Date: July 28th, 2022
Interviewee: Monowara Haque
Interviewer: Subat Matin
Location: Alexandria, Virginia

MATIN: Today is July 28, 2022, to tell me your life story.

MONOWARA: Hi, this is Monawara Haque I'm from Bangladesh and I came into U.S. like in 86’. Then before I came in, I raised in a large family where I had, I have nine siblings, two brothers, and seven sisters, I grew up... I grew up in a very pleasant environment with my parents and one of my brother died unfortunately at very early age. So, my father was a very successful businessman, and my mom's a housewife. But since my brother died, my oldest brother died, my father was not feeling much secure, all other daughters lives. So, he decided to let us get married early age. So, I did get married when I was like 17, I think I was 18.

After I got married, I hope to U.S. in 1986 as I mentioned before, it was in New York very hard life, which I never thought of it and also, we did not have status, then things like work for me. But we are able to manage finding job or at least we're able to manage our expense. But coming from a good family or good background, where I grew up, I did not think of doing the job that we are doing in New York, like you know, odd job, and also living in apartment, which was not something that I did back home, I was not feeling comfortable. Then my son was born and I got divorced first husband. So, my ex-husband was working at night, used to come home in the morning, then I used to go to work in the morning, with everything my life wasn’t much pleasant.

So, I was always looking for to lead a better life, happier life, giving my son good education, sending him to a good school, I found a job, then I started going to college, then college would take me like much longer since I took Applied Health Science, but I really wanted to move out from there. So, I found an opportunity to work for IT, which I was able to learn faster and found a job in New York, I mean in New Jersey, so I worked there for a few months, then I found this job here in DC, and I move myself with my son and started a newer a life and I feel very happy, especially the housing is lot better than New York and you know, I was able to drive myself and it's not much traffic, no tickets, which is the best thing and a nice apartment. So, I feel very happy.

Then I met my husband, then we got married and I was able to send my son a good school. He graduated, now he's married. So, I've been living with them, I mean thanks to God that we are living a very happy life Alhamdulillah and now my son got married and you know we are... I would say that compared to New York, Virginia is more of a family environment and one good thing happened that we practice our religion lot more and there are so many organization here that we can go and learn about religion and get really good family, some good families here that we hang out on the weekend and Virginia is very nice, very green, there is always places to go and spend some good time around. My family came in here around 12 years before all of them came in. So, I feel happier now. They live around me. They got a good job and they bought a house so I’m much more heavier than New York. So, I don't want to say New York people, people are in New York not happy. But you know, of course there is a different lifestyle there. You know, city life, but for me, I think I found like more peace here in Virginia and especially finding my husband and sending my son to school and you know, I'm happy and thank God that we are happy.

MATIN: So, what was your childhood like for you in Bangladesh?

MONOWARA: So, my childhood I was going to very good school and it was very happy like you know I was very happy with my friends and my family. My especially my dad was very liberal about daughter. Because these early country like Bangladesh, it was very restricted for girls or women. But regarding that my dad was very liberal he always wanted to send us to good school, and you know, learning good things going out, get to know, things around that will make our life better. So, I did not have much restriction about I mean from my dad, but my mom was very much restricted. She children and I was going out, or you know, play soccer or things like that. But we used to play at home, we had a very big house. So, my dad may, you know, build a playground for us. We used to play badminton and my sister got married, like we have been, I have older sister, she got married, and her husband and we used to go to out a lot. I used to go to for dinner, things like that and we had, I had a lot of cuisine, so it was very pleasant for me my childhood. I do really miss that a lot.

MATIN: When you were in Bangladesh, what kinds of foods did you eat?

MONOWARA: It was just regular food, especially what I mean what we eat here. But back home, there used to be a lot of different type of fish that I liked, which I wouldn't find it here sometime. But yeah, the food was most likely rice. But for me, I used to like, some Western food, they used to start having place for burger, Chinese food, things like that. So, I used to go to like dinner with family and I used to like, enjoy those.

MATIN: When you were when you were in Bangladesh, what did you know about American culture?

MONOWARA: So, we used to watch a lot of movies actually a lot of English movie, like channel music song like we used to listen Boney M., Michael Jackson and a lot of good movies, like a lot of series that actually on TV, like Fugitive, $6 Million Man, you know, Bionic Woman, it was America was like fantasy world for me, then.

