ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ม.ค. 2017
- Yassin Terou fled Syria with a suitcase and a few hundred dollars. He knew no one in Knoxville, Tennessee, and he spoke no English, but he went there to rebuild his life and pursue his dream of perfect falafel anyway.
Every business starts with a dream, and Square exists to serve them-every kind of dream. “Yassin Falafel” is our first short film chronicling our remarkable sellers and their tireless pursuit of their dreams.
Transcription:
YASSIN: This last year has been hard on me and my family. Sometimes I don’t sleep. When you see all that is going on in the media, it will make you afraid.It’s like, what will happen to us? Even, like, make me scared about my business. It’s like, are we still welcome here? But when my baby was born, I remember looking at her. She’s born here. She’s an American. So at that moment-that moment I decide to be strong.
In 2011, when things got worse in Syria, and I just have to leave. Like, maybe the thing will get better, and I will go back-but this never happened. The first time I came to Knoxville, I still remember that day. Driving around from the highway, a lot of, like, big cars. I was scared of almost everything.
A lot of my Arabic friends, they scared to come here, like, “Oh, they hate Muslims.” “You will not have a good life in America.” You come to a country and you don’t have nothing. Nothing. Zero. You can’t make money because I wasn’t allowed to work. I don’t speak English. You don’t know nobody. Refugee life is very hard. Where do you start? Like you start with people, maybe they speak the same language.
So I went to the mosque. It was, like, about 4 minutes walking. And that took me like 2 months to know where it’s at, ’Cause I don’t know GPS. I never work with the GPS in Syria. I asked them for work, and they told me like, unfortunately, they can’t offer a lot of jobs, but we can offer you food, monthly help. And that was hard for me. It’s like, I can’t do it. Can you let me just sell sandwiches here? My small dream was to sell falafel and juices like we have it in Syria. This my food. And I want to give it with my love, with my style. And they let me do it. So I wasn’t making much money, but I was happy doing something.
NADEEM: I met Yassin here at the mosque, and this guy for a year or two years just consistently would come and sell these sandwiches. A lot of people would line up after the prayers got out.So I tried out his sandwich and it was really some of the best I’ve ever had. So I asked him, I was like, “Why don’t you just open up a store?”
YASSIN: Because I don’t have money! It’s the only reason I’m not doing this. It’s like my credit was, even if I claim everything, the best credit line I was given was $300.
NADEEM: So we decided to team up and we found an empty spot in an a building downtown, and opened up Yassin’s Falafel House.
YASSIN: The feeling of having like a restaurant, a real restaurant-so when I see it now I still don’t believe it. It’s not an easy job. Sometimes you have a very hard day, a 12-hour shift, catering in the morning, you’ll get tired. But having a business will give you the chance to represent yourself. It’s not only work. It’s a message.
My customers, they are my friends. Different faiths, different colors, different race. Because this is what Yassin’s Falafel House is about. It’s about community. Whatever happens outside of this store, just forget about it and come in. You are safe here. We hire refugees. Who are just like me. Who come here with nothing. People who want to work, and want to be happy.
The situation in Syria destroyed our family. My brother is in another country, I’m here, my father’s with my sisters. It’s not easy. It’s like, what will happen to them? Their future? It’s hard for me.
SERMON: A lot of people that you know and you don’t know have contributed to what makes you. And for that, we ought to be grateful. Everybody is great at a time of ease. Everybody wants to show the best of them at a time of prosperity. But it is at the time of adversity, at the times when things are not going your way, is when we really realize what that gratitude of yours, what that gratitude of mine, is made of.
YASSIN: I’m very grateful to be here. I’m very grateful for my family. And, we are strong together. I just think back about where I was, and what if I was still in Syria.
Not many people know my last name. A lot of people are like, “Yassin Falafel.” And I’m not mad about it. If they remember me of the good food and good taste, I’m really happy with it, like, it’s okay.
