Stories of Our City

In Episode 141 we shared the story of Gaith, a twenty something businessman who quit a successful job in the insurance business to pursue a love for books. In this week’s story, learn more about the vehicle—quite literally—that drives Gaith’s Books on the Road mobile bookstore initiative: a 1974 Mercedes 200 named Nancy.

After graduating college, Gaith Jann became a successful insurance risk analyst in his native Jordan. But after only a few years he became jaded by the business world, which left him hungering for a more meaningful life. Enter a love for books. Follow Gaith’s journey from a twenty something businessman to an unorthodox street librarian who sells books from his 1974 Mercedes.

After graduating college, Gaith Jann became a successful insurance risk analyst in his native Jordan. But after only a few years he became jaded by the business world, which left him hungering for a more meaningful life. Enter a love for books. Follow Gaith’s journey from a twenty something businessman to an unorthodox street librarian who sells books from his 1974 Mercedes.

Although Tambi Jalouqa, a 35-year-old software architect from Amman, Jordan, spends most of his days behind a computer desk, a lot of his free time is spent in more extreme ways—behind the bars of an off-road cycling machine. Learn how this trailblazer is helping pioneer the sport of mountain biking in his native Jordan with the help of both local and foreign friends who share his passion for extreme sport.

Although Tambi Jalouqa, a 35-year-old software architect from Amman, Jordan, spends most of his days behind a computer desk, a lot of his free time is spent in more extreme ways—behind the bars of an off-road cycling machine. Learn how this trailblazer is helping pioneer the sport of mountain biking in his native Jordan with the help of both local and foreign friends who share his passion for extreme sport.

Adnan Abu Sharkh, more commonly known simply as Sharkhy (SHärkē), has run his authentic Middle Eastern restaurant, Pride of the Mediterranean, in the famed Fillmore district of San Francisco, California, for more than 20 years—since the early ‘90s. Hear Sharkhy share about his love for Arabic food and culture and how he, a native Palestinian, came to be a passionate restaurateur on one of America’s most renowned streets.

Adnan Abu Sharkh, more commonly known simply as Sharkhy (SHärkē), has run his authentic Middle Eastern restaurant, Pride of the Mediterranean, in the famed Fillmore district of San Francisco, California, for more than 20 years—since the early ‘90s. Hear Sharkhy share about his love for Arabic food and culture and how he, a native Palestinian, came to be a passionate restaurateur on one of America’s most renowned streets.

Check out Canan's story as she talks about living in Turkey's largest city.

Check out Canan's story as she talks about living in Turkey's largest city.

Raffi shares another improv story live at the Alt City event in Beirut.