Nour was born and raised in Beirut, studied nursing, graduated and began working in a local hospital. Her husband of ten years, Mohammed was born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents and moved to Lebanon. Both Nour and Mohammed are Palestinian refugees who have limited opportunities in Lebanon so they decided to move to the UK in 2021 when Nour was given a job opportunity through TBB’s healthcare programme. Nour is working as a nurse for a private healthcare provider in West London and on arrival, Mohammed secured a job as an IT Infrastructure Engineer. They have a wonderful ten month old son, Adam.
Nour chose to make Musakhan rolls, a traditional Palestinian dish with a contemporary twist as it is her father’s favourite. She has fond memories of going to her grandmother’s house at weekends where the whole family would sit together and eat the traditional version of Musakhan. These rolls are Nour’s quick and simplified version of the original with the same amazing flavour and nostalgia.
Nour is not fond of cooking but takes the responsibility of providing her family with traditional, home cooked food seriously. She will often call her mother for easy recipe inspiration and will then add her own twist. Her mother is Lebanese and father is Palestinian and she would regularly make a mix of both cuisines.
Nour explains how important it is to her to cook traditional, cultural food as she wants her family to experience food that tastes authentically like home. It is important that Adam has exposure to these foods and gets to know these recipes so he has an understanding of his own cultural identity.
“When I make food myself and I feel like I’m being connected back to my culture and community and I want Adam to know those tastes”
Nour & Mohammed shared about the challenges of relocating to the UK. Being away from family and friends is continually difficult especially after the arrival of a new baby. Thankfully they relocated together and were able to adjust to life and support each other through the culture shock and integration curve.
“Food a constant thing that helps us feel connected to our culture”
The first year was particularly hard with so many adjustments such as weather, culture, lack of friends and family, new jobs. However now after two years they feel like they are adapting and beginning to settle.
“To move here is a sacrifice but is worth doing for the long term effects. Someone had to sacrifice something, it started with us, but i know it’s going to be easier for Adam. Even after 2 years, I still don’t feel part of community and the culture, we try but it takes time. Someone has to make sacrifices for a better life for our kids and it‘s going to be us. It will be so much easier for Adam as he is growing up surrounded by that culture.”
He explains how he is thankful to be in the UK as after six years they will have a right to a passport and can become citizens, offering them the chance to have some stability. Comparatively to Lebanon, they will never have that chance, regardless of how long they have been there. They will never be able to attain citizenship, a passport or access to the same rights and opportunities as Lebanese citizens.
“...thats why we came here, to make things more simple, to feel rooted somewhere and to create a stable life for Adam.”