Black Spring

 

Algeria was under French colonization for 130 years, from 1830 to 1962. After independence, Algeria created its first government. This government made the decision to have just two official languages French and Arabic, but They avoided Tamazight, which is the language of Berber people that are also called Amazigh or Imazighen. Berber live in Algeria in a region called la Kabylie. They also have their own flag. The Berber people were doing too much rebelling, but the government never paid attention to their concerns until 2001. A young Kabyle student was arrested by Algerian police and later died inside the police station. This caused large-scale riots in the Kabyle region that lasted for months. During these months, the president gave the authorization to kill and arrest all protesters. A lot of people died and some of them were teenagers. This event, called Black Spring, changed Algeria, changed my family and me, and affected us in profound way.

When I was growing up, Tamazight, my native language, was not allowed at school. When I was in school, teachers were just taught Arabic and French, and it affected all the Kabyle regions. Since Algeria’s independence, the Berber people were asking to incorporate Tamazight at school, but the government never agreed. In 2001, people in my region started to riot. I remember being on the balcony of my house when people were fighting with thousands of police for our rights. The military did not have any problem hurting Berber people that were outside protesting, and their age did not matter. I saw old and young men bleeding and hurt. I was only six years old, and I was giving water and food from my window to these people that I considered heroes. The refusal to teach Tamzighth in all over Algeria made separation between Berber and Arabic people. When my family and I traveled from one city to the other, we had to speak Arabic. My city is called Béjaïa. For example, when my family and I went to the capital, we had to speak Arabic since the people did not make any effort to speak or understand Tamazight. I always blame them and the government for having me speaking Arabic and having my education in Arabic and refusing my language.

In addition, the government did not see the importance of considering my Berber culture either because my culture was also different. Barbere had their own traditions, and holidays were not recognized on the rest of Algeria calendar. I remember going to school and my parents going to work even though it was the New Year in the Berber calendar. That day was supposed to be important, but it went on as a normal day. On the other hand, the food was also different. There is one dish that is famous in Algeria, called Couscous. Berber people made the same plate but in different ways and with different ingredients. For example, Berber couscous is made with special beans that are not used in Algerian couscous.  

Furthermore, before the revolution, Algeria had a lot of racism. Arabs did not like Berber people, and the Berbers did not like the Arabs. It was not common to see a mixed couple. Most Berber women did not think been married an Arabic man. I remember as a child during the riots I was thinking of never being or friends with someone that was not Berber. Of course, with time I realized that ethnicity does not matter, but for my family they still think the same way even though the rest of Algeria has slowly changed their mind. For example, according to the point of view of religion for Arabs, Berber people were not considered Muslim.

To conclude, during this historic event in 2001, Kabylie lost a lot of patriots, and my family and I were affected psychologically.  This event affected our mindset and our way of thinking. On the other hand, the Black Spring had a positive effect on a lot of area in Algeria. At the end the government agreed with some Kabyle commands. Tamazight started to be taught in all schools all over Algeria and Arabic people were more open to the Berere culture. The Berber New Year is now celebrated throughout the country, and it is considered a holiday. Racism has decreased, and currently half of people in the capital are Berber. Arabs and Berber couples are now common and accepted in all families. This event has taught me that the difference and separation between people is not just from one country to another, but sometimes a bad government and political ideas can separate people inside the same country.

 

Forbidden Love

 

  

 

Forbidden Love

I have spent my life thinking about religion and if religion can define people as good Samaritans. I wonder if a good person is good because they follow the practices of their religion or is it about their parents fostering and upbringing. I grew up in a Muslim family and this experience changed my point of view in life about everything. My realization has helped me to define the real meaning of religion. However, some people are born to adapt to the beliefs of their religion, and some people realize religion as they grow up. One thing I have and will always cherish is that a good person doesn’t come from any religion. It is a personal choice, and it can vary from the several factors like culture, family dynamics, values, and traits that they experienced in life. Islamic Muslim law and marriage have affected my generations of my family.

