May Mikhail asked Alesa Lightbourne:

Ms. Lightbourne I read your book and appreciated what people would do to extend their hands to help the underprivileged. I was hoping to read about the Kurds living so close by in Arbil or Sulaimania, the educated, professionals, teachers and professors, men and women. The reader is exposed to one dark picture of rural society which gives a wrong impression about this proud nation.?

Alesa Lightbourne Hi May,

Great question.

Actually, the school where I taught was on the outskirts of Arbil (also spelled Erbil or Irbil). However, I did not have a chance to get to know many educated or professional Kurds except for the ones at the school. I was there for only six months. So I just know about the people I taught with and lived amongst.

I was hoping that the book would not give a dark picture of the village. There were so many things that I appreciated and respected about the village culture. The way they handled grief together was something I envied, since my own family and community at home doesn't cry together. I was amazed at Ara's generosity, saying that she would feed and house me for the rest of my life after I was made penniless. The wisdom and spirituality of Old Houda was amazing. And the patriotism expressed by virtually all Kurds I met was inspirational. These and other things were of great beauty to me. And I missed Ara, Bezma, Houda and Seema incredibly after I left.

The lives of city Kurds are indeed very different. The women don't wear abayas most of the time. They drive. They are not as likely to be cut. Many of them have professional jobs. Let's hope that one of these educated city women writes a book soon, so that we all can have insights into that aspect of society.

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