2007年VOA标准英语-First Somali Shopping Center in Minneapolis, Mi

By Deborah Block
Minneapolis, Minnesota
13 April 2007

Since 1991, thousands of people have fled war and anarchy¹ in the East African country of Somalia, and many have settled in the United States. The largest group is in the Midwest state of Minnesota.  Most live in the state's largest city, Minneapolis, where several Somali shopping centers have sprung up in recent years. VOA's Deborah Block visited one of them.

Karmel Center is the first Somali shopping mall in the United States. Six years ago the mall opened in a sprawling², two-story building in a Somali neighborhood in Minneapolis.  Dozens of merchants in small shops sell everything from home decorations to beauty products to clothing from Somalia and goods from other countries.  Many were merchants back home and started their own business here because they could not find work. 

Businesswoman Busad Kheyre talks about female³ Somali clothing. "This one is [worn] underneath⁴ this one.  We don't want to be naked," she explains.

Shop Owners Busad Kheyre and Asha Habad

Busad Kheyre sells traditional Somali clothing along with the latest American styles. She and her business partner Asha Habad only opened their shop six months ago. They say local Somalians are slowly hearing about their store.

"But we have our own friends and relatives and family - both sides - that is where we are getting all our customers."

Customer Deka Abdi, 22, came to the United States when she was seven years old.   Although she considers herself a typical American, she values Somali culture and says she occasionally⁵ wears a traditional headscarf.

"Mostly when I'm having a bad hair day to be honest," she laughs, but adds, "I [also] wear it when I'm going to the mosque⁶ to make my prayers and when I'm going to visit my family members who like me to have my hair covered for respect."

The mall is also a place to relax, gossip⁷ and trade job tips. Some people reconnect with family and friends they may not have seen since they left Somalia. Others make their way to a Muslim prayer room. Nearby is a computer business that teaches computer skills and provides internet access.  

Owner Mohamood Isse says many Somalis want to know what is happening in Somalia. "They check all the Somali websites on the news from back home, and with e-mail they stay in touch with families and friends."

Local Somali groups estimate⁸ that at least 25,000 Somalis live in Minnesota.  At this shop they can find Somali music and movies. 

Customer Ahmed Khadiye says one DVD is a mystery thriller⁹ made in the United States has a deeper meaning about the changing role of many Somali women. "They are showing that they have power in the United States of America and that they can go ahead and boss around the men," he says.

People also come to Karmel Mall to find items like handcrafted traditional Somali furniture. Zeki Ismail says his benches are also popular with people who are not Somali, because they are beautiful and practical. "They're easy to move from house to house and easy to carry," he notes.

He says he has found a home in Minneapolis among members of the Somali community, a place where he feels comfortable and can make a modest living.

1 anarchy   

n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• There would be anarchy if we had no police.要是没有警察，社会就会无法无天。
• The country was thrown into a state of anarchy.这国家那时一下子陷入无政府状态。

2 sprawling   

adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
• a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇

3 female   

adj.雌的，女(性)的；n.雌性的动物，女子

参考例句：

• We only employ female workers.我们只雇用女工。
• The animal in the picture was a female elephant.照片上的动物是头母象。

4 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

5 occasionally   

adv.偶然地；非经常地

参考例句：

• He went on talking,occasionally wiping at his face with a towel.他继续说着，偶尔用毛巾擦一下脸。
• I like playing football best,but occasionally I play table tennis,too.我最喜欢踢足球，偶尔也打打乒乓球。

6 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

7 gossip   

n.流言蜚语，爱说长道短的人；vi.传播流言

参考例句：

• She broadcast the gossip all over the town.她将这个流言传遍全镇。
• They spread a lot of tacky gossip about his love life.关于他的爱情生活，他们散播了许多不堪的闲言闲语。

8 estimate   

n.估计，估量；评价，看法；vt.估计，估量

参考例句：

• We estimate the cost to be five thousand dollars.我们估计费用为5000美元。
• The lowest estimate would put the worth of the jewel at ＄200.按最低的评估这块宝石也值200美元。

9 thriller   

n.惊险片，恐怖片

参考例句：

• He began by writing a thriller.That book sold a million copies.他是写惊险小说起家的。那本书卖了一百万册。
• I always take a thriller to read on the train.我乘火车时，总带一本惊险小说看。