Going Places

Mehshi Kusa<\/a>","title":"Mehshi Kusa","description":"

My grandmother, Rachel Safdie, who is of Syrian descent, teaches me to make Mehshi Kusa, or stuffed zucchini, a recipe that she learned from her mother that has never been written down. As the...","body":"My grandmother, Rachel Safdie, who is of Syrian descent, teaches me to make Mehshi Kusa, or stuffed zucchini, a recipe that she learned from her mother that has never been written down. As the product of immigration and displacement like so many other Montrealers, food is one of the main ways that my family celebrates our roots.\r\n\r\n\r\nMa grand-m\u00e8re, Rachel Safdie, est une descendante syrienne. Elle m'a appris \u00e0 cuisiner le Mehshi Kusa, c'est-\u00e0-dire la courgette garnie, une recette transmise oralement par sa m\u00e8re et qui n'a jamais \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9crite. Comme beaucoup d'autres montr\u00e9alais issus de l'immigration et des d\u00e9placements, la nourriture est une des mani\u00e8res dont ma famille c\u00e9l\u00e8bre leurs racines.","field_image_fid":"119","field_image_fid_rendered":" $\"\"$ <\/a>"}},{"wkt":"POINT(29.934998 -2.000799)","projection":"4326","attributes":{"name":"Home, Chez-soi<\/a>","title":"Home, Chez-soi","description":"

A Rwandan woman explores the concept of home in Montreal and in Rwanda.<\/p>\n

Une Rwandaise explore et compare le concept du chez-soi \u00e0 Montr\u00e9al et au Rwanda.<\/p>","body":"A Rwandan woman explores the concept of home in Montreal and in Rwanda.\r\n\r\nUne Rwandaise explore et compare le concept du chez-soi \u00e0 Montr\u00e9al et au Rwanda.\r\n\r\n\r\n","field_image_fid":"165","field_image_fid_rendered":" $\"\"$ <\/a>"}},{"wkt":"POINT(-73.549647 45.509745)","projection":"4326","attributes":{"name":"Dear Gabriel \/ Cher Gabriel by Rania Arabi<\/a>","title":"Dear Gabriel \/ Cher Gabriel by Rania Arabi","description":"

A mother recounts her own fathers exodus from Palestine in a letter addressed to her son. Dear Gabriel is an inter-generational exploration of home, homeland, displacement and the desire for peace...","body":"A mother recounts her own fathers exodus from Palestine in a letter addressed to her son. Dear Gabriel is an inter-generational exploration of home, homeland, displacement and the desire for peace.\r\n\r\nUne m\u00e8re raconte l\u2019exode de son p\u00e8re quittant la Palestine dans une lettre adress\u00e9e \u00e0 son fils. Cher Gabriel est une exploration interg\u00e9n\u00e9rationnelle du foyer, des origines, du d\u00e9placement et du d\u00e9sir de paix.","field_image_fid":"171","field_image_fid_rendered":" $\"\"$ <\/a>"}},{"wkt":"POINT(29.794922 -2.048148)","projection":"4326","attributes":{"name":"My Two Families by Leontine Uwababyeyi<\/a>","title":"My Two Families by Leontine Uwababyeyi","description":"

\"In our family we say It is better to live twice than to die twice.\"<\/p>\n

A young woman shares her extraordinary story of surviving the Rwandan genocide and the secret of how she has sixteen...","body":"\"In our family we say It is better to live twice than to die twice.\"\r\n\r\nA young woman shares her extraordinary story of surviving the Rwandan genocide and the secret of how she has sixteen children at the age of 23.\r\n\r\n","field_image_fid":"168","field_image_fid_rendered":" $\"\"$ <\/a>"}},{"wkt":"POINT(36.749268 31.300926)","projection":"4326","attributes":{"name":"My Temporary Home \/ Ma maison provisoire by Rasha Samour<\/a>","title":"My Temporary Home \/ Ma maison provisoire by Rasha Samour","description":"

A young woman interviews her mom to understand her mothers childhood in Palestine, the difficult decisions she made as a young adult, and how she came to live in Montreal.<\/p>\n

