ABOUT
IN THIS SERIES, I SIT DOWN IN THE HOME OF A PERSON RECENTLY SETTLED TO AUSTRALIA IN THE HOPES OF CAPTURING A FRACTION OF THEIR STORY. IT IS A CHANCE TO PLAY BOTH THE ROLE OF THE GUEST AND THE HOST.
THE STORIES
THESE STORIES THAT COME FROM THE REFUGEES AND RECENTLY SETTLED PERSONS MAKE UP THE VIBRANT TAPESTRY OF ONE LITLE COASTAL TOWN'S COMMUNITY.
THIS INTERVIEW SERIES IS MY SMALL ANTIDOTE AND CONTRIBUTION TO CHALLENGE THE FAST PACE, NOT- KNOWING- YOUR- NEXTDOOR- NEIGHBOUR TIMES OF MODERNITY. PERHAPS FOR ONLY A MOMENT- WHETHER YOU’RE COMMUTING POTTS POINT TO WYNYARD, OR HAMMERSMITH TO EMBARKMENT, WE CAN PART FROM OURSELVES, OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR ALGORITHMS AND, JUST FOR ONE BEAT COME WITH ME TO GO BEYOND YOURSELF. TO PLAY THE ROLE OF BOTH THE GUEST AND THE HOST.
THE NAME
IN FRENCH, THE WORD ‘HÔTE’ CAN MEAN BOTH GUEST AND HOST. ALGERIAN FRENCH PHILOSOPHER ALBERT CAMUS' NOVELLA OF THE SAME NAME TELLS OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF HAVING DUAL IDENTITIES AND FINDING YOUR PLACE WITHIN DISPLACEMENT.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
I’VE ALWAYS SPENT LONG EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME IN MY HOMETOWN SINCE HIGH SCHOOL HOWEVER WITH THE ONSET OF COVID, I PACKED A SCHOOL SIZED BACKPACK AND MOVED BACK IN WITH MY PARENTS. I THEN MET A WONDERFUL BOY DOING A SURF CHECK ONE MORNING AND NOW WE GROW PUMPKINS TOGETHER AND MAKE JAM FROM THE FRUIT WE PICK. AND IT FEELS WONDERFUL. BUT I WORKED FROM A FOUR-WALL BEDROOM AND WANTED TO FEEL MORE INVOLVED IN MY HOME. I SOUGHT OUT A SMALL NOT FOR PROFIT THAT SET UP AFTER SCHOOL ENGLISH READING HELP FOR REFUGEE KIDS FROM A LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOL. AND SO… I MET THE AL MHAMA FAMILY. AND THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING.
BIO
I GREW UP AND LIVE IN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN THE WORLD (BIG AND SUBJECTIVE I KNOW). HERE, I GROW PUMPKINS AND SURF EACH MORNING. HOWEVER, I AM MAINLY FACINATED WITH PEOPLE'S STORIES AND LEARNING FROM OTHERS.
I AM (ALMOST) A PROFESSIONAL HISTORIAN, FINISHING A MASTERS OF HISTORY IN ANCIENT PASTS AND RECENTLY WORKED FOR A FIRST NATIONS NFP. MY LOVE OF LEARNING FROM OTHERS COMES FROM MY UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN ANCIENT HISTORY, GOVT AND IR.
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SO FOR ME, THIS INTERVIEW SERIES IS MY SMALL PART IN CONTINUING TO MAKE MY HOME THE MOST SAFE, BEAUTIFUL AND ENRICHED PLACE I KNOW, FOR THOSE FROM LONG AGO AND THOSE THAT CONTINUE TO MAKE IT THEIR HOME.