Södertälje
The Kind Blacksmith
I started school as a child, but school never captured my interest. I preferred to work and learn something with my hands instead. Therefore, I started as an apprentice to a blacksmith. I was only about seven years old.
I was born in Qamishli to a poor family. My parents had come there from the village of Zaz in Turkey. I never got the chance to know my father. He died shortly after I was born.
My mother was left alone with us children. She worked hard to support the family and take care of us. When my older siblings grew old enough, they also started working to help her support the family. We were poor, but we had each other.
I started school as a child, but school never captured my interest. I preferred to work and learn something with my hands instead. Therefore, I started as an apprentice to a blacksmith. I was only about seven years old.
It was a hard life for such a young child. I tried to do my best and work hard, but sometimes I was punished by my first employer. In the end, I left him and started working at another blacksmith shop. There, I earned three Syrian pounds a week. Every week, I gave the money to my mother. I knew it was needed at home.
I continued working as a blacksmith for eight years. That is how my professional life began – with small hands, hard work, and a great responsibility for the family.
Later, I moved to Damascus, where I continued to work as a blacksmith. There, I worked alongside Egyptians and stayed for about a year. Syria was going through a period of unrest and political conflict at the time, which is why I returned to Qamishli.
In Qamishli, I opened my own blacksmith shop. It was an important time in my life. I had gone from being a young boy working for others to owning a workshop and having a trade of my own.
However, life took another turn. Taxes became high, and it became difficult to continue the business. So I closed my blacksmith shop and traveled to Beirut.
I ended up staying in Beirut for 24 years. There, I worked for a German industrial company and continued to build my career. Many years passed, and life changed once again.
I emigrated to Sweden and started working for Södertälje Municipality. There, I worked in cleaning services for 18 years.
The hardest part in Sweden was the language. Swedish felt difficult, and it wasn’t easy to start over in a new country. I tried to learn the language, but after some time, I realized I wanted to work instead.
I told the staff at the school that I wanted a job. They listened to me and helped me find one. For me, work became a gateway into the new society.
After many years of work, retirement came. Life grew calmer.
Today, I spend most of my time on my farm. That’s where I feel at home. I enjoy being there, and I often welcome my friends. We meet, talk, and spend time together.
I don’t feel idle. I always have something to do and something to think about. After a long life of work, I have learned to appreciate the simple things: a quiet day on the farm, a friend coming over to visit, and time moving at its own pace.
My life has spanned from Qamishli to Damascus, from Beirut to Sweden. I have worked with my hands for most of my life. I have been an apprentice, a blacksmith, an industrial worker, and a municipal employee.
Now, I am a retiree.
But I haven’t stopped living.
I live a quieter life – in my own way, among my farm, my friends, and my memories.
The interview was recorded: May 12, 2026
Gevriye Issa passed away on September 16, 2026
