The Omran family.

DEARBORN — Few Michiganians may be aware that their state is home to a small Bahraini community. 

The Omran family is from the small island country of Bahrain and has lived in Michigan for the past three and a half years.  Dr. Qasim Omran and his wife have three sons and one daughter. 

They fled their homeland in search of a better life.  Omran, a physician, has worked as a medical doctor for 25-years. In Bahrain he worked at Salmaniya Hospital. “Like many Bahraini physicians, I stood against the decision of the authorities to ban the paramedics and ambulances from evacuating the injured protesters from the conflict field, the ‘Pearl Roundabout,’ he said. “It is sad to see many Bahraini families and professionals leave their country because of political oppression, fear of arrest, torture or extrajudicial killings under a ruthless dictatorship that is ruling the country.” 

According to Omran, many families were forced to leave the wealth they spent their lives establishing and the properties they built, because of the uprisings. 

Adnan, the eldest son, who is currently a university student, described the difference between the two lifestyles. 

“Socially, Bahrain and the U.S. greatly differ,” he said. “There is a much more social connections and dependence in Bahrain, whereas in the U.S. it is very loose and disconnected when compared to Bahrain.” 

Adnan Omran said that adapting is hard no matter where you go, especially if you have lived in the same community for such a long period. He said what makes it even more difficult is when you have very limited exposure to other communities and cultures around the world. 

Qusay, the second eldest son, who is currently a high school student, said what he misses most about Bahrain is the sense of belonging. 

“I can find that here, too, but it comes much more naturally there,” Qusay said.

Adnan Omran also described something that most people don’t know about Bahrain. 

“The amount of kindness from the locals, it is simply unexpected,” he said. “Furthermore, something most tourists and visitors won’t be able to experience is the micro-cultures present within all the villages.”

Dr. Omran and his family plan on staying in the States for now. When asked whether he plans on going back, he said, “Bahrain is my country and we will go back as soon as the circumstances permit.”