Attan
THE STORY
Attan is a symbol of unity. It not only belongs to a single province but to all of Afghanistan. In the north, some Attan movements can’t be done because men have to have long hair to do them, which only men in the south have. In the south it is a professional dance. It is practiced in Pakhtia, Ghazni, Kandahar and Khost. Women are not allowed to dance there. Simply by nature people learn Attan through family. Most people dance outside.Iran and India have a very strong influence in the context of dance, and both have very beautiful style. There are more than 100 stations in the TV, so there are several ways to watch foreign dances. Young Afghans do Iranian and Indian dance more mixed with Afghan dances. Youths in Germany go to the disco and then they dance European dances. But, everything is Afghan dancing at weddings. My kids are now 10 and 12 years old and have heard Indian music on the radio. They also have learned Indian language through songs and music.
I don't feel German. I've never met someone who is Afghan who feels German. You cannot feel German. The society does not let me in. I think it's just a matter that the German story is different than the American history. In USA, all people are immigrants. In Germany not.
I had studied chemistry, I've also studied English in India, and my father actually studied in Washington, DC earlier, so I was not like other Afghans (illiterate), when I arrived here. I was then an employee with UNICEF. We tried to live in the new system while at the same time keeping the food and clothes of Afghanistan, because then one is accepted more with other Afghans. With children it is very difficult. The children were 2 and 4 when I came to Germany. I could not raise the children 100% as Afghans, but I've tried it. I have tried to teach the children the Afghan language.
THE STORYTELLER
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Age: 52
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Pashtun
STORY ID: 00022