Watching
Syrian
refugees
arrive
in
Canada
these
past
few
weeks
has
ignited
memories
of
displacement
and
migration
for
me
and
my
family.
I
am
not
a
refugee.
I
have
not
been
stranded
in
UN
camps
that
provided
the
basic
needs
for
human
survival.
I
have,
however,
lived
through
the
traumatic
experience
of
war
and
displacement.
I
have
stood
for
hours
at
the
borders
of
neighboring
countries
and
pleaded
with
officers
as
they
rummaged
through
my
clothes
and
threatened
to
send
me
back
on
the
long,
dangerous
route
to
Baghdad
that
seemed
to
never
end.
As
an
Iraqi,
I
lived
through
both
Gulf
Wars
and
was
forced
in
2006
to
find
some
way
out
of
the
country
in
order
to
escape
the
constantly
rising
violence
and
instability
that
plagued
Iraq.
We
left
Baghdad
with
three
suitcases
of
our
belongings
and
a
prayer
for
better
days
to
come.
The experiences of trauma and displacement were not issues that we easily overcame or dealt with. At times, I feel that I can still smell the scents of morning as I wake up at my grandfather’s home surrounded by family. At times, I am jolted awake by memories of American troops raiding our streets. I am always burdened by mixed feelings of unquenchable longing for a home that is no longer there and a life that has dissolved in the midst of conflict, fear and hate.
I do not believe we will ever fully recover from that experience, however through supporting each other and finding support in the communities that surrounded us we were able to focus on moving forward and constructing a new sense of belonging and identity here in Canada. We have learned to establish a home and a way of life that integrates both our culture and our beliefs with the diverse cultures and beliefs of those around us here in Kitchener-Waterloo.
The excitement and interest surrounding the arrival of Syrian refugees that I have witnessed in the past couple of months is heartwarming. People in our communities are doing their best to support the cause both here and abroad. However, as the excitement recedes, we have to acknowledge some issues when we deal with these families and individuals. While there is no formula to follow when dealing with people in such traumatic situations, we can still keep in mind some of the following points:
- First and foremost, remember that these people may have suffered the loss of family members and friends, the loss of traditions and culture, and of course the loss of home. They are struggling with accepting this loss and are most likely traumatized.
- The whole concept of a new “home” is in itself traumatizing. Trying to adjust to new weather conditions, new positions in society, and a new sense of identity is not an easy shift. That little hyphen (Arab or Syrian-Canadian) is heavy with issues of confusion, acceptance and belonging.
- Although, everyone thinks about the topic of language, not many focus on its ability to create a strong sense of isolation. The inability to express certain emotions or certain concepts because they cannot be translated is very difficult. The language barrier plays a major role in leading people to avoid socializing and adjusting.
- Canadian and Middle Eastern cultures are different, but that does not mean that these people have been isolated from the world. Arab culture and Arab media has evolved greatly in the past few years and people have come to accept many aspects of Western culture.
- That said, however, many families still hold to strict cultural and religious ideologies because they were raised within societies that enforced them. The idea is to accept who they are, not change them.
- The process of adjustment will take time. That sense of gratefulness may not easily surface because there is so much to take in during this move to resettle and adjust.
Most importantly, listen. Each of these individuals is unique and each one of these Syrians has a personal narrative that tells a story of a journey, of loss and of trying to find content within the safe borders of a new home.