Immigration-and-Sheikh-interview-Zarghoona.html

Babar Sahibzada's Story of Coming to the U.S.
as told to daughter, Zarghoona Sahibzada

I, Babar Sahibzada, came to the United States of America in 1985 to study. I arrived at JFK Airport, New York City by Pakistani International Airline. I had completed my high school studies and now had to work hard to survive in this country. I went to visit my sister who was living with her family in California in the hopes that I could work there but it was not possible to get a good job. I tried farm work, working in a field, but I wasn't satisfied with farming. I tried living in Chicago, too, but I missed my life as a New Yorker. I then returned to Pakistan, but once there I decided return to America and start my career all over again by gaining an admission to Queens College, the City University of New York.

Once again, in 1991, I went back to Pakistan, this time to get married. I remained in Pakistan for 4 months in Pakistan and once again returned to the U.S. to start my work. My wife remained in Pakistan. On November 6,1991, my first child, Zarghoona, was born in Pakistan, and so I returned to meet my new baby daughter. I remained in Pakistan 4 months once again after which time I returned to the U.S. In the meanwhile, I managed to sponser my family so they could join me here. I worked hard for my family back in Pakistan. In 1993 my wife gave me another sweet baby daughter but I had to return to Pakistan for an unhappy reason. I had to go back because my father had passed away. I stayed in Pakistan 4 weeks and then returned to New York.

In 1995 my family joined me in the United States. Now life was very smooth and happy. Both of my daughters started school. I'm so proud of them because they both are in a program for gifted students. In the millenium of May 26, 2000 we had another happy occasion, the birth of my cute little baby son, named Abbas. Our lives in the United States continue. On this page you will see members of our happy family.

Being a Sheikh - Mussarat Sahibzada [my mother]
as told to daughter Zarghoona Sahibzada

Zarghoona: What were your feelings when you decided to come to America?
Mussarat: I was very excited,because I was coming to my husband,and to the super power of the world.

Zarghoona: You are a descendent of a royal family in Pakistan. Explain what it means to come frome a family of Sheikhs.
Mussarat: It means I belong to a Sheikh Rajwara family which is an honor. There are responsibilities one has by being part of such a family.

Zarghoona: Tell us about a typical day in life of a family of Sheikhs. You had certain responsibilities and rules as a member of a royal family. Tell us about some of those and what you had to do.
Mussarat: Being a part of the Sheikh family meant we had to follow strict rules. Some of them were that women weren't allowed to pursue higher studies. Marriages of girls took place at very young age and they were arranged. Men were able to have more than 1 wife.

Zarghoona: Describe some of your feelings about being a member of a Sheikh's family.
Mussarat: I am proud to be a Sheikh. A women has many responsibilities when she is part of a Sheikh's family.
She has responsibilities as a daughter,as a wife and as a mother.

Zarghoona: Did you have servants who worked for you?
Mussarat: When you are a Sheikh you have servants. I had servants of my own.

Zarghoona: Describe your house and in what ways was it considered a house of Sheikhs.
Mussarat: We have very big houses. Some people have average size houses also. Some of my aunts and uncles are very rich in Pakistan. It is different from life in the U.S.

Zarghoona: Describe some of the clothing you wore to special events and holidays.   Describe clothing you wear in everyday life.
Mussarat: On special events we wore "Langa Choli".   That is a long skirt that is worn with a specially designed shirt.   Both have beautiful golden embroidery on them.   On regular days we wore a long skirt and a simpler designed shirt, but both have beautiful
golden embroidery on them.   On regular days we also wore "Shalwar Qameez", a long gown type shirt with a fluffy
pajama type garment underneath.   It would not be as fancy as the clothes worn for special days.

Zarghoona: In what ways is living in the U.S. an adjustment? What changes and adjustments did you have to make?
Mussarat: Life is completely different in the U.S. I must say everything is the opposite of the lifestyle in Pakistan, and it is hard to describe. It is another way of life.

Zarghoona: Compare and contrast some aspects of your lifestyle in Pakistan (as a member of the Sheikh's family) with the
lifestyle you have here in the U.S. as an American Citizen?
Mussarat: Life in the U.S. is very independent.   I can go anywhere myself even for groceries, but you have to do
everything yourself, like cleaning, cooking and even teaching your kids.    I must say that I am very independent as a U.S. citizen.
Being a Sheikh I didn't have to work in Pakistan because we had servants to do all those things.    But here in the U.S. I have a freedom I didn't in Pakistan, and that is very special.

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