Hi, I’m Alaa

I’m Alaa Msalma from Daraa Syria. I was born in 20/6/1991. I am currently 26 years old. I have two children, Samer and Meeral; we are living now in Jordan. I was born in a small house with my mother, father, three sisters and two brothers; they meant everything to me.

I studied in the ‘Heteen’ elementary school. Afterwards, i went to middle school and high school then to college in 2009, I wanted to study international law and become a lawyer, but my mother did not allow me. She told me not to, and instead to study French, which jobs had a higher demand for. I fulfilled my mother’s wishes and studied French literature in Damascus College.

The first year was very hard, the language was not easy. I would study and return to my governorate, Daraa. I visited my family every week and returned to my college. The situation was normal and happy and our life was like everyone else. I succeeded on the second year, of course after a lot of effort 😒 because it was hard. In time, they opened a branch in French literature in my governorate. I decided to go back and study where my family was, which is better and I’ll stay with them. So then I returned and started to study and give French lessons to students because I become proficient in French 😝.

​We were living our lives but the circumstances changed and the war began. There were killings, demonstrations and danger, so I would go to college afraid. My family was scared for me, but they didn’t allow it to stop their life.