4 stories
Embassy Encounter
Protocol officer Hana manages diplomatic events in Riyadh. When Ambassador Williams requests a personal briefing, their professional meeting becomes decidedly unofficial. 'Al diplomasiya laha asrar' (الدبلوماسية لها أسرار) - Diplomacy has its secrets.
The Doha Delay
A flight delay in Doha pairs him with a thick Somali-Qatari businesswoman at the Qatar Airways lounge. She speaks Arabic and Somali equally well—and shows him what Gulf hospitality really means when the night stretches long.
The Nairobi Connection
Nairobi has a large Somali population in Eastleigh. When he visits for business, his thick Somali-Kenyan translator shows him around. She knows all the hidden spots—and she shows him the most hidden spot of all: her apartment after dark.
The Djibouti Stopover
A layover in Djibouti puts him in a hotel with a thick Somali-French businesswoman. She speaks French, Arabic, and Somali—and she teaches him phrases in all three while showing him how African nights are spent.