An immigrant chef sheds some traditions and expectations, but gains the freedom to explore her dreams.
The sofreh had to be abundant.
Eid is a holiday thats about celebration and connection with others on the sofreh.
Simply Recipes / John Robinson
I dont eat breakfast at home.
Their practice of celebrating a holiday as important to Muslims as Eid had changed.
In fact, no one expected her to continue living the life she left behind in Afghanistan.
Simply Recipes / John Robinson
In 2016, Khadija, her now former husband, and their five children landed in Charlottesville, Virginia.
They were seven of the406 Afghansthat were granted permanent residency in the U.S. through a Diversity Visa Program.
Khadija immediately got a job at the University of Virginias dining hall and signed up to learn English.
Simply Recipes / John Robinson
When I think about my life here, I see that I am independent.
I pay my own rent.
I support all five of my kids.
Simply Recipes / John Robinson
For the first time in my life, I went to Best Buy and bought a TV.
I wanted the biggest one.
It was on discount because it was an open box.
Now I have a theater in my house, and I love it.
I did it by myself.
This year marks Khadijas sixth Eid in America.
Because in defying some traditions and expectations, she got the freedom to explore her dreams.
That says everything about the way she sees the world whether here in America or in Afghanistan.