Une jeune femme...","body":" A young woman interviews her mom to understand her mothers childhood in Palestine, the difficult decisions she made as a young adult, and how she came to live in Montreal.\r\n\r\nUne jeune femme interroge sa m\u00e8re pour comprendre son enfance en Palestine, les d\u00e9cisions prises dans sa jeunesse et les raisons qui l\u2019ont pouss\u00e9e \u00e0 venir vivre \u00e0 Montr\u00e9al.\r\n\r\nINTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT:\r\n\r\n VO - My name is Rasha Samour. I have decided to interview my mom, originally Palestinian. I remember being young and her telling me stories, the kind of stories that were hard to believe. Born and raised in Montreal, I realize that I am truly blessed to have the security that my mother lacked as a child and the opportunity that my mother never had. So mom, introduce yourself. \r\nMy name is Ralta Kobani \u2013 I was born in Jerusalem, Palestine, June 2, 1847. I have 3 brothers, 3 sisters. I am the second. \r\nQ - How old were you when you moved to Jordan. One year. \r\n\r\nQ - Was there a lot of Palestinians living in Jordan? \r\nThe population is more than the Jordans. \r\n\r\nVO - So I didn\u2019t know much about the war in Jordan called black September that my mom always spoke to me about. \r\n\r\nA few thing happened before 1970 between the PLO and the Jordanian government and then one night, September 16th, we woke up to hear some bombs it was the beginning of Black September. September of 1970 is known as Black September. It was a month when Hasmet King Hassed of Jordan Moved to quash the militancy of ordinary Palestinian organizations and restore the monarchy\u2019s rule over the country. The violence resulted in deaths of thousands of people, the vast majority Palestinian. Armed conflict lasted until July 1971, with the expulsion of the PLO and thousands of Palestinia fighers in Lebanon. We used to live 2nd floor \u2013 we moved to the first floor and it was five families living in one apartment and it was dangerous to live upstairs on the 2nd or 3rd floor. I remember when my brother \u2013 he used to go to get water for us \u2013 because we are five families with the kids of course and we don\u2019t have water, and we don\u2019t have food to eat. Doesn\u2019t matter the food we eat only bread but we can live without it. My brother he used to go far under the bombing to find water to us and to bring it to us. How did you meet my father? During the water in 1970 when we went downstairs to the first floor \u2013 it was his parents house and we fall in love.\r\n\r\nQ - Did you both agree to come to Montreal together. \r\n\r\nYes \u2013 because he was studying in Montreal that is why I came to Canada. So you came to follow him and to be with him. Exactly \u2013 I was happy and said. Happy because I came to Canada to meet my husband and to start a new life and sad because I am going to leave my country, my family, my parents, my brothers and sisters, for the first time. \r\n\r\nQ What did you feel? That you had to leave your whole family behind?\r\n\r\n In my mind I came for 2, 3 or maximum five years when my husband finished his studies I have to go back to Jordan \u2013 I never knew I am going to stay in Canada for that long. \r\n\r\nQ - And how long have you been in Canada now? \r\n\r\nThirty-five years in July, since 1975. \r\n\r\nVO = Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like if my parents had not moved to Montreal. I was only fifteen the first time I met met my family. My cousings, uncles, aunts, grandparents, because most of them lived in Jordan. I sometimes wish we had lived in Jordan because I feel that even if life is better here, I too had to sacrifice for my parents decision. I love my family and wish I had been closer to them than I am now. When I came to the airport, it was my husband waiting for me with his boss and his wife and then my husband he said that is my wife but this boss he said no way are you sure? I don\u2019t think so. No way she can dress like that. I was wearing a suit. It was very nice and chic but they don\u2019t think we are dressed like that. I was a blond, they expected I was dark color. \r\n\r\nQ - Where did you live when you first arrived? In Lachine, on 32nd ave.\r\n\r\nQ - What kind of Palestinian community existed here in Montreal at the time? \r\n\r\nWe had a small Palestinian community at that time. We are not too many but most of them were here. They came from Palestine, 1948, not from West Bank or from Jordan. We used to make food and we would rent a hall. We make a small party. We enjoyed sitting together and making songs. \r\n\r\nVO - My mom always says you are lucky you had the chance to grow up here. Everything is provided. You can easily work or study and not have to worry about anything. She also tells me the only reason she stayed in Montreal is for our sake. \r\n\r\nQ - What kind of future did you have planned for your children that made Montreal a better place to live as opposed to Jordon where you grew up. \r\n\r\nI wanted them to study. There they can but you have to have a lot of money \u2013 its expensive. \r\n\r\nQ - Do you think you made a good decision in moving here from Jordan? \r\n\r\nOf course. If you could change the decision you made, If I were to change I would like my family to be here too. Then its ok for me. \r\n","field_image_fid":"166","field_image_fid_rendered":" $\"\"$ <\/a>"}},{"wkt":"POINT(-73.636541 45.503260)","projection":"4326","attributes":{"name":"A Taste of Home \/ Un go\u00fbt de chez-soi by Marie-Francoise Ilunga Sitnam<\/a>","title":"A Taste of Home \/ Un go\u00fbt de chez-soi by Marie-Francoise Ilunga Sitnam","description":"

