"I have been learning for 2 months now, and will finish my course soon. I’ve dreamt about being able to learn here for 5-6 years, but I had to bring up my grandchildren and I couldn’t learn. Thanks god, I found a way to learn now, I don’t have to bring up any children and I attend lessons. I want to learn the Arabic language and read the Quran in front of god. It’s very difficult at this age but if the god is on my side, I can surely learn something.

I went to school when I was young. I was working in the community, then I was trading. Life was requesting it from me. Now life has set me free. Teachers here are making impossible - possible and helping me to learn.

The generations differ very much, god forgive us, and god, help us. You can’t tell the difference from a man and a woman nowadays, god won't forgive us.

How can a woman’s body be seen by anyone except her husband?

Fashion… If you follow fashion, many things will change. Fashion has ruined everything, we must not follow it. You were not allowed to speak with your father-in-law, and you were not allowed to eat with him, also you could not leave the room properly, because you could not turn your back on him.

Daughters-in-law don’t obey these rules anymore, they are emancipated. There should be a difference between a man and a daughter-in-law who has come into his family. The tongue can say anything, once you are allowed to speak, and you can tell many things. When talking with a father-in-law was prohibited, the daughter-in-law was protecting herself, having respect for herself, her father-in-law and the family. It was important, it was the subject of respect.

My father was very harsh. When he entered the room, we were in another room and couldn’t leave it. We would guess what he needed just by one sight. I hadn’t told my father for more than 3 words, that we didn't have the right.

When I was finishing school, my father decided that I should get married. I refused, I was still learning and didn’t want to get married. The wife of my brother came to the room, I said no. My brother came into the room while I was crying, the pillow was wet from my tears. After that my father came in and he told me, he had already decided it, he gave me away, and I could not even dare to refuse. A parent’s word was the law. I didn’t agree with the idea of marrying a person without knowing him. After my father’s speech, he left the room and I started thinking. I could say ‘No.’ I could even escape some other time, but what if I didn’t have any luck? What if my husband died? Or I would get in an argument with him? Who would be my patron? A parent. And If I would run, I could not come back to them. That’s why I decided to marry as my father decided.

The wedding was set. I had not met my fiance yet. He came in the yard and I couldn’t look at him, I was looking at his feet. Everybody was looking at me, they knew I was refusing to get married. Back then, we had the tradition of setting foot. If a woman could beat the man and set the foot first, her word would count later in life. If a man would set the foot first, then his words would be the only law. I was looking at his feet and I beat him and set the foot first - my marriage was already arranged and this was the only thing I could do for myself. I had never seen my husband before. I was 17 by that time. The family took the responsibility to let me finish school. I gave birth later. Life was different back then, it was very hard".