Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with middleeast

working in Qatar for young women

whatzit — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:37:13 -0800

Expat life in Doha, Qatar: I am likely to relocate in two weeks to a country I have never been to. My biggest concerns are 1) the work environment in general and specifically for a young American woman trying to get things done in an industrial, engineering position and 2) the social life for said young women, who are used to having a lot of guy friends. I am not concerned about alcohol or pork. I am concerned about the seasons, lots of driving, and being surrounded by people who came to get rich (see threads on the Emirates, e.g.). Based on the responses in other AskMes, I am a bit concerned about boredom.

If there is anything like an (international) community of researchers or graduate students, I do want to know about that.

Most likely relocating to Iraqi Kurdistan. What do I need to know?

Anonymous — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:15:53 -0800

Most likely relocating to Iraqi Kurdistan. What do I need to know? First off, I think it's important to note that I fully realize that Iraqi Kurdistan is a whole different ballgame from Iraq Proper. Please don't assume I'm having visions of Baghdad or anything... :)

That being said, here is a bit about me and the situation:
I'm a Canadian in my mid 20's, female, single. If I decide to accept the job, I will be teaching English at a private language school in Erbil. I understand that a lot of the logistics of this will be arranged though the school (housing assistance, visas, etc) but I'm looking for some other perspectives on life there. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of resources on the net about this, even in spheres like Lightstalkers, and comebackalive. Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree has quite a bit about traveling there, but not as much about living long-term. I am currently living elsewhere in the Middle East, and have traveled quite a bit (including some potentially sketchy places), so I don't think the transition will come as a shock.

1. Kurmanji vs. Sorani? I already speak one minority language of the region, which I've heard will be helpful, and I've studied a bit of Arabic (enough to be vaguely familiar with the script, and a touch of vocab), but I will need to learn one of the local dialects. Both are spoken throughout Kurdistan, but I'm wondering which might be more useful outside the country. (assuming I'll continue living/working within the M.E. for at least the next decade or two). Also, which is easier to learn? (Latin and Arabic scripts aside, though I know that might be the tipping point). Would it be at all feasible to just ditch Kurdish altogether, keep studying Arabic, and use that and my other minority language?

2. What is expat life like? I live abroad to fully experience the culture, but sometimes a good laugh over beers, and English conversation about the latest "Office" episode, or issue of Foreign Policy is needed. Are there many younger (under 45) expatriates living there? I would assume they are almost all aid workers or journalists. What do local expats do for "fun"?

3. What can I not purchase there? I'm familiar with a number of items not typically available in the developing world and/or M.E, but any things specific to Kurdistan?

4. I have an Israeli passport stamp, and my passport will expire 11 months after my arrival. What problems might this cause? Is it possible to get a new passport once I'm there? Or should I try to get a new one before I leave. (Though I cannot return to Canada before I go.)

5. Where can I find information about housing, rent, shopping malls/grocery stores etc? Will any of this be available before I leave, or will I just have to figure it all out once I arrive?

Also potentially relevant information: I take medication daily. I'll be traveling with a Mac. I'm also a freelance photographer and will be bringing a bit of camera gear. I'm a messianic jew who would like to attempt to practice (NOT proselytize) my faith there (through either a local synagogue or church). I'm highly interested in aid work and would like to get my foot in the door through volunteering at local NGOs... I think that's about all the info you need for now!

Also, any personal anecdotes, links, or book suggestions (either on the history/culture of the area, or language-learning books) would be immensely helpful!

Thanks in advance, mefites!

(anonymous because I don't necessarily feel like attaching my name to all this personal information)

Egypt Was Good Enough for King Tut

NolanRyanHatesMatches — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:51:34 -0800

MovingFarAwayFilter: GF is dead-set on moving from Brooklyn to Cairo, Egypt, for at least a year. I'm pretty resistant to the idea since I love NYC and, if forced to move outside the US, there are hundreds of cities I'd rather move to. I desperately need some 1st/2nd person accounts of living in Cairo / Egypt to help make this decision. General background: we both work for magazines in NYC, are in our late-20s, social, pretty culturally-oriented (go to concerts/readings/etc. as often as possible, go to parties -- of friends, at warehouses, etc. -- regularly on the weekends), and generally live the lives that you might expect from young, social Brooklynites.