An intimate look into one of Montreal\u2019s supermarkets, through the eyes of a young woman searching for a taste of home \/<\/p>\n

La visite singuli\u00e8re d\u2019une \u00e9picerie montr\u00e9alaise \u00e0 travers les yeux d...","body":"An intimate look into one of Montreal\u2019s supermarkets, through the eyes of a young woman searching for a taste of home \/\r\n\r\nLa visite singuli\u00e8re d\u2019une \u00e9picerie montr\u00e9alaise \u00e0 travers les yeux d\u2019une jeune femme \u00e0 la recherche de saveurs de chez elle. \r\n\r\nFRENCH TRANSLATION: \r\n\r\nLorsqu\u2019on arrive dans un nouvel endroit, on tente de trouver nos rep\u00e8res. Des sons, des visages et des aliments qui nous sont familiers, qui nous mettent \u00e0 l\u2019aise. Kim Phat est un tel endroit.\r\nTenez-vous au coin de C\u00f4te-des-Neiges et la rue Goyer, vous voyez l\u2019immeuble \u00e0 la toiture rouge orn\u00e9 de grandes \u00e9critures blanches ?...Oui, en face du Plaza\u2026celui l\u00e0 ! D\u2019apr\u00e8s moi, c\u2019est le supermarch\u00e9 cosmopolitain de Montr\u00e9al. Vous vous demandez pourquoi ? Eh bien, entrez et voyez par vous-m\u00eame.\r\n\r\nFran\u00e7ais, vietnamien, lingala, espagnol, cantonais, pakistanais, anglais, wolof, quechua\u2026toutes ces langues peuvent se retrouver dans le bruit de la client\u00e8le et des vendeurs qui prennent, regardent, posent, p\u00e8sent les multiples produits du magasin.\r\nLe plus grands point en commun es qu\u2019ils sont tous si diff\u00e9rents les uns des autres\u2026on ne se ressemble pas, on n\u2019utilise pas les m\u00eames langages et pourtant, nous nous retrouvons tous au m\u00eame endroit. \r\n\r\nLes \u00e9tudiants des universit\u00e9s environnantes affluent \u00e0 Kim Phat pour mettre la main sur les ingr\u00e9dients cl\u00e9s afin de cr\u00e9er le repas qui les ram\u00e8nera chez-eux, l\u2019instant d\u2019une bouch\u00e9e. Repas qui r\u00e9chauffera leur c\u0153ur, et nourrira leur esprit.\r\n\r\nFeuilles de manioc, \u0153ufs de canard marin\u00e9s, mate, huile de palme, glace aux haricots rouges, tilapia frais, farine de foufou. Une mine d\u2019or pour les nostalgiques, les affam\u00e9s ou tout simplement les curieux. \r\n\r\nSi vous prenez un moment pour regarder autour de vous, vous pourrez apercevoir le couple faisant un stock pour leur famille de quatre, et l\u2019\u00e9tudiant qui se demande si il (ou elle) peut se permettre le luxe d\u2019une bouch\u00e9e du pays.\r\n\r\nSi toutefois, vous tombez sur quelqu\u2019un ayant l\u2019air effar\u00e9, se promenant dans le magasin\u2026ne le fixez pas\u2026ce serais malpoli ! Comprenez simplement qu\u2019il est, pour la premi\u00e8re fois depuis tr\u00e8s longtemps, face \u00e0 des aliments qui d\u00e9clenchent des souvenirs d\u2019enfance, de joie, de famille\u2026des aliments qu\u2019il ne pensait jamais trouver \u00e0 Montr\u00e9al.\r\n\r\nBien s\u00fbr, il y \u00e0 d\u2019autres qui, comme vous, sont \u00e9blouis par l\u2019immense vari\u00e9t\u00e9 de produits qu\u2019ils voient : bananes plantains, poisson sal\u00e9, feuilles de bananes congel\u00e9es, fromage en grain\u2026etc.\r\n\r\nKim Phat est un point de convergence de plusieurs mondes sous un m\u00eame toit, le reflet de quartier multiculturel qui l\u2019entoure et - je pense \u2013 une m\u00e9taphore pour Montr\u00e9al. Une ville avec une panoplie d\u2019aromes, de textures, d\u2019emballages et d\u2019histoires. \r\n\r\nQue du bon\u2026\r\n","field_image_fid":"163","field_image_fid_rendered":" $\"\"$ <\/a>"}}],"title":"Project Map","weight":2}},"layer_styles":[],"layer_activated":{"map_super_ol_openlayers_1":"map_super_ol_openlayers_1"},"layer_switcher":{"map_super_ol_openlayers_1":"map_super_ol_openlayers_1"},"projection":"900913","displayProjection":"4326","styles":{"default":{"pointRadius":"5","fillColor":"#FFCC66","strokeColor":"#FF9933","strokeWidth":"4","fillOpacity":"0.5"},"select":{"pointRadius":"5","fillColor":"#FFCC66","strokeColor":"#FF9933","strokeWidth":"4","fillOpacity":"0.5"},"temporary":{"pointRadius":"5","fillColor":"#FFCC66","strokeColor":"#FF9933","strokeWidth":"4","fillOpacity":"0.5"}},"preset_name":"project_map","id":"openlayers-map-auto-id-0","errors":false}; //-->

