In this episode, I share some of my reflections on my recent trip to Damascus, the place my mother was born and raised in, the place I spent all my childhood summers, the place I have some of my most loving and joyful memories and the place that is at the heart of one of the worst wars of the past century. Here is where I answer some of the many questions I've been asked about how Damascus is today - the good, the bad, the ugly and the painful. You'll hear about: My enduring love affair with Damascus, why I was worried I wouldn’t be welcomed by its residents and how I found gracious and loving acceptance instead On what the Damascus I saw is like - the daily life struggles, the mental and emotional pressures and the societal changes that promise a sliver of hope for the future of the country  And why being a third culture person and coming from painful countries of origin is a burden and responsibility we must bear, and why it can be difficult, but not impossible, to find safe spaces and people to share our love and pain with.