Sitt Zakiya's World: Life before Devices

Hello, I am so glad that you are here 😊

I spent the last couple of days cruising through my childhood memories and remembering some good old times. My thoughts lingered at one particular place back home in Halfayat Al Muluk in Sudan. That is where I am originally from: Sudan ❤️

When I was 10-years-old my parents introduced me to their good-old-family friends Uncle Farouq and Mrs.-School Principal-Auntie Zakiya and their 4 children. This was one of my parents best gifts to me, a gift of an Auntie and Uncle who shaped my childhood and my life as I know it. 

Uncle Farouq was a tall broad shouldered man with all his Turkish ancestors' strong features; softened by a big heart and kind eyes. Auntie Zakiya was  a petit woman, covered in beautiful brown skin, crowned by silky black hair and signed by facial scarification and a beautiful smile. She always wore beautiful gold bangles bracelets that added an extra feminine touch. Auntie was the perfect representation of our Mother Land.  As expected, their personalities did not match their looks; uncle was sweet and soft; auntie was the strong and disciplinary leader of the flock.  

 I immediately got hooked on this family, spent my evenings after school at their house to do my homework while listening to their  kids' never ending political shenanigans. The house was loud and entertaining and as a kid it was my first interaction with pure politics, poetry, heated debates, diversity of friends, history, education, and a whole lot of pure fatherly love from my dear uncle Farouq who taught me how to drink water from Gerba-which is the ancient/medieval leather water bottle; how to use his favorite Slender Blue Pen and Ink bottle to write stories, how to love family, how to appreciate and respect the world old and new❤️

Auntie Zakiya was amazing; she always made sure that my notebooks were spotless and CLEAN, my books were in order, my pencils were sharp; reviewed Math and Social Studies with me while yelling at her kids and their friends. I was never yelled at 😁my homework always ended with a big hard kiss on my cheek. 

Their children-at that time- were  students at the most prestigious universities in the nation, and the truest political activists. It was the norm to have one missing for a day or a month and to hear of casual police brutalities. No worries, as of today they are all well known political leaders, a lawyer, engineers, and a government Official.

That house was the heart of our community; I met a lot of our neighborhood kids at that house. I met my favorite celebrities, poets, and political figures. Tutoring assistance was offered there for free by aunt Zakiya and her flock, issues were resolved, advice was given with love and compassion in abundance. Basically,  offering the essentials of life!

That middle class home, was the richest mansion with all that it offered the community.  Respect, honesty, discipline, friendship, patriotism and confidence were taught and well received. This is what I recall as a child, can you imagine the bigger picture?!

Principal Sitt Zakiya was the highest admin, had a school or two named after her, yet never stopped schooling. The responsibility of educating and mentoring were a prophecy to her. The Egyptian Poet Ahmed Shawqi-The Prince of Poets-once said so in his poem: 

قُم لِلمُعَلِّمِ وَفِّهِ التَبجيلا

كادَ المُعَلِّمُ أَن يَكونَ رَسولا

أَعَلِمتَ أَشرَفَ أَو أَجَلَّ مِنَ الَّذي

يَبني وَيُنشِئُ أَنفُساً وَعُقولا

I am proud to be a student of Sitt Zakiya's School...for Life.

May you both rest in Eternal Peace

                                                                      Teacher Mom