A Picture Can Narrate One Thousand Words

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A Quest for Identity

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It should be known that the murder of any identity is our own murder, regardless of what our language, religion or identity might be. To me, my identity is what makes me unique. Well — at least this is the pride I nurtured deep inside me growing up in America. Being expelled from my own culture as a child was traumatic.  My family and I were forced to leave everything behind and head to a place where the culture, language, and people were so different from my own. As a teenager, I was already going through the turmoil of discovering my own personality. Now imagine the added complication upon changing continents, cultures, languages, etc. The difficult transition from a very strict, patriotic cultural background, where the practice of double standards is prevalent, where the superiority of men over women is a given, and where females are not encouraged to seek education, to a culture where females were routinely given opportunities and rights only made life more difficult for a youn...
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A reality from Hawler

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Add caption This photo was taken in 2004 in Hawler. Please note the sign behind him.   A man his age should be telling stories to grand kids at home, not sell rosaries on some sidewalk :( This photo taken in 2010 of the same guy in the same exact spot in Hawler I asked if he remembered me buying rosaries from him in 2004? After a long conversation, I learned more about his personal life.  I decided to buy a few more rosaries, however, he refused to accept anything in return despite his poverty!
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Nawruz is Back in an Akrawi Style

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Fire Flames Beautifully Illuminating the Evening Sky of Akre I told my family that I just have to be in Akre for March 20th. "What is so special with Akre?," you might be asking. Akre is the only town in Kurdistan that, in my opinion, portrays the rituals of Nawruz at its best. The first thing I asked my family was to please target Akre for Nawruz-eve. I was too happy to see them agree accompanying me to the bonfire there. It is rather a challenge for a young lady to attend places like Akre all alone in Kurdistan. In my mind I had the game all planned but I dared not to disclose anything with my family fearing their refusal to accompany me or refusal to attend the rituals Every year, thousands of Kurds and non-Kurds go to Akre to watch the fire flames beautifully illuminating the evening sky of the town. Hundreds of the town’s young adults carry fire touches and begin climbing 354 steps to the top of the highest mountain in Akre, known as Kale. My Nawruz Jewel from Akre...
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