Checking that you have the keys before leaving home is a daily act that provides assurance to whoever is leaving that they will return without any problems getting in. This is what many Palestinians did when the Israeli Army invasion began in 1948. However, this time it was of no use: they had lost their homes, the keys were useless, and they had to move to refugee camps. Among them were the grandparents of Nur Nabhan, a Tenerife resident and daughter of Palestinian parents who were raised and met in the Syrian refugee camp of Homs, established by the United Nations.
The camp started with huts. The accommodation was meant to be temporary and many hoped the conflict would end soon so they could return to their homes. Eventually, they realised they couldn’t do so, and those huts turned into their homes. Schools and hospitals were built and what started as a temporary living place became their new city. Nur’s parents, like many others there, did not see a prosperous future and decided to go to Salamanca. Later, they found a job opportunity in the Islands and ended up living in the south of Tenerife. Nur recalls that at that time there were not many Palestinians in the southern region: “It was known that there was a community but it was very small.” She now acknowledges that they are scattered across the island but, in general, they know each other and participate in gatherings. They also stay in touch through Facebook groups or Whatsapp.
Nabhan lives in the land of her parents through her memories and with the pang of not being able to see it with her own eyes. When she delves into the memories of her ancestors, she would like to walk the paths her grandfather walked, taste the oranges from Jaffa – “they say they are the most delicious” – or see the sea of Acre, “the best for swimming.” She now resides in Adeje and works as a high school English teacher. She studied Translation to bridge the Arabic and Spanish worlds. Nur remains connected to her two cultures. They are part of her history, and she always fondly embraces the memories of her forebears with nostalgia.
