looking BACK eveline
looking BACK eveline abrahim The things we did for gum By Joe Gasso Eveline Abraham claims she will never forget the summer of 1948 as she let out a wail of laughter on the other end of the phone. It was just another excruciatingly hot Iraqi summer day for the then 8- year-old, a little girl on the constant lookout for adventure. She and her friend Leila began to roam their village on that particular day sporting their newest dresses and hairstyles when they stumbled upon a blind elderly woman selling gum (alich my). The two friends carried no money but just one look made their mouths salivate and then their minds were made, they would somehow buy the gum. After much chatter the elderly woman agreed to a deal — two piles of cow manure for two pieces of gum. Apparently, cow manure was highly valued for the starting of a cooking fire (tunnorih) or was used as a fertilizer. Still not quite understanding, the girls headed to the nearest farm and eagerly sat in front of a cow as they waited for it to proceed. “It felt like hours but Leila and I were determined to obtain the piles of manure in return for the gum,” remembered Eveline. “We just sat there talking with our noses plugged.” The girls decided Leila would collect the first pile while Eveline collected the second, and sure enough Leila got her load. The second pile was ready to be collected by Eveline but Leila immediately grabbed the pile for herself in hopes of more gum. The two friends began to bitterly argue until Leila dug into her bag and threw the manure at a flying force; it landed perfectly on Eveline’s head. “I stood there in complete shock and after I processed what had just happened I began to uncontrollably burst into tears,” Eveline said. “Not only was there a pile of steaming manure on my head but the dress I had begged for and finally received on Eveline Abrahim Christmas was now ruined.” Eveline ran home to her mother and burst into the doorway covered in manure. “My mother grabbed me by the hand as we made our way to Leila’s house because no one was allowed to treat my mother’s children that way,” recalled Eveline with a peal of laughter. Eveline’s mother was ready to unravel with fury as she made her way into Leila’s house but instead her face lit up with excitement and surprise as she saw Leila’s mother for the first time. “She ended up being my mother’s old friend and in typical Chaldean fashion they began to loudly reminisce — and soon my mother completely forget why she was there in the first place,” said a now 70-year-old Eveline. Leila ended up with two pieces of gum, Eveline’s mother reunited with an old friend, and Eveline remained covered in cow manure. Do you have an amusing or poignant story to share from the old country? Send it to info@chaldeannews.com or write to Chaldean News, 29860 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, MI 48034. Please be sure to include your telephone number. 34 CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST 2009
KIDS corner The Hanging Gardens of Babylon the days of KINGS Hammurabi Nebuchadnezzar II By Joe Gasso From England to Spain kings have ruled for centuries, but an overlooked land is ancient Babylon — a state in Lower Mesopotamia now known as Iraq with Babylon as its capitol. Over the years several kings emerged, ultimately shaping modern Chaldean culture and shaping history forever. Hammurabi Hammurabi ruled from 1728 BC- 1686 BC and is known for the set of laws he created called Hammurabi’s Code, which are one of the first written codes of law in recorded history. These laws were very strict — “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” — and included sentencing someone to death if they stole or committed a crime. Say it like this: Ham-mu-ram-bee. Nebuchadnezzar I Nebuchadnezzar I Although extremely difficult to pronounce, Nebuchadnezzar I is considered to be the greatest king of his time. Having ruled from 1125 BC to 1103 BC he was able to reestablish the Babylonian lands after invaders had taken over much of the territory. Say it this way: Neb-u-chan-ez-er. Nebuchadnezzar II Nebuchadnezzar II reigned from 605 BC- 562 BC and is even mentioned in the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament of the Bible. He constructed the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which are considered one of the original Seven Wonders of the World. Nebuchadnezzar II is reported to have constructed the gardens to please his sick wife, Amytis of Media. AUGUST 2009 CHALDEAN NEWS 35
