Growing up in a completely different environment from the people around you is something that many people will never be able to fully comprehend; it is almost impossible to fully grasp, unless you have lived it in real time. However, I have the experience to be able to understand just a small portion of this in real time, through my family.
Both of my parents immigrated to the United States in 2000. They both grew up in the bustling streets of Lebanon; however, these happy memories came at a price. I interviewed my parents to better understand their experiences growing up in Lebanon and how those experiences influenced their transition to life in the United States and raising their children here.
The Interview
Question: “What was it like growing up in Lebanon?”
Mom: “Growing up in Lebanon gave me some of my greatest childhood memories.”
Dad: “Growing up, it was the best being with my family, cousins, and childhood friends.”
Question: “What was the biggest challenge growing up in Lebanon?”
Mom: “The biggest challenge was safety and economical situations; Lebanon was never a country that was known for money.”
Dad: “The worst growing in Lebanon back in days was the safety of the family due to the constant wars.”
Question: “What changed the most when growing your kids up in America?”
Mom: “The freedom you have in America compared to back home”
Dad: “The most important thing we got was freedom of speech.”
Question: “What are your best memories growing up in Lebanon?”
Mom: “Making great friends and being surrounded by lots of family that support you”
Dad: “The best memories growing up in Lebanon was the culture, love, and respect between friends and family.”
Question: “What was the worst childhood experience you had growing in Lebanon?”
Mom: “The worst memories were the war and bombings we would listen to throughout the day.”
Dad: “The bombing we would hear at nights.”
My parents, no matter what, will always miss that part of home that they had back in Lebanon; the culture, the understanding of language, and so much more that they won’t ever be able to regain in the States. However, my parents did what was best in order to make sure their children would be able to grow up in an environment where fear and death wasn’t something that was lingering on their backs at every moment