MATIN: And what was school like for you in Bangladesh?

MONOWARA: School was very fun. We had a group of friends I went to school like coeducation boys and girls because Bangladesh have some school only girls and boys. But we still have boys and girls who still really good friends. A group of people like around 10 people, few boys, few girls, they still live around the area. So, we used to go... I used to want... once I went from school to watch a movie... for a movie. But it was fun and teachers were very, very nice.

MATIN: After you came to America has your opinions about America and Americans changed?

07:43
MONOWARA: One thing. There is no discrimination. I thought that if I talk about like, color of skin, I thought that darker color skin people would be more helpful, more sympathetic to us. But I found that a little bit different. I saw like, lighter color skin. I don't know how to say that. But as I said that do not discriminate was helpful. It was very nice. You know, I didn't know that they would be that helpful that, you know, liberal. But, you know, I was I started working in McDonald's, the manager was very nice. She helped us, helped me a lot. You know, but people are very nice. I must say that. Yeah, there are some issues with some people that, you know, they don't think that we should have come here in America, this is their country. But it wasn't much difference for me, actually. I mean, I'm lucky that wherever I work, and wherever I went to school, I did really find very nice people who helped me a lot and became very, like, you know, they were friendly. I did not have much issue actually.

MATIN: Why did you leave Bangladesh?

MONOWARA: There is no reason that we left home. It was just we got a tourist visa just to visit here. So, when we came in, you know, it looked like that we can stay here. We don't have to go back. And we thought that maybe I can go to school and do something better. There was not any like specific motive for coming here. We just came in.

MATIN: Why do you want to immigrate to New York specifically?

MONOWARA: Actually, that's the only place we knew then that New York state and we had some people that we knew they live in New York. So, we thought that going New York would be better because we know some people live there. Maybe they will help us if we need anything. So, it was back home. They only used to do about DC or New York. That's all.

MATIN: And what did you hope to gain by settling in New York?

MONOWARA: What did I hope? I always wanted to go to college, get a degree and work so I think I achieved that and also especially my son, I was able to send him good school, you know, that always I wanted to. So, I think I'm happy with what I got.

MATIN: What kinds of experience did you have in New York?

MONOWARA: In New York, especially the housing, even though it doesn't matter how much you pay. I mean, the housing was really terrible, especially having not much bathroom there, even though it's three bedroom, one bathroom and, you know, they don't fix if anything breaks that you'll never be able to find your, you know, your landlord to fix those. Also, they're very old, you know, I mean, bottom line, I was unhappy with the housing, they're like living there and, you know, the other thing I like the commuting, like, was very easy, having Metro, you know, I used to go to work in Manhattan, so it was much more easier, compared to Virginia, you always have to have a car, then, you know, without car, it's not easy to go to work somewhere. So metro was very, very convenient there.

MATIN: What surprised you about New York and American culture?

MONOWARA: Surprise, I, I know that men used to... men drinks, alcohol. But it surprised me when I saw women drinks, alcohol, and also smoke. Maybe I was very young and that surprised me and also homosexuality surprised me. Also, the relationship, like boyfriend girlfriend, which I don't have in my culture back home that surprised me and there are a few other things like, you know, here and there. I was in much yeah, I was surprised. But can you remember at this moment, but there was something that you know, someone would come to a new country that will be there must be some kind of surprise all the time.

MATIN: Did you ever hear about other Bangladeshis coming to America while you were in Bangladesh?

MONOWARA: Yeah, I met few people back home that they actually there was one guy that he went to visit Bangladesh, he has been here for a long time and he stayed in our house for a few days. So, and there are a few other people that I made that and I just asked them like my sister friend, they used to live in America, the whole family. So, when they used to go to visit, you know, we used to meet them, you know, ask questions things like that.

MATIN: Did you ever personally experience any discrimination?

MONOWARA: I did that work. I don't know if the discrimination between Bangladesh or America, but like I've been working very hard and, in some point, like some other people, they've been showing that they are working hard, and they are kind of, you know, pushing me back that I was not doing the job properly. They are the ones reading that I faced a lot at my work. Like when I was working in New York cafeteria or things like that in restaurant or say McDonald's you know that that I noticed that. I don't know if that is discrimination. But you know, my hard work was that much appreciating it all the time. Which I really did hard work then but there are other people used to get the credit.

