Let Me Tell You About My Little Sisters And Brothers

When I first came to Qatar in 1999 I met a young student (Fatma) who was to be my student the following year. Fatma is Palestinian and she soon took me home to meet her entire family. This consists of her father (who soon became my “Baba”), her mother Monira; two brothers (Abdullah and Ahmed); and 5 sisters (From oldest to youngest: Hend, Noura, Sara, Mona, and Maha). Mind you this was 9 years ago, so I have watched this beautiful family grow and blossom — while I was nurtured as one of them.

Both Baba and Monira are from Gaza, and if I told you the story of all that has happened to them growing up in the wake of the establishment of Israel it would break your heart. But this is not a sad story, because Baba and Monira are testaments to the resilient human spirit and all the best qualities of humanity. They both got their university education — Baba in Alexandria and Monira her at Qatar University while she was juggling caring for her young children. Baba and Monira then began their careers teaching here in Doha and passed their love and respect for education to their children.

Hind led the way in being the first to attend the first university here in Qatar Foundation’s Education City. She graduated with a BFA in Fashion Design and after working as a Designer on several important projects and an international Design firm, she was accepted into a Master’s Program in the UK. She received her Master’s about a year ago and immediately began working on her PhD (also in the UK). She has returned to my uni (her alma mater) this summer — now as FACULTY — and will be teaching her first class! I met Hend when she was a sophomore in uni and now she is my colleague! Maash’Allah!

Fatma also graduated from my uni with a BFA in Motion Graphic Design. She studied animation in London for one semester and returned to Doha to work as a Designer for the 2006 Doha Asian Games. Since then she has been been employed by the Design firm that is a subsidiary at the university. Their biggest project is handling the enormous task of redesigning all the Qatar military, security and police uniforms and insignia. She has been accepted into graduate school in London where she will be pursuing a Masters degree in film making. Fatoom is like a younger version of myself and it drives me crazy sometimes but I love that girl! She’s smart and stubborn and wise beyond her years. Maash’Allah!

Noura has just graduated with Honors from Carnegie-Mellon University in Education City with a BSc in Computer Science. Tonight she is heading to Pittsburgh where she will represent her graduating class at commencement. Noura’s job prospects are excellent and she hopes to get some work experience under her belt before she applies to graduate schools. When I talk with Noura I feel like such a dummy. Tonight she was telling me about a paper she’s submitting to a conference in Cyprus! Maash’Allah!

Sara has just finished her junior year at my university where she is double majoring in Fashion Design and Graphic Design. Sara is a thinker. Sara communicates through design but is often shy about expressing herself verbally. Recently we have had the chance to grow closer as she faced some adversity and I am seeing her get more comfortable with expressing herself verbally. Sara was born premature and was a teeny-tiny baby (only about 2 pounds). She had an incredible strength and will to survive and I see that in her determination now. Sara is like the tiny mouse that roars — Maash’Allah!

Tomorrow afternoon, Mona will be interviewing at Northwestern University’s new branch campus here at Education City. Mona is the “Great Communicator”! She has a smile that could provide the energy for all of Qatar and is interested in a career in journalism or broadcasting. I can really see her in broadcasting — but I’ll let her decide! Mona studied English for one year in the UK after high school and is one of those people who can really help to bridge the culture gap between East and West.  I think Northwestern would be lucky to have her. Maash’Allah!

Little Maha was just a very young girl when I met her. She has infinite patience as you can imagine how often everyone in the family asks her to get things or do things for them. I was the youngest in my family, too, so I remember how it was to be the one everyone called for to do chores and errands. The difference is that I did it grudgingly, but Maha always does it graciously. Here was this quiet young girl running to bring me anything I might want and all the while she was growing up and becoming smarter and smarter! Maha entered a high school that focuses on the sciences — in English — when she spoke very little English (except “Hi, how are you?”). Where did the time go? I don’t know, but Maha is finishing high school and hopes to study medicine at Cornell here at Education City. Finally, a DOCTOR in the family, insha’Allah! Maash’Allah!

Abdullah was a young man when I met him. He was working in a family business which seemed natural upon his graduation from high school here. When he graduated the only university was Qatar University and he didn’t really have a specific career interest. A few years ago he surprised me when he told me he was applying to the Aeronautical University here and wanted to become a pilot! Sure enough, he overcame all the hurdles — English and returning to school after a long gap as an adult — to become the top student in his class. In another 2 years I expect to board a plane with Abdullah in the cockpit! Maash’Allah!

Now Ahmed is my youngest brother. When Ahmed was little he made me laugh SOOOO much! He can do impersonations of everyone — and my own is so embarassing but on the money! Ahmed has a great love of horses and is magical with them but we knew his chances of becoming a world class jockey were limited when this little boy grew up to be about 6′5″ and 275 pounds!!! He is quite the handsome young man; my granddaughter Olivia loves to sit on his shoulders! Ahmed will finish high school this year, insha’Allah, and is looking into aviation for a career as well. I worry that he will be so handsome in a pilot’s uniform we will have to fight the girls off with a baseball bat! Ahmed can still make me laugh like no one else and for all his manliness he is still my sweet little brother. Maash’Allah!

Can you imagine how rich my life became when I met this family and they opened their home and hearts to me? Truly, God has blessed me by bringing this family into my life. I love them more than I can ever express.