I have a confession to make. I struggled quite a bit in putting together this blog post. I struggled, not because I did not have anything to write about. Rather, it was because there were several ideas running through my…
Saying Goodbye to Phoenix: A Hot City with Cool Charms
As the sun sets on our time in Phoenix, today marks the last free day for SUSI scholars to savor the city’s delights. Amidst the hustle and bustle, scholars find themselves occupied with packing their belongings, carefully arranging every item…
Third Week in the Valley of the Sun: Successful women, intriguing laws and the City of Phoenix
I want to dedicate my blog post to three issues: first, to all the amazing and successful women I have met during our third week in Phoenix; the insights into media law and the work of US media we gained…
Remember us the SUSI way!
The past four weeks were very productive, indeed! The melodramas ingrained with action, comedy, thriller, romance, and suspense made every session and activity colorful and exciting. It is no accident that we, the 15 scholars coming from around the world,…
Vibrant First Fridays in Phoenix
It was the first Friday of the month, and that has a special meaning here in Phoenix. My anticipation was especially high for the opportunity to get to know the Scholars a little more through their personal projects and what…
In the heat of the night…and day!
As I am writing, tiny drops of rain gently knock on my window. There is a pleasant silence. The monsoon season has just started in Arizona: it brings joy and relief, an escape from the agony of the extreme heat.…
Brainstorming
Today we completed a week with brainstorming and refreshing dialogues. Everybody discussed their own projects with great enthusiasm. We have been learning a lot from each other every day. Different perspectives from various countries have been creating a rich intellectual…
Layered Mysteries & a Phoenix-Inspired Future
Phoenix is a city of mysterious aura. In mythology, Phoenix symbolizes renewal as well as the sun. As an anthropologist, I was always fascinated by the imaginary representations and the construction of realities. What journalists do is give meaning and…
Of Aliens, Sun Devils and Sun-Affected SUSI scholars
After four weeks in Phoenix, the SUSI scholars hit Los Angeles on Saturday, with the Arizona weather still the “hot” topic of discussion. The emblem of Arizona is the Sun Devil, for good reason: the heat is simply hideous. We…
Einstein and Cronkite Meet SUSI
Time and space are relative Most of us have traveled 24 or more hours and we still arrived the same day we left our home countries. For the first few days, we woke up in the middle of the night…