Love of Kabyle

[Sacha]

Hi Everyone!

I've been to Algeria twice now to visit my husband's family who live in La Grande Kabyle. As a British female I was a bit hesitant at first as to how I would fit in (bearing in mind the troubles of the 90's and the current political climate) but I felt compelled to write a few lines about my experience. It has really broadened my mind to discuss a wide range of topics with them. We communicate in French although I'm slowly learning Kabyle (would be thrilled to manage a few sentences!)
I was awe-inspired by the beauty of the region and pleasantly surprised at how hospitable people were in general, although I still felt a little uncomfortable if only because I look so snow white!!!
If there are any others who share my love of Kabylie, Berber culture or who have a similar experience, would be great to hear from you.
Salam. Sacha

[Morrigan]

Dear Sacha,
I lived in Algeria in 1991-1992, and I also loved Kabylie. I'm now writing a novel that includes a Kabyle woman. I would love it if I could ask you some questions that you could answer or ask your husband for answers. It would help me with my research. If you find any Kabyle women in your quest, would you also pass my email address on to them as well? amaxberry@gmail.com

Thanks so much!
Annette

[Abdu23]

Originally posted by Sacha

I was awe-inspired by the beauty of the region and

Salam Sacha,
What beauty are you talkin about? u sure u were not geneve or soemthing? I love my country and I am always positive, but can not see the beauty u r talking about (and I need my dose of critics)? Water is sparse in algeria so it\s more yellow than green.. and europe is all green so the only thing I can think of is the fact that we don\t take care of it, and it\s natural savage nature that u liked>>?

[phylay]

aloha
I can't understand you abdu. For sure water is scarce in algeria (it is africa!), and nobody takes care of natural resources. But you must admit the nature is beautiful despite all the negative aspects. We don't need our landscape to be green as in the uk to say it is beautiful (hyde park is almost yellow this summer but I loved visiting it). As for savage nature, don't forget that the principle of uk gardens is also to be somewhat savage, on the contrary of french (and other european countries) where gardens are 'architectured'.
One more thing i wanna say: living somewhere make you feel everything u see there as normal. I believe people see much easier the beauty of an unusual (new) thing. I mean u can't see kabylie (or algeria) as morigan or sacha do ( I suppose they see it as a whole: landscape, people, culture, and who knows exoticity?). And i m quite sure am much more fascinated by uk greens than they do. Swiss are probably amazed when they hear us talking about geneve.

[Morrigan]

The beauty of Kabylie is in the hills dotted with simple villages and gnarly olive trees. The beauty of Kabylie is in the bright colors of buildings and bus stops reflecting the glorious palette worn by the women and the handicrafts they make. The beauty of Kabylie is in the breath-taking ravines that plunge below the mountain roads under great, circling birds that dive from their vast blue skies to feast on a lizard sunning himself upon a rock. The beauty of Kabylie is in the lone shepherd with his flock of sure-footed sheep who graze the rocky inclines like fat angels defying the earthly forces of gravity and wind. And the beauty of Kabylie is in the lined but smiling faces of the old ones who have lived in the land of their ancestors and know the proud history of a people who have guarded a love of education, independence and tradition against tides of invaders, colonizers, zealots, and terrorists .

That's only part of the beauty I see from my Western/American perspective. Sometimes we're too close to our own culture to recognize it's good points. I know that's true of myself. As an aside, although Switzerland is beautiful in what might be a traditional sense-pastoral lands, dramatic snow-capped mountains, crystal lakes-I find it far less romantic and intriguing than Algeria, especially Kabylie.

Salam
Morrigan/Annette

[Abdu23]

Originally posted by phylay
aloha
I can't understand you abdu. For sure water is scarce in algeria (it is africa!), and nobody takes care of natural resources. But you must admit the nature is beautiful despite all the negative aspects. We don't need our landscape to be green as in the uk to say it is beautiful (hyde park is almost yellow this summer but I loved visiting it). As for savage nature, don't forget that the principle of uk gardens is also to be somewhat savage, on the contrary of french (and other european countries) where gardens are 'architectured'.
One more thing i wanna say: living somewhere make you feel everything u see there as normal. I believe people see much easier the beauty of an unusual (new) thing. I mean u can't see kabylie (or algeria) as morigan or sacha do ( I suppose they see it as a whole: landscape, people, culture, and who knows exoticity?). And i m quite sure am much more fascinated by uk greens than they do. Swiss are probably amazed when they hear us talking about geneve.

I know I was just kiddin.. LOL@exotic, ppl say the place was kinda ... exotic when they can't think of a good thing Thanks for the info, did not know that gardens in UK are left to nature without "architecturing".
As for geneve, we have just been brain washed by Felag.. funny enough, I am the only one in my familly that never visited it and the one that praise it a lot.. maybe because they told me u missed a gr8 time and beauty

[Abdu23]

Originally posted by Morrigan
The beauty of Kabylie is in the hills dotted with simple villages and gnarly olive trees. The beauty of Kabylie is in the bright colors of buildings and bus stops reflecting the glorious palette worn by the women and the handicrafts they make. The beauty of Kabylie is in the breath-taking ravines that plunge below the mountain roads under great, circling birds that dive from their vast blue skies to feast on a lizard sunning himself upon a rock. The beauty of Kabylie is in the lone shepherd with his flock of sure-footed sheep who graze the rocky inclines like fat angels defying the earthly forces of gravity and wind. And the beauty of Kabylie is in the lined but smiling faces of the old ones who have lived in the land of their ancestors and know the proud history of a people who have guarded a love of education, independence and tradition against tides of invaders, colonizers, zealots, and terrorists .

That's only part of the beauty I see from my Western/American perspective. Sometimes we're too close to our own culture to recognize it's good points. I know that's true of myself. As an aside, although Switzerland is beautiful in what might be a traditional sense-pastoral lands, dramatic snow-capped mountains, crystal lakes-I find it far less romantic and intriguing than Algeria, especially Kabylie.

Salam
Morrigan/Annette

Thanks for sharing. It might also be nostalgia