Zein cherishes her memories of Syria through small, everyday elements.<\/p>\n
These memories are evoked by the scent of jasmine, the sight of rose bushes, or even the presence of a tabby cat.<\/p>\n
These fragments connect her to family members who are approximately 12,000 kilometers away.<\/p>\n
Although she speaks with her grandfather every Sunday, the last time they were together in person was when she was just five years old.<\/p>\n
Zein and her parents fled Syria as the civil war erupted, first seeking refuge in Iraq before ultimately moving to Wollongong, located on the southern coast of New South Wales.<\/p>\n
Now 17, Zein is among the 8.6 million first-generation Australians navigating the complexities of dual identities.<\/p>\n
For her, this means balancing the Arabic culture of her roots with her current life in regional Australia. Here, she shares her story in her own words.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on her last moments in Syria, Zein recalls the chaos that marked their departure.<\/p>\n
She vividly remembers the first bomb that struck Aleppo, which fell perilously close to where her father was working after dropping her off at her grandparents\u2019 home.<\/p>\n
Communication during that time was fraught with fear; they were unable to reach him, and she recalls sobbing until he finally walked through the door.<\/p>\n
She also recalls the air raids that occurred just nights before they fled, sleeping on the floor of her grandmother’s house while witnessing missiles fall.<\/p>\n
As they left, she can still picture her grandparents\u2019 expressions. Her father had left earlier to avoid being kidnapped due to his profession as a doctor, and her mother warned her to remain silent during their escape, emphasizing the danger they faced.<\/p>\n
While crossing the Syrian border, Zein remembers a bus explosion behind them, signifying their narrow escape as they were the last legal bus to depart.<\/p>\n
To reach Iraq, they boarded an overcrowded metal dinghy, where the danger was palpable; a fall into the water would have been fatal.<\/p>\n
Despite the cramped conditions, the overwhelming relief of reuniting with her father at the Iraq border overshadowed their discomfort.<\/p>\n
The family lived in Iraq from 2012 to 2016, during which her parents shielded her from the hardships they endured.<\/p>\n
Zein fondly remembers family dinners at their favorite pizza restaurant and her mother’s clinic, unaware of her parents’ struggles as freelance doctors due to lack of government support.<\/p>\n
Now, reflecting on those times, she sees the worry etched in her parents’ faces, realizing the lengths they went to ensure her safety amidst their challenges.<\/p>\n
The decision to move to Australia came suddenly, prompted by escalating violence in Iraq and the broader Middle Eastern region.<\/p>\n
Australia represented hope for the family, and after settling in Wollongong, Zein observed her parents gradually finding peace, no longer living in fear of returning to danger.<\/p>\n
However, she faced challenges in integrating with Australian peers, as her upbringing was steeped in Arabic culture.<\/p>\n
For several years, they refrained from speaking Arabic at home, as her parents learned English for work and she needed it for school.<\/p>\n
This shift impacted her language skills, and while she can still understand some Arabic, her fluency has diminished.<\/p>\n
Yet, they continue to prepare Arabic meals weekly, a cherished tradition that helps preserve their cultural heritage. When friends visit, Zein sometimes requests Australian dishes to avoid judgment.<\/p>\n
Identifying as both Arabic and Australian, she no longer feels the need to separate the two aspects of her identity.<\/p>\n
Her English teachers were among the first to express interest in her story, which helped her embrace her dual identity with greater confidence.<\/p>\n
Zein acknowledges that dismissing either culture would only lead to resentment, emphasizing the uniqueness of both sides of her life.<\/p>\n
She reminisces about videos her grandfather made of her, including one in his garden filled with beautiful rose bushes.<\/p>\n
Every time she sees roses, she feels a connection to him, recognizing that both her worlds can coexist harmoniously.<\/p>\n
Zein also recalls the distinctive scent of Syria, a mix of jasmine, rubble, and earth that lingered on her mother\u2019s clothes for years after their departure.<\/p>\n
Whenever she encounters jasmine, it serves as a poignant reminder of her past, reinforcing that her experiences are indelible parts of her identity.<\/p>\n
The ABC’s Heywire competition invites regional Australians aged 16 to 22 to share their stories and experiences. This annual initiative aims to provide a platform for young voices from less prominent areas of Australia.<\/p>\n
For more information about the ABC Heywire Competition, please visit the ABC Heywire website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Zein cherishes her memories of Syria through small, everyday elements. These memories are evoked by the scent of jasmine, the sight of rose bushes, or even the presence of a tabby cat. These fragments connect her to family members who are approximately 12,000 kilometers away. Although she speaks with her grandfather every Sunday, the last […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3907,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[43,740,738,739],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australia","category-au-culture","category-au-family","category-au-immigration"],"yoast_head":"\n