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Family immigration to Australia (not included in book)
Fled Civil War in Lebanon to Australia, an english-speaking multicultural popular immigration destination.
"It's hard to believe I had once been apart of that madness"
Shows how the Author was not far from death and destruction. -
Encountered Cultural shock at school
Saw how children stood upto teachers without consequence, said he was "Dumbfounded". -
Encounter with youth violence in Australia
Hazem got into arguments and physical confrontations against others in sport or other gatherings, though tried to defuse the situations. It was Hazem portraying himself as a calm and controlled person to the reader. -
Soccer game ends bad and gets into fight, suspended.
Was acquitted in court due to a clean record, taught Hazem he needs to keep himself in line.
"In one silly incident, my clean image had been tarnished"
Shows how Hazem is conscience of what people think of him, relating to his Identity. -
Rugby stars offer Hazem to join an under-19s club.
Hazem's performance in a rugby game was spectated by former professional players, who were impressed and offered him a spot in a club.
Following this though, he could only think to himself "my Immediate problem was getting through Ramadan without killing myself", showing how his stark cultural difference with other Australians makes him shift priorities and concerns into things that others are not having to worry about. -
WTC Attack, Bali Bombings, wave of anti-muslim and anti-middle eastern sentiment.
The Incidents received a huge coverage in Australia which resulted in a turn of public opinion against Islam and Middle Easterners.
Hazem was confronted by team mates, "Can you explain any of this?" "What is Jihad" so his cultural difference and Identity serves as an even greater burden as Australia shifts to discrimination and anti islam sentiment.