In Islam, it is prohibited that a Muslim women marry a person from different religion. It was stated in the surah verse of Quran. However, my mother chose her heart over her religion. My mother came from a religious Muslim family, and my father is Christian. They got married in 1962 in the Philippines. The family conflicts began after the marriage of my parents because of two different religious values and family opinions. It was the first time in the family of my grandparent’s that a child married someone from a different religion, and because of that, my mother got rejected from her family. The decision that she made affected her family in many ways.

In addition, my mother’s marriage has brought resentment all her life. My grandparents ignored her for so many years. She asked for forgiveness several times, but instead they refused to forgive her, and she felt bad and worthless. There was a time when my sister got sick, and my mother went to my grandparents to ask for help. However, they refused her first and the only reason they helped her because my sister was almost dying. I saw how my mother’s family treated her. They belittled her because she married outside religion and because my father was poor. Despite all her struggles, she stood for herself even though they didn’t treat her fairly but still she respects her parents.

Even though along with difficulties, my siblings and I went to a Catholic school. During primary school, I experienced the religious bewilderment. I didn’t have an idea which religion I was supposed to choose. In fact, every year I changed my religion. One of my teachers asked me which religion I was going to embrace if it is Islam or Christian because I couldn’t change my religion every year. I was confused which religion I should follow because my parents didn’t even discuss it with my siblings and me. The only thing I remembered was that my parents told me were free to choose which religion were going to embrace. One day, I finally had the answer. It took twenty-three years of my life for me to decide to be a Muslim.

As the time goes by, my own sense of religion and place in the world became different. I became aloof my entire life. I preferred to distance myself from anybody to avoid drama. Due to that experience, I had gone through all my life I have ended up quietly in the corner without engaging conversations to my relatives. There was a time I asked my mother if she had any regrets marrying my father because of the Islamic law of marriage. However, I realized why should I ask her a dumb question if from the start she chose her heart over her religion.

The conflicts between my mother’s and father’s families lasted for too long. My family left the conflicts as history and have learned from it. Religion can never define a person. The parents are the one who teach the children to be a good person, to respect others and especially to know God. Parents are the people who are going to shape and foster the children to be the best version of themselves. Being Muslim and Christian runs in my blood, and it doesn’t bother me at all. One thing I am proud of is how my parents did an amazing job raising me and my siblings. My siblings and I are grateful for having them to be our parents and I am thankful for the heartache and pain that I experienced because that has made me a stronger person after all.

A New Chapter

 Even if people think that immigration and completely changing one’s life is easy, that is not true. I have experienced immigration and changes in my life, and I am still struggling with problems, including homesickness, making new friends, and changes in my lifestyle. I moved to Chicago alone. My parents live in Azerbaijan, so I had no one to support me in Chicago. It was hard for me as an adolescent moving across the world to live in the U.S. all by myself. However, I am glad that I decided to make a huge step to change my life and start a new chapter. I used to be insecure and lacked confidence, but Chicago has changed me. My social and mental points of view have changed.

 My social point of view has changed since I moved to Chicago. I have been insecure since I was a child. I always thought that everyone judged me because of my behavior. After immigrating to the U.S., I noticed how people treat other people regardless of their appearance, personality, or religion. I experienced a lot of support from immigrants and native-born people from Chicago. From my point of view, in Chicago, some people understand and accept other people’s points of view. However, it is hard to be understood or accepted by everyone. That could be one of the reasons of being insecure or lack of confidence.  

Moreover, Changing the social environment is a huge step in immigrants’ lives. Back in Azerbaijan, I had a lot of friends that I have known for a long time. Even though I moved to Chicago, my friends and I still have communication. When I planned to move to Chicago, I was scared that I would not be able to find friends in Chicago who were like my friends in Azerbaijan. I could not make friends for months and felt alone. I was not sure anymore if I would make any friends in Chicago. On the other hand, after being accepted to Harold Washington College, I finally found friends who are supporting me and being good friends to me. I am also supporting and helping them whenever they need me to. It is not easy to live alone in a foreign country. 

