The Old World

The old world is the setting for most of Part 2, starting on page 110 and ending right before Part 3 (page 189). The old world, which Elhillo strongly hints at is located in Khartoum, Sudan, represents the culmination of all the major themes and motifs. The reader can deduce the location of the old country, and Nima’s mother’s home from the flag colors discussed in the street fair, “red white black green,” that Arabic is spoken in this country, and that Nima describes “a city built around two rivers” and that the rivers join together (91, 210). Once Nima passes through the portal of the airport elevator, she enters the old world through the old photograph of her parents dancing at a party. Immediately she is entranced by the music and jasmine trees, as well as the people of her present here in the old world. As the novel...