Life In Basra-Fazila Araji

My full name is Fazila Araji. The town that I was born in, Basra. Everyone, they all knew one another. Everyone knew who's parent's were whose. It was a small town.. They were poor people, had little money, not too wealthy. They were very friendly, very good friends, they were calm, quiet, ordinary. They didn't bother anybody, they had their heads busy with their own business. It was cheap. As much as they make in their business, they spend. Meaning they don't over spend. Back then there was no cinema, no theater, no radio and no TV. They come in the morning, they do their business, they go home at night, eat dinner, and then they sleep. Just like that, they had nothing else. [Neighbors] We were like friends and family. They come to our home, we go to their home, we had parties. If there was a wedding, they go. We acknowledged each other.

There was no radio, no TV, no newspaper, no telephone, I don't remember any newspaper. There were many illiterate, they can't read and write. If there was news someone would come who was there. He comes and says it to someone and someone says it to another person. Mouth to mouth news would spread. They didn't have that much education, they were business men. They were fixing shoes, owned grocery stores, sold foods. It was a safe place and there wasn't that much news Everybody was busy doing whatever they were doing. They are making some money and living with that money.

They were faithful. Muslims go to Mosque, They prayed, Christians went to church. Everybody did their own thing, they don't bother each other. If somebody in the family didn't go to Mosque, it wasn't a problem. Maybe they have an infant and can't go. Festival or celebrations for example, month of Moharam, they go out by groups, they sing songs, religious songs. For New Years they would buy sweets, clothes, they give presents, money. There was no phone, they were going or coming to see each other in person. It's not just once a year, maybe they go once a week or every day. But for New Year's they go for sure. Like here.

In Basra, there was dates, there was oil, gold, silver. If they have a wedding, they go around Basra to buy clothes, sheets, pillows, Shabbat (Abba- religious clothing). When people would get married the girl would receive presents from the family for living, for their new life, supplies. For people with long hair, they would buy hair items that wrap around their ponytail. It was gold and they use it in a set of three. Of course, the rich people would do it with gold. The poor people do it with silver. Usual things to do when you had no work, they were going to each other's home. They would go take walks in the garden. They would take lunch with them and go, picnics. There wasn't any attractions like Disneyland. There was a haddige, like a park or garden. They would go there for resting and also for their kids. The friends would play with each other. They didn't have any other fun. They would take lunch and go from morning until afternoon. Some people from friends and family come, bring own food. They go in the morning, come in the afternoon. It was only their fun, this.

There was war between Shiite and Sunni [Muslims] because Sunni had more power than Shiite. Most of the business like police department, city hall, those places were all Sunni. They were disagreeing with Shiite. They always fight with each other. It was fight not war, but there was killings.

Now thinking back I'm always happy that I saw those days and I'm seeing these days too. Not everybody can see that. I'm really happy that I'm here in America but I remember those days too. Not always, but when I'm alone and think about it, I am always there. When I think about it I go there, I was young, where I was, what happened. My grandma, my grandpa, my mom, my aunt. That time, I was a kid. I wasn't thinking. No thought of money, expenses, where it comes from. I was a child, I was eating and sleeping. Now, here, I'm very comfortable. I really don't want to go back there. I don't have anyone there. Who should I go see? I don't like to go to Iran and I have family there, why would I go back to Basra?

About going to war with a country that I lived in and the country I am living in now, what can I say? I am happy here. I was happy there too. Of course I don't like war. Doesn't make any difference for me because I don't have anybody there. Maybe I have distant family or cousin's-child but I think that I don't have anybody. So it doesn't matter to me that there is a war. Right now, right here I am very comfortable here.

[That time to now] I don't think there are a lot of differences. Obviously there are some changes. There, everybody was busy with their own life, they didn't bother each other. Here too, there is no difference in that. That's life. Everybody is after work. Everybody goes to work and makes money for living. [Entertainment] There are similarities but there are differences. Kids can have fun different ways, more travel, more money generally. But life, overall, is the same. Oh of course there wasn't schools. Just one person came to teach the kids basic things, he was called Mullah. Kids just played with each other and had fun other than that. There were a lot of uneducated, illiterate people. One of them me (Laughing). I hope you learn from this. Be successful.