ALCASA Children’s Group exploring an Arabic story
I’m originally from Iraq, I lived in Baghdad half of my age, and the other half in my new home Denmark. I got my Danish citizenship, a Master in International Business, Danish Language and Additional Traditions and Values. Then I married a Dutch man and moved to The Netherlands!
My husband and I with our three little kids, decided to leave Europe and explore sunny beautiful Australia, and how could we not love it! Nature, sunshine, space and friendly people, so we stayed.
Living so far away from Europe is not easy, as our families still live there, but the pictures of us in Adelaide had made a good impression on our old parents. Missing the grandkids so much, my parents came for a visit just half a year later.
We explored Adelaide together. One of the places I took my parents to was Laziza festival 2014. My dad being so social talking to everyone, weaving little figures from palm leaves and leaving them with anyone he talks to, he met Fayrouz Ajaka, where ALCASA had its place in the festival.
Nadia, he said, I met a very nice intellectual lady who teaches Arabic, go talk to her! I said, dad I’m eating my Za’atar, it’s more important!
He gave up on me, but decided to exchange phone numbers with Fayrouz.
A week later, Fayrouz invited my parents to ALCASA to show dad’s art to her students, my parents were happy to meet new people so they went, I thought I’m just too busy to go with the kids, my parents can test if ALCASA sessions were good for me!
They came back talking A LOT about it, how nice families with kids just same age as ours, there are great potential for meeting new nice people and teach the kids something! I could not argue with them, they are my parents after all, so I went to the next session, not very sure voluntarily though.
My first session in ALCASA, ended with mixed feelings, I liked a lot what ALCASA was offering, I met wonderful people but it was not that easy to be in the adult session with 3 kids! When I came back home, thinking sorry dad although it seems a nice organisation but with the kids, I will not go there again!
Soon after Fayrouz comes to my place, showing dad and mum pictures and article, she wrote about them on ALCASA website, which they were very happy with. Anyone knows Fayrouz would know that she does not give up that easily! Next, she looked at me and said: what did you think about the session? Are you coming again? You should, it’s good for the kids to learn the language, maybe your husband likes to learn Arabic too? Do you want to help with the children there?
My reply was, sorry I have to be honest I’m not coming again I like what I saw but not for the kids!
I was very surprised to hear Fayrouz saying how do you want it to be, we can work that out. Really? You will change the program for my needs, I thought this sounds luxury. So, I said, I prefer to have kids’ session at a different time or place than the adults’. It seemed that Fayrouz had already thought of that, and the plan became real very soon after that discussion.
She kept having a great contact with my parents till they left, bringing dad the most yummy fruit that he loves most of all, figs from her own garden. How could I ever argue or find excuses not to try working with Fayrouz, my dad would kill me …
From the first time, ALCASA children’s program became the absolute no missed out one day on my agenda! The kids got to learn new words, but most importantly they got interested in learning Arabic, and being proud to practice it on their dad and on Skype with my parents.
As for me, the story with ALCASA does not end, simply because I love what I’m doing there, enjoying the families, the old ones and the new ones, and exploring unlimited options and new projects with the ALCASA team.
If you have not been in one of our sessions, I say give it a try, and if you think it does not suit you, you know what, tell Fayrouz, and I’m sure she would find new ways for you to fit there!
Nadia Sbahi, ALCASA Children’s Group Leader
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