Food brings refugees together A cooking class taught by refugees educates people about food in Syrian culture By KATE GARDINER S yrian refugees in Vancouver are looking to preserve and share their culture through a series of cooking workshops. An event held at the Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre Oct. 27 was the latest in a series of culinary lessons taught by the chefs of Tayy- beh, a Vancouver-based food com- pany that employs recently arrived Syrian refugees women. Enas Alsaleh, from Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria, is the co-owner of Syrian Gourmet, a bakery special- izing in Middle Eastern sweets. She opened the shop with her hus- “Lots of people who are Arab or Syrian or Lebanese came to our shop and said, ‘Oh my goodness, we've seen home” —ENAS ALSALEH, CO-OWNER OF SYRIAN GOURMET BAKERY band and another refugee, a chef from Homs in the western part of the country in May. Her dream was to showcase her cuisine in Canada, but her shop has also created a sense of belonging for other newcomers. “Our community needs it,” said Alsaleh. “I remember when we opened our shop, lots of people who are Arab or Syrian or Leba- nese came to our shop and said, 'Oh my goodness, we've seen home now. We've seen home.” Shared meals are an important aspect of Syrian life and commu- nity, says Mohammed Alsaleh, a refugee resettlement worker with Immigration Services of B.C. Nearly 24,000 people from all countries claimed refugee status in Canada in 2016. In 2017, 21,876 Syrian refugees entered Canada with government assistance. SOURCE: STATISTA.COM Actors perform a recounting of the rich history of Vietnam during the Mai Dao: A Glimpse into Vietnamese Culture, an event run by SEACHS . NATHAN GAN PHOTO More than just pho Concert shows off Vietnamese culture By NATHAN GAN Southeast Asian cultural organization premiered a special concert last week at the Norman and Annette Rothstein Theatre, which showcased the experiences of Vietnamese-Canadians through a wide array of performing arts. The show, called Mai Dao: A Glimpse into Vietnamese Cul- ture, was created by the Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage Society (SEACHS) and displayed the his- torical roots of Vietnam through music, dance, and theatre. A strong connection with one’s native country is very necessary, says renowned Vietnamese actor and co-founder Thai-Hoa Le, as that connection will strengthen the individual’s confidence in their own multiculturalism amongst Cana- dian society. “(The main goal of SEACHS is to) preserve, promote, and enhance southeast Asian culture,” says Le. When asked about the effects of events like this, he goes on to say “For some of us, it has contributed to a reconnection with our ancestry, and a renewed pride.” Music played a fundamental part of the SEACHS event, rep- resented anywhere from orchestras utilizing the traditional Vietnamese Dan Bau, boisterous twenty person choirs, or even A capella acts. “We've got the past, the present, and we've got music from many countries,” says Dan Nguyen, who is part of the male a Capella group The Banh Mi Barbershop. “I think this is a statement that the Viet- namese people in Vancouver are as diverse as any community.” The event also served to abolish negative stereotypes. The stigma from western civilization towards Vietnam was an important discus- sion throughout the event. This is evident from their acting segments on war and colonization by France and China, to their original tagline “What do we know about Viet- namese culture besides Pho?” The Mai Dao event enticed both Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese people alike. Audience member ‘Tina Meredith said that she hopes the show would expand her knowl- edge on cultures she was not edu- cated on before. “When you look into it, the Asian regions differ immensely from each other. The least I can do, as a stranger to this culture, is get enlightened. And I can't say no to a night of song and dance.” The Tay have been present in Vietnam for thousands of years, dating back as early as 500BC. Superstition plays a large role in Vietnamese society and is passed down from generation to generation. In Viethamese mythology, dragons are the biggest symbol of power. Models of Vietnamese constellations are inspired by the dragon's shape and some represent levels of nobility. SOURCE: VIETNAM-CULTURE.COM 7 College unites writers Langara brings poets and story- writers to share their work By PATRICK PENNER literary event, founded by Langara teachers, is pro- viding a forum for the col- lege’s aspiring authors to read their work in front of fellow writers. Strangers on a Train was orga- nized five years ago by English literature teachers at Langara with the goal of connecting strangers with a common love of creative prose. Last Tuesday, the spotlight fo- cused on Brazilian poet and Lan- gara student, Cedric Alexander. “It’s really helpful for not only me but the public, they might find words for something they felt but never knew how to express,” Alex- ander said. “It’s sort of like a dia- logue.” “Writing can be very lonely work, and it's really great when writers have the opportunity to come together and feel a sense of community.” — ALIX OHLIN, NOVELIST AND SHORT STORY WRITER Thor Polukoshko, one of the event’s co-founders, felt an obliga- tion to support student’s literary endeavors in the same way he was mentored. “It’s really difficult to take that first step,” said Polukoshko. “When I was doing my undergrad and ] was starting a project, having that support from instructors was absolutely invaluable.” ‘The event showcases a variety of writers from all walks of life and stages in their careers, from Gov- ernor General Award winners to Poet Laureates of Canada — always closing the night with a reading from a featured Langara student. Alexander said that his profes- sor's encouragement to participate in such events have helped him battle depression progress as a writer. “Things start to construct them- selves, [into] something really pos- itive,” said Alexander. “This gives me tranquility and peace of mind.” Alix Ohlin, a novelist and short story writer who also read at the event, believes these environments are essential for teaching young artists not to isolate themselves. “Writing can be very lonely work, and it’s really great when writers have an opportunity to come together and feel a sense of community,” Ohlin said. The event hosts between six and eight readings a year at the Kino Café on Cambie Street.