My name is Zahra Bakir. I was born in Edinburgh and I'm now studying at Leeds University. I hope to become a professional interpreter/translator one day.

Living here (in England) it is difficult to familiarise yourself with anything Arabic - Arabic music, dance, Arabic food.

Zahra often goes to Arabic cafes in Leeds

I do eat Arabic food at home though and there are restaurants and cafes where you can taste Arabic food. I like them because it's a little reminder of what my background is and my parent's background is.

My favourite Arabic performer is Fairuz. My favorite song is 'Habbaitak Bissayf' which means, 'I loved you in the Summer' and then it goes on to 'I loved you in the Winter'.

Arabs love the night

In the Middle East people are just as active at night as they are in the day.

Lebanese food includes tea and baklava

Arabs love the night, they are known for that throughout history. They have even written poetry about the night.

You feel safe in Arab countries at night. You go out and places are generally open. In England, except for London, things close around six o'clock. Everyone goes home.

I would go crazy

Where to live in the future is a dilema. I would love to go to back to Iraq - or rather go to Iraq and rebuild the country. This is another reason why I learnt interpreting. But England is my home, I have lived here all my life.

Lots of my friends from the Middle East tell me I would never survive in there because I would just go crazy!

Arab men get the wrong idea

In certain countries, Saudi Arabia for example, they (men) will not take a woman seriously. They are beginning to more and more but when I go out there I'm quite open and friendly. I can't be like that with some Arab men because they get the wrong idea.

In Leeds, Zahra lives independently but visits her family in London during holidays.

They think I'm 'interested' in them. It's really insulting but if you just catch somebody's eye, by mistake, or if you smile or say a nice word that's it, you are in big trouble because they think you like them. They are unrelentless in trying to catch you or whatever they want.

Living alone

If I went to an Arabic country and lived there I would have to be married or with brothers or with my family who could support me and make sure that nothing happened to me.

But alone... I could live alone in England but I could never live alone in an Arabic country.