From The Middle To The East

By Dua Fakhereddin and Danielle Robertson

The ebook serves as a cultural guide for others to gain a better understanding of the Middle East, its culture and what it's like to live in Australia. It can also serve as a guide to educate others from the Middle East moving to Australia and for anyone who is thinking of moving to Australia and what the

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dua Fakhereddin
• Release date: Dec 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9780646842257

Book preview

From the Middle to the East

Written by

Dua Fakhereddin

Foreword

There are very few people who come across our paths in life that have a deep and lasting impact. For me, Dua is one such person.

I first met Dua when she approached me to assist with growing her online business - something she had been struggling to do for eight months. It took me less than forty-five minutes to decide to work with her - not just because I could help her - but because she had this unwavering drive to succeed, quite unlike anyone I’d met before.

As I got to know Dua, I discovered a woman with an incredible story. One of faith, hope, persistence, sheer tenacity and grit. It’s a story that led her to move her family to the other side of the globe, leaving her whole world behind, with nothing more than the promise of a better way of life. 

Despite the challenges she faced in her new home, with no job, friends and a dwindling bank account, she pushed forward to truly create a new life on her own terms. I’ve been privileged to see her grow and step into a life of happiness, and honoured to now call her my friend.

As you read this beautiful story, you’ll be taken on a journey through the ups and downs of life. I hope, as you experience this, you come to find Dua to be as inspirational as I did.

Danielle Robertson

Founder of Content to Clients

Chapter one

My Childhood

It had been a typical day that started with the usual routine of having breakfast and getting myself ready to work. In the meantime, Nehaya hadn’t forgotten to touch her belly carefully and whispered to her baby girl, Good morning Samah.  Every name has a meaning in her culture, and parents spend a great deal of time selecting a proper name with a beautiful meaning for their child-to-be. Samah means forgiveness, and this was a lovely name, and Nehaya felt pleased with the option.

This all happened two years after she got married to Abdelrahman, a young man who appeared in her life through her best friend, Hanan, who was also her brother’s wife. Nehaya spent a few years at her brother Radi’s house before he married Hanan, and they had a gorgeous baby girl, Nida. Radi was an engineer for a large construction company based in Saudi Arabia. Nehaya loved Nida and spent a lot of time playing with her and teaching her new things. She even registered Nida in school at a very young age, just to be her companion every day back and forth to work. The school in which Nehaya worked was a huge one, and Nida made her way through it all by learning new things every day.

By the afternoon, life as we knew it had changed instantly. Nehaya had received a phone call from Hanan explaining Radi was in considerable trouble. Hanan couldn’t stand the shock, and she immediately rushed over to Radi’s house, where Hanan and Nida were sadly waiting for her to comfort and share any thoughts of possible solutions. The only solution to solve Radi’s big problem was to leave Saudi Arabia to Jordan. Nehaya felt ill-prepared for the move as she was going to deliver her baby at any time and spent many nights crying and praying to God to save her brother.

The great news was received almost mid- February the year after, and Radi’s issue had been finally resolved. Radi was celebrating with Hanan and Nida when they received a phone call from Abdelrahman asking them to come by the hospital located nearby; Nehaya had given birth to a baby girl.

They all rushed to the hospital to meet the new baby. Abdelrahman was pleased to be one of the first to observe the newborn infant in the nursery room. When Radi’s family arrived, Nehaya told everyone about her decision; she wanted to change the baby’s name from Samah to Dua to show gratitude for solving all her brother’s issues.

This is the story behind my name, and I remember how mum used to tell me that story on my birthday every year. I loved it, and I was proud to be named after my mum’s prayers.

I was born in the holy city of Mecca in mid-February 1979. I don’t recall much from my early childhood, but mum told me that we left Saudi Arabia for Jordan when I was a year and a half years old.

Life In Amman

By the age of five, I had two brothers and a sister; we lived in an affluent suburb in the capital city of Amman. I clearly remember spending my time after school, playing with my brothers and our neighbours.

The weather in Amman was excellent during the summer when the sunny days and clear nights extend for almost three months. I loved the summer, and it’s still my favourite season. We would spend the holidays watching TV, playing, and visiting with friends and family.

Dad worked in several places, and mum had retired from teaching to remain at home and look after us. Dad was a stubborn man and considered authoritative. The list of allowed things I was permitted to do was very minimal compared to other girls of my age. My friends and family were aware that it was one of the reasons for my restrictive social life at that time. 

The only person dad completely trusted was aunt Hanan; he never disagreed if she wanted to take me out or sleep over at hers. Uncle Radi was a frequent traveller, and after Nida’s marriage, aunt Hanan would regularly invite me to stay over at her house; those were the best days ever. We used to hang out a lot and spend time shopping and talking. I loved spending time talking to her; she always provided the best advice and worked on raising me like a princess.

Nida got married when I was nine. I remember her magnificent wedding that was held in the most elegant hotel in Amman at that time. She selected me, including other girls in the family, to be the candle girls, which is a tradition in eastern weddings, where young girls hold candles and enter the wedding hall followed by the bride and groom. Nida had chosen an orange and white theme, so my dress and wreath were adorned in orange and white to compliment the decor.

Early School Days

I was a top achiever in class and attended a local public school.  I was popular and made a lot of friends. I was passionate about my education and scored the highest marks in each subject. My family was so proud when I received my first academic certificate, with full marks in each subject. Uncle Radi was so happy that he promised to pay for all my university’s expenses if I keep getting high marks until high school.

When I completed grade eight, I was dedicated to joining a new private school established to provide a particular focus on high-achieving students. Unfortunately, that school was mixed-gender, which became the main reason my dad refused to let me attend. No one could convince him at that time, not even his favourite relative, aunt Hanan,