It’s about more than food

It’s ironic that Bernie Sanders gets tagged as insensitive to race issues – it’s not his problem – it’s Vermont’s. Vermont has a lot of positive qualities, but one is not ethnic diversity.

The situation was worse in the 1960s though.

As a kid I always felt like I didn’t fit in. I didn’t. My classmates, almost without exception, came from old New England stock and to me, a youngster, it felt like cultural and personal exclusion. In our family we ate different foods, we talked about different things, and we were almost completely ignorant of pop culture. It may not have been exclusion, but it certainly was difference.

I don’t know what I was thinking dressing in a coat and tie, it certainly didn’t help. Perhaps my warped mind thought if I did wear a tie I’d be mistaken for a teacher, and I could hide behind that.

Directly below me is the only other person (I believe in the school of about 200 children) who didn’t fit into the white ethos – she is part Native American.

People often think of Montreal as being binary between French and English, but the delicious reality is that it’s a jumbled pastiche of many ethnic groups. That’s been something that has greatly enhanced our lives. Even the people who think of themselves as “Francophone” or “Anglophone” are often quite sophisticated in their knowledge of other cultures, and often follow that up with speaking other languages. We had not always dreamed of Mexico. Our interest sprung from two sources.

One source was two of our best friends – Éric and Diana.  Their lives are a jumbled mix of both their Francophone and Spanish families. Diana grew up in Cartagena. Their home resonates with Spanish, which they speak as their base language, French, and English and the warm smells of a lot of good food. Éric and I became fast friends based on interests and personalities. Diana too loves her heritage and language (which she teaches at a college level) and has done a lot to encourage our interests in Latin America.

The second source, and where the interest in Mexico specifically started, is with our friend Magda. She has a quiet centering and wisdom that’s rare and which I greatly admire. When we first told her we wanted to go to Mexico (four years ago) she sat down with us and made a list of all her favorite places in the City, and it was from that list that we started our attachments.

I didn’t talk about it at the time (because I didn’t have his permission) but we were with Pablo, Magda’s brother, when my phone was stolen. He was angry because he hadn’t picked up on what was happening either. This photo of him was the same day, on the Metrobus, after things calmed down and we coming back down towards the Centro.

I would be totally remiss if I made it sound like solely Mexico connects personally with Montreal. There are many strong ties especially to the US, to England, and to France. Another of my earliest and best friends is from Bangladesh (with many other places in-between). His mother, Gayatri (here visiting), and I have developed an affection for each other. She visits each summer, and in this photo she is with our good friend Vivian.

I’ve been thinking about these ethnic mixings because last night I watched the documentary film Discordia detailing the student conflict at Concordia surrounding the (attempted) visit by Benjamin Netanyahu in 2003. It’s not a pretty story, but it’s emblematic of society trying to work out differences in a way more profound than superficial sharing of foods. I recommend it if you are at all interested. This link should play to all countries.

 

Posted in Montreal

10 comments on “It’s about more than food
  1. Martine Pagé says:

    Your Montreal is so different from the Montreal I know! It’s always very interesting to read about it from your point of view.

    • Jonathan Sa'adah says:

      Knowing some of your friends I wonder if a good part of the differences you are feeling aren’t tied up in family and growing up in Quebec. People think my views about Vermont can be warped too – being there for 55+ years sort of squishes all those experiences into your psyche and so a gap can develop between what is now and what’s inside you. Also, dealing all the time with family around you gives their views and their opinions a certain resonance, as I’m sure you agree. Just thoughts!

      • Martine Pagé says:

        You are probably right, though I always think of my family being in Quebec City and not Montreal… I never fully feel like a true Montrealer!

        I think what you mention also has to do with being an expat. Expats tend to gather with other expats or at least people who have a similar experience of being on the fringe, not part of the majority. This is probably why your Montreal is a lot more multicultural than mine (except maybe food wise!). And my previous experience as an ex expat (in the U.S.) has made me reach for a Montreal experience that is a bit more multicultural than the Montreal of some of my Québécois francophone friends and family.

        • Jonathan Sa'adah says:

          I realize in reading your comment how many people have come to Montreal instead of being born here. I don’t know if as an urban centre Montreal has a higher statistical number of non-“native” residents than most other cities, but it certainly seems that way.

          I can also see too how your US experience changed you. I know personally that I am much more aware of people who are situationally or culturally uncomfortable because when I’m in that situation I know how much difference it makes to me when people extend themselves.

          That can be here, or in travel. Thanks, Martine, and I’m glad we’ve shared so much of the food!

  2. Rachel Barenblat says:

    Beautiful.

  3. Hattie says:

    I certainly envy you your talent for photo portraiture. You capture the warmth of your subjects so well.
    Living in Hawaii is such a relief to me! I hate racially and culturally monolithic places.

    • Jonathan Sa'adah says:

      I’ve always felt attracted to the volcanic beauty of Hawaii, but it sounds as if there’s more to it than that. I’d like to travel there.
      Thanks for what you say about portraits. For me it’s the favorite part of taking photographs.

  4. Kathleen says:

    I had long heard that Latino immigrants to Canada preferred Montréal because of both its cultural resonances and it’s nature. It’s less Protestant in all manifestations than Toronto (my former home for 30 years) even though the winters are tougher. There is a definite South American presence in my neighbourhood. I love the mix here. Your friends sound warm, welcoming and vibrant.

  5. Kathleen says:

    Re-reading my comment it seems I formed a connection b/t Protestantism and winter. Maybe I did, unconsciously!

    • Jonathan Sa'adah says:

      I think there is a connection between the bleakness of winter and Protestantism – you’re right (probably!). But that has never explained to me the predilection in Montreal for black and monochrome that exists only in the winter months. I saw someone in a bright blue coat yesterday and thought “ahh, spring must be near!” Perhaps you can explain?

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How Many Roads? is a book of photographs by Jonathan Sa'adah, available for order, offering an unglossy but deeply human view of the period from 1968 to 1975 in richly detailed, observant images that have poignant resonance with the present. Ninety-one sepia photographs reproduced with an introduction by Teju Cole, essays by Beth Adams, Hoyt Alverson, and Steven Tozer, and a preface by the photographer.
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