From Iraq to Australia: A story of resettlement and food memories

My family and I started our resettlement journey in 2009, six years into the US invasion of Iraq. I was 19 years old and was attending university classes in Baghdad when extremist groups targeted my university and made it impossible to continue my higher education.

In 2010, a gleam of hope arose when I was awarded a scholarship to continue my studies at a US college and earned my bachelor's degree in political science. Throughout my time as a student in the US, I noticed how cooking Iraqi meals connected me to my family and culture. Dolma, biryani and maqlouba were all traditional Iraqi meals I invested my time into learning. Long phone calls with my mother and many shopping trips were made so I could recreate the taste, aroma and feel of food from home, and share it with friends from all over the world. This tradition continued as I recognised its value and the role it played in my cultural identity. Read more: https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2020/06/19/iraq-australia-story-resettlement-and-food-memories