Her background: works in literature/poetry, certified Third Culture Kid, moved around as part of a US State Dept. family every two years, has lived in various Middle Eastern countries (including Cairo in high school for two years), speaks and reads Arabic at a decent level, is desperate to move away from the US, seeks "adventure" but scoffs at the idea of living anywhere in Central America, South America, and Europe. Seems to be basically zeroed-in on Cairo, Alexandria, or another Middle Eastern country. I've floated the idea of staying somewhere / various places for three-four months at a time, but she would rather spend one or two years in one place. At present time, she also seems to value moving away more than job prospects, so she's not necessarily looking for an editing/writing job.

I grew up knowing that I'd move to NYC and have loved living here, love our extended group of friends, love pretty much everything the city offers. My job is here (although could be done, with some effort, outside of the city), my friends are here, and so is my heart. I really, really don't want to move (but love to travel, just not relocate). But, I love my GF (long-term) more than any of it, and she wants to head out, no question.

Were I forced to move, I'd probably pick either a metropolitan city in Central America, South Amerca, or Europe: Mexico City, Quito, Buenos Aires, Sao Paolo, Lima, Belmopan, Barcelona, London, Dublin, Rome, Budapest, Vienna, Berlin, etc.); or, a sleepier town, bucolic town in C/S America or Europe, of which I know hundreds, and there are probably thousands that I don't know about that I would love.

Basically, what are the chances that I would enjoy living in Cairo? How heavy is the cultural bend towards Arab/Muslin trends? Will there be clubs to go to at night? Might I enjoy the music scene there? Is there a healthy cultural conversation w/r/t Western literature? Would I be somewhat shocked by what the law disallows? Is there a chance that I'll feel as if I'm in a European metropolis? Will I have a tough time continuing my online work from Cairo? Can I get by with English, or will I have to spend serious time learning Arabic? I get the feeling that I might like Cairo over other big Middle Eastern cities, but I can't shake the supposition that I'd other big cities that I know and love over Cairo.

I'd love to hear any 1st/2nd person experiences about living in Cairo, or any suggestions of websites/blogs that chronicle what day-to-day life is like in Cairo. I'd like to be open-minded about the prospect of living there, but I can't seem to find any information sources that will help me make the decision, and I think I have a deep-seated wariness of being a Westernized guy living in Egypt / Middle East. Any help at all would be much appreciated

I want to go somewhere between Cairo and Dublin.

ananda gale — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:14:53 -0800

Where should I spend my final week, after a summer of study abroad? I am open to almost anything, only limited by my pocketbook. I am a 20-year-old female who has been studying, traveling, and volunteering in Europe and Egypt all summer.

I love exploring new places, with a penchant for the odd or beautiful, and have less interest in partying or otherwise engaging in activities that could be done back in the U.S.

Where have I already been? A day or two in Dublin, Barcelona, Padova, Venice, Berlin, and their surrounds. Two weeks in Prague, one in Krakow, and am presently partway through five weeks in and around Cairo.

The free week is August 1-7.

I would prefer to stay in one area, so that I have the freedom to relax and explore it fully. I'm on a tight budget, and intend to couchsurf/stay at hostels.

I'd love to hear about some of your favorite experiences, and welcome completely random recommendations. I'll be sure to update when I decide! ^-^

A few possibilities:
-Jordan (but I'll have to return to Egypt as plane tickets are prohibitively expensive out of Jordan, which adds considerable travel time)
-other parts of the Middle East (kind of worried about traveling alone as a female, though)
-Greece (relaxing on an island sounds rather inviting)
-Budapest (highly recommended by several different travelers I met in Eastern Europe)
-Istanbul (MeFites seem to be big fans)

What do you recommend?

Book concerning the origins of the Israeli state and it's conflict with Palestine

phrontist — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:11:25 -0800

What book should I read to get an understanding of the the current Israeli/Palestinian conflict and the history of the Israeli state? My ignorance is unparalleled.

