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Alla Frefer: A Libyan-American Experience

Tuesday, 22 November 2011 04:15

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To Alla Frefer, "Arab Spring" means more than a social movement by foreign people in a foreign land.  It is a revolution against a dictator that has ruled harshly over her people for far too long.

Frefer, 29, is a student at the Eller College of Management studying management information systems.  She is the oldest of three siblings and is hoping to make her own mark on the revolution.

"My brother [Mosab, 24] is a freedom fighter," she said.  He left for Tunisia in June and worked at a refugee camp in Tataouine, a city in the south of the country.

Frefer's sister, Afnan, 19, is also a university student.  She translated for journalists when Tripoli was liberated and is currently pursuing a degree in linguistics and translation.

"I'd like to go to Libya and help rebuild the country because the country needs a lot of work," she explained.  "I feel like it's my duty to help with what I can, with the knowledge that I will get here at the university."

Last week, Frefer joined two other Libyans with Tucson connections to speak at a panel titled "REVOLUTION: Tucson Libyans Share Experiences and Stories from the Home Front."  While the panel itself turned into a history lesson more so than a glimpse into a family photo album, Frefer does hope that it will help inform people that want to learn more about the country and its people.

"I've always heard about Libya and my parents never stopped talking about Libya," Frefer said.  "And when I finally had the opportunity to go to Libya [Frefer was 16 years old when her family moved back to Libya] it was a little tough in the beginning because it's almost like a cultural shock.  Things are just so different over there compared to here in the U.S.  But I really, I fell in love with the country, I fell in love with the people."

"I'm just really excited to see what's going to happen," Frefer said in regards to the possible outcome of the revolution.  "I want to be part of the change."

 

Written by Zohra Yaqub You are reading Alla Frefer: A Libyan-American Experience articles

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