MY STORY: English-language learners from Portland Adult Education sharing their stories in their words. We welcome them to Portland.
My name is Nawaf. I am from Iraq. I have three children. I have my father and mother. My father’s name is Shati. My mother’s name is Saida.
Nawaf
I have one sister, she is younger, and four older brothers. My brother’s name is Salah. His job is taxi driver. My sister’s name is Ali. She is a mother and stays home. They live in Iraq.
My wife’s name is Hayat. My children are Mohammed, Khalid and Amna.
I like to play soccer. My favorite food is Arabic food, fish and rice. And salad and lemon. We cook fish with oil and onions and salt. My favorite animal is a horse. My favorite smell is a flower.
My goals are to learn English and get citizenship, and also to visit my father and mother in Iraq.
I went to school in 1980. I remember I was happy wearing new clothes. My school was big and clean. My favorite subject was Arabic. It’s very different now, teachers don’t hit us. When I was a child, many teachers hit me.
Oud (prounounced ūd)
I like to dance. I like to play music. I play the oud. I like to collect coins.
My holidays are Ramadan and Aid Al-Atha. That was October 3 – 4. We are eating fish and rice and lamb. We give money to children and go to the park and zoo.
My job was a taxi driver. What I liked about my job was to drive and see many people and got some money. I see many buildings and trees and highways. In the future I want to be a scientist.
If I had $1,000,000.00 I would buy a new house and a new car and a farm and a big cow. I would give money to help my parents and help the poor.
I don’t have pets now. In the past I had sheep and chickens and two roosters and birds and a horse. I like pets and horses and sheep. I would raise sheep because I like to eat them.
On my Winter break I went to hospital and pharmacy and grocery store. My family celebrated at home because my wife gave birth – a new born girl!
My name, Nawaf, is from the King sheik of Kuwait. My father gave me this name.
I came to America on December 19, 2012. I went to North Carolina. I was sad because I will live a new life.
I lived in Jordan for five years. I liked the place in Jordan is Ragdan. There are many stores and towers and cafes. I was waiting in Jordan for my Visa to America. When I was in Jordan I lost my cell phone. My friend gave me his cell phone, then I found mine. This is funny.
I am helpful to people, and I am honest, but I am messy. My papers are sometimes messy.
My eyes are brown. My hair is brown. I have a short beard. I don’t wear jewelry, a watch or eyeglasses.
I miss my mother and father, brothers and sister, my cousins and neighborhood. I miss the sun in my country. I miss the food my country. I miss the air my country.
I got married to my wife in Iraq. The food was rice, meat, soda and cake. One person played music. I wore white clothes.
