
Exploring Syria (Photo: Emily O'Dell)
I often dream of returning to Syria, where I 
explored Sufism in Damascus just weeks before the war.  A 
new promotional video from the Syrian government shows off some of Syria’s tourist charms — but makes no mention of the war.  Having heard on-the-ground reports while working with Syrian refugees as a 
professor, 
yogini, 
mentor, 
volunteer, and 
advocate, I can’t imagine returning to Syria safely any time soon. With 
mass evacuations intensifying, it’s clear the conflict (and refugee crisis) is not nearing its end any time soon.