Tanzania: Summary of Interview with Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina

Introduction

Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina was born and raised in Eastern Africa in Lindi, a small city in Tanzania. He moved to the United States in 1976 after traveling and moving around the world for years. After completing secondary school in Lindi he went on to receive bachelor’s degrees from the Aligarh Muslim University and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad as well as both a master's degree and PhD in Middle East and Islamic Studies from the University of Toronto. After completing his PhD in 1976, Dr. Sachedina moved to the United States to teach in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. Along the way, Dr. Sachedina had a family, made connections with a variety of different people, and saw the world, all while studying what he loved. Even though he has experience in his field and career, he is looking forward to new opportunities that may come his way. 

Reasons for Moving

In Tanzania, migration is very common. Dr. Sachedina remembers a lot of people moving to or at least making plans to move to countries like England and India in pursuit of jobs and education. That is why he left his home country to pursue his education after receiving his high school diploma in Tanzania. Sachedina shared: “I got a scholarship to go to a university in India. I got my bachelor’s degree from Aligarh Muslim University in India; then another bachelor's from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in Iran”. Dr. Sachedina first came to North America in 1967 when he was accepted at the University of Toronto. He went on to complete both his master's and PhD programs there.

After completing his PhD at the University of Toronto, he moved on to begin his teaching career in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia in 1976. Dr. Sachedina stayed and taught at the University of Virginia for over thirty years before being hired at George Mason University in 2012, where he has been ever since.

Perceptions of the United States

Dr. Sachedina was asked a few questions pertaining to his original thoughts and expectations of the United States upon moving here. When asked why he chose to come to the United States, Dr. Sachedina mentioned that he did not initially choose the United States as his destination but rather followed the opportunities that were available, which led him to Virginia. However, he did mention how similar Canada and the United States seemed to him. Sachedina said: “The United States looked just like Canada but further ahead in time”. He went on to explain that by this he meant that when he first visited in the 1960s and 1970s, the amount of large buildings that were seen everywhere the United States looked more advanced than Canada did at that time.

Dr. Sachedina recalled that after moving to the United States in 1976 he was surprised by some of the attitudes that he encountered from the people around him compared to other countries that he had lived in. Other people’s reactions varied between the different countries. In Iran he was treated like that was his home and did not experience any disrespect even though he was not born there. Dr. Sachedina shared: “I was never singled out in Iran. I was asked ‘Which part of Iran are you from?’”. Here in the United States, he says he was surprised and disappointed when he noticed that there was a disconnect between the people. He said: “America is very individualistic, neighbors don’t rely on each other here”.

Challenges

Dr. Sachedina faced some challenges when he migrated to the United States. He recalled that one of the first and biggest obstacles he faced was time. Having first left his home country in the 1950s and 1960s, it took longer to travel than it does now because of the growth in commercial travel. That said, Dr. Sachedina had to plan out his journey for a while before committing to it. Another challenge was assimilating into the different cultures of the new areas where he was living. Dr. Sachedina shared that despite the challenges of culture shock, he continued his education and career as a teacher. When talking about different attitudes towards immigration in and outside of an academic setting, Dr. Sachedina recalls: “They are very insensitive outside of the university, in rural areas. Within academics, it is better”.

Accomplishments and Future Aspirations

After a long journey, Dr. Sachedina looked back on what moments in his life have made him the proudest as well as what he still hopes to achieve in the future. As for his proudest moments, Dr. Sachedina spoke fondly of his family, his career, and the connections that he made at different academic institutions along the way.

As for what he is still hoping to accomplish, Dr. Sachedina simply stated: “New opportunities.” He mentioned that opportunities could come to him due to his vast knowledge of languages and religions, specifically Muslim and Islam religions.

Dr. Sachedina spoke about how grateful he is that his students, both current and past, have been interested in his story. He is glad that people want to hear others stories. Dr. Sachedina mentioned that some of his students wanted him to write an autobiography, but he is not sure if he will.

Message About Immigration

To conclude the interview, Dr. Sachedina was asked what he wished more people knew about immigration. Dr. Sachedina stated: “The United States has a lot of things to teach but is blinded by the fear of immigrants and prejudice towards people of color. The United States is a country of immigrants and I think people forgot that.”

Dr. Sachedina also talked about how the process of migration is not as well understood as some believe. He discussed how slow the process really is and that, while it’s not easy, it can be worth it. He said: “It takes time. It’s not an overnight thing, there is a lot that goes into it. It’s a rich experience, with both good and bad. The positives outweigh the negatives”.