The Issa Family

I really loved my Shirazi family. It wasn’t a conventional household, and it took me awhile to get all of the connections straight.

My mother, Fatma Issa, intimidated me so much at first. I really wasn’t sure she liked me; I couldn’t communicate at all. But I soon found out how caring and kind she is. She’s got a great sense of humor, and we had a blast joking with one another.

Removing the covering from rice grains

My brothers Ali and Salim are actually Fatma’s nephews. Ali is 24 and works in Zanzibar. He was visiting while I was. Salim is 18 and lives at his school during the week.

Allie and I. Didn't get a good picture of Salim.

Mama Fatma doesn’t have any kids of her own but takes care of her grand-nieces and nephews so that they can attend primary school in Shirazi.

Mwanasiti and Abdalluh are 16 and 14, respectively. They are brother and sister. Mwanasiti does sooo much work around the house, cooking a large part of the meals and doing laundry before completing her schoolwork by lamplight.

Dallah loves soccer and plays every day. He’s a really sweet kid. I walked with him to Barabarani a few times and he was so protective, pushing me away from ant hills and motorcycles.

Mwanasha is also 14 but is a year behind Abdullah in school. Her dad was killed in a road accident last year, so I think she’s living with Fatma permanently.

The baby of our little unconventional family is 8 year-old Fatma, named after mama Fatma. Isn’t she beautiful? She’s really quiet but loves to joke around too. When we walked around she would start singing “Row, row, row your boat” or “Oh, Susannah”.

They loved seeing pictures of themselves—even the adults. We spent many nights just snapping and looking. I'm really hoping to go back and visit at the end of the program.