The Language of Baklava

Content Warning: This section contains references to racism, anti-gay bias, the Holocaust, and suicide; it also quotes people using an outdated term for Asian people.

Diana is six years old and in the audience of an American children’s TV show. The presenter struggles to pronounce the surname on her name-tag: He finds “Abu-Jaber” unexpected, given her green eyes and pale skin. She responds with laughter and cheeky retorts.

Diana introduces her father: Ghassan Saleh Abu-Jaber, known as “Bud” for his habit of greeting all Americans in this way. Diana describes him as “a sweet, clueless immigrant” and relates humorous anecdotes about his haggling habits and misunderstanding of what TV is (4). On Saturdays he cooks breakfast, and the family then visits one of Bud’s many brothers a traditional Jordanian meal.

On one particular day, Diana watches and helps her father prepare shish kabobs, anticipating the big family gathering to follow. The family drives to Lake Ontario for a picnic and sets up grills with all the uncles. Diana’s memory of that day focuses on Cousin Sami, recently arrived from Jordan, “twenty years old, sensitive and willowy as a deer” (6). He embroiders shawls and is called a “poet” by the laughing relatives.