Close to home, far from life

Published: July 12, 2024

Before parts of Syria lit up in flames, the eldest daughter of four described how beautiful her country was. Though she was very young, she remembers appreciating the landscape of her home. At the time, the mother did not work as she relied on her husband to provide for the family.

In 2011, the Arab Spring hit Syria, and the whole country began to shift its political and social landscape. An effect of this change was the lack of safety and increase in fear. Shootings and fighting ran rampant throughout their hometown of Daraa. The eldest daughter expressed how everything felt like it became forbidden and dangerous.

"You either stayed in the house, or you were terrified to go out," the eldest daughter said.

At this point, the father's financial provisions were completely gone as he left the family to live in Jordan with a second wife.

The mother witnessed many bombings in the neighborhood as the children sat at home listening to the harrowing sounds of explosions. The other children were too young to comprehend what was happening, but the eldest recalls being physically paralyzed by fear. To this day, the sounds of planes, thunder, and fireworks make her shake with fear.

With multiple family members and friends dead due to the war, the mother knew it was time to leave.

Protected by the night’s darkness, the family walked and drove through the Syrian border into Jordan. They stayed at the Za’atari camp 10 kilometers from the city of Mafraq. The winter months approached them as they arrived in late fall. The weather added unforeseen difficulties as they lived in tents engulfed by layers of mud. Eventually, the tent caught fire, prompting the family to flee yet again.

After registering with the UN, the family received financial support for four years. They relocated to Amman and found a liking for the new environment.

"Life here is better than in Syria," said the mother, as if reminding herself that this is her best option despite the many hardships.

They found solace in the idea of living in a big city as it granted them more opportunities. The eldest daughter and the only son work during the summer months, and all the children attend school. They also spend their time volunteering.

The family has made peace with their new living situation; however, an ongoing struggle is the absent father who asks for money. The sisters and the mother expressed a desire to return to Syria one day. However, the eldest daughter dreams of becoming an engineer and working in Gulf countries like Dubai or Kuwait.

The daughter graciously served me and two other American girls a delicious Syrian meal, finished with cookies and coffee.