Local international family teaches their American-born children about life in native countries

Suha and Abdul Alkadry of Cape Girardeau are among the thousands of people living in the United States who were born in another country. The couple has a multi-national family and chose to live in the states indefinitely.

"When we cross the borders and they ask for our passports, we are Jordanian, Canadian and American," Abdul said.

He was born in Lebanon but his family moved to Canada during the 1990s.

Suha was born in Jordan. Her father is Lebanese and her mother Jordanian. The couple's three sons were all born in America.

Sharing the culture of their native countries with their children is important for the Alkadrys. They eat Middle Eastern foods and watch Middle Eastern television via satellite but the children play baseball and soccer and joined the Boy Scouts like their peers.

At home, the family primarily speaks Arabic but sometimes the children answer in English.

The oldest, who is 8 years old, probably speaks Arabic about 90 percent of the time, while the youngest mixes both languages more, Suha said. "He'll ask for bread or milk and say those words in Arabic," Suha said.

If she asks a question, she might phrase it in Arabic and get an English response, she said.

But the important thing is for her children to know both cultures, she said. "We tell them about our countries and live in our culture," she said. But the children also get to watch some Jordanian or Lebanese television shows since the family has satellite TV.

"We intend to let them know" about their heritage, she said.

As the children get older it will be up to them to decide what country they want to call home.

For now, Suha and Abdul intend to stay in the states indefinitely.

"We know that we'd be here many years," Suha said. The turmoil in Lebanon and the Middle Eastern region now isn't as bad as it was during the civil war that ended in the early 1990s. But it still doesn't make sense for the family to leave the states right now.

"We've talked about going to Canada, but America is better for our family economically," she said.

The family continues to visit Jordan and Lebanon and their relatives living abroad come to Cape Girardeau often. "We still fell like we are connected," Suha said.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

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