Assyrian Stories

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Nohadra (Dohuk) - “I grew up in Ashita (village in Hakkari) and in 1961 I came to Dohuk. There was no Kha b'Nissan parade, we were scared. Today, Dohuk is four or five times bigger. I'm really happy now. Recently I went to Australia and then Lebanon, Syria and Iran but Iraq is the best place for me. Our Atra is good and you can't find this love in Australia. Every rock is in its place and is good."
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Series by @theassyrianjournal .
Thanks to @iraqichristianrelief , @injurylawyersofillinois , and @gishru for making stories from Iraq possible.
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Special thanks to @doris_zaia for help translating
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#assyrianstories

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Irbil - “In 2017, I started prepping my mind and asking, 'Can I live here? How is it going to work out?' I was applying but I wasn't really putting my whole heart into it.
In 2018, I went on the GISHRU trip again and came back to California and was very, very depressed. I wasn't happy with my work in America. I prayed and said, 'I've been holding on to this for five years. I need to either try it one more time or give up and focus on my life in America.' I applied, applied, applied, got a job and that was it. I knew in my heart that's what I needed to do.” This series is by @theassyrianjournal
Special thanks to @iraqichristianrelief , @injurylawyersofillinois , and @gishru for making stories from Iraq possible.

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Assyrian Stories will be showcasing new photos from Northern Iraq on Wednesday, Aug. 7 as part of @aaaofsc‘s annual #Assyrian Memorial Day Commemoration — Remember the Fallen, Empower the Future. Come honor those we’ve lost and praise the strength of those that continue to fight.
Thank you @iraqichristianrelief , @injurylawyersofillinois , and @gishru for making these photos possible

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Ankawa - “I grew up nearby Stockholm in Sweden. I worked in an Italian restaurant when I was young. I started to visit my cousins in Iraq and I loved the environment and how people are more alive. I saw opportunities to come back to my heritage, to my home country, and to do something different with what I learned in Europe, so I started a pizza restaurant.
I had very little money, enough to buy a pizza oven and a cooler and a table. In the beginning it was just me. I bought 3 or 4 cubic meters of wood and made the design. I used to work alone for ten hours a day until we could hire some people.
People don't believe that you can create things without money. A lot of people will tell you that you cannot do it. Just relax, don't think big, think small. Just create something and make a name for yourself and then slowly, slowly you can grow. There is no need to spend a lot of money to do big things. If people really want to do something here and want to move back, it's very easy.”
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This series is by @theassyrianjournal .
Special thanks to @iraqichristianrelief , @gishru , and @injurylawyersofillinois for making stories from Iraq possible
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And @meli_curls thank you for helping us capture this story!

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Tesqopa - "I joined the NPU (Nineveh Plain Protection Units) in 2014. I was one of five that established the units. We brought in 25 more soldiers that were trained by U.S. personnel. In a month, we were able to gather 450 more soldiers. The Americans were with us at the time when there was an engagement with ISIS at Tesqopa (Assyrian town in Northern Iraq). For about 25 minutes, we were shooting at them until we ran out of ammunition. Then me and two other soldiers were wounded. I gave the order for my team to withdraw from the engagement while I stayed, but my soldiers said no and ended up dragging me out. After the engagement, the US asked again for the NPU's help and the NPU stayed with the US in the fight with ISIS."
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This series is by @theassyrianjournal .
Special thanks to @iraqichristianrelief , @gishru , and @injurylawyersofillinois for making stories from Iraq possible
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@n_p_u

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Dooreh (a village in Barwar) - “We used to have a really nice, comfortable life. We had apples and fruits we could grow. We used to travel on donkey and farm wheat and rice. The neighbors would help each other farm.
Now, because we don't have proper water access, our apple orchards are barren. The problem started occurring this year. Our water comes from pipes in the mountains but our access to the pipes were cut off. We put in a formal request between the villagers outlining our grievances and delivered it to the party responsible for reviewing them but nothing has happened.
A lot of people have been forced to leave these areas because we're not able to farm. If we don't get water then we can't water our plants. That's our livelihood.”
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This series is by @theassyrianjournal .
Special thanks to @iraqichristianrelief , @gishru , and @injurylawyersofillinois for making stories from Iraq possible.

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Dohuk - “In 2015 when this kindergarten started, there were six students but there was a lot we couldn't afford so I had to send out word to all of the families saying that we were going to close down the school.
I didn't want to close the school so I sat down and created a business plan. I got the families together whose kids were coming to the school and told them that the tuition had to be increased slightly. I also gathered the employees and said their paychecks had to be reduced a little so we could survive. I was the principal but I was doing other work like cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the children. With that business plan, we were able to keep the kindergarten going and now this month we have 30 students and we're doing well.
We have a community now and I have many roles in the community. I am a principal for the kindergarten. I also work full time for the government. I am a volunteer with the community and the Assyrian Women's Union. I am finishing school and in my last year to get my degree. And I am a mother.” **This month, Youlejan graduated from the Duhok Technical Institute Department of Business Administration
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This series is by @theassyrianjournal .
Special thanks to @iraqichristianrelief , @gishru , and @injurylawyersofillinois for making stories from Iraq possible

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Nohadra - “I was born in Nahla and then moved to Kirkuk. My sons were in the Army. One son was murdered and my husband later died. Then my sons moved to Australia. They call me all of the time to say please come to Australia but I will never leave Iraq, I love it here. This place is precious to me. Now I live with my daughter in Karanjo and we are happy.”
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Series by @theassyrianjournal .
Special thanks to @iraqichristianrelief , @gishru , and @injurylawyersofillinois for making the stories from Iraq possible

