Frequently Asked Questions - Life in Damascus

We expect all participants to adapt to and respect the local customs and cultural environment to the best of their ability, to be modest and respectful in their behavior, to have reasonable expectations about the amount of volunteer work and arabic study they will be able to accomplish in a short amount of time, to refrain from intoxication and drug use, and to follow the guidelines set out for participants during the orientation session. Remember that, as a guest in another country, you are here as a cultural learner. You are here to learn, not to teach and, as a volunteer, to serve, not to lead.

Absolutely. In fact, we encourage you to stay as long as you can. There is no reason why you cannot continue your arabic study and your volunteer position beyond the length of the program. The Damascus Summer Encounter is a great immersion program for those who want to "jump start" a longer volunteer experience in the Middle East. Just let us know in advance exactly how much longer you would like to stay and will begin making arrangements and offer a revised fee. You are also free to make your own arrangements.

Participants will be placed in double rooms at the St. Elias Hostel. Those who need a private room will need to pay an additional $336 for one month or $672 for the full two months. Prices are subject to change!

We will be visiting all around Syria. The exact itinerary has not yet been set. It is likely, however, that we will be visiting Tartous, Latakia, the Mediterranean Sea, Saydnaya, Bosra City, Cracks Des Chevalier, Homs City, St. George Monastery, Aleppo, St. Simon Citadel, Hassake, Palmyra and many other cities and sites of historical, cultural and religious significance. We also, of course, be visiting the sites around Damascus.

Participants will wake up and have breakfast at the Saint Elias Monastery at about 8:00 A.M. They will then be transported to their various volunteer opportunities. At 1:00 P.M they will return to Saint Elias for lunch. From 2:30 to 6:00 they will participate in the scheduled arabic classes at the Berlitz Language Institute. In the evenings there will often be a guest lecture or cultural event. On the weekends we will travel to different cities throughout Syria, such as Sweida, Homs, Palmyra, Aleppo, etc.

We will be staying at the St. Elias Hostel located near the old city of Damascus. You can read more about the accommodations here.

Yes. Every room at the St. Elias Hostel is equipped with free internet access. You need to bring an ethernet cable to plug into the network. Additionally, there is an internet cafe located onlu a few doors down from the Hostel and numerous internet cafes in the Old City of Damascus. Internet access everywhere in Syria is fickle, but checking your e-mail, posting your trip photos online and sending messages to friends and family back home will be a relatively hassle-free process.

The water in Damascus in some areas is quite good. Nevertheless, we encourage participants to stick with bottled water. Outside of Damascus it is definitely not advisable to rely on tap water.

Syria is extremely hot in the summer. Thankfully, the rooms at St. Elias have airconditioning. Participants are recommended to bring hats, sunglasses, sun screen and also swim trunks and a towel as there will be some arrangements to swim in some five stars hotel and in Latakia in the Mediterranean sea.

Yes. Although neighboring countries such as Lebanon and Iraq have suffered violent conflicts in recent years, Syria has been very stable and street crime is low. Having said that we recommend that you review your governments' website and review any travel warnings related to Syria.

Middle Eastern cuisine is actually rich with vegetarian options. A traditional Middle Eastern breakfast, for example, usually consists of a spread of: pita bread, cheese, hard boiled eggs, black and green olives, apricot jam, hummus and coffee or tea. Fresh fruit is available at local shops and stands and vegetable sides and salads are popular options at most restaurants. Let us know in advance if you would strongly prefer vegetarian meals. Where you might run into difficulty is when you stay with a host family or are a guest on any other occasion. Local Syrians take it as a point of pride to treat their guests very well, and often this includes serving them large portions of their best dishes, including meat dishes-it is sometimes difficult to politely refuse your host's hospitality.

In Damascus, you will see women wearing headscarves, women not wearing headscarves, and, occasionally, a woman wearing a full burka in which only her eyes (or not even her eyes) are visible. Most men and women in Damascus dress exactly as you might expect them to in a big city in America or Europe. It's extremely diverse.

For women:
Do not wear shorts or short skirts. As a rule of thumb: dress modestly. Short sleeve shirts are usually okay but long sleeves are preferable and tank tops should be avoided. The only time you'll need a headscarf is when you visit a mosque or certain holy sites.

For men:
It is extremely uncommon to see people wearing shorts, but it does happen. In general, it should be avoided. Avoid tank tops or sleeveless shirts.

Both men and women:
As international guests you will receive added scrutiny. Just because a local Syrian is dressed a certain way (for example: in a short skirt and a tight T-shirt) doesn't mean it is a good idea for you to follow suit.

Do pack a bathing suit and at least one set of formal clothes (something you would be comfortable wearing to a wedding). We will be attending some very formal meetings and ceremonies. Syrians also generally like to dress up and are quite fashionable. If you really want to fit in, try to look your best.

In certain areas, flashy jewelry should be avoided.

The summer will be hot. Bring a wide brim hat or hats and sunglasses as part of your basic protection against the effects of the sun.

Yes! In fact there are quite a few and a number of them are near the St. Elias Monastery where we will be staying.

Unfortunately, the facilities are not always particularly good, and there are typically different hours set for women and men. Weights are very common in most facilities and you can find facilities with treadmills. Although we are living in a particularly safe area, it is generally not recommended for women to jog in public (especially not alone) so finding a gym, even if the facilities are not ideal, is still probably the best bet for those who want to exercise regularly. We will also, of course, be walking a great deal. So, as long as you avoid the almost overwhelming lure of Damascus' sweets, you'll probably find yourself keeping in good shape this summer.