  In conclusion, it was hard to give up everything that I built in Azerbaijan for the past seventeen years. Immigration has its own negative and positive advantages. However, immigration has given me an opportunity to experience something new and create a new chapter in my life. In the beginning, it is hard but it is worth it because the U.S. is a country that can give opportunities for people who have goals and dreams.

 

March 08, 2024

A Hankering Girl

              I was home sick, and I did not understand what I could do or what I should do in my life. When I came to the United States, I was excited to start my new life. In Nepal, I lived with my family, and I felt happy and strong because I had support from my family. I have been in Chicago since 2016. I came with my husband, and I was thrilled and happy, but a little bit nervous. I had many dreams for United States, including jobs and careers. At first, I thought I just needed time to practice speaking and learn the language, but after eight years, I still feel like a new immigrant in Chicago because nothing has changed in my life as I expected. Therefore, I still feel home sick. I still miss my family because I always talked and shared my emotions and problems with them. If I understood the language and knew my neighbors, I would have an easier life in Chicago. Thus, nowadays, I try to forget about my previous life in Nepal, and I forget how to be happy and confident in life. However, I still push my life to be strong and independent without my family.

              One of the parts I have embraced is education, which was my biggest dream when I came to Chicago. In Nepal, I finished my education, but I could not work because the education was not useable in daily life. Although I finished my education in Nepal, I had felt like an uneducated person, and could not make a better life. In Nepal, the education system does not use good methods or time management. Everyone can finish their studies, but they can’t find any work. When I moved to Chicago, I heard about modern educational methods, and I wanted to study in college. In Chicago, I like the teaching method, flexibility, and support for financial problems. I like that I can take online or in person courses and don’t have any age limitation in education. This wasn’t possible in Nepal. In Nepali education, if students didn’t have money, they could not study in school or college. In addition, there is no flexibility because the government doesn’t prioritize the education system or regulations. In Chicago, I like the education system and regulation because it has helped all residents who live here. Therefore, I started to study in college and finish my education, so I can start a professional job to make batter life in United states.

              In contrast, I have had a hard time learning the language in the United States. Due to my weak English language, I lost confidence, and I feel uncomfortable in Chicago. In Nepal, I was a confident and capable person, and I could and dare to ask anything what I wanted, and I could walk and talk clearly without nervousness or confusion. After eight years, I speak only little bit of English, but I feel uncomfortable when I speak because I haven’t studied much. In Chicago, if I go to a kids’ hospital, school, or office, I have to use a translator because I don’t understand how to describe my situation or confusion. Before I moved to Chicago, I graduated at college level, and worked in school. However, now I still feel lost in everywhere because of poor English language. However, I try to be confident and happy in Chicago, so I started to learn to English language. Nowadays I started to be taking a class in college and tried to accept and speak fluently English in Chicago, so I found some of ways to stay happy and confident in Chicago.

              In conclusion, I was happy to start my studies in United States because I like educational rules and method, and equality for everyone. Now, I have forgotten how to speak with confidence and without nervousness with people and how to relax without talking with my own language Nepali. Before I moved, I never thought about my life without my language, but I am trying to speak and learn English. I realize that if I want to make a better life, I need to do hard work in life. I need to know how to adjust in society, make a friend, and do any work confidently and individually without family’s help. I think I am not homesick anymore, and I can live without my family. Nowadays, I realize that I should find other ways to stay relaxed and be confident in my life. I will try to make friends in United States to talk and share everything, and I think I will be successful this way because I am starting study in Chicago college. I hope everything will be better and perfect in my future life, and I wish to be happy and feel relaxed in my life.

