Over the last few years, Tu Vuong (B.Ed ’07) and third year bachelor of fine arts student Aseel Alsaman have struck up a beautiful friendship and creative collaboration. The two women are putting the finishing touches on a poetry book that chronicles Aseel’s life as a young girl in Iraq, and follows her family’s journey to Syria and ultimately, Canada. The poems are penned by Tu and accompanied by Aseel’s illustrations.
The pair met in 2018 when Tu was teaching an English as a Second Language class at St. Patrick’s High School. Aseel, then 17, had recently moved to Ottawa. “We were a small group in that class, so it was more like a family,” remembers Aseel.
The idea for their book project came after Tu published a poetry collection in 2022. That autobiographical collection, Coming Họmẹ, explores Tu’s family’s journey immigrating from Vietnam to Canada and her experience navigating cultural worlds.
Learning of the book’s release, Aseel sent her former teacher a congratulatory message. She says Tu’s poems gave her hope, as they candidly described the ups and downs faced by newcomers—challenges she herself had faced. “When you read that book you feel seen and heard,” describes Aseel.
At one point, Tu presented an idea: together, they could write Aseel’s immigration story, with Aseel adding her own artistic flair.
Art has been a passion for Aseel since she was a teenager. It’s also a language she can use to communicate when words fall short: “Art is the only way for me to speak my thoughts or my feelings freely.”
An outlet to share and reconnect
In a process that was a little bit structured, a little bit sporadic, over the next two years Tu interviewed Aseel about her life. Her notes became the basis for the poems and prose, with the pair iterating in a Google Doc.
Thematically, the book explores what Tu and Aseel call the space between hope. “Central to that space is making connections, reaching out, and sharing a piece of ourselves,” describes Tu. “It’s a back and forth that’s vulnerable and reciprocal. Being able to make those connections, that’swhere I think that hope is.”
Adds Aseel in reflection on the theme: I’ve gone through many phases in my life. Even when I felt like I didn’t quite fit in or belong in the city where I live, the idea of hope kept me going.”
Whether it’s her own experience or now Aseel’s story, Tu says there’s a real power and importance in sharing these immigration journeys. “Today when we hear the word immigration it’s often discussed in political or legal terms,” says Tu. “When you attach a story, it humanizes a complex experience and adds a layer of emotion to it.”
uOttawa: A place of full-circle connection and mentorship
uOttawa has held special significance for Tu and Aseel since their project began. “The University of Ottawa is the space that has let us reconnect: past, present, teacher, student, friend,” says Tu.
The university has also provided a shared goal, as Aseel hopes to pursue a bachelor of education degree after her undergrad—the same program Tu graduated from in 2007. Aseel’s path, she hopes, will lead her to become an elementary school art teacher.
For now, she’s making her way through the bachelor of fine arts program, taking a demanding semester of coursework in stride. In this regard, Aseel shares that Tu has also provided mentorship: “She always encourages me to enjoy my time in university because one day I will miss this moment in my life.”
With a first draft of their book complete, Tu and Aseel are seeking a Canadian publisher who shares their vision to present readers with universal themes of hope, connection, and resilience. “The book is all about telling people, ‘don’t give up.’ For all newcomers who have similar journeys, you’re going to someday be at that place,” says Aseel.
Speaking with the two women, the pride Tu feels for Aseel’s growth is palpable. Apparent also is the shared respect, trust, and ease that comes from two people who have embarked on a deeply personal journey together.
Says Tu: “Even though she’s a former student, I feel like our collaboration and process has been a blend of mutual mentorship and learning.”