MATIN: How did you have to adjust to the American lifestyle?

MONOWARA: How did I adjust? Actually, I've been carrying my culture, religion identity all the time. So, wherever I go, I carry that with me. But at the same time, I was also liberal like I know that you know, I'm in a different country, they have their own culture. So, it wasn't much tough for me I was able to manage you know, I did not have any problem I have a lot of American friends who live here for a long time or who was born here and they're very good friend of mine. So, I did not really, I respect of course the culture the religion, you know, whatever religion whatever culture they carry, I go to their house to visit they come to my house. So personally, I did not have much issue.

MATIN: Would do you like about New York?

MONOWARA: New York, I like the food there. I like to visit the people there, shop is much cheaper than Virginia and especially when I go to the Asian area, I buy some groceries because we take car with us so I fill up the groceries and I see my friends that used to live you know around the area, you know, sometimes I talk to them, but when I go, I try to meet them, you know. Yeah, I like to visit New York for a couple of days.

MATIN: What problems did you encounter in New York?

MONOWARA: The main problem was I was not motivated moving up regarding my career or you know, financial life or personal life because I did not have those type of people around us who could motivate me. So that that I've been missing a lot like there is not one was around to give us give me some direction or I didn't know what to get some direction to move furthermore, so that was something big issue for me New York.

MATIN: Did you choose to speak English or did you have to learn once you came here?

MONOWARA: I was going to a English school back home. So, I knew English you know, but regarding speaking since we didn't speak there, but as I started working in McDonald's where I had to speak so since I had some ideas, it was easy and I was very young, it was easy for me to pick up the language very fast.

MATIN: What was the hardest part about coming to New York and leaving your family in Bangladesh?

MONOWARA: I had to leave my parents you know, I know that I wouldn’t be able to see them for a long time and you know, communicating with them was very hard because it was very expensive to call. My dad used to call me but you know, I didn't get used to call them much because it was very expensive and of course you know, my family I was missing them a lot. That's the like, that was very tough for me.

MATIN: How often do you go back to visit your family in Bangladesh?

MONOWARA: Oh, I go very often I go pretty much every year.

MATIN: Even once you came to America?

MONOWARA: Yes. After I came in here yeah, like after first time I went there after two and a half year then I pretty much going every year or every other year.

MATIN: How do your relatives back home think of you now?

MONOWARA: They are very happy about me the one thing I can do thanks to God that I can help people who needs help there so they're very happy about me, you know, they bless me there are some helpless people like you know, orphan or women, helpless women. So, you know, I always since I work, you know, I always can help them whatever I can and they're very happy about it. They blessed me.

MATIN: What do you do now?

MONOWARA: I work for you know, I work for a company and you know, the IRS. I'm doing a project for IRS and I'm happy since I have experienced 20 plus years so it's easy for me to handle.

MATIN: Do you consider America or Bangladesh your home now?

MONOWARA: Um, I would say America but I feel in my inside I feel like maybe after retiring I will go live there for six months a year. But for me it's both places.

MATIN: Once you immigrated to New York, did you or did you see any women or could women have worked outside of the household in New York like Bangladeshi woman?

MONOWARA: Yeah, I saw that yes so many of them because some of them wanted to work and some of them they had to because one income was not enough doing you know those jobs back then. So yeah, pretty much more or less normal minutes to work then outside.

MATIN: Do you have you think opportunities for women in Bangladesh have changed over your lifetime?

MONOWARA: I actually changed a lot I must say that you know is it changed a lot of women or a lot more. I mean successful I will say and especially in the job I think more women are hired and in the rural areas so like you know, we have a lot of help a lot of different types of loans available, aid available. So, if I look back and compare women are in rural areas, they developed a lot even in the city also. They don't have to depend on their husband or their dad. They will even though when they go to college school, they always can do part time so women has a say lot more opportunity compared to when I left and I'm very happy about that because depending on other person is not fun all the time. So, some woman is utilizing it in various ways and some women can't because of you know lack of education knowledge, but compared to you know when I left is like dramatically change.

MATIN: What do you think has changed for Bangladeshi women in the U.S. job opportunity wise?