Where did Zionism come from (I understand it's a heading some pretty diverse ideologies fall under)? Why was Israel set up the way it was? Who thought it needed to be a separate nation to begin with? To what extent did religious belief inform the various actor's decisions in the early post-war days (including the nominally secular leaders of allied powers after the war)? To what extent is the current conflict about religious belief?

If at all possible, I'd like something unbiased and reasonably academic (though readability takes presence over the latter). The ideal text would take me from the earliest proponents of Zionism, through the founding of the state, through it's first several decades of existence.

Help me go everywhere but Babylon

foodmapper — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:57:53 -0800

Middle East Travel Advice: I'm flying to Istanbul next Sunday, and then have about 3 weeks to travel overland between Istanbul and Cairo. Where should I go? What should I see? I need some advice, and first-person experience and anecdotes are especially welcome. I've been reading through the thorntree forums and previous threads and the travel guides, but at this point I'm saturated with information. There are so many awesome-sounding places that I'm having a hard time figuring out where I should go, what I HAVE to see, and things I really shouldn't miss out on. What made your jaw drop and your hair stand on end? My rough itinerary is this:

5 days in Istanbul
2 days in Aleppo
2 days in Beirut
2 days in Baalbec
3 days in Damascus
2 days in Palmyra
3 days in Petra and Wadi Rum
2 days to get from the Sinai Peninsula to Cairo

I fly into Istanbul Monday June 22, and need to be in Cairo on Sunday, July 12th. I'd like to see as much as possible between those two places. I'm a mid-20's American female, traveling alone, with only a few Moroccan Arabic phrases. I'm hoping to Couchsurf all or a goodly portion of this. I'm planning to fly from Istanbul to probably Gaziantep on Pegasus airlines, though I may take the train, and then do the rest of this portion on buses and trains, except for a ferry from Jordan to Egypt.

I'd love to hear any suggestions you have for Istanbul, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. Places to see, things to eat, walks to go on, etc. I'm the 'wander-around-a-city getting lost and finding neat things' type of traveler. I've traveled around Southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia) via minibus and hostels - I'm used to roughing it. I've been to a Muslim country (Morocco), but this is my first time to the Middle East. I'm not really a shopper, especially as I'm traveling light and overland, and I'm not really a nightlife/party person.

I'm hesitant to travel via Israel, as I want to go back to the region and my passport doesn't expire for a few more years - but if there's something AMAZING I need to see in the southern desert regions, let me know. I won't be traveling to Jerusalem for the above-mentioned passport issue. I already have my visa for Syria and am waiting on the visa for Egypt, so that shouldn't be an issue.

Suggestions for the Sinai Peninsula and the rest of Egypt are also welcome - I'm meeting up with my parents in Cairo on the 12th, and we'll all be travelling to meet up with my sister in Alexandria on the 17th of July. Thanks!

Book about Islam and intellectualism, what's the title?

divabat — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:13:10 -0800

I'm trying to find a book about Islam and intellectualism. I can remember the cover, and the content - but not the title or the author. Gah! The book was written by a Pakistani based in the UK. The book starts off with him explaining how he often has to fend off the people from the nearby mosque that always want to recruit him and a family member, but one time he decides to say "Yes" to see what they're about.

This leads him to an international journey about different ways Islam manifests itself around the world. He's more concerned with how people use their interpretations of Islam for political gain. There's a section about how Saddam Hussein was part of a political party that wanted Arab unity without concern for religion, and an encounter with a friend/relative in Iran who gets frustrated with his questions.

Later on in the book he details his experience of running an Islamic intellectualism magazine/organisation in Kuala Lumpur that lasted a few years, but then things like race riots and 9/11 made it really difficult to push through a more rational and intellectual view of Islam. There was some talk of revisiting questions about science, humanism, and so on through the eyes of Islam. Anwar Ibrahim gets a mention.

The cover is white; it may have had a mosque and some greenery on the bottom border. The title (which probably didn't have the word "Islam") was likely
vertically
aligned
like
so.
It was published sometime after 2002-2003. It's non-fiction but not a textbook.

