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This is Shooq

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And I'm living normally as a Yemen Woman.

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[Music]

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This young woman comes from the
south coastal town called Mukalla

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And it's been a very rough few years
living through this grueling civil war.

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On April 2, 2015
Al-Qaeda attacked the central Bank

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and seized millions of U.S. Dollars before
taking control of the Presidential Palace

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Soon after, the entire city of Mukalla
was under their control.

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Schools were shut, offices were closed

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and many people were virtually locked
inside of their homes for 6 months.

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But that was 4 years ago, and now,
daily life has gotten back to normal.

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Life is so safe, we are like...

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the safest government in Yemen

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and we are having our normal life.

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Shrooq is back in school
and doing very well.

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I'm studying Architecture
and Environmental Planning.

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And you're also studying English?

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I'm not Studying English

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You just learned it

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like you're brilliant?

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Yeah, I got it from Disney Channel.

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Which movies?

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Hannah Montana...

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Yeah, exactly

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When we think about Yemen

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We tend to think about war and terrorism.

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That's exactly what I thought
before arriving here...

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But things in Hadhramaut at least,
the region that we are currently in

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seems to be going okay

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Sure, there's a lot of police checkpoints
and security,

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but what I've been seeing is markets 
that are lively,

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late night concerts that are crowded

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and a riverside that is charming

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The city is honestly beautiful

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People are out and about on the streets,
just like in your hometown.

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Okay, let's get back on topic to
Shrooq and her role in Yemeni society.

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There's no denying that 
being a female here overall

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isn't as easy as in the Western World.

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There are many restrictions revolving 
around religion and tradition

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Which can be discussed in a separate video

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but she's doing everything 
in her power to fight it

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starting with showing her face

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because about 99% of women in her 
city keep it completely covered

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I'm showing who I am and my identity

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as simple as that, that's how it should be

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In my vision, women are half 
of the society.

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so women trying to do what men can do here

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so me and my friends and a lot of women
do the same what men can do

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working, studying, having our activities

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a lot of normal things
to have a normal life

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Shrooq and a couple of her girlfriends

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started an activists club
in Yemen called Takween

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which revives culture in Hadhramaut

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We are doing like a... musician nights,
movie nights, discussion books

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also we care about how we can develop 
ourselves as youth

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to build our own area, 
small area to live in peace.

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It's amazing how they're all
so fluent in English

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Hi, I'm Najat

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Hi my name is Shrooq

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Hi I'm Sara

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Hello I'm Safa

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When I'm hanging out with them,
I feel like I'm home in the U.S.

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hanging out with my friends.

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And believe it or not, being a woman
in Yemen does have its benefits

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Yeah, women go to 
the next level...

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(Laughing)

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I've spent the last 24 hours 
with these girls

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and I'm amazed by the priorities they have

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especially with policemen

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In our society, a society filled 
with traditions and culture

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they believe that they should take care
and everyone should take care of women

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because women like,
um, need to be protected

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yeah, during this messed up situation

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It's good to be a woman

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in checkpoints and those things
in lines and that things.

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Najat stopped by there,
but there so crowded

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so he said, okay we'll make the place
for you Najat...

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Who said?... The policeman

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The policeman?

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They let you come in?

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Women next level... Yeah, women, queens!

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It's great to see Shrooq and her friends

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paving the way for the future of Yemen

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They are so sweet and so sincere

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I really hope the situation clears up

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So more people can

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experience their hospitality

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and see the beautiful wonders of Yemen

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We're trying to have a normal life

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Despite everything that's happened

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here in Mukalla, we have a simple
normal life

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Amazing, Thank you

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I'm Drew Binsky, and if you like my 
travel videos, please click subscribe and

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join me as I plan to visit 
every country in the world