‘I make this journey for my children and grandchildren,’ the Syrian Mayada told the Dutch Seet. Her husband had died long before the war. She tried to explain how the war had forced her four sons to be spread out over different countries:
‘Two sons are still in Syria. One of them is trying to complete his studies so he will have a diploma, but every day he is terrified that the army will pick him up. My oldest son came with me and his family to Turkey and also wants to make the crossing. And my youngest son went to Germany last year. I am now trying to go to him and will try to arrange residency permits for my sons who are still in Syria.’
‘Do you want to bring them all together again?’ Seet asked. ‘Yes, I do, she said, ‘I am worried every minute about the safety of my sons.'
At one time Mayada was a beautician and she had her own hair salon at home. In the city where they lived there were many tourists. But the war made the tourists disappear and there was nothing left of the house or salon. ‘Is Syria a beautiful country?’ Seet