MONOWARA: U.S. I mean, there is discrimination always Bangladesh also has discrimination regarding hiring male, female, same as here in America. So, I think it's pretty much same thing what I see back home now because woman are all over working, like, same percentage as men maybe more or less in America also like, I don't think so in America, they do look for like, we will be hiring you oh man, are you hiring a man, I didn't see that. Maybe they do. But it's pretty much the same thing I'd say from experience, or what I noticed.

MATIN: How do you think the roles of men and women in Bangladesh have changed over your lifetime?

MONOWARA: It changed a lot. Men now they engage in denser household work also and women, you know, they do a lot of work outside that men used to do and still they do they have to work at, you know, help with household things like that. So, it's kind of changed a lot because men are lot more liberal and they think that, you know, women goes to work out and you know, when they come home, they are tired as men. So, I think, you know, they engage themselves, or they, you know, they help more with household work with women or you know, regarding homework for the kids, or taking out to the kids giving them bath or, you know, doing other related, like, taking care of family, they are involved in themselves more than before, the men and it also happened on other way there are some women they work outside, they make more money, or they make money and sometimes they don't want to do their job, what are they supposed to do as a woman in the family, I noticed that also.

MATIN: What about in the U.S.?

MONOWARA: In the U.S what I been seeing same thing from the beginning, or women, they don't, they don't want to one thing they don't want to do, they don't want to cook much. So, I see that like they divided their husband, like who's going to cook today, we're going to cook tomorrow. That's something I noticed, because in our culture is even though we are in America, we take the lead of cooking. So that's something I noticed that women, they don't want to cook much. But there are some men also that they like to cook, they don't like there are women who like my son, he loves to cook, his wife also likes to cook, but I see that he's very interested in cooking, and he doesn't have any complaints. His wife doesn't cook. So, it depends.

MATIN: How do you think your role as a wife and mother have changed over the course of your marriage? and how do you think your role as a wife and mother have changed since arriving in the U.S.?

MONOWARA: So, when I came in here, you know, I was pretty much housewife, I did not have much opportunity I worked but I was pretty much housewife and also you know, working at the same time. So, and when I when I moved to Virginia, I got my job and you know, I got more responsibility. So, I was seeing it for failure. So, I was able to buy a house for myself for my son and so, I was kind of taking responsibility, all the responsibility and even after I got married, I do and I was like taking care of by myself, you know, my regarding, let's say expense, or if I need anything if I have to go out things like that, I try to manage by myself not to depend on my husband much. So, you know, it's a big change.

MATIN: What kinds of Bangladeshi traditions and customs did you keep?

MONOWARA: Actually, I try to keep 100% You know, I that's something that I always want to carry with me my religion, my identity, my culture. Yeah, my family said that I may have changed like, I may have some American culture like, you know, back home or over here also, people like Bangladeshi people would go to someone's house any day without calling them things like that. Sometimes my family does, but I think I would prefer someone call me if they're coming in. But my family doesn't do that they call anyone anytime and they go to visit anyone place like they wanted to go to other sister place. But I'd like to know if you know they're coming second prepare myself if I am available things like so there are some differences that they notice in me, which I agree with. I agree and I cannot be around much people for a long time. Maybe. Maybe being with a couple of people in the house. I became very private person. I don't know. But I see my sisters even though they've been here for like 10 plus years. They always can be around people. But for me, I don't think so. I want to be around people all the time. I need space.

MATIN: What kinds of traditions do you want to change and pass down to your children?

MONOWARA: My son grew up here, went to college was in [Darfur] like six years. So, being outside of the house or being having lots of like, you know, non-Bengali friend or, you know, he, he is more of like, American culture oriented and I don't have any problem with that, but regarding religion, I do have issue with that, that I really want to give him religion education, which are doing and you know, he married to a Christian lady who is converted Muslim now, and I really want them to do like prayer, you know, fasting things like that. So, I definitely one want him to follow our practice the religion.

MATIN: Do you face any challenges trying to preserve any traditions or Bangladeshi culture?

MONOWARA: Oh, actually, not because our surrounding people are mostly from Bangladesh and, you know, I, I think if someone wants to follow the religion or culture or, you know, identity, they can do it. I don't Yeah, there are some situation maybe be a little bit of challenging, but to me, it was in if I found something that is happening, like I have to go through something, not religion or not culture, which is not forbidden doing it, I avoid those environment or those event or those people.

