Sharing the Palestinian Experience Through ‘Far From Home’
One of our readers at Halaal Travels, Diyala Rasul, shares her experience of living in Palestine through her book ‘Far From Home’. You can connect with her on Instagram (@Farfromhomechronicles).
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi! I’m Diyala Rasul. I am Palestinian American. I grew up in a small town in Ohio, where I lived until the age of 13 – which is when my family decided to move to Palestine! Spending my early teens in Palestine, and early adulthood was a completely new experience for me and challenged me in many ways. I never spoke Arabic before I moved there, and it was a challenge to learn it at that age.
During the time I spent in Palestine, I developed a profound love for the culture, language, food and places, which is why I was inspired to write a children’s book dedicated to my grandma who was really the inspiration behind the book. Her love for her home in Palestine, the Arabic language and Palestinian cuisine was so profound that I felt it deserved recognition. I also have a 6 year old son who I would like to see inspired by this book, and as he grows older, to appreciate his roots. In my book, I bring my little one into the story (not as my son, but as a character in my book) so that he could enjoy the book and always remember his early childhood experiences in Palestine.
What is the name of the book you wrote?
Far From Home – available on Amazon.
What is the applicable age group that this book is suited for?
This book is suitable for ages 6 and up.
Why did you choose to write this book?
I wrote this book as a tribute to my homeland, my grandma and my son.
What impact would you like your book to have on society?
Representation in books. To learn about Palestine, the Palestinian culture and food. Representation in books is one of the best ways to introduce your children to the diverseness of our world today. With that said, 20 years ago, writing a book about Palestine was almost unheard of in children’s literature. Now, the world is slowly but surely learning about the Palestinian plight, which is great! But we need more people telling our story and we need more Palestinians to speak up and tell their stories. We need people to start teaching their children as much as they can about Palestine from an early age. I think books like Far From Home can help us discuss difficult topics like Palestine, in a child-friendly way.
