Who Am I?

Do you ever ask yourself the question, "Who am I?" It's a universal question that people have been pondering for centuries. This blog isn't here to tell you who you are but rather to take you on a journey with me as an Iraqi-Muslim American female living in the United States.

Through my little experiences in life, I hope to share knowledge on topics that may be unfamiliar to some and offer a unique perspective on issues that affect us all. From exploring different cultural identities to navigating the challenges of modern society, my goal is to spark meaningful conversations and share insights that resonate with readers from diverse backgrounds.

Allow me to share the beginning of my story with you, and together, we can explore what it means to be human in today's complex world.

I was born in the beautiful city of Baghdad, located in Iraq, a country that is rich in history, culture, and wonderful people. However, due to the war, my family was forced to flee the country and start a new life somewhere unfamiliar. We settled in Jordan, where we spent nearly 10 years of our lives. Despite being away from our home, my family remained together, and I was surrounded by my grandparents, my parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. In Jordan, this new place felt very close to home. Unfortunately, our time in Jordan wasn't forever, and we eventually sought refuge to the United States. It was at that moment that I parted from home.

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Not everything in life is sweet, vibrant, or overflowing with strawberries. We sometimes need to experience bitterness to develop and learn, to experience other tastes, and to see different visions. Because of this, we must experience both the ups and the downs.

Moving to the United States was a significant cultural adjustment for me. It wasn't like the TV shows "That's So Raven" or "Hannah Montana," and no, I'm not referring to the exaggerated lives of those characters. Instead, I'm referring to my expectations about what school would have been like and what the United States would have been like.

Everything was different: the customs, the people, even the language. It wasn't the same English I learned. At first, I felt entirely out of place and struggled to find my footing and my rhythm. Life here was like riding a roller coaster: one day, you'd go up, and the next day, you'd come crashing down. Perhaps my words seemed exaggerated, but the reality of my life was harsh. I lost people I loved, and I lost a sense of who I was. For a while, I felt like I couldn't speak up, and the freedom that had been promised to us wasn't true. It was a challenging time in my life.

However, as I've mentioned before, sometimes we need to experience bitterness to grow stronger. And I've learned to flourish exactly as a flower does after a storm. Through these challenges, I've grown to love life and myself more deeply, and I've come closer to Allah (SWT), finding comfort and strength.

Despite all the ups and downs, I've learned to embrace my cultural identity, overcome challenges, and find strength in my faith. Through my story, I hope to inspire others to embrace their own cultural identities and navigate life's challenges with faith, strength, and resilience. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I invite you to continue following me as I explore the world through my art and share more stories of my experiences.

By creating art, commenting on it, and sharing my journey, I hope to offer insight and guidance to anyone seeking it. Don't hesitate to share your own stories and connect with me, as it's through sharing our experiences and perspectives that we can truly understand each other and grow as individuals and as a community.

My name is Ban Mustafa Alobaidi, and this is Who I Am.