Throughout the year, freshman Brahim Bouzrara plans to increase his understanding about his family’s culture by learning and practicing Islam.

Bouzrara said his father, Samir Bouzrara, was born and raised in Tunisia. In order to learn more about his father’s beliefs, Bouzrara said he has begun to embrace the culture himself.  

“I quit my church to convert to Islam, which my dad is teaching me about with the Qur’an,” Bouzrara said. “And he’s even teaching me some Arabic.”

Bouzrara said he feels very grateful for the opportunity to experience a different culture hands-on.

“It’s nice to be different and learn about all these cultural things,” Bouzrara said. “Most people don’t really get the opportunity to do that in their own homes.”

Andrea Bouzrara, his mother, said her children have grown up constantly learning more about Tunisian culture.

“It’s been really eye-opening, especially for Brahim,” Andrea Bouzrara said. “He loves learning about other cultures and other things. (My children) love that they have that part of their life that is different from other people.”

Brahim Bouzrara said because his family is very serious about Islamic culture, he got the opportunity to visit Tunisia in 2002, 2006 and 2008 in order to see the cultural differences up close.

“I’ve been there three times, when my dad goes to visit his family,” Brahim Bouzrara said. “There’s a lot of traditionalism. It’s a third-world country, so it’s not as crazy and advanced as it is here. We hardly ever watched TV or spent time using electronics.”

Andrea Bouzrara said she lived in Tunisia for three years with her husband and got the opportunity to learn about the culture right in front of her eyes.

“You’re right on the Mediterranean Sea. The landscape is just so beautiful,” Andrea Bouzrara said. “The people are so warm and generous and loving. It’s a very warm Mediterranean culture.”

Andrea Bouzrara said her family celebrates several Tunisian traditions and holidays here at home in Minnesota.

“We have a huge contusion of Tunisian and Moroccan friends here in Minnesota, and whenever there is a Muslim holiday we get together with them and celebrate,” Andrea Bouzrara said.

Brahim Bouzrara said his family celebrates Islamic culture mainly by studying Islam and celebrating Ramadan.

“One time I celebrated Ramadan with my full family and there were some ceremonial traditions,” Bouzrara said. “They butchered a lamb and then cooked it, then that’s what we ate.”

Andrea Bouzrara said that her husband does a great job of incorporating the culture into their lives in Minnesota.

“It’s just a different perspective on life. Samir has done a really good job of incorporating the culture into our lives here,” Bouzrara said. “Most of what my kids do know (about the culture) they’ve learned here, from their dad and from our Tunisian friends.”