Natalie Davis
The task of translating the words of a refugee into a form of English that is more readable is not an easy one. We, as editors, were asked to dissect the meaning of personal journal entries, to pull apart words until we understood their meaning, and to make ourselves comfortable with the knowledge of a life that is outside of our definition of normal. I think one of the most interesting aspects of this project was gaining the understanding that tragedy is a refugee's normal. I was overcome with emotion reading the striking moments of pain and encounters with death. But these moments were not written as if they were outside of the ordinary; in fact, these moments were written as if they were “just another day in the life” moments.
I often felt disoriented as I was trying to understand what larger meaning was written within the story of these lives. My work on this project has led me to the understanding that it is a privilege to be oriented in my own understanding of life. These refugees were forced to become comfortable with discomfort, and they made the effort to learn a new language and share their stories with the sisters. I think it's important to note that these refugees were unafraid to tell their stories. The relationships they created with the sisters provided them safety and a space to tell the truth. The sisters kept their stories, truths, intact for a reason. I think they understood the power of stories different from their own. They understood the power of human connection. We have been tasked with relaying stories to the general public in a way that preserves the original authors’ agency. I think this is one of the more difficult tasks because the majority of the public seems to disregard the agency of a refugee. How do you convince people that another person is worthy of having human agency? How do you convey that a refugee is someone deserving of a good life? I guess you don't. A writer, or in this case, a translator, let the words speak for themselves and let a reader take from that what they will.
I wish for people to engage with these narratives with an open mind, to allow empathy the opportunity to seep into the words that they read, and to gain a friendship with the refugees that trust them with the knowledge of their stories. I hope that, by reading the lives that are in these pages, people understand what writing itself is meant to do.
Natalie Davis
English Literature, Writing, Gender and Women’s Major
Class of 2020