MATIN: When you first came to America, where did you find halal and Bengali food?

MONOWARA: Actually, or the place that we came in first the apartment that it was someone that my ex-husband used to know and they were eating halal them so it wasn't much place like couple of places. So, they told me that they're the place they are that I will do even by the meat the first week, they send me their sidewalk like seven eight blocks. So, they used to have like couple of places that it wasn't like, then I ate some non halal food also like going to McDonald's and KFC, but it was for like, first couple of years, but when I figured out that I should not be eating. So, if I couldn't find anything halal, I would be eating vegetarian. So, because I wanted to some people who think like, you know, is not available, let's eat non halal, which I don't believe in if you are firm on your, you know, on your if your farm on your thoughts that you will be invalid. So, you know, it wasn't that bad for us actually.

MATIN: What do you think makes a Bangladeshi and what do you think are considered to be Bangladeshi cultural traits or identity?

MONOWARA: In America? I think the nowadays a lot of Bangladeshi people are here and they easily can manage or maintain or follow or practice the culture and environment that we are here now in Virginia it’s lot of Bangladeshi, a lot of mosque lots of cultural center. So, if anybody wants to follow the easily can follow our practice the culture and religion and at this moment. Let's talk about today, I don't think so I find any challenges or any obstacle following my religion and culture here.

MATIN: What about Bangladeshi culture when you were in New York?

MONOWARA: Actually, your Bengalis are very culture oriented. So, I haven't noticed anything challenging there. Yeah, there are some parties things like that. I used to notice some un-Islamic things happening. But it was avoidable. It's not that I had to involve myself.

MATIN: Do you think there are any problems with Bangladeshi culture?

MONOWARA: Yeah, there are some problems there but we're not Bangladeshi culture I would say, Bangladeshi people because we are here in America and we have different culture, different religion people around us. So, one thing as a Muslim Bangladeshi, our job is to show them who are not like giving them a look that they are not, you know, you hate them, their culture, their religion, no. So, what I think with my neighbor with my non Bengali or non-Muslim friends, I need to I need to show who we are, what kind of religion we follow and we're through our behavior through our norms, and which is like you know, in a religion that I really have to care about if they need anything, if they don't have food and we have to take care of them. So, in regarding that, you know what wherever I go especially I and my husband are around, we always try to keep good relationship with our neighbor, if they need anything, we give them a phone number and email something goes wrong please let us know.

Sometimes I cook I take it to them some kind of desert especially in Ramadan time, we you know, we make some food and take it to their house like hey, this is our, you know, Ramadan very holy month and we should share with you guys and sometimes I also invite non-Muslim people. So, we have to show them who we are because in this world as you know, some people don't have good ideas about Muslim people because of some event, which is wrong, because Quran didn't say that, so we can sometimes I also give them some book or some video to look at them. What does Quran say it's not something that what you guys see on TV or hear from other people. If you go if you check, if you just read this article or maybe read a few pages in Quran, you will know that, you know, we do those people are not following Quran. So, I always try to give the message who we are and how our culture how they will come in our house and you know, I don't have any problem with my neighbor regarding this or my friends because I tried to be liberal with them because I have to respect their culture and their religion also. It's not that I want them to respect my culture my religion only, but they grew up in that environment that the following that religion from the beginning, you know, it’s their treasure so, I have to respect that that I know and you know I at the same time I also tried to convey the message from Quran also as much as I can as a Muslim this is my job to convey messages Quranic verses to other non-Muslim people so I try to do that.

MATIN: Do you consider yourself a Bangladeshi or American?

MONOWARA: Both, I say Bangladeshi-American.

MATIN: What is the difference between being Bangladeshi- American and just Bangladeshi?