Going Places: A MemoryScape Bus Tour of Montreal

Submitted by admin on Sun, 03/28/2010 - 20:28

Going Places is an audio immersive bus tour and now a virtual tour (available on our interactive map) led by young adults impacted by a refugee experience who share personal stories and offer a unique perspective into “their” Montréal. Experience their powerful images and original soundscapes.

Look for our 'Behind the Scene' video about the tour on our video page.

We invite you on a tour of Montreal not found on an ordinary city map. Discover stories that connect the past to the present, personal memories to public spaces, and stories that provide insights into the refugee experience in Montreal.

This virtual tour takes you to a Vietnamese store in the diverse Cotes-des-Neiges neighborhood where a Congolese/Montrealer has found ingredients to create a meal that tastes likes “home”. The tour visits the YMCA – the first stop for refugees and newcomers to Montreal - via the poetic narration of a Zimbabwe immigrant who arrived alone with “one piece of luggage and a a ton of hope ….” Click below and discover the challenge of placing displacement through the inter-generational narratives of two Palestinian women. Enjoy a unique recipe a Syrian Jewish immigrant shares with her granddaughter. Experience the route of the Rwandan commemorative walk and hear the stories https://melbournerx.com of three young women negotiating loss, family secretes, and the revitalization of community within the Rwandan Tutsi community.

Going Public was a collaborative effort with Montréal Life Stories Project and Montréal’s YWCA.
A special thanks goes out to Deb VanSlet and Anne-Renée Hotte of Concordia Communications and to David Ward for his ongoing contributions. In addition to this 'virtual tour' we led actual BUS TOURS on Sunday May 30th, 2010: June 1st 2010, and again in March 2011. We are plannning another tour for March 2012.