Brandon Stanton's Blog, page 344

"The refugees have been given very limited resources, but...

"The refugees have been given very limited resources, but they’ve found ways to maximize the usefulness of these resources. We established a lighting system to provide security. Before long, we noticed that shopkeepers had been tapping into our electrical lines, and using the electricity to light their shops. We tried to prevent this, because our electricity is limited, but more and more people figured out the trick. More and more wires began appearing. Eventually we succumbed to the inevitable. We found the first group of shopkeepers who had siphoned the electricity. We told them: ‘OK, we’re going to allow this. But you’re in charge of regulating it.’" 
-Gavin White, External Relations Officer of UNHCR 

(Zaatari Refugee Camp, Jordan)

"This one likes photos too much. If he takes one more photo, I...

"This one likes photos too much. If he takes one more photo, I will break his camera. But don’t translate that."
(Zaatari Refugee Camp, Jordan)

"After they beat me, I heard shots. And I walked to the shop...

"After they beat me, I heard shots. And I walked to the shop next door, and found my neighbor dead on the floor. He was one of the nicest men in the town. Every day he would put out food for the cats. I would tell him: ‘You must stop feeding the cats, they are overrunning my shop.’ But he would never stop feeding them. He would tell me: ‘I have to feed them. Or they will die.’" 
(Zaatari Refugee Camp, Jordan)

"Back in Syria, I sold antiques and Orientals. I had all sorts...

"Back in Syria, I sold antiques and Orientals. I had all sorts of things in my shop: glass vases, old stamps, coins from the Roman and Ottoman empire, valuable laces, antique furniture. But they beat me with rifles and knocked out my teeth. Then they burned my store to the ground." 
(Zaatari Refugee Camp, Jordan)

"Tell me about the day you decided to leave Syria.""Our house...

"Tell me about the day you decided to leave Syria."
"Our house was next to a checkpoint for the government, so we thought it was safe. There were snipers around, but we thought they knew us. They’d seen us everyday. But one day the electricity got very weak. The television was still working, but the refrigerator and washing machine cut off, so my brother went into the yard to check it. And then we heard a scream. It wasn’t exactly a scream, more like an ‘Ahhhh!’ And I ran outside. And there he was."
"What is your fondest memory of your brother?"
"When we built a second story for our house, my brother and I spent the whole day working together. We were playing tricks on people. We were putting salt in their tea. We were hiding instead of working. We were laughing the entire day."
"What were you thinking when you found him in the yard?"
“‘How can I save him?’ How can I save him?’ How can I save him? How can I save him? How can I save him?’”
"What did your mother say?"
"She didn’t say a thing. The whole family was screaming. But she didn’t make a sound." 
(Zaatari Refugee Camp, Jordan)

Seen in Tafila, Jordan.

Seen in Tafila, Jordan.

"My grandmother remembers the Arab world much differently than...

"My grandmother remembers the Arab world much differently than people view it today. She remembers a place known for its music, innovation, and intellectual abilities. I may be naive, but I want to help work toward unity in the Arab world— both between our countries and within our countries— so that we can get back to that place again." (Amman, Jordan)

"I had five daughters. And my daughters had five daughters. And...

"I had five daughters. And my daughters had five daughters. And every one loves to spend time with Grandma!" (Amman, Jordan)

Seen at the Dead Sea (Sweimeh, Jordan)

Seen at the Dead Sea (Sweimeh, Jordan)

"I clean the streets. I used to work as a lifeguard at a fancy...

"I clean the streets. I used to work as a lifeguard at a fancy hotel on the Dead Sea, but I lost my job. I brought some of the mud from the beach to my cousin because it is good for your skin. My manager said: ‘Hey! We can sell that! You’re stealing!’" (Amman, Jordan)