I got this book from our local library last year but they don't keep borrowing histories and I couldn't find it on their catalogue. Amazon, Google Books, Barnes and Noble, and even Twitter friends can't find it. It was originally meant to be just a throwaway cite, but now I've become even more motivated to find the book. Can you help?

Trip Filter: Can't see it all, so help me decide

TravellingCari — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:01:59 -0800

What's not to be missed during nine days in Israel? Following this post we decided on and booked Israel from 16-26 July. We're working on what to see and do, but I wanted to run it past Hivemind for suggestions/ideas/etc. On the list so far in relative order of must-see:
*Tel Aviv (crash pad after landing)
*Jerusalem
*Eilat (to do Petra)
*Massada/Dead Sea
*Caesarea, Acre (Akko) & Rosh Hanikra
*Nazareth/Galilee
*Bethlehem
*Tiberias

We are, of course, using traditional trip planners, books, asking friends, but I wanted additional input. Anything we're missing? Anything that can/should wait for future trip? I know we're going to need to cut this down as there isn't enough time but we were time limited. We used the initial list as a brain storm. I've readthis thread but it's two years old and I thought there might be updates.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Clue Bats?

Days, I dive by the wreck. Nights, I swim in the blue lagoon.

mykescipark — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:18:03 -0800

Socotra. Djerba. Ascension. Recommend other remote, Africa-proximate getaways, please. So, I'm going on a DXpedition for a week with my shortwave radio sometime this year in order to collect field recordings of Middle Eastern and African signals. Hence, I want to find a remote, electrically quiet, sparsely populated place to raise my antenna.

I have absolutely no interest in touristy places like Ibiza, Sicily, or Malta. Any place that has a remotely metropolitan feel is completely off the list. I want a shoreline view with the bare minimum amenities, no power grids or endless streams of tourists, and - most importantly - the ability to do my radio for days on end with a minimal likelihood of being suspected of espionage.

My "wish list" is above the jump, but I'd like your thoughts and additions. Locations must be proximate to the Middle East and Africa - I have no interest in South American stations and the like, so (for example) the much-vaunted Easter Island is out of the running.

I'm flexible on dates - I know monsoon season starts on Socotra in May, for example. And I'm willing to jump through some administrative hoops, such as the Entry Permit process for Ascension. Ah, yes, and I'm traveling alone.

I just want some sad vocals

azarbayejani — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:54:01 -0800

I'm looking for Middle Eastern folk music, preferably the kind with really awesome singing. What are your recommendations? Earlier today I downloaded an ambient liveset by Klimek from mnmlssgs and was particularly intrigued by a little vocal snippet at the beginning of the mix. It's about 30 seconds into the mix. I'm pretty sure it's a field recording, but if anyone could identify it and lead me to more music of the type, I would be forever indebted to you.

I was raised in a home where lots of old Iranian music was played around me, but I can't really seem to find a lot of this stuff in a digital format (all my parents' stuff is disorganized and on tape). About two months ago, I did find an amazing album of Mugham by Alim and Fargana Qamisov on Amazon. I also like Hossein Alizadeh's collaboration with Djivan Gasparayan on Endless Vision. I was also very interested by a documentary on Qamisov I found on youtube. The thing I liked about the documentary was that a majority of the music was vocals-only, but the album I bought was accompanied by music.

I know there are probably a LOT of places where I can get music like this. I also know I kind of gave a pretty broad description. I just want to know where I can get the best, most moving recordings.

So, any recommendations for vocal-heavy, preferably kinda sad, Middle-eastern music?

Cheapest way of transferring money (UK) to a foreign bank

jonesor — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:46:43 -0800

What is the cheapest way of transferring money to a foreign bank from a UK bank account? In this case I want to transfer funds from a UK account to an account in the Sultanate of Oman.

Suggestions for a special or unusual gift from Egypt, Saudi Arabia or Jordan (for an American)?

Auden — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 01:08:13 -0800

Suggestions for a special or unusual gift from Egypt, Saudi Arabia or Jordan (for an American)? Some friends are traveling to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan while I house-sit for them and their cats during the month of January. Although I'm fascinated by the food, people, and culture of the middle east (and have lived in Europe and Asia) I've never been to the region myself. I would guess the ballpark price for this gift would be around $50 or less (oh, and I'm a 30-ish American male). Any ideas on what I might suggest, or request?

