AS 1.00
Item
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Title
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AS 1.00
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Type
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Interview
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Date
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February 25th, 2013
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Description
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Leila immigrated to the United States from Rabat, Morocco in 1995 with her three children after being recently divorced. She immigrated to Illinois and lived with a friend for three months until she obtained a job. She then moved with her three boys to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Leila experienced the hardship of homesickness after first immigrating because she left without being fully able to say goodbye to her family. The greatest cultural difference she experienced was the “individualistic” society of the United States. She wasn’t used to not being friendly with everyone, because in the Moroccan culture, being with friends and family is an essential part of everyday life. Leila explained to me how difficult it was to come from a very traditional family and be divorced. She didn’t have a lot of support from friends and due to the laws in Morocco, she was given absolutely nothing from the divorce. However, she found strength in her religion to be able to raise her three children as a single mom. Leila graduated from university in Morocco and then received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from University of Madison. She recently began an online business and her children are in college. Leila also explained about the cultural significance of the Caftan and Jebella, two important cultural clothing pieces in her culture. They both represent modesty and sanctity of the female body and tell a different story. Leila is proud to be a Moroccan-American citizen and is thankful for all of the opportunities she has been given. As an extremely bright and driven woman, she was able to take a successful life for herself despite being a single-mom in a foreign country without family.
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Language
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English
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Subject
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Independence, religion, overcoming hardship, cultural clothing, OralHistory
AS 1.00