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A memoir about finding home ... and yourself
Born of Palestinian migrants, Arwa did not have a country that she could call home. Just before her ninth birthday her parents came to Australia to give their daughters the greatest gift they could, the right of citizenship and a country that could call their own, a place they could belong.
It took a teenage Arwa time to find her way in her new country and to reconcile her Muslim faith with her life as a young woman in Australia. But she made friends and slowly Australia got under her skin and into her heart. When she was twenty-three and newly married, this Aussie girl who loved John Farnham and Vegemite decided to wear the veil. Many assumed she did not speak English or that her husband had told her what to wear. Both were incorrect. For Arwa, it was a personal choice and about taking her faith to the next level. Through telling her story, Arwa demystifies the veil and shows the importance of belonging.
About the Author
Arwa El Masri was born in Saudi Arabia in 1976. As the child of Palestinian migrants she was a stateless person with no recognised home country. In 1990 Arwa became an Australian citizen. She is married to legendary Australian rugby league player Hazem El Masri.
TEA WITH ARWA: ONE WOMAN'S STORY OF FAITH, FAMILY AND FINDING A HOME IN AUSTRALIA by ARWA EL MASRI
One of the first ways in which we learn about other cultures is through their food-often, that is where our understanding ends. In Tea with Arwa, Arwa El Masri attempts to take the conversation further, sharing with readers the story of her life as a person of many countries.
Born in Saudi Arabia to Palestinian parents and now living in Australia, El Masri's story is as much about the sights, smells and the meaning behind the food she has shared as it is about her many life experiences. Thankfully, the recipes are included.
El Masri will be known to many as the wife of champion NRL kicker Hazem El Masri, but the book would work without the celebrity connection. Hers is a unique voice; she is unafraid to offer opinions and explanations that others might hesitate to admit. Her frank journals form an enlightening first-person perspective, covering issues ranging from asylum seekers to the pressures of a public sporting life. In this way, Tea with Arwa is a refreshing and satisfying book, which will appeal to people of all ages, particularly fans of cultural and travel narratives.
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ISBN: 9780733627835
ISBN-10: 0733627838
Audience:
General
Format:
Paperback
Language:
English
Number Of Pages: 368
Published: 27th September 2011
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Dimensions (cm): 23.4 x 15.5
x 2.4
Weight (kg): 0.44
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