I think I’d like to be her friend | TED: See Yemen Through (Nadia Al-Sakkaf’s) Eyes

A few months ago, I shared a story I had read about a girl in Yemen. ONE of the many things I love about stories is that one story makes me hungry for more stories – more knowledge – a wider, more accurate view of the world. Reading Nujood’s story back in April made me start paying more intentional attention to Yemen. So, when I saw there was a TED talk by Nadia Al-Sakkaf – I actually knew who she was (the Editor of the Yemen Times) and I was eager to “See Yemen Through [her] Eyes” (the name of her TED talk).

And, of course, I think you should SEE too!

(If the video does not show up… click here!)

I think I’d like to be her friend. Obviously, our stories are quite different but I actually think we have a lot in common (and that’s another thing I love about stories. There’s usually SOMETHING you can SOMEHOW relate to). Here’s why…

In her story, she shared:

I studied in India. And in my third year, I started becoming confused because I was Yemeni, but I was also mixing up with a lot of my friends in college. And I went back home and I said, ”Daddy, I don’t know who I am. I’m not a Yemeni, I’m not an Indian.” And he said, “You are the bridge.” And that is something I will keep in my heart forever.

I’ve shared with you before the analogy of “being green” (a life of not fitting in) and if you’ve spent much time with me, you’ve probably heard me talk about it many times. I’ve spent time overseas in a few different places. I’ve been changed by all the places I’ve been. I JUST got back from 13 months in Asia – and I’m more GREEN than ever before. And just like Nadia said, sometimes that can get a little confusing. Who am I really? But her father was so wise in his answer. A bridge. We get to be bridges. People who live between cultures and help (somehow) to link them together – to better understand each other a bit more, or at least to CARE more.

I also relate to the influence her father had on her believing she could be an agent of change in the world, and a bridge. She says at different points that her father always told her she was equal to men. He always affirmed her ability to be a strong women who influences the world. I was thinking about this just recently… If I hadn’t had a father who believed in my abilities… I wouldn’t be me. I can think of several strong memories of my own Daddy telling me he believed I was going to change the world. He told me I was going to do greater things than he ever did. And I believed him. He gave me courage to try. And maybe even courage to fall on my face a few times in the process.

[Note to Men: If you ever get the chance... Be this kind of a Daddy. Tell your daughters they can change the world and make it a better place. And they just might.]

She also has a passion to be an educator about various sides of realities in her country and in the world, and she’s in a great spot to do that as the Editor of the Yemen Times. She talks about the need to go beyond stereotypes, to realize that Yemen is a place with more than just Al Qaeda and terrorism, and that it’s not fair for the world to see Yemen in one single frame (like Chimamanda Adichie talked about in her TED talk about the dangers of a single story).

So basically… if you didn’t already, you should stop reading what I have to say and watch/listen to Nadia Al-Sakkaf…

Dear Nadia, Can we be friends? Let’s have coffee. :)

because I’m reading about Yemen

One night recently, I was chatting on skype with my dear friend Anissa. We were discussing who knows what when suddenly Anissa did some calculations and realized I was ridiculous for being awake to talk to her.

[2:20:39 AM] Anissa: PS why are you still up?
[2:20:52 AM] Shanda: because I’m reading about Yemen
[2:20:56 AM] Shanda: and its history
[2:21:00 AM] Anissa: of course
[2:21:06 AM] Anissa: naturally

That’s normal, right? Staying up until the wee hours of the morning because you can’t stop reading about the history of Yemen. Everybody does it. [Maybe not.]

You see, I had read a story. And stories, well… I believe I mentioned recently that I’m obsessed with stories. They just have this way of getting to me… changing me… and I want to know people’s stories. Everyone’s. EVERYONE’S. It’s a goal. An unachievable goal. But a goal. Because you see, I also love people. And I love that people each have a story. Stories filled with … well, everything you can – and can NOT – imagine. This story I had read, it was written by Glamour Magazine’s 2008 Woman of the Year. But don’t get the wrong idea. She isn’t some glamorously famous woman. She’s a little girl. Well, she’s a teenager now. Her name is Nujood and she’s beautiful. Look at her (and her mama).

She’s an author now because she has told her story. A story that will break your heart for her, members of her family, and others like them. But you will also celebrate in the victories.

You see, when Nujood was 10 years old she was forced to marry a man 3 times her age. She was 10 YEARS OLD. [Yes, that would be one of those things that we can NOT imagine.] She was ripped out of childhood and made to fill the “role of a woman” – a wife. No longer given any opportunity to go to school or play with kids her age (although she hadn’t been able to go to school much before either because that right is given mostly to the boys) and she was tossed into a very abusive situation. Her father was glad to have “one less mouth” to feed.

But beautiful, 10 year old Nujood, was a fighter and she ran and eventually she got the idea of going to court. She met a judge and told him she wanted a divorce. He, and other judges and a lawyer, listened to her story and were in awe of her bravery. They wanted to help. And they did. I won’t spoil the whole story because you really might want to read the book. It’s a short “easy read” [as far as the actually READING goes. It was written by a 12 year old, after all... but a hard read, if you care about people and hate seeing them in painful circumstances and knowing there are others - many others - facing the same things.]

Nujood is now 13. Her book, “I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced,” came out about a year ago. I bet she’d love it if you read her story and let it get to you… and change you. Nujood lives with her family again – in Yemen. Lately, Yemen has been in the news quite a lot. As I read articles about demonstrations and the hundreds injured, and how the U.S. gov has decided that Yemen’s President Saleh should be “eased out of office,” and how that same President Saleh is threatening civil war… and as I watch videos like this one about the hundreds wounded and I see little boys who were just trying to go to school hit with tear gas:

I always think about Nujood. When I read her story, she became my friend. I always imagine other little girls like her… and other boys like her brothers… and other girls like her sisters… and moms like her mom… and dads like her dad… and lawyers like the one who faught for her… and judges like the ones who gave her victory…

And I stay up until 3am reading about the history of her country and I still want to learn more…

Because that’s the power of a story. And Nujood’s story will forever be one that has gotten to me.

And now, there are more stories to learn and more stories to live… So, I’m here (you know, like – existing) to see how I can become a part of other people’s stories in a way that matters… similar to the way people did for Nujood. But most importantly, learning how better to let my story bring Jesus into the other people’s stories… [Although, first I should probably sleep. It's almost 2am again.]

{Homorously, during the course of writing the above, Anissa texted me: “Are you going to be up?” and I responded: “Yes. It’s a holiday. And I’m writing a blog about Yemen.” Ha.}

{Remember on Friends when Chandler told Janice he was moving to Yemen because he thought it wasn’t a real place? When I told my roommate that I was writing a blog about Yemen… that was what she immediately thought of. Gotta love how Friends relates to all things and teaches lessons like that Yemen is REAL. For your enjoyment:}