MONOWARA: Just Bangladeshi, you don't just Bangladeshi you would say you have no respect for America, even the living here you are earning from here you're getting all kinds of facility and you don't respect and you don't appreciate that I would call not Bangladeshi like for any for India or Pakistan or Nepal or whatever, from Europe. If you think that way, you know, if you do not appreciate what you get from here if you do not love this country. So that's something I have problem. I'm here for a long time. I'm surviving working here and I'm helping a lot of family back home. So, I have to appreciate this country, this country's people, you know, I'm getting a lot of benefits which hadn't been able to get Bangladesh. So, I am very grateful to having those benefits those facilities. So, you know, we should we should be very grateful whoever is here, and I don't have one of them. Like, yes, I'm Bangladeshi. I'm not American. Okay, if you're Bangladeshi go back to Bangladesh. You should some Bangladeshi- American. I was born there. But I'm here now. So, I love Bangladesh and I love us America and you know, that's my motherland. But like, like, for me, I'm here plus 35 years back home. I was only 18 years. So, this is also my country. I grew up here pretty much you know, I work here. I have maybe good life here. So, you know, I know some people don't think that way. But both is my country. I love both countries and I do appreciate America giving me a good life.

MATIN: How do your children and family see their identity?

MONOWARA: My son, he is American. He speaks Bangla. He knows how to read Bangla, I taught him and I would say yeah, he would say he was born here, but I know in his mind or in his heart. He's also some part of Bangladeshi.

MATIN: Where do you meet other Bangladeshi people when you first immigrated to New York?

MONOWARA: So, as I said that we came to when someone would do pick up us from the airport Bangladeshi that my ex-husband used to know so but there wasn't much people, I used to only see like guy like, used to come to their house their friends, but there was only a couple of women I met back then very few, a couple.

MATIN: What was the Bangladeshi community like in New York?

MONOWARA: Back then? they used to... when I left back then it was already 13-14 years in New York so, we used to have lots and lots of community, like from each area in Bangladesh, they used to make club things like that. So, it was a huge amount of community there.

MATIN: What are some struggles or challenges that Bangladeshis face in New York?

MONOWARA: First of all, I'd say finding a job. There are some odd jobs, but it's because bless you know, it's very expensive, like the real estate. So whatever money they make from those jobs is very hard for them to pay in rent, especially the food is okay, it's not that bad. But I see that and you know, it's very small, they, sometimes they have to dig roommate, they have to share, always, they have to share the bathroom, or maybe someone is living in the living room. So, housing and finding a good job is kind of challenging, as I said it is very hard, like, you have to wake up early in the morning, it's very cold, go to the metro, metro is always slow over here, we can just take our car, hate the car and go to work. But New York is kind of communication, like commute to work is very hard. Especially when people work in the city where those restaurant, they have to wake up like 4:30-5 o'clock in the mornings, it's very cold, it's snowing, and New York never closes in snow so, you have to go to work. So that's kind of very much hard I thought.

MATIN: Were you told of any stories of the time when brain still had control over the Bengal region, when you were in school in Bangladesh?

MONOWARA: I read about it and I watch lots and lots of movies, those are very sad, I broke my heart.

MATIN: What did you learn about?

MONOWARA: I learned that they've been, you know, people who are cheated when they got in first time how the way they established the East India Company, and their how they took over, and how they took over the power, the money, how they manipulated people and you know how, and they were there for I think, two to 300 years, and how the way they were, you know, torturing regarding, like, you know, like, how you say that, like, the people that used to work for them, like, they just became the king of that area, like, you know, they took over all kinds of power, money, everything, and they were ruling the country that way they want to, they never care about the people, that native people who belong to that country and with the money, they were easily manipulated some, you know, people in the government and they became the government and even though they had everything, but they weren't treating the people properly, and they abused them a lot. You know, people have been suffering, working, not getting money and lost their land, their house, their family. So, when I see those that made me feel really, really, really sad.

MATIN: Do you know how things were like in Bangladesh when it was under Pakistan's control?

MONOWARA: I don't know I was, I was very young. So, I heard about it, like when East Pakistan was Bangladesh. So, the main reason was, you know, that we are not getting the opportunity or we are not getting any facility regarding the government position, like big, big position, or only West Pakistan, people used to get the job and East Pakistan was very neglected, there was no development happening. And you know, no one was getting, like East Pakistan, people was not getting enough food. Regarding job nothing was there wasn't any concern from the government of West Pakistan for East Pakistan. So that's all I heard, like, you know, we and also there were issues with the language also, I think they used to force to speak their language to this area, with everything that people have been very much hated, neglected, and you know, tortured. That's what I heard and read in the book and watch movie also.

MATIN: What are your thoughts or opinions on the 1971 genocide in Bangladesh?

MONOWARA: Could you please say that again.

