Homeward bound?

My father wants me to quit my studies and return to Lebanon. I have considered it before, especially after the war that had ruined my beloved homeland. It seemed to me that I needed to do something to help my country, and quitting my studies was a fair sacrifice.

But this is not the case now: my father wants me to quit because he is concerned. My mama(umi el3aziza) wants me to go back to Lebanon because she thinks that there I will be safe.

It surprised me, I thought that they were liberal enough to understand that the West isn’t their enemy, but now they are terrified. They are afraid that my studies might corrupt my mind and set me against Islam. There is nothing I can say, or do, that can convince them otherwise. I have got to tell you that I wear the traditional clothes and refrain from the bad culture around me, because I honor not only my parents, but also Islam and my tradition. They want what they think is best for me, and right now, they think it is best is for me to leave Germany and go back home, to Lebanon.

I understand them, I can see how hard it is for them to get used to the language and customs. But I know that my studies are no threat to my conscience, my morality and my tradition, and that right now, my going back to Lebanon isn't going to do any good. They don't agree with me. They insist I should leave for Lebanon, as soon as possible.

So I will return. But first, I'm going to finish my studies and start a career, so that when I do arrive, I will have something to give back to my country and to my family. They are just going to have to understand that the university isn't a threat and that Germany isn't going to harm me.