Kurdistan: On the wings of a dove
A personal reflection on Kurdish identity, diaspora, and grief. Written in response to the ongoing violence in Rojava, this piece holds memory, responsibility, and the weight of loving a homeland from a distance. Written in grief and solidarity.
For What It Was and What It Meant: A Farewell to International Development
The International Development post-graduate program at Centennial College was more than just a course — it was a community. With classmates from 11 countries, every discussion was a global exchange of ideas, perspectives, and aspirations. From celebrating birthdays in multiple languages to learning the realities of development work, the program shaped not just careers but worldviews. As it comes to an end due to shifting immigration policies, this farewell is not just to a program but to the transformative experiences it fostered.
Diaspora blues: The space between two cultures and two countries
What does it mean to belong to two places, yet fully fit into neither? In this reflection, I explore the “diaspora blues”—the ache of living between Canada and Kurdistan, and learning to embrace the hyphen that connects, rather than separates, my identities.
Saudade: Waves of Melancholy
Saudade is the closest word I’ve found to describe how I felt after returning home from Kurdistan—a longing shaped by love, memory, and the ache of leaving parts of yourself behind. This piece reflects on identity, return, and the quiet melancholy of belonging to more than one place.
If Once More I Return to Kurdistan
If once more I return to Kurdistan, I will return differently. This reflection traces the distance between who I was as a teenager searching for Western modernity and who I am now—yearning instead for language, culture, and presence.
Welcome to Kurdistan: land of myth and magic
Arriving in Kurdistan for the first time by plane felt surreal. As the city lights shimmered below and an immigration officer welcomed us home, I stepped into a land I had carried with me since childhood—real, mythical, and filled with belonging.
How rediscovering your mother tongue is revolutionary
For millions of Kurds, speaking their mother tongue has been denied, discouraged, or punished. As a Kurdish-Canadian in the diaspora, I reflect on reclaiming my language and why reading, writing, and speaking Kurdish feels like an act of revolution.