My Name is Bahar

My name is Bahar. I am from Afghanistan. I like photography, traveling, and cooking. My goals is to use my cooking skills to open an Afghan/Turkish cafe by the end of 2018.

​And this is my story.

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I was 10 years old when the Taliban took over Kabul and closed all the girls’ schools. My father has a strong will and wanted his daughters to be educated. We were no longer safe. We fled to Iran which was the hardest journey we’ve ever experienced. We walked for several days and nights on mountains and through deserts without food.

Though we were safer in Iran, we were not able to assimilate or attend school. My days were occupied by purchasing children’s books for my younger sisters and watching them use those books to learn how to draw.

Things in Iran did not improve for us. After two years, we began another journey, riding horseback, boats, and dark crowded semi-trucks alongside others in similar situations. I remember the truck being a long 8 hour ride, with little oxygen and no time for stops.  

When we made it to Istanbul, it seemed life was headed in a downward spiral; no money, no job, and we didn’t speak the local language. I started working, under the table, at the age of 12 from sun-up to sun-down. We didn’t have appropriate shoes and our feet were badly bruised. A women noticed and helped my mom register with the U.N.

We were in Turkey for 3 years before we landed on American soil. I remember feeling hopeful and excited because we knew that we could start a new, educated life – a step forward into our desired future. 

It was a warm, summer night when we arrived at the Boise Airport. I was 19 years old. Our case manager welcomed us with a smile on their face and we knew we were in the right place. Our apartment was already furnished, with food on the counters. I remember being shocked at the size of the bananas and cucumbers! We had never seen such huge produce before.

Though living in America was not easy at first, I was able to graduate from high school in two years. Due to some family responsibilities, I wasn’t able to start college right away. Instead, I helped support my sisters through their university careers by working as a medical interpreter.

I am now the proud sister to three intelligent and creative women. I may not be where I wanted to be today, but I am certainly not where I used to be.