Refugee to Resident

An educated girl from a prosperous family in Iraq finds her world turned upside down by circumstances arising from the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein. <br /> <br />With her young husband she flees first to Iran, then Turkey, experiencing the humiliation, discomfort and powerlessness of being a refugee. She gives birth to a baby boy, lives in a tiny hut with no electricity or running water, tries to protect her baby from hungry rats and attempts again and again to get approval from the UN to migrate. <br /> <br />After years of hardship and persistence, Ibtihal and her small family arrive in Australia, where her youthful ambition leads her to study and later teach art as therapy for trauma. <br /> <br />The book includes photos of the author's story and art work.