2019.11.9 Ali from Iraq
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The special guest in this issue is Ali, who came to Taiwan from Iraq and has been living there for 12 years. The reason why I really wanted to focus on the theme of Central Asia was that when I was in Moscow, I met many friends from countries that I had never heard of. Additionally, I participated in a New Year event in Central Asia in March of this year, which sparked the idea for this theme.
Indeed, the course after the summer vacation also helped the children gain an initial understanding of Central Asian countries. However, Lara has never been there, so I always feel that the introduction is somewhat incomplete. That’s why I believe that inviting local special guests to speak up would be the best way for us to gain a better understanding of the real world.
Maybe many people have heard the story of “The Adventures of Sinbad,” and our journey starts from here.
From the ancient capital Baghdad, to the two rivers in history textbooks – Euphrates and Tigris, the reality of life unfolds before our eyes.
In this hub of the Silk Road, the multilingual environment allows Ali to switch between Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and Kurdish to greet his elders when he visits his friend’s house.
It’s similar to how we buy vegetables in the Taiwanese market and speak Mandarin with our mothers at home. In class, the children also practiced saying hello in different languages together.
Ali also shared that initially, only “students” could wear headscarves 👳, which is a symbol of identity (indicating that they can go to school). Especially the pure white headscarf, which is exclusively worn by 👨🎓 students of the school.
This custom is still preserved in more traditional places. The headscarf not only represents identity but also has the practical function of protecting against wind, sand in the 🏜 desert, and blocking the sun.
(This is true! Lara’s experience in the Sahara Desert in Egypt… If you don’t wrap it tightly, it can be quite unpleasant.) Additionally, the headscarf can also be transformed into a lunch bag or a suitcase.
(The image of wrapping a square towel as a luggage package immediately comes to mind from childhood memories of watching historical stories.) It truly is a versatile accessory! Let’s say hi to each other in these languages 🙋♀️🙋♂️.
Ali also shared that initially, only “students” could wear headscarves👳, which is a symbol of identity (indicating that they can go to school). Especially the pure white headscarf, which is exclusively worn by 👨🎓 students of the school. This custom is still preserved in more traditional places.
The hijab represents identity beyond. It also has the practical function of protecting against wind, sand in the 🏜 desert, and blocking the sun.
(This is true! Lara’s experience in the Sahara Desert in Egypt… If you don’t wrap it tightly, it can be quite unpleasant~). Additionally, the headscarf can also be transformed into a lunch bag or a suitcase.
(The image of wrapping a square towel as a luggage package immediately comes to mind from childhood memories of watching historical stories.) It truly is a versatile accessory!
What’s even more interesting is, did you know that Chinese zithers and Western guitars may have originated from ancient Baghdad?
In the class, we also had the opportunity to experience an Iranian musical instrument called the Daf hand drum, which has different variations in different regions.
Ali introduced us to a lively Kurdish dance, and we joyfully danced along to the music. I recall that my Central Asian friends were particularly skilled at shaking their shoulders, which became a distinctive element of their dance.
The Kurds have a deep love for music and dance. At every celebration, both men and women dance until dawn without growing tired. 💃