 

Life Challenges Blog 2

 Life Challenges 

On my first international flight from Nepal to Chicago, I had to transfer in Qatar, and I was hungry when I got off the plane. I did not know how to order food, but I had to order something to eat. When I tried to order food, I had a problem because my English was bad. When I think about that time, it was scary, but now I laugh about it. Living and adjusting to new culture far from my home country in a foreign land has been hard. When I arrived in Chicago, many things surprised me, I had a culture shock. But, at the same time, I was also excited about my new life in Chicago. 

                  When I came to Chicago, I did not know many things, such as the unfamiliar culture, traditions, languages, and food. The United States is a country with people from all around the world. I used to think Nepal had many cultures and traditions, but when I came to the United States, I noticed that people celebrate many holidays. One of my favorite holidays is Christmas because it brings families together. People celebrate it every December 25th. Obviously, Nepalese people do not celebrate Christmas. One thing I also like about Christmas is the lights. I went to Lincoln Park Zoo to see the lights on December 24th before Christmas. Everything in the zoo was decorated with lights including trees. Another holiday that I like is St Patrick’s Day, which is celebrated on March 17. Last year, I was at work that day, and all my coworkers had to wore green T-shirts. Customers also wore green, and their faces and hair were painted green. When I finished work that day, on my way home, I crossed the bridge and saw the river turn green there were people enjoying it, taking pictures. The river was green for up to three days. I enjoyed these two holidays, in the United States, and learned how people celebrated them.

However, there are still many things that I struggle with such as, dealing with health insurance. Nepal does not have distinct structure for health insurance, and people can visit hospitals anytime without insurance or an appointment because it affordable. In the United States, people need insurance. Without insurance, medical bills are unreasonably high. Recently, my sister was not feeling well, so we went to the Cook County Hospital for her health check-up. We consulted with the doctor for five to ten minutes and then returned home. A week later, we got our medical bill. I almost had a heart attack, when I opened it because it was so expensive. Another difficulty is that in Nepal, people do not have to worry about credit scores or bank statements when applying for a room or an apartment. In the United States, it is challenging to find an apartment. In my experience, my family has struggled find a room or apartment. There was a time, when a landlord agreed to rent out the house, However, over the time, he denied the agreement because we do not have good credit scores or bank statements. Landlord wanted proof of our financial capability. At the time, I was having many stressors in addition to that. It has been very tough to adjust to life in the United States because of all these problems I have encountered. 

In conclusion, learning about a new culture and trying to fit in can be challenging, especially when someone is far from their homeland, I am from Nepal which is a beautiful country and I miss it dearly. It is hard to adjust to the unfamiliar environment, culture, and customs. In addition, I was thinking about my future in the United States and of becoming an independent woman. In Nepal, people, especially women, are dependent on other, so it will not be easy to adapt to life in the United State, but I am trying to adjust. I know that to make my future bright, I must stay in the United States and work hard. I have learned that anything worth having in life takes time and effort. Life is full of challenges, and it is up to us to face them and solve them. I have learned that from my life. 

Behind My View

                                                                  Behind My View

        

         The old men in ancient said: “ When in Rome, do as Romans do.” The famous quote means people should learn to appreciate and embrace the new cultures when they get to a new place. I moved to Chicago in 2017 and went to high school since 2017. As the one of the biggest cities in the United States, Chicago gave me lots of good impressions when I got here. However, I have figured out there is one thing that I will not fully accept as time goes by.

         People who have not been to the United States might wonder what was the first thing and the first impression come to my mind when I got to Chicago. I would tell them the first thing and the first impression come to my mind was culture shock. The United States, as the biggest country of immigrants has almost every kind of culture from all over the world. In my opinion, freedom is the most important and the necessary thing for people who live in a country. In Chicago, I have a strong feeling that people have and celebrate their freedom. For example, when I am walking down a street in downtown Chicago, I can always see people singing and dancing down the street. This kind of phenomenon does not exist in China. In China, when people are trying to sing and dance in public, the officers and security will stop them and ask them to leave because it disrupts the environment. In my point of view, people in Chicago are open. They have passion in their lives, and I am appreciate and enjoy the atmosphere of people here very much. In addition, I am a car guy. Like many boys, I love cars. Buying myself a dream car has always been one of my goals and I can feel the car culture in the United States attracts me the most. Every time I walk down the street I can see a lot of sport cars, hypercars, and luxury cars that I have never seen in China. In the United States, people are free to build themselves a car, and I can’t imagine this happening in China. In China, only few people can own a car because the prices of cars are high and the policy of license plates.People need to draw lots to get license plates. The traffic laws in China are extremely strict and many of the drivers don’t follow the rules. In the United States, I can feel that I am getting closer to my goal and I enjoy the atmosphere here that people are free and easy to own a car.

