Overview

More than 11 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes as a result of civil war. Many of these people leſt everything--and everyone--behind to start new lives in a new country. They traveled hundreds, even thousands, of miles to start new lives in a place where they knew no one, and oſten didn't speak the language. These are their stories--stories of escape, hope, and resilience. In Nightingales, Mimi Melkonian has compiled a fascinating collection of stories of Syrian migrants who leſt familiar surroundings, family members, and more, knowing they may never step foot in their homeland again. Their vision of a better life is what inspired them to keep moving forward without looking back. Their resilience has enabled them to flourish in their adopted countries. Melkonian profiles 16 inspiring migrants, including artists, musicians, intellectuals, and entrepreneurs.

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9780997175332

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Reviews

"""Exploding stereotypes and false assumptions, Syrian refugees and migrants tell their own stories in this unique collection. Mimi Melkonian has done a great service by soliciting, compiling, and translating records that communicate the intimate and varied realities of the Syrian migration."" --Todd Fine, President, Washington Street Historical Society ""Since the 2011 Arab Spring, a set of complex geopolitical moves and failure in leadership extended the conflict in Syria, and displaced thousands of Syrians as refugees and immigrants in the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. In Nightingales, Mimi Melkonian sets out to change our perception about Syria and Syrian refugees. She introduces us to resilient Syrians who left Syria to seek sanctuary in other countries--despite all odds, they managed to thrive. Melkonian captures the rich cultural traditions of Syrians while sharing the painful journeys of the recent refugees and their adjustments in their new homelands. Readers are introduced to refugee artists, athletes, educators, and homemakers who must look ahead, leverage their talents, and establish themselves thousands of miles away from home. Nightingales celebrates refugees and highlights the richness of their talents and contributions to their new homeland. I highly recommend this book."" --Ani Kharajian, President, Armenian International Women's Association Senior Portfolio Director, Executive Education, Harvard Business School Granddaughter of Armenian Genocide survivors and an immigrant ""A seminal accomplishment. Mimi Melkonian, herself the daughter of Armenian forced migrant heritage, narrates the path of individuals fleeing danger and despair, holding onto little more than hope to steer their destiny. Essential reading, Nightingales is a mastery of what becoming a refugee entails, and testament that no one chooses exile. Beautifully written, every chapter details the arduous journey of dreams morphing into reality. Melkonian crafts each story with eloquence and empathy, taking the reader into lives they would never otherwise know."" --Susan Hanna-Wicht, President, Global Language Project"

Exploding stereotypes and false assumptions, Syrian refugees and migrants tell their own stories in this unique collection. Mimi Melkonian has done a great service by soliciting, compiling, and translating records that communicate the intimate and varied realities of the Syrian migration. --Todd Fine, President, Washington Street Historical Society Since the 2011 Arab Spring, a set of complex geopolitical moves and failure in leadership extended the conflict in Syria, and displaced thousands of Syrians as refugees and immigrants in the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. In Nightingales, Mimi Melkonian sets out to change our perception about Syria and Syrian refugees. She introduces us to resilient Syrians who left Syria to seek sanctuary in other countries--despite all odds, they managed to thrive. Melkonian captures the rich cultural traditions of Syrians while sharing the painful journeys of the recent refugees and their adjustments in their new homelands. Readers are introduced to refugee artists, athletes, educators, and homemakers who must look ahead, leverage their talents, and establish themselves thousands of miles away from home. Nightingales celebrates refugees and highlights the richness of their talents and contributions to their new homeland. I highly recommend this book. --Ani Kharajian, President, Armenian International Women's Association Senior Portfolio Director, Executive Education, Harvard Business School Granddaughter of Armenian Genocide survivors and an immigrant A seminal accomplishment. Mimi Melkonian, herself the daughter of Armenian forced migrant heritage, narrates the path of individuals fleeing danger and despair, holding onto little more than hope to steer their destiny. Essential reading, Nightingales is a mastery of what becoming a refugee entails, and testament that no one chooses exile. Beautifully written, every chapter details the arduous journey of dreams morphing into reality. Melkonian crafts each story with eloquence and empathy, taking the reader into lives they would never otherwise know. --Susan Hanna-Wicht, President, Global Language Project

Author Information

"Mimi Melkonian teaches Arabic, French, and ""Attack and Aftermath of 9/11"" at Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut. She has extensive experience in teaching Arabic language and culture in creative ways in the classroom, as well as online. She is a frequent presenter at linguistic conferences and seminars in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. She is invited annually to present at the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Convention at Columbia University in New York City. Mimi has been honored with several awards, including the Goodwill Ambassador Award from the Secretary of State and Governor of Arkansas for her valuable contribution to the Little Rock Sister Cities Commission and the IBLA-Little Rock Music Festival. She is a Licentiate of The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, IMA, in London. In 2017, she was awarded the Educational Technology Award from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), an organization that promotes the teaching and learning of Arabic language and culture in the United States. Most recently, in 2018, Mimi was elected secretary for the Arabic Special Group (SIG) at ACTFL."

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