Gandhigh Jump

Christ, what an asshole — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:20:20 -0800

After looking at this map, I'm curious as to why South Asian and Middle Eastern countries are vastly underrepresented in the Olympic games. What exactly are the economic, political, religious, or cultural factors that play into this?

Can anyone remember this video from my horrible description?

rfbjames — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:15:04 -0800

I'm looking for an online video that I've seen within the last couple of years of a one man show by a British comedian that covered the reasons why America invaded Iraq and the history leading up to it. My memory of this video is very fuzzy, but I remember that he talked about the history of Iraq and western involvement in the country leading down to the present times. He then ultimately made the connection of Iraq getting rid of using the dollar for its oil sales as the reason for the invasion. For some reason I remember him looking very old Vaudeville in hat and tie. He possibly showed up on a bicycle at the start of the video and did the show on a wooden stage with red drapes behind him. He also at one point did a routine of where Bush was beating up Saddam and China showed up looking all tough and wondering what was going on around here? Sorry that yes, my memory is really that vague about this video, but a recent discussion about the Iraq war with a coworker jarred this show from my memory...and it has been killing me to try and track it down to watch again ever since.

Good introductory books about Islam and Middle-Eastern geo-politics?

aheckler — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:21:05 -0800

As a student of international relations, I'm trying to acquire a broad understanding of Islam and Middle-Eastern culture. I'm looking for a few books to read in my spare time that touch on these subjects. More specifically, I'd like to read a few books that offer a broad introduction to Islam, Islamic culture, Middle-Eastern geo-politics, and perhaps U.S. foreign policy in that area of the world. They need not be extremely detailed, just well-written, informative, and not too dry. Ideally, the books I'm looking for are similar to this, but of course much lengthier.

Reza Aslan's No God But God was recently recommended by a friend, but I want to know what the Hive Mind thinks.

Middle East political theory question...

Afroblanco — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:37:21 -0800

Have any well-known Middle East scholars come out in favor of uniting Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank into one multi-ethnic, secular state, with the goal of making all residents equal citizens?

Middle East in Hebrew?

londongeezer — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:24:33 -0800

Where can I find good online maps of the Middle East with the country and place names in Hebrew? Something like this one here. I can't read or write Hebrew, so I'm (apparently) hampered in tracking something down. Making an English language search and then trawling through 20 pages of google images at google.co.il turned up nothing. Alternatively, where can I buy such a map in London?

Help me figure out this job offer in Bahrain

forwebsites — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 09:52:29 -0800

I am hopeful of being offered a job in software development in a construction company in Bahrain. I have a final interview tomorrow. I am a B.E.(Computer) with 7 year experience in various software projects, currently working in a US-based software MNC in Bangalore, India. Help me evaluate this job in terms of what salary package I can expect (or rather negotiate for) and other general Hows-n-Whats about (cost of) living in Bahrain. Here's my career details :

I have a total of 7-year software development experience. I am currently leading a small team in architecting, designing and developing our next software product. My past experience encompasses various phases of software dev lifecycle. Two year US experience in several diff. projects/locations and a couple of patents against my name.

The target job I am shooting for is also a senior developer/architect kind of role where I'd be expected to lead a team technically. It's a big company which undertakes major civil construction projects.

However, I was unable to google any concrete salary information for this kind of job (for that matter any job) in Bahrain, cost of living for two(me & wifey) as an expat in a middle-class lifestyle.

Given my bkground how much salary I should expect to be offered for this position or how much should I ask?
Putting it in a different way I'd like to know atleast ballpark figures for the following so that I can figure out how much I can save:

- Rent (1 or 2 bedroom) in an avg locality (most likely company will offer subsidised housing, but incase if it doesn't)
- Cost of food, groceries.
- Services: electricity/water/internet etc.
- Cost of commutation
- Eating out, entertainment (once/twice a month).

There's too little information about Bahrain online.

