When I moved to Egypt, I never thought I’d call 6th of October City my home. October is located far out in the Egyptian desert, past the Pyramids, and it’s roughly a one-hour drive from downtown Cairo. It’s quite a peaceful city, and the home to thousands of displaced families from Sudan, Syria, and other

Burnt fingertips. I keep turning over specific lines from The Optician of Lampedusa (Kirby, 2016) since I first read them eight years ago. They depict the protagonist discovering that some refugees, whom he had rescued from the sea just a few days prior, burnt their fingertips. Why would someone willingly harm their body, most likely

In Lebanon, a nation marked by its rich history and diverse culture, a hidden reality persists—one that involves the silent struggles of approximately 250,000 domestic workers, as confirmed by the United Nations. Behind the picturesque landscapes and vibrant cities, a significant portion of the workforce, comprised of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) hailing primarily from Sri

The screen goes black. A few seconds pass until we hear someone breathing on the other end of the line. But the sound seems muffled. Finally, someone says: “Hi.” Friend and co- director of the documentary, David, releases a grateful sigh and responds: “Hi Kumut.” In this blog entry, I would like to dedicate my