Abbas J. Kdaimy, 51, never thought he’d call China home. He made his first trip to the country from his native Iraq 15 years ago – and has been here ever since.
“I first learnt about the Great Wall and other snippets of this ancient civilization when I was in junior middle school. I remember being impressed that China managed to independently feed the largest population in the world,” he recalled.
By the late 1990s the Gulf War and ensuing UN sanction had inflicted a heavy toll on the Iraqi economy, pushing up inflation and triggering a severe recession. So when Abbas, then 36, got an offer for a job in Beijing, he took it without much hesitation.
“I arrived in Beijing alone in the summer of 1998. In front of me was a vibrant city with a booming economy that stood in stark contrast to my hometown,” said Abbas. “China was like a honeycomb: its people hummed around like diligent worker bees, and they were full of purpose. The effects of the opening-up and reform were apparent.”
Abbas immediately fell in love with Beijing, and soon slipped into local ways of life. Six months later he brought over his family – his wife Ansam, daughters Sara and Lina and son Yasser.
It’s often hard for a whole family to adapt to living in a foreign culture. Not all of Abbas’s children displayed an early propensity for Chinese, for instance, and the family set about looking for Arabic-language school. After scouting the whole city Abbas spotted a school run by the Libyan embassy whose whole curriculum was in Arabic.
Following religious dietary requirements was not easy; Halal foods were not available in every grocery store, as they were back in Iraq.
The food problem was soon solved. The family found a shop near their home serving mutton and beef from animals slaughtered in strict conformity with Islamic law. They soon discovered many Islamic restaurants across the city catering to Chinese Muslims.
As time passes, the family has truly fully settled down, and is now comfortable with its host country and people. “We all feel the hospitality and understanding of Chinese people. I don’t think Chinese and Iraqis are different at the core. This is a congenial country for Muslims. We thank Allah for bringing us a better life here,” Abbas said.
But life isn’t all peaches and creams. In Abbas’s case, financial pressures have worn away on this family of five. In 2003 they moved into a two-bedroom apartment in central Beijing. The monthly rent has now climbed to RMB 8,000, from the original RMB 5,000. Tuition and other fees for his three kids’ education add up to RMB 70,000 a year. Abbas works for a publishing house, and his wife also works to bring in extra cash. Still they have to be careful about money. “To be honest, I feel worn out at the end of each day. I’d love a holiday. But I am aware of the burden on my shoulders and my obligation to my family. I know I must press on.”
All his travails have started to pay off – Yasser and Sara have finished undergraduate programs and are studying for MBA degrees at the University of Science and Technology Beijing. His youngest daughter Lina is enrolled in the High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University, one of the best in the city. The 16-year-old, who came to China aged 1, speaks Chinese like a local.
“My biggest dream is that all my kids would find good jobs on graduation, fit into the Chinese society and enjoy a stable, happy life. I love my home country, and I love my host country too. I will continue to work hard for my family and children. It’s my duty as a father.”
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