Anything else people would want to tell me which I may have missed in terms of living as expat in Bahrain or job offers in Middle East. Can I expect a one-time joining bonus or a "settling allowance" etc ? Are there any retirals/pension benefits ? Anything which you think might be useful here.

Thanks.

Hanging in the Kingdom of Bahrain

lazywhinerkid — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:21:43 -0800

Any fun and exciting tips on visiting Bahrain? I'll be visiting Bahrain quite frequently over the next few months and would appreciate any tips around stuff to see and do, places to drink and eat, etc . . . the more "random" the better. I'll be visiting on the weekend while based in a totally dry Middle Eastern country so suggestions for great bars are especially appreciated.

Any Other Countries Moving Up In The World?

StrikeTheViol — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:12:14 -0800

Has any historically "Third World" country other than the Asian Tigers managed to approach "First World" standards of Quality of Life? Any nations poised for improvement in living standards that might put them there? I've done a fair bit of reading about nascent industrial powerhouses like India, China and Brazil, but I was always curious about countries in say, the more stable areas of Latin America, Africa, and Middle East, areas that have investment and resources, that are actively building infrastructure and improving living standards. Are there any lesser-known nations that are actively climbing out of poverty, or have done so post-Cold War?

Israel travel tips please...

rsanheim — Wed, 02 May 2007 18:08:01 -0800

IsraelTravelFilter. First trip overseas, too. I'm traveling to Israel in about a month for two weeks for work. I'm sure my coworkers will take us to see all the standard religious sites, but I'd like recommendations for things like coffee shops, clubs (indie rock and/or techno/house), and restaurants. Also, just general tips so that I don't make a fool of myself or stand out too much on my first trip overseas. How is wifi access? Do I need a power adapter for my macbook pro? Whats the best way to call back home?

I think we'll be somewhere near Hertzliyah if that matters, but I'm guessing we'll travel around the country too.

Israeli/Palistinian conflict: the death toll.

verisimilitude — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 17:44:46 -0800

Are these statistics disputed? The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the B'Tselem site's fatality lists are approximately accurate for Israeli fatalities, but it doesn't hold any data on Palestinian fatalities.

I am interested to know if B'Tselem's statistics are accepted by Kadima. If not, on what grounds are they disputed?

Citations would be great.

MENA blogs

trey — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 19:21:31 -0800

I'm looking for great blogs about the Middle East and the Maghreb. I would like viewpoints from all over but am especially interested in Morocco and Lebanon. I would prefer intelligently written/academic material about the region.

Professorships in Europe

trey — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 18:26:16 -0800

How can I best position myself in my PhD program to get a job overseas when I complete my dissertation? I am beginning a PhD in sociology this fall. I have broad interests (statistics, European politics, American politics, democracy, public opinion polls, social movements, Middle East studies) and plan to narrow them down a bit in the course of the program. What is the best way to position myself to get a (hopefully tenure-track) professorship in western Europe after completing my dissertation? The program provides the opportunity to learn a language (I plan on Arabic) if that helps. I would like to spend a year or two in the Middle East but do not want to settle down there necessarily.

How do I find audio recordings of ordinary Iraqis and others in the middle east affected by U.S. occupation?

allterrainbrain — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 00:47:55 -0800

What are some sources for audio recordings of everyday Iraqis speaking -- telling their stories, talking about their experience of the war and occupation, or talking about their feelings on any subject? I know about the excellent War News Radio site; I'm looking for more sites like that. I'm equally happy to find voices speaking in English or in Arabic. If the speaking is in Arabic, it should be 1) accompanied by a written English translation and 2) uninterrupted (usually the problem on news shows is that you get a few seconds of a person talking in Arabic, but then their voice is buried underneath the voiceover of a translator speaking their words in English).

In addition to Iraqis I would be happy to hear voices of other people in the middle east who have also been affected by U.S. occupation.

This is for a non-profit personal project celebrating Iraqi voices and trying to represent some of the complexity of Iraqi wartime experience (and survival of Iraqi culture despite the war). So, ideally, the people responsible for the sites would consider letting me use or license their content (as War News Radio graciously agreed to do). In other words, probably the more "non-profit" or small the site, the better -- although I'm very grateful for all recommendations on any scale.