PLUMA DESIGNS
  • Team Pluma
  • Services
    • Salon Services
    • Pluma Styles
    • Styling Tips
    • Testimonials
  • Products
  • Pluma Snippets
    • The Snippets Blog
    • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Call 480-922-9315
    • Hours
    • Our Location
    • Contact Us
    • Request Appointment
    • Request Consultation
  • Books
    • Living Brave
    • Dear Son Dear Mom

Pluma Snippets


​Welcome to Pluma Snippets, our monthly newsletter. A collection of beauty ideas, styling tips, monthly specials, book recommendations, and local events created and compiled by salon owner, Hilda Villaverde. Included is a commentary written with a fresh perspective on living a not-so-ordinary everyday life… guaranteed to be thought provoking and inspiring.  Sign up today!

A story worth repeating. . .

3/1/2022

0 Comments

 
Most Pluma clients know her as Samantha. Her official name is Ibtisam Nisan. She was born in Iraq forty years ago. At the age of nine, along with her mother and four siblings, they escaped from Iraq and the warfare of Saddam Hussein.
Along with hundreds of others, Samantha’s family walked for several days until they reached Turkey. While the people walked, many carrying their children and whatever belongings they could hold, American planes dropped food and water to keep them alive. She remembers little about this walk, except they were frightened, cold, wet from rain and they were exhausted and their mother kept them moving forward.
In Turkey, they became refugees living in tents for the next four years until the United Nations led by the United States and its coalitions placed them in safe countries. During their time living in tents, there was no education for the children, minimal medical provision and limited food supplies.  She remembers her mother cooking on a twelve-inch, close to the ground small stove fueled by a propane tank. 

Eventually Samantha’s family was sent to Canada. Their neighbors from Iraq had immigrated to the United States. Eventually, Samantha and one of the neighbor’s sons, Mike (Shleimun), reconnected and married and she moved to Phoenix where they live and have two very handsome sons, ages twelve and eight.

As a hairstylist and assistant at Pluma for almost 4 years, Samantha is noticeably talented with hair, scheduling, managing inventory and caring for her own clients. All of this she accomplishes thoughtfully and efficiently and with a great sense of humor. She is a treasure to all of us. 

Recently I asked Samantha what she values most in her life. Without much hesitation she answered; Family, Freedom and Education.
​
Although her parents and siblings still live in Canada, they are closely connected. Her husband’s extensive family live close to them in Phoenix and they are a close-knit family as well, sharing their daily lives, Christian faith and moral standards. Of course, family matters to her.

As far as freedom, she explained that in Iraq women had no rights. They could not drive or work. If they did, they were branded as bad women. “Here in this country women are equal to men in independence and you can speak your mind and you can practice the religion you choose. These freedoms most of us in this country take for granted.” Of course, freedom matters to her.

As for education; when you meet Samantha, she appears shy and quiet, but after spending time with her, you know she is intelligent, well informed, observant and educated. Samantha appreciates the opportunities we have in this country for education. Her sons are thriving in school and she and her husband make sure of it.  The opportunity of equal education for both men and women matter greatly to her.
​
Samantha is a woman of her word; she places her family first along with her faith in God. She does not take for granted the freedoms she has come to expect and appreciate living in this country. She will always remember the support from America that kept them alive during their escape from Iraq and the four years living in tents. And she will continue to make sure she and her husband provide the best education they can for their children.

Samantha’s faith, dependability, organizational skills and seventh-sense of managing our schedule has kept our doors open through the past two very challenging years. I am indebted to her showing up every day….no matter what! 

With love,
Hilda
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Hilda Villaverde is the owner manager and stylist at Pluma Designs, a hair salon studio in Scottsdale, AZ.  A recognized public speaker, Hilda earned her Doctorate in Religious Studies with a minor in Pastoral Counseling from Emerson Institute. 

    She is the author of ten published books, including her newest book in the Living Brave series; Living Brave...Women In Business, Compelling Stories of How ONE Can Make a Difference. 
    ​www.livingbrave.net

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    June 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

HOURS
Monday - Saturday 8am to 5pm
Stylist availability varies.
Call 480-922-9315
Let's Get Social !
CONTACT US
Picture
7000 Shea Boulevard, ​Suite 1607
Scottsdale, AZ 85254

480-922-9315

    Sign up for Snippets Monthly Newsletter

Subscribe to Newsletter

©2023 Pluma Designs Hair Studio, Scottsdale, AZ. All rights reserved.
Site powered by GET WEB Get Going!
  • Team Pluma
  • Services
    • Salon Services
    • Pluma Styles
    • Styling Tips
    • Testimonials
  • Products
  • Pluma Snippets
    • The Snippets Blog
    • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Call 480-922-9315
    • Hours
    • Our Location
    • Contact Us
    • Request Appointment
    • Request Consultation
  • Books
    • Living Brave
    • Dear Son Dear Mom