Brandon Stanton's Blog, page 346

"We just want to be together and not be afraid." (Erbil, Iraq)

"We just want to be together and not be afraid." (Erbil, Iraq)

"She always dreams about the bombs." (Erbil, Iraq)

"She always dreams about the bombs." (Erbil, Iraq)

"I’m a student. My parents didn’t want me sitting...

"I’m a student. My parents didn’t want me sitting around the house all summer, so they made me be a shepherd." (Kalak, Iraq)

“What do you guys want to do when you grow...

“What do you guys want to do when you grow up?”
“Doctor.” 
“Doctor.”
“What’s your greatest struggle right now?”
“Math.”
“Math.”
(Erbil, Iraq)

“I had a mobile phone and computer store back in Syria. It was...

“I had a mobile phone and computer store back in Syria. It was completely looted during the fighting. I came here to find work, but I couldn’t afford to bring my family with me. When I left, I kissed my son and told him that I was leaving and I didn’t know where I was going. He was crying so hard that we had to lock him in the house as I said ‘goodbye’ to my wife. I haven’t even met my second son.”
“What are your happiest memories of your son?”
“Every time I went to work, he’d run after me. And every time I came home, he’d run to me.” (Erbil, Iraq)

“We live in a very conservative culture, but I want my children...

“We live in a very conservative culture, but I want my children to be open minded. I try to bring them to as many places as possible: big malls, art galleries, concerts. We want them to see as many types of people as possible, and as many types of ideas as possible.” (Erbil, Iraq)

“My parents were captured when I was sixteen. They both died in...

“My parents were captured when I was sixteen. They both died in prison.”
“What do you remember about the day they were taken?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can do this. Can we stop?” 
(Shaqlawa, Iraq)

“I was the strongest young man in my town. They called me...

“I was the strongest young man in my town. They called me Bulldozer.” (Shaqlawa, Iraq)

"Swimming is the greatest thing in life. If we have time, we...

"Swimming is the greatest thing in life. If we have time, we swim ten times per day." (Kalak, Iraq)

Today in microfashion…. (Shaqlawa, Iraq)

Today in microfashion…. (Shaqlawa, Iraq)