By Norma Dakhoul
Early mornings, picking olives from the grove,
Helping the women make bread for the family,
Figs picked fresh from my favourite tree...
These are some of my earliest food memories
from my childhood in the small village of Daraya
in Lebanon. Without a doubt, these are the
experiences that inspired me to become the
passionate cook that I am today.
My parents migrated to Australia in the 1950’s as
young adults looking for a new start in life.
Having come from a small village in North
Lebanon with not many work opportunities
locally, it was either move to the city or travel
overseas. Bound for Australia with other young
people, they got married and had three kids.
Missing his homeland, my father decided it was
time to move back to Lebanon. I was born, and
two years later, Australia beckoned again so we
moved back for another three years. Not satisfied,
my father moved the family again and not long
after, the troubles and the Civil War drove the
family back to Australia. In 34 years, my father
went back only twice – Australia is now his home!
I arrived in 1978 and for an 11 year-old, starting
school and having to learn a new language was very
daunting. I was desperate to fit in and master the
English language. The first year was frustrating,
confusing, and I have vivid memories of begging
my parents to take me back home.
Luckily, special classes for immigrant kids were a
solace, and allowed me to develop and get used to
my new life. It didn’t take long before I accepted