         However, I have to admit that there is one thing that I will not fully accept in Chicago and it is food culture. In my opinion, compared to other cities in the United States such as New York and Los Angeles, the varieties of foods in Chicago are less. In China, there are countless types of foods and they represent every cities or place of China. For example, Yue cuisine represents the south of China, Xiang cuisine represents Hunan, which is a state in China and Chuan cuisine represents Sichuan. These styles of cuisines have huge differences although they are Chinese food, and these only the tiny parts of Chinese food culture. Sometimes American food is easy to eat, and it’s fast to eat. It’s very convenient for people who are starving. But the taste of American foods like burgers and sandwiches are same. They are not special that I imagine.However, Chicago has a lot of great food from around the world, but most of it is not my type of food So I wish the foods in Chicago are getting better and better.

         In conclusion, the United States has lots of interesting hidden cultures are waiting for me to explore. It is reasonable that I feel strange and uncomfortable when I get to a new city. I will always appreciate and embrace the new cultures in America and keep the quote: “When in Rome, do as Romans do” in my mind.

Mix of Opposites

Mix of Opposites

My life has been divided into two parts since moving to United States. In order to come to the United States, I had to leave my life behind, pack two suitcases, pass three continents and cross an ocean to start a new life. I left my family, my friends, and my country behind. I just brought my memories, my language, and my culture with me to start a new life. It has been challenging to fit in American culture, but it is also interesting. I wasn’t strong or brave in my home country, but since arriving in Chicago I have had to be strong and brave. I had to learn how to be fluent in the new world and make my way and be loyal to what I was in my country at the same time.

Since my arrival, my biggest challenge has been trying to fit in and not to lose my true self. I can say I was lucky that I found a lot of good friends here, and thanks to them, I have experienced lot of things from American culture that amazed me. The passion and willingness that this culture must keep the freedom for people of any race, gender, and religion to live, learn and experience life the way they desire is beautiful. In addition, the kindness and the welcoming people show to new things is heartwarming. When I see the culture make this potential for people, especially young people, to believe in themselves and try to be more independent, I feel confident too. The culture of giving each other braveness and compliments is beautiful.

Besides the good parts, sometimes I feel I can’t accept some parts of this culture from what I have seen since I started working in a grocery store. The first thing that shocked me was the customer service culture. I had to be nice even when customers were rude. The pressure and the force I felt from American work culture was heavy. I saw lot of people that were working for long time, but they couldn’t retire and enjoy their life because the system doesn’t support them. I felt a great fear that I would have to work for my entire life.  In addition, the cost of education and the healthcare system fill me with a lot of fear. I feel that the system is designed to keep people in debt and financially under control. For example, from the moment people start as students by taking out loans, they will be under financial pressure for many years due to the high cost of education. The cost of education and living expenses is unbelievably high, which highlights how powerful and scary the capitalist system of government is in the United States.

My life has been a mix and balance of many different things since I moved to Chicago. It is a mix of joy and pain, peace and challenge, freedom and limits, laughter and tears, rights and wrongs, happiness and sadness, weakness and strength, and bravery and fear. The culture in the U.S. has both beauty and ugliness, like every other culture and country on this planet. Meanwhile, I enjoy getting to know it, learning from it, and embracing it while I try to stay loyal to my original identity and culture. Living in the United States has taught me to be more open-minded and always welcome new things and new challenges.