While visiting friends and family here in Amman, the subject of my blog came up on quite a number of occasions. I was quiet surprised — and humbled — that a significant number of my friends and relatives follow my on-line scribbles religiously. In the past few days, I’ve received a lot of feedback filled with encouragement, criticism and some suggestions. One common comment I heard from a number of people was the following: "Natasha, enough of those political posts. We want to read more personal pieces!"
As someone who follows the news for a living, it might prove hard for me to separate my personal self from my political self. However, I’m willing to compromise. Here is an open question to anyone that takes the time to read my blog every once in a while: What’s your preference? A) Personal B) Political or C) A mix of both? I would love to hear from you. Feel free to send me an e-mail or leave me a comment.
Interestingly enough, I recently had the exact same conversation with one of my close friends. She said she preferred my older non-political more personal posts over my more recent political rants. I think this will always be the case; real life friends and family care more about our personal lives than our commentary on public issues, while strangers will gain more from our “Arab prespective” on international happenings, especially in this day and age.
Personally, I’ve been reading your blog on and off for two years, and have enjoyed both the personal and the political alike.
At the end of the day, it’s your choice.
I would preferr both, but its ur blog. do what u want, welly mesh 3agboh ab3atehooly!
It is YOUR blog — in other words you write what you feel in your heart, you write what brings you pleasure. Once you start writing because of what others want, it no longer is truly “your” blog. I enjoy the mix you have now as I read the entries that interest me and skip over some of the political posts. I am no longer in the Middle East and am getting ready to leave the East Coast for the warmer weather of Arizona. I will continue to read your blog as it is interesting and has the right mix of everything. Nelson
Mix of both is the best way to go. That is what I do. Your personal life, from what I know of it, is probably pretty interesting.
I am a Western guy married to a Saudi female, the interaction between West and East, the mix of cultures, people’s reactions to it, it is all very interesting.
Natasha, you have a great blog, I enjoy it very much. I like C, a mix, as you do now. I would like to see more photographs, but that’s just the photographer in me speaking. It is good to hear you are enjoying your trip home. It does not matter where you go or go live, it is always great to be home. Take care.
Natasha, I always enjoy reading your perspective whether you were discussing a political or a personal issue all the same … this blog is about you and with each word, you are pouring a part of yourself to the readers and that is what I enjoy the most.
Your political point of view is very important and valuable and always sheds light on things from a different angle since you live abroad. At the same time, it would be great to get your opinion on many personal issues because of your privilege of having a wider audience out of Jordan; you can act as a link between your worlds and give clearer realities … so I really wish you would give us a bit of both .. so my answer would be (c)mix of both
c..it’s always nice not to know what to expect.
A) Personal
I also like the idea of a mix in your excellent blog. I’ve just caught up on reading the last 3 or 4 you’ve done and they’re so very interesting. The photos are also great.
Especially liked the Jerash and Roman re-enactment story. That should be a treat for tourists and locals alike. They even speak in Latin! Your other observations about being home and the like are nice to read, too, but we miss you over here! love, Dad & Mom T
See Natasha? All those words were true!
I like the mix!