A woman’s holy promise!
I was talking to my grandmother few weeks ago, on skype mind you, because she was in Saudi with dad for the longest time. She left us wondering about the reasons she left Amman. I have a feeling, she was trying to make a point to someone… but I don’t know who or why. All what I know that teta’s actions are never simple!
Teta is one of the most intelligent people I have dealt with in my life. And even though I had serious issues with her growing up, I cannot but admire this very tough lady. She is pushing me to go for a masters degree and told me that she had to leave school at 11 because back then, it was not very well viewed for girls in her social class to go to school…
She got married at 14…
One day my grandfather, a very strict man, came home and found her reading a magazine….
Ohhh boy!
What a fit he threw, he told her if he ever, in his lifetime, saw her reading a book again, he was going to divorce her. She challenged him” Then, I will have to wait till you die to go back to school!!!”
She could never forget that. After he died, and when the mourning period passed, my grandmother got dressed one day, and went to a nearby literacy school… She enrolled herself in a class. And went there on a daily basis till 8th grade.
Honestly, she does not read much, but she says that it made her feel very proud to say she can pick up a book, the Qur’an usually, and be able to read it on her own.
What my grandmother has done with her very simple means is simply amazing. She managed to built a house in Jabal al webdeh with money that she saved one penny at a time… She was there, helping the men building, she was there carrying and supporting and working, since my grandfather was really sick at the time….
She could not rest, till all her daughters received the proper education, she thought they deserved. She fought for their education, despite of everyone who told her that it was shameful. She married them off to men she chose for them (with their consent) she did not allow the family to control her daughters’ fate.
She made a promise to have all her sons study medicine… she sent them abroad, and suffered of deprivation and hunger and sadness… but managed to fulfil her holy promise.
My grandmother is one of many Palestinian women, who have been through a lot to rebuild their shattered lives…they all managed to do it with their simple means…
I always admire strong capable women, and when look around me, I realize I am the surrounded by strong women… and I just want them to know that I am very proud of them all
Allah y6awel 3omerha o y5aleekom la ba3ad
.. i was so glad to read this article.. it reminded me of my grandmother “God rest her soul”.. my grandmother got married when she was only 11 to my grandfather who was on his 50's at the time and he was married twice before marrying my grandmother! and when my grandfather died she was left to raise 3 children by her own when she was only 23! she attended to those old people classes to educate herself she could by the 4th grade to read and write arabic fluently and read and write some words of english.. God rest her soul for she was a strong woman..
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lol! that was one hillarius read…. cheers to your grand mother!
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I dont know what's up with all these strong grandmothers… my grandmother went to school till she finished high school, and then started a business for all the sons and the grandsons… we still live off her business!
Linda
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NICE!
I felt you were talking about my grandmother,almost the same thing.
GOD BLESS HER!
Nader
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You Make My Day
I am impressed by the flow and ease of your journal synopsis, past and present .Your portrayal of every day aspects is a tapestry of color and fine images .I am touched by your ease in capturing the moments and turning them into a vision .Your journal is my simple way of starting the day.
How nice when you here your self through the crafted words of someone like you .Wish you well for your day and many good ones to stay and give you splendor to reflect on us through your journal.Nadim
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Thank you,
that was one colourful comment
one thing i like about blogging in the cyber world is you succeed in knowing that you dont live in isolation, there are people who might relate to what you say in real life… which is sometimes very difficlut on the streets of the realy world… have a nice day
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