Yara’s Journal

Summary

• Yara's journal entry describes a deeply rooted tradition of superstition and coffee ground reading, as taught by her grandmother.
• In their tradition, bad luck is a prevalent concern, with customs for protection that include throwing salt and avoiding certain things like black cats.
• Teta, Yara's grandmother, is adept at 'tabseer', a method of fortune telling by analyzing the leftover Turkish coffee grounds in a cup.
• Yara's grandmother told her the meaning behind various patterns and symbols seen in the remnants of Turkish coffee, imparting her knowledge.
• The rooftop of their shelter is a cherished space for Yara and Teta, a place of freedom and cultural practices.
• Yara recalls her upbringing in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank and her closeness with Teta as they engage in daily activities and rituals.
• The coffee reading tradition serves as a means of connecting with ancestors and a practice that Yara learns to appreciate and perform.
• One poignant memory is from Yara's wedding night, where Teta finally reads her coffee grounds, signaling her transition to a new chapter in life.
• Yara has dreams and ambitions beyond the expectations of her culture, such as becoming a singer in America rather than just assuming a traditional role as a mother.
• Despite Yara's aspirations, Teta's reading seems to reveal a destiny of motherhood and possible hardships depicted by the mountains in the grounds.
• Yara grapples with the fear of leaving her grandmother and her heritage behind, but feels suffocated by the idea of staying.
• The emotional distress of parting is evident as Teta breaks down in tears and eventually gives Yara a gold necklace with a hamsa charm for protection.
• Yara carries the physical and emotional marks of her heritage and the intense emotions of this farewell as she embarks on her journey to America.