This week in Global Club we were lucky to have Mariam in year 11 speaking to us about the culture of Syria specifically the city Of Hama and its Norias to Syrian traditional food.

Mariam spoke about how Syria before the war had a completely different identity and about how lots of tourists came to Syria for its culture and its rich history, eager to explore several of the oldest cities in the world.

Mariam spoke about the memories her mum shared with her of her home city.

‘THE NORIAS OF HAMA’.

In her presentation, Mariam recalled her mum telling her: “I remember the Norias of Hama”. Specifically on how the Norias of Hama are a series of 17 Norias, historic water-rising machines for irrigation along the Orontes river in the city of Hama, Syria, and how they are tall water wheels with box-like water collection compartments embedded around their rims and how as the river flows, it pushes these water collection boxes underwater, where they quickly fill up, then are driving up to the top of the wheel where they empty into an aqueduct. Mariam also spoke about how the aqueduct can carry the water to supply buildings, gardens, and farmland and how they are notable for their size (both of them). For nearly 500 years they were the tallest water wheels in the world.

Mariam spoke about Syria having various religions and cultures. Mariam spoke to us about the culture of Hama and how one of the traditional foods in Hama is Kubbeh (or Kibbeh) which is the name given to a related group of dishes often described as being Syria’s national dish. Mariam spoke about how the Kibbeh comes in the form of deep-fried, baked, grilled, or raw bulgur wheat combined together with spiced minced lamb to form a paste that is then shaped. Kubbeh generally takes a rough egg shape, although its name comes from the Arabic word for ball. It is part of Syria's tradition of meze plates, which see small quantities of a variety of dishes placed on a table.

On behalf of the Global Club, we would like to thank Mariam in Year 11 for her presentation about Syrian culture.