سلام
I don’t know how up to date on the happenings of Syria you are, but you’re probably as much “in the know” as I am. I know they’re fighting some kind of war and pretty much no one is safe. People have fled the country for their safety in the thousands. Tens of thousands. Millions. In 2016, the U.N. identified 13.5 million Syrians requiring humanitarian assistance. Six million of them are internally displaced and about five million are refugees outside of Syria. In that year 46,700 were admitted to Canada.
This year, one of those families came to our town. They fled to Lebanon seven years ago and lived there until a small group in our town rallied to get them here. The group even fund raised so the family would have enough money to live for a year since the family won’t be allowed any government assistance.
I don’t know about you, but I would have serious trouble if I suddenly found myself in Syria. Not because of the fighting, but because I don’t speak a word of Arabic. Have you seen how Arabic is written? Take a look at those squiggles at the top of this post. Arabic is written from right to left. Books are read front to back. You might as well teach me to flap my arms and fly away.
This family has been very eager to learn. While I would just hide in my house and hope no one noticed me, this family wants to learn. DW has been to their house nearly every day over the last week and a half to talk to them and help them and teach them. I have gone, too, but since I’m still teaching I don’t get to go as often. The boys have joined us. The family has three children, all around our kid’s ages. The great thing about kids playing is they often don’t need words. Play just happens. With the help of DW and a few other significant others, they have come a long way in just 2 weeks. They still have many miles to go, but their determination should see them there. We laugh with them when they tell us we’re teaching them English and they’re teaching us Arabic!
Anyway, a couple years ago a Syrian family moved to a town near us. Turns out the family had a thriving chocolate business in Syria. Or, at least they did until their factory was bombed. They moved here and soon set up a small baby barn to create some chocolate. Peace By Chocolate. Word spread quickly and they were eventually recognized by the Prime Minister. That’s how good their chocolate is. Needless to say, their business is thriving again. Just recently they created a chocolate bar. I know, big deal, right? How many chocolate bars are there in the world already? These chocolate bar wrappers have one word on them. One of those words is the squiggles that are at the top of this post.
Paix. Wantaqo’ti. ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ سلام
French. Mi’kmaq. Punjabi. Arabic.
Peace. In our area of Canadaland these four languages are prominent and Peace By Chocolate is proving they are here for everyone. If we can all get along here, why can’t it happen all over the world, too?
You can visit them at peacebychocolate.ca. To my knowledge, they ship world wide. It’s worth every bite.
Great post! It is wonderful that you take the time to help those family. I would love to taste the chocolate
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The chocolate is divine! We’re just doing for that family what I hope someone would do for us if we suddenly found ourselves in an Arabic country 😁
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My birth name turned out to be part Arabic or at least that’s what Google said 🤣 and that’s great they started their chocolate business again! I’ve never had Arabic chocolate might have to check them out. If it’s anything like German chocolate I could definitely keep them in business!
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This Syrian chocolate is better than the Germans. Smooth and sweet and absolutely divine. There’s nothing Arabic about me except the chocolate I eat 😁
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You should be their spokesperson because I am sold off that description! I will let you know once I order it and give my opinion of it!
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That’s awesome
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It is indeed. There are others who have just started going to the family’s house to teach. DW still goes every morning because they adore her. They ask her to come back 😀
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Great post, Eric. I’ll definitely be clicking on over to check on that chocolate. I think that family is in good hands. You will learn much from each other.
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That chocolate is about to be sold at Sobey’s in Toronto! They’re expanding quickly!
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So I read at their site. I’ll be watching for that. Save on shipping.
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What a neat story and business concept. I checked it out, but shipping was going to be $25 😮
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Yeah, shipping to the States sucks. Same to ship things from the States to here. Expensive. Guess you’ll just have to vacation here and pick some up then!
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I’ve bought stuff from China with super cheap shipping and didn’t know what to expect. Haha yes, that is definitely in our plans. Have been thinking about heading that way, just the two of us. We both really want to see Niagara Falls.
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If/when you make it, be sure to pop into the grocery store “Sobey’s” to get some! Things from China are always questionable. The shipping is always a good price, though!
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A thousand times yes! I LOVE refugee- small business anecdotes. There are so many great stories like this one waiting to be told. Thanks for sharing!
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You are very welcome. Thanks for stopping by to read it. The first family has a long way to go and so much to learn still. But they are determined. The chocolate family is doing great though. There are many stories like theirs, too!
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Great post. Thanks for sharing
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You are very welcome.
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