MATIN: What are your thoughts or opinions on the 1971 genocide in Bangladesh?

MONOWARA: I don't understand what you mean by genocide.

MATIN: In 1971 the war in Bangladesh.

MONOWARA: What do I think about it?

MATIN: Yes.

MONOWARA: I think it had to be done because the East Pakistan people have been tortured, not developing anything, people are suffering and they are all it used to be an issue both areas. So, it has to be separated because I mean, one area, they only would focus on one area, the only value are giving them job, giving them the facility and other area is not getting it. So, you know, no one would accept it like, you know, they want, they want their rights, their religion rights, I mean, their rights, living their, you know, their job rights, their civic rights, they are not getting anything, so it was very necessary to be separated.

MATIN: Do you know anyone that left Bangladesh and took refuge in India during the war?

MONOWARA: Yeah, yeah, a lot of people move to India from Bangladesh, then, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I know a lot of people.

MATIN: Do you know, anyone who fought in the war?

MONOWARA: The 71’? Oh, yeah, a lot of people around us, I was young, but when I was like old enough to understand a lot of people, I knew that they fought for Bangladesh freedom.

MATIN: When you were in Bangladesh, do you remember what you were taught about Bangladeshi history in school?

MONOWARA: Bangladeshi history, no, I was not thought much Bangladeshi story because it was a much then and it's a country after the war. They've been trying to rebuild the country. So, we had a lot of help from outside and regarding Bangladesh history, it wasn’t much then because I started going to school back in 74’. I was in first grade. So, in three to three years, our history was only the war. So that's something that we've been reading, how 30 million people died, yeah. 30 million people. Right. Yeah, and used to see a lot of documentary how we suffer, how our parents are used to move from one place to another to save ourselves, and how they are suffering from, you know, food, with everything, people and there used to be like a lot of virus bacteria was going on, people are dying. It was very sad. But I did not get it... like there wasn’t much taught to us, there was only like about the war for three, four years, they taught us.

MATIN: What do you know about the famine that occurred in Bangladesh in 1974?

MONOWARA: What do you mean by that?

MATIN: There was a famine that happened in Bangladesh in 1974.

MONOWARA: oh the...

MATIN: Durbhikho.

MONOWARA: Yeah, you're right, right. Yeah, I don't remember that. But I know that we had a neighbor, who is here in America. He told me that they've been suffering for, you know, not having food, and my dad used to send them food. So, he always said that in front of other people. But I personally don't remember anything, but I saw a lot of pictures in newspaper, then, you know, yeah. They've been suffering a lot.

MATIN: Do you know of any Bangladeshis that went to the Middle East to work?

MONOWARA: Oh yeah, a lot of them meet 70’, 76’, 77’, up to 80’, 81’, even now. Yeah.

MATIN: Do you know what kinds of jobs they did and how they were treated?

MONOWARA: They were not treated much, how do you say that? fairly but at the beginning, like when people been going there from mid 70s, they've been making a lot of monies then. Of course, they are not treated, they've been treated very badly. They've been working in the store, cleaning jobs, you know, not much academic jobs of course not, those are like labor. So, they used to clean, they used to work for those rich people there and you know, Saudi Arabia, they work for cleaning those holy area, lots of Bangladeshi there. They started going down 1975, but they've been making a lot of money, which they don't make anymore, but they still they do go.

MATIN: Did you ever learn about New York or United States history in school Bangladesh?

MONOWARA: No, I did not.

MATIN: What kinds of jobs did you hold in the United States?

MONOWARA: When I came in here first, I started working in McDonalds then I start working in deli. Then I started going to college in New York. Then I do some computer training, then I graduated. Then I got this government job in for a government, federal contractor for government. So, I started working for Department of Defense for a long time, 15 years. Now, I did work for Census then I worked for Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. So currently I'm working for IRS.

MATIN: What was the immigration process like for you?

MONOWARA: When I came in here, it was very easy for us then government gave us an amnesty, there are some conditions needed to meet. So, we processed the paper and our lawyer helped us so it was easy for me to get paper.

MATIN: What was the naturalization process like?

MONOWARA: It was very fast and very easy. The interview process was very easy back then for a few years, like 1987-88’. So it wasn't that bad for me at all. It was very easy. Usually it's very hard, but back then there was amnesty going on so we fell into that program, and it was easy for us.

