By Ioannis Sistovaris, Year 12
Interviews with three Year 12 Middle Eastern students on how manage to keep connected to their cultural roots regardless of geographical distance.
As a half Greek and half Lebanese teenager living in Switzerland, I have always struggled to connect with my Middle Eastern roots (despite the fact that my family and I visit once or twice a year). This is because I have more family members from Greece living in Switzerland compared to the ones from Lebanon. Furthermore, Greece is substantially closer to Switzerland, making it much more accessible to visit.
I wanted to interview my Middle Eastern classmates to not only understand if the struggle to connect to one’s roots is mutual, but also to find out more about their relationship with their Arabic cultural backgrounds, which could possibly help more students recognise themselves and find ways to feel a greater connection to their origins.
Where are you from?
- I am Lebanese and Palestinian. -Tamara Najia, Year 12
- I am from Lebanon. – Maurice Fadel, Year 12
- I am from Iran and Australia. – Layla Golchin, Year 12
Do you feel connected to your Middle Eastern roots?
- Yes I do. -Tamara Najia, Year 12
- Yes I do. – Maurice Fadel, Year 12
- Not really. – Layla Golchin, Year 12
How do you navigate being born and raised in Europe while maintaining a connection to your Middle Eastern cultural roots?
- I always try to remember where my blood is from. Regardless of the fact that I cannot go there often, when I do, I always feel like “this is home”. -Tamara Najia, Year 12
- I lived in Lebanon for 12 years, so even though I now live in Switzerland, I still speak Arabic with my parents and we try to go visit as often as possible. – Maurice Fadel, Year 12
- I find it difficult as my Middle Eastern family does not live here and I do not visit quite often. – Layla Golchin, Year 12
Do you see yourself staying in Europe, returning to the Middle East, or perhaps exploring other parts of the world?
- Personally I see myself (after university) going to the Middle East as I honestly see myself living and raising my kids in Lebanon, not only because of personal reasons but also because I would love for them to be more connected to their roots, as I unfortunately wasn’t. -Tamara Najia, Year 12
- I see myself staying in Europe. – Maurice Fadel, Year 12
- I see myself staying in Europe, but I would like to visit the Middle East more often. -Layla Golchin, Year 12
How do you feel when you see what is happening in the Middle East while living in Europe?
- It is painful to witness what is going on through a screen, but it helps me realise the luck I have to be safe from war. However, I constantly worry for the safety of my family and friends who live there. -Tamara Najia, Year 12
- When I come across the news, I feel empathetic towards the citizens who are harmed by atrocities. – Maurice Fadel, Year 12
- It is always really hard to see what happens in the city where you’re from, especially as I have family who live there which makes it even harder for me not to worry too much. – Layla Golchin, Year 12
After interviewing a few of my classmates, I have realised that I am not the only one who struggles with keeping contact with my roots, especially due to the sheer distance from the Middle East. In short, I think it is crucial for one to feel connected to their origins, whether through friends and family, culture or simply emotionally, and regardless of it being complicated, this interview has shown me that it is in fact possible.
