n°9
Dear ك, How would you like to drink tea on the floor with these ladies? But I like coffee so I’m in trouble in Mauritania.
