Strangers in a Strange Land

Strangers in a Strange Land: Reflections on an Experience of Otherness

Sister Luma Khudher and Sister Rihab Mousa are Dominican sisters of the congregation of St. Catherine of Sienna based in Mosul, Iraq. Since April 2002 they have lived, ministered, and studied alongside the Dominican Sisters of Springfield. Sister Luma lives at Marian Convent in Chicago Heights, Ill. Sister Rihab lives at St. Rose Convent in Springfield, Ill. After visiting their communities and family in Iraq this summer, they are scheduled to return to the United States to continue their studies. These are their reflections on their first three years in the U.S.

Sister Rihab Mousa, OP

When I arrived at O’Hare Airport on April 1, 2002, I knew there would be Dominican sisters and brothers waiting to meet me. The closer I got to the door of the terminal the more afraid I became. I was afraid to see how the Americans would look at us. My experience in Iraq taught me that Americans felt that Iraqis were less than human beings. How would they respond to me now? I was afraid to walk through the doors. When I saw the friendly faces waiting to welcome me I was surprised. I told myself “Maybe this is just the beginning. Lets see how the three years will go.”

While trying to learn English I compared my life to that of a newborn child. Babies do not speak right out of their mothers’ wombs. They need the time of silence to listen and learn the “culture” of our world before they speak. I had a similar experience when I came to the United States. The difference between a baby and me, however, is that I was already an adult and knew how to speak in my culture. But I didn’t know how to do it in the U.S. culture. At first nothing made sense. I was frustrated and confused. I didn’t know what was going on around me. I was lost. Understanding the connotations of the words was the most difficult thing. Learning a language is not only about learning the words and repeating them. It is about tasting the words and making them part of your personality. In this way I experienced a connection between learning the American language and appreciating the American food. When I was able at last to understand the English language I noticed that I was also more able to enjoy the food.

Through these three years, I’ve changed in my thinking about the American people, if not the government. I know now that I have sisters and brothers in the U.S.A. I have learned to love them as human beings.

Sister Luma Khudher, OP

As I reflect back on my three years in the U.S., the thing that stands out is the relationships that I have with the Dominican sisters here. If I had not come to the U.S. I would not have learned that many of the American people can be very generous, loving, and caring people. The Federation [of Dominican Sisters USA] meeting in April of 2002 was a very important experience for me for this started the relationship between all the Dominicans and with my own community.

I have learned a lot about the Dominican Family that I am a part of in the U.S. Their love and support for my community means a lot for each one of us in the St. Catherine of Sienna community in Iraq. I have learned that there is a way to move beyond our anger. The way is to live in peace and accept others in the world when we learn how to forgive our enemies. It is a long, painful process but I have seen the fruits of what can happen.

The most difficult moment I had during my stay in the U.S was when the war started. It was hard to believe that the country I was living in was the same one that was bombing my own country. It was difficult not to know what my community, family, and people were going through. It was even hard for me to look out the window and enjoy a clear blue sky, knowing my people would only be seeing a sky filled with smoke.

The greatest joy was and still is when I am able to share what I have learned with the students at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Ill., and with the sisters I live with, and express my point of view in English. When I give my talk on the Kairos retreat for the senior students at Marian, I hope that they learn from my story that we are all sons and daughters of God, Iraqis just like the Americans, and that we have the right to live in peace and dignity just like the rest of the world. I hope that they will remember that. Many times, after the students come back from their retreat, they stop me when they see me just to ask about my people, community, and family. That is my joy, that there are others who care about the Iraqi people.

Also, at the Catholic Theological Union where I am studying, the students from different countries with different languages and culture have taught me that there is a world beyond my world and there are people around the world and all deserve to be respected in our society. When I feel proud that I am Iraqi, other students feel the same about their heritage. When I learn about the other cultures and celebrate the Eucharist with people from all over the world, I am sure through the group sharing they learn from me as much as I learn from them. I see God’s work in each one of them and I think this experience at CTU with the American students and staff and the international students is a wonderful experience where we all meet and have the same goal, which is to learn more about God and learn how to love God in all the people around us.

Reprinted from Just WORDS, Fall 2005. Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois. All rights reserved.