MATIN: Do you know anyone who would marry African American women and do contract marriages in order to get their citizenship?

MONOWARA: I heard about it. I saw a few couple odd couple like the married African American lady. But I don't know if they got the paper. I don't know. Two of... one or two, I think as I saw them.

MATIN: While you're in Boenish, did you hear of Bengalis immigrating to different countries other than America or to other parts of the United States?

MONOWARA: Yes, they used to go to London, a lot of people used to go to London, and some people would go to German and some people would go to Middle East they used to go live for work, but I don’t so as immigrants. A lot of people used to go to London, in these two countries I used to hear a lot like America and London.

MATIN: What was it like working with other groups of people in America?

MONOWARA: It was good for me as I told you before, like from my experience, I am lucky that I was able to work in a very good environment and people are very helpful. I used to work with lovely Hispanic people and some American people also.

MATIN: Do you still reminisce about your life in Bangladesh?

MONOWARA: Yeah.

MATIN: What is your favorite memory of Bangladesh or your life there?

MONOWARA: My favorite memory my school was very fun for me and you know we used to go to picnic with the family like we used to cook from scratch I miss that. My dad had a really, really huge house had a huge front yard. I used to play badminton there then we used to eat snacks outside street food a lot, I miss those a lot.

MATIN: What do you miss about living in Bangladesh?

MONOWARA: I didn’t get the question like here America what I miss in Bangladesh? Oh, definitely the food which is like no chemicals and also the security, Bangladesh is that much secure nowadays more issues are going on with the security like you know it's not that easy for a woman living by herself in an apartment which in America you can easily do that. Especially the traffic jam in the street Bangladesh is like a big issue back home, over here is not that issue.

MATIN: How did you keep track of events that took place in Bangladesh after you left?

MONOWARA: I did not use to take any, keep track of event or anything we have like festival you know we have our holiday. But nowadays we have all kinds of resource if someone wants to find anything the city can keep track of it.

MATIN: Is there anything you would change about your life or your immigration journey?

MONOWARA: If I wanted to change anything?

MATIN: Is there anything you would change about your life or your immigration journey?

MONOWARA: Yeah, nowadays I think about I study a lot of Islam and I tried to understand like the religion that I am following is the correct one for me or I read Quran a lot I try to understand how I can I definitely believe in Quran and the message in Quran that I tried to convey this message to other people who doesn't follow any religion or who is not practicing any religion. So that's kind of my goal to like, you know, study Quran understand the interpretation of Quran and, you know, convey those Quranic verses to other people who would be interested to know. Or maybe I can get some interest on those people who doesn't have any interest. There's something that I really, really want to do.

MATIN: Do you have any regrets?

MONOWARA: Living back home?

MATIN: Just about your life?

MONOWARA: Yes, sometimes I feel like if, when I go home, right. I feel like that this is my country, I belong here. Like, when I get up from the airport, I have a feeling... a feeling growth inside me like, I belong to this country. Then I regret like when a lot of people back home died, my you know, my uncle, my aunt, I was there when my parents died, my childhood friend, a lot of them died, you know, they got married, they had kids, I, you know, I did not... was part of that fun, or those tragic moment when they died, I wasn't there and sometimes I heard someone died after six months, maybe. So those things really hurt, you know, hurts me like, you know, I would have been there I could be with them. That's something that I really missed.

MATIN: What accomplishments are you most proud of?

MONOWARA: Being here in America, I'm very much proud of, holding my religion, my culture, my faith and I met a lot of good people. I met a lot of good people here in America and I learned a lot about manners, and respect.

MATIN: Is there anything else you would like to share say about your life?

MONOWARA: I... one thing I want to say people who are... people someone like me who immigrants here and they need to... they need to research. They need to go through different resources and research being here in America, coming from Bangladesh, Muslim country, third world country, come up with a plan, a plan they should have like so they will not sleep in the middle. Like regarding going to school, getting education if they want to, having a job or being or as a household wife, you know, there should be a plan that someone needs to follow. Otherwise, it's going to be hard to achieve or be successful. So, if someone doesn't, I mean, seeing that someone doesn't have a plan. They never could reach to the point that they want to. So, whoever wants to immigrant to any other country for a better life, make sure that they have a plan that’s all I’ll suggest to someone.