Rahmah Jan, a 25 year old Saudi Arabian woman,
moved with her husband, Abdulaziz Alshehri of seven years to California. After spending a
year on the west coast, the couple packed up their
things and moved to Allentown, PA, where they have been building a life
for the last two years. They have been studying English and are
enrolled in this writing course together. They are the proud parents of
15 month old twin boys.
The homemaker, student, wife and mother has very little time for herself.
Outside of school,
where she is taking four classes a semester to earn a Business Administration degree, she fulfills her household and family obligations with devotion. She boasted of her cooking ability to prepare four to five meals at one time. Her favorite things to cook are pasta, lasagna, rice and all types of meat. Baking cakes and cookies is something she would like to do more, but as her husband does not eat sweets, she rarely bakes these types of things. Interestingly, she makes banana and watermelon juice, which she says are very easy to make and delicious!
In Saudi Arabia, woman's rights are limited (
Women's rights in Saudi Arabia).
Driving and advanced schooling are just a few things she, as a woman, was not
allowed to do in her home country. Although she has no extended family
here to support her, she intends to stay here and eventually find a job in her
field. Her husband is currently teaching her to drive. She is very excited about this new adventure, although she admits, she is a
little nervous.
At a glance, Rahmah is a reserved, but happy, always
having a smile on her face. You can’t let her shyness fool you. She
has more courage than most people I know. In spite of moving what
probably seems like a million miles away from her family, her culture, her life
and starting over in a strange and different place, she remains
positive and determined.
Wow, very interesting article and very inspiring as well. I would have a hard time adjusting from moving from one place to another. I can just imagine the past relocations and changes. To top it off taking four classes a semester, with 15 month old twin boys, I bet it's not easy. I have a 6 year old and a two year old and my fiancé and family are close by to help me and sometimes I want to scream and pull my hair out, because I feel overwhelmed. I wonder the difference between living in California which probably had so much to do and is big, to moving to Allentown, Pa, a small city? So glad she has a chance to have an experience, of accomplishing different things and have the opportunity to make choices. And learn how to drive! Wish her all the luck in the world and hope all her dreams come true. The best of wishes to both!
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