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Irbil - "My father was a photographer. He supported me all of the time. Two years ago when I lost him, I just wanted to leave Iraq. I thought my life would end. Then I decided no, instead I'll be stronger. I have so many pictures of my dad and those memories are really important to me. They make me happy. It then became a dream of mine to own my own photography business to show that an Iraqi girl can start her own business and especially in photography. Now, I want to live here forever." .
Series by @theassyrianjournal .
Special thanks to @iraqichristianrelief @gishru @injurylawyersofillinois for making stories from Iraq possible
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#assyrianstories

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Nohadra (Dohuk) - “I was born in Frankfurt. My whole life was surrounded by the Assyrian community and youth work and church service. In 2015, I had an emotional breakdown because I became disappointed in leaders we look up to. It took away my foundation because my whole identity was built on being Assyrian. I decided to get away to fix myself. Nature and different cultures healed me to look at my nation again in a positive way. I remember texting a friend in a huge forest in China saying, ‘I think I'm falling in love with myself again.’ Since then, I've built my life on different foundations. Now I just want to work in the background because that is where the real stuff is happening.”
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Irbil - “Three years ago, there was a bomb explosion in front of the American Embassy in Irbil. I was walking and the car exploded. I got burned over 45% of my body. I have always been positive but since then, I realized that you need to live positive. If not, what do you have? Nothing. When you get close to death, you realize that you can die at any moment and so it's not worth it. There's something inside me that keeps me motivated for life. Just live and love everyone and be happy.”
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Dallas - “I was born in Tehran and I came to Dallas when I was 15. It was not easy because I didn't speak the language and everything was new. When I was 25, I finally started fitting in and adapted to the environment. Social media had a lot to do with it because it starts to change you and you start becoming like everyone around you. Even with all of the changes from this country, the fact that I still speak our language and know our culture, not forgetting who I am is why I'm happiest."
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“A day and a half after my daughter was born, it was the time when the English were in Iraq because it was their colony. British soldiers in Habbaniya accused the Assyrians of doing something wrong and started shooting on our people. Assyrian men didn’t have any weapons so when they started shooting at us, the Assyrian men started throwing stones back. It was near the hospital so I went from my hospital room to help them by giving them bricks. Over the fence I handed them bricks and yelled, ‘Hit them with the bricks!’ Others began joining me. The nurses started yelling at me to get back to my room.”
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#meetmynana

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"We grew up going to Mar Sargis in Chicago in the late '70s and '80s. I remember when we were little kids and there was snow outside, we would fall asleep on the pews because my mom and aunts were in the choir and we were usually one of the first people there and one of the last to leave. I was also in the choir for a few years. We would never go home. We would go out to eat and then come back to the church and hang out more. My parents were also married at that church. I don't remember not having church, it was always there. I think Assyrians and church go hand in hand regardless of what church you go to."

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“I like poetry. I try writing it in German and in Assyrian and I write about emotional things. I put my feelings into it. When I feel bad, I write. My favorite poems are about life and failing. And sometimes about love. It makes me feel better after I write. I would never publish them. I think it's something for me so I leave it with me.”

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“Before deciding to become a teacher, I wanted to be a doctor. During my late high school years, I thought of teaching as an alternative because I saw good teachers and I liked the thought they put into designing their classes and engaging their students. When I tried to get into Med School, it didn’t work out and I decided to enroll in education. I started in Chemistry and English and changed to Spanish and English. Today I speak Assyrian, English, German, Spanish and a bit of Arabic. I understand some French and also studied Akkadian. With Assyrian, I hope to teach it to those who don’t speak, read or write and are interested in learning.”

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“I never get tired of traveling because I travel for my people and enjoy accomplishing something for my nation. I also love people watching. That's why I go to the airport an hour earlier, just to sit around and watch everyone and listen to my podcasts. I love people and I get joyful when I hear them laughing. We need more happiness in the world. We don't see it anymore. Everyone’s head is down, everyone is looking at their phones, everyone is so intense. There is so much conflict in the world, you don't see anyone laugh anymore. So when I do see those glimpses of joy and happiness, it makes me so happy.”

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"I started vlogging to have a more highly produced version of an archive of my life. This year's vlog of the Assyrian convention is footage from a lot of different things. It's both the pool parties and something more in-depth and cultural, so a mix of both. I also did a lot of things that doing a vlog for wouldn't do justice, like the youth summit. You have to be there for that, it's not the same to see it, you have to be there and interact with people. One day I'm going to look back and have all of these memories nicely produced of what I did at this convention. I encourage everyone to do it."
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Dallas - “I started playing soccer in my village. It was a reason to get together as Assyrians every week. We would play soccer and then go eat or hang out. I eventually played for the Assyrian club in Urmi. When I moved to San Jose, I helped found the Infinite Sports Association. Now in Dallas, it's funny that there are a lot of empty soccer fields that you don't get elsewhere. We used to pay a lot of money to get a couple hours to play on this type of field. In San Jose, for two hours we would pay almost $250 and here in Dallas this field is free with beautiful grass, free goals, everything free.”
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“I grew up in a bad country and we couldn’t talk about anything, even our flag because you were always scared of the government. A lot of people don’t know how this flag is special for people. That's why we do this in our yard, because we want people to recognize that if we didn’t have this American flag then we wouldn’t be sitting in this house today. People fought for this flag and for this freedom so we can sit here together and talk about being both Assyrian and American. You lose one of your identities if you don’t.”
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