“I was 29 when my father died and my mother died a year later of a broken heart. I was the oldest of eight children and helped raise my brothers and sisters. We shared everything and helped make it better for each other. It wasn’t easy. We all went to school, got married and had our own lives. Thanks be to God. My sister is getting married tomorrow. This is her second marriage and I have had most of the family at our house for several days. So much cooking and cleaning. I made my dress for her wedding too. The women are the workers here. Always cooking, cleaning, working, taking care of the kids. Go, go, go while the husband watches TV. Things have changed for women. People now ask what do you do instead of what is your family name and men want to marry women who work and have a job. Women can have any job they want to do here, it all depends on education and their capability. A woman can be a doctor, lawyer, nurse or a prostitute, and girls work harder and study more. Women can also get a divorce, but it is hard to raise children on your own. My sister is lucky she found someone who accepts her son, too.”

“My father was in imam. My parents were very poor and didn’t have enough money to support eight children. Whatever we asked for, they could not afford, but they gave books to us. All eight of us have had good eduction and good jobs. My parents sacrificed so much for us, I wish they could see us now. I have three boys, 15, 12 and 16 and I am either taking care of my family or working, there is no time for fun or friends. One day when they are gone I want to travel. I would have loved to have a daughter, but I quit trying after the third son.”

“As a human and woman I prefer not to wear the hijab head covering, but if we follow our religion, we need to wear the scarf and keep our bodies covered. Islam requires it for the protection of women. I didn’t cover my head until I had my first baby. My sister-in-law is from Peru and my brother never asked her to wear the hijab, but she chooses to wear it when she comes here. I have hundreds of scarves to go with everything. I do feel different when we have it on. At parties or at home when we are just women we don’t wear them. We like to look elegant and show our beauty without the hijab.”