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'I want to see America,' says Tajik grandmother

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The Golden Gate Bridge is shown June 28, 2016, in San Francisco. A 72-year-old Tajik woman is studying English to travel to her dream country, the US. [AFP]

The Golden Gate Bridge is shown June 28, 2016, in San Francisco. A 72-year-old Tajik woman is studying English to travel to her dream country, the US. [AFP]

VOSE DISTRICT, Tajikistan -- Marziyamo Sharifova, a 72-year-old Tajik woman, is studying English intensively to make her dream come true -- traveling to the United States, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)'s Tajik service reported Friday (October 20).

"I want to see America," said Sharifova, a resident of Chordara village in Vose District, Khatlon Province, who has never left her country before.

Sharifova learned most about her dream country from a nephew who lives in the US. "He always praises this country and tells interesting stories," she said.

Sharifova said she was considered an "excellent pupil" at school and spoke Russian well, however she was not able to continue her education because her relatives married her, an orphan, off at age 14.

"But [my] love of books has survived until now ... I now often translate Russian to Tajik for the children in the village," said the mother of six sons.

Umejon, a straight-A student at the local school, is teaching Sharifova English. "Grandma Marziyamo has a good memory and talent for studying the language," he said.

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