We. The Refugees: Ticket to Europe

The Most Reliable Journalist Congratulations, you have completed the game!

Egypt First Impressions I wrote down my first impressions as soon as my plane landed in Egypt.

Africa More Reporters Than Refugees Seriously? Not one day in Egypt, and I meet a competing reporter?

Syrian Gordian Knot Sure, all wars are complicated. But I can’t even begin to fathom the nuances of the conflict in Syria.

Egyptian Cuisine This delicious note on the diversity of Egyptian cuisine makes my mouth water.

Charms Of Physical Work After several hours of physical work at the Home of Hope, I had an existential epiphany.

Why Refugees Are So Desperate The Egyptian beach prompted a few thoughts.

Prohibition In Egypt I mean, I had known about Egypt’s radical anti-alcohol policy before I got there, but it still felt weird.

Humanitarian Scams I would like to believe that all NGO employees are idealists. But every herd harbors some black sheep.

Despair Journey Is Not Tour Erik’s reprimand still makes me question my motives. Isn’t this journey just a privileged guy’s whim?

Koshary I would highly recommend this local dish from a street stall. I would not recommend the shits that followed.

Isaac’s View on the Revolution in Egypt Revolution-era Isaac seemed like a different person. He was a dreamer and an idealist. Perhaps like all people in their twenties.

The Muslim Brotherhood on Google All I know about the Muslim Brotherhood, I copied from Google. Is this what modern journalism is all about?

The Refugees’ Drawings I didn’t expect to find real works of art in the stairwell of a ruined apartment block in the suburbs. And yet, I did.

Sitting for a Portrait The several hours I spent motionless, sitting for a portrait, were surprisingly… emotionally intense.

Medicated Thoughts Taking these drugs was a philosophical experience. I’m still wondering what it says about the existence of free will.

The Egyptian Prison System How could I get arrested? At least it gave me the opportunity to write a note about the Egyptian prison system.

Smoking Habits in Jail People can adapt to any conditions. Take these smokers in jail.

Erik’s Illegal Help I have uncovered Erik’s secret! He’s building a boat so that refugees can safely get to Europe. Noble. But is it legal?

The Hideout in Benghazi I spent so many days in a Libyan hideout. Can these few paragraphs capture that experience?

Routines on Board I had plenty of time for writing detailed descriptions of the refugees’ routines on board the smuggling trawler.

Wahid’s Journey Wahid has travelled thousands of kilometers. His young age makes this all the more astounding.

Wahid’s Musical Passions Wahid seems surprisingly music-savvy. This makes me feel like we come from the same world.

Wahid’s Secret Story I discovered the secret of Wahid’s actual family background.

Kassim’s Drawings I recorded my feelings as I looked at Kassim’s sketches.

Kassim’s Secret Tragedy Kassim’s secret tragedy was veritably Shakespearean.

The Storm: A Mother Saved I saved a little girl’s mother from drowning.

The Paradox of Egoism Had I not obtained this vest through deception, I would not have saved the drowning mother. Can vile deeds have virtuous consequences?

The Storm: Panic Attack When I got a panic attack during the storm, I felt... possessed.

Edward Mukuka Nkoloso This Zambian visionary dreamed of flying to the Moon.

The Afronauts The story of Zambian Afronauts sounds implausible. Is it true?

Mona’s Childhood Photo Mona showed me a photograph from her childhood and told me all about it.

Mona’s Meeting with the American Actor Mona’s childhood memory remains a vivid symbol of her dashed hopes.

Diarrhea in the Storm I’ll never forget having explosive diarrhea at sea, in the middle of a storm. If you like amusement parks, you should try it.

A Friendly God Battuta relayed a vision of a friendly relationship between man and God.

The Complete Story of the Afronauts The full story of Zambian Afronauts sounds much like a mushroom trip.

The Nyumba Ntobhu Tradition Dinah told me about a local custom of same-sex marriage. It sounded progressive.

Dinah’s Stump Dinah lost her hand after she was bitten by a venomous viper.

Being Part of Something Greater After several weeks spent with the refugees I feel a bond with them. I feel part of something greater. It’s a new feeling.

Perpetual Outsider I’ve spent a few weeks among the refugees and I still feel like an outsider. Do I need more time? Or is it not a matter of time?

Anna: A Reverse Odyssey Most people were running from the Islamic State, and she was headed right for the heart of darkness...

The Jihadi’s Hypocrisy Anna called jihadis hypocrites. They fight against Western culture, yet wallow in lavish consumerism.

ISIS Propaganda The Islamic States quite deliberately uses various propaganda techniques.

Anna’s Story Epilog Anna fled the Islamic State. What does fate have in store for her next?

Battuta: Tragic Epilog Battuta’s story had a painfully tragic ending. His dementia seemed to be a blessing and a curse.

Almas: Full Story Almas’s story culminated tragically. She lost everything that was of any significance to her.

Francesco’s View on the Refugees Francesco laid out some solid arguments against welcoming refugees.

Francesco: Inconvenient Questions Francesco’s inconvenient questions still ring in my ears. He forced me to look at the refugees from a different perspective.

Moria Camp I stayed at the Moria refugee camp in the Greek island of Lesbos and described my experience.

Moria: Hundreds of Tents, Thousands of Stories The ocean of tents in Moria… You have to see it to even grasp its scale.

The Moral Quandaries of the Welsh Reporter Colin shared his dilemma: “Does socially engaged art make the artist disengaged?”

Photography’s Aestheticization of Suffering This world demands beauty. Even – or especially – from images of suffering.

Colin’s Burnout Colin burnt out after years of social engagement. Is this what awaits me?

A Photo of the Life Jacket Graveyard This photo makes the hairs at the back of my neck stand up. The tall heap of life-vests epitomizes the refugee crisis.

A Bird’s Eye View of Europe You can’t see any borders if you look at Europe from a great enough distance.

How the Aging Casanovas Party Who were these day-drinking, chest-bumping, obnoxious passengers?

A New Idea of Space Planes and airports are a little magical. Like portals leading to foreign worlds.

Some Thoughts from the Trunk The pitch-black trunk, the claustrophobia... Had I ever felt this helpless?

Some Thoughts from the Chiller Truck The moment they locked us in the back of the refrigerator truck... I get two kinds of chills just thinking about it.

Stranded in the Middle of the Desert The desert is as deadly as it is beautiful.

Infinity of the Desert The desert didn’t seem to end. I was slowly starting to believe there was no world beyond it.

A Night in the Desert I’d never seen this many stars.

Losing Control on the Minibus We rode the minibus to who-knows-where. Anything could happen. We were at the driver’s mercy.

The Arab Spring The refugees viewed the Arab Spring from many different perspectives.

Running Across the Beach Run, boy, run! Nothing else matters…

The Last Goodbyes Before the Crossing People were saying their goodbyes to loved ones before we set sail. Was this the last time they ever talked?

Jailbird Thoughts Once the cell door was locked, all of my reflections focused on the shock of suddenly losing my freedom.

Wahid’s Limited Description of the Smuggling Trade Wahid told me about the personal odyssey that led him to this boat. He’s traveled thousands of kilometers.

ISIS from the Inside I got some incredible first-hand insight into the machinations of the Islamic State.

Daily Life with the Refugees Sometimes, the greatest epiphanies come to you in the most mundane situations. Ordinary life with the refugees has taught me the most about them.

Death at Sea You have failed to reach Europe’s shores. Like thousands before you, you have drowned in the depths of the Mediterranean.