Abdullah

Abdullah is a student at the University of Oregon in Family and Human Services, called FHS. He moved from Saudi Arabia to America two years ago with his roommate Abdul.

Here he is visiting Manzil Midrash, a group of Arab, Muslim, and Jewish students who meet to discuss a broad range of topics including prayer, politics, and life in America. 

Abdullah was one of the panel speakers for a discussion on Socialism in the Middle East. The discussions take place in the Mills International Center at the U of O.

Abdullah, never one to pass up a new opportunity, tries his first day of skiing on snow, not sand. He spent the day at Hoodoo mountain near Bend.  

With the help of Oregon Adaptive Ski he spends a beautiful winter day learning to use a sit ski. Usually this would be outside of Abdullah's price range but the Outdoor Program (OP) at the U of O helped to send him on his trip. He was partnered with a representative from OAS as well as Elle Bartlett from the U of O OP. 

Abdullah uses the shuttle to get to and from campus each day. When he first moved to Oregon he lived in Coos Bay and attended Lane Community College to improve his english. He said that the ride to and from school each day was brutal. It was all worth while because of the love and inclusion he felt with his host family, whom he still keeps in touch with. 

Abdullah in a group interview for a job with FHS,he was nervous but felt good about how he did. 

Filling out a questionnaire on why he would be a good fit for the job, he wore his Saudi and American flag pin for good luck.

Abdullah and his roommate Abdul usually sit on the ground to have dinner because it is easier. They live a little ways from campus next to the YMCA and go there regularly. 

When he was 9 he had spinal surgery that resulted in him using the walker. 

Abdullah doesn't feel limited by his walker, he doesn't like it when people say disabled because its just different. He can do  anything he wants it just takes a little more work. 

Abdullah doesn't know if he would have been interested in coming to America if Abdul didn't come as well. They work well together and it is nice to have a friend to talk about home with. They have known each other since high school and have been close ever since. Abdullah went to a high school for disabled people but decided that he wanted to go to a regular high school which was tough at first but he learned so much more because of it. He first came to America in high school and loved it enough to come back.