An Expat's Dilemma
I’m a Sudanese who was born, raised & still lives in the UAE.
To Sudan, with my sincere apology…..
Politically driven, on a mission to execute a solitary vision
Raised in a foreigner’s soil; my terra firma a country by definition
Fed by strangers; a product of the cosmopolitan divison
My African heritage; a distant documentary I see on television
Caught between two systems with different laws and perceptions
An inadvertent mixed breed with no definite identification
Culturally flawed, I, virtually, belong to no nation
“Sudanese†stamped on my passport but I don’t feel the affiliation
Watch my country being stabbed; raped by her beloved children
Suffocating in her tears cuz her “own†committed treason
Man-made apocalypse; political vendetta(s) that lack a logical reason
The Motherland impoverished; stripped naked for the vultures to feed in
My so-called “home†is hurting; crying out for the patriots to rise
But how can I give to my country when I was born and raised outside?
I missed growing up in her arms and so lost a huge part of who I am
How can I solve this Expat’s dilemma when “nationalism†I don’t feel inside?!!!!
“Where do I belong if I am an expatriate in the country I grew up in and a “Mughtariba†in my country of origin?
Is it my fault that I love the country I lived in all my life more than the country I carry its name?
Is it my fault that I am not patriotic enough?â€
Join the Conversation
Nice. What is your country is should be defined by you, and a country that has invited you in should embrace you should you wish to become part of it. We all weep for Sudan, tears are easy, solutions are hard. All we can do is pray for them and keep vigilant, demand accountably and justice knowing that they will not come easy, and work toward a future more in tune with the 21st century’s beliefs in tolerance and peace.
Hiba, girl, they weren’t lying when they called you a “poet”!
Great stuff.
My favourite part.
I can’t say I know how that feels like, but I have many Iranian friends in Bahrain asking themselves the very same questions. They were kicked out of Iran for being Sunni, they came to Bahrain illegally, they were not given a passport or citizenship for a long time, so who were they?
I have to say though that those are the most interesting people I know because they don’t ever resort to things like nationalism, which in my opinion is very destructive. It makes us view this world throw a very narrow lens.
The UAE’s not that far, you should visit Bahrain sometime.
Rancher,
“What is your country is should be defined by you, and a country that has invited you in should embrace you should you wish to become part of it.”
True & I choose to be a part of both although I can’t imagine myself living in Sudan permenantly.Another disturbing aspect is being looked at as an expatriate or an ousider in both countries.
It’s really twisted,lool.
Anyway,thankx for the kind words.
Hey Esraa,thank you for your warm welcome & for making me feel at home:)
“I have to say though that those are the most interesting people I know because they don’t ever resort to things like nationalism, which in my opinion is very destructive. It makes us view this world throw a very narrow lens.”
I agree but lack of it altogether can be destructive too.
I def would love to come to Bahrain & lemme know if you ever decide to visit us:)
Welcome to MEY ya sitti Hiba!!
Let’s hope her stay is a long and memorable one.
2 other excellent writers will be joining us today.
I assume they heard about us through Hiba’s site, too.
Drima, thankx:)
Esraa, Definitely.
Great to hear that other writers have joined.