One of my dreams is not having one store only. One of my dreams is to get our message everywhere. Even the people who decide, oh, they don’t like Muslims, they don’t like refugees, they don’t like immigrants, we have to change their ideas about it. And that’s our job and that’s our message. If you believe in something, you don’t have to leave it and just go. I say, “No.” We’re going to keep the American dream going because this country is for everybody.
This is my America.
As a Knoxvillian, you are just as welcome here as anyone else, my friend. I didn't know about your business until I was sent this video, but now i'm excited to eat here!
We're proud to have you!! Go Vols!
You ARE welcome here.
I am a Veteran Of the US Navy and you are welcome in our country my friend. I have always enjoyed coming to your restaurant as the food is fantastic and the vibe is so chill and mellow. It is horrible what has become of Syria and I am so glad you have blessed our little city by moving here. May continual success, joy, and peace engulf your business, your employees, and your entire family🙂
This video does him justice. All the other features of him miss out on who he is. This one uses his own voice and just lets him talk. Beautiful.
This is such an American story. Starting with nothing and finding a local spot to sell your wares. Rising in the community to own and run a successful business. How many of our families were fleeing horrible situations in their native countries to come here for a better, safer life? I am glad Yassin and his family have found it and are living their own American dream.
Looks like I'm going to Yassin's for lunch again tomorrow. Hope to see you Yassin! Very powerful video.
I've eaten in restaurants all over this country and some international as well. I had the good fortune to eat at Yassin's restaurant last year when I visited Knoxville for the week. And the food here is some of the best I've ever eaten! I loved his message and I could tell it was a place of love and acceptance. And the food was so good I ate there 3 times that week!! Please go see him next time you are in downtown Knoxville. I loved seeing his story. I wish him and his family, love, peace and continued good fortune!
So, so beautiful. You are always welcome in this country. We love you
Ate there first time today. So good. Nice place too.
Powerful. Great short film.
wow, extremely powerful video. Thanks for posting!
This is love. A community coming together helping each other. Love knows NO color, No hate, No sex, No creed, No religion, No judgement... Just love. Stay blessed loved one and when ever you feel like giving up look at your daughter for strength and no matter what keep going. You are stronger than you think😉
Amazing, story-telling, sound design, score, heart - this is what filmmaking should be.
I work down the street from Yassin's resturant and eat there quite often; they have some of the most amazing food and the people who work there are incredible. I can't recommend this place highly enough and I can't tell you enough of what a genuine, quality guy he is. God bless you sir, your story is amazing.
The best of Knoxville, and the best of America.
This is our America too. God Bless us all. Every one.
MAA SHAA ALLAH ALLAHU AKBAR ALHAMDULILLAH WE ARE PART OF AMERICA EVEN WE ARE IMMIGRANTS ALHAMDULILLAH NICE MESSAGE JAZAKHAALLAH KHAIR I HAVE My SMALL BUSINESS SALON TOO USING SQUARE TOO NICE to used SQUARE the best way to help our business ALLAH SWT BLESS YOU ALL YOUR FAMILY ALWAYS BROTHER
what a great and powerful ad thank you square
thanks for sharing its almost made me cry and it's inspired me to start my own business.
Yassin I'm happy that you gave a voice to the people and you are welcome to be here. And keep making your family, yourself, and the people proud
Great story.
Powerful
thanks for sharing this--so touching!
OMG just cried my way through this. You must be so proud of your accomplishments.
Great story.. never give up, and continue to love what you do
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I am sharing on FB!
Amazing story!! not surprise...the 'immigrants always work hard and go on...no matter how hard it gets...even against all odds. Congratulations! and continue spreading love and acceptance of all!
Thank you for taking the time and sharing this video, such a beautiful story.
This is what makes America great again!
Square, can you get him a contactless and chip reader?? :)
He's all set. ;)
Thank you for coming to Knoxville. I heard about your story and am gonna drop by to check out your food. I love falafel!
Wow, this was a really great short film.
Yassin! Good to see you, my friend!
The next time I visit Knoxville I know where I will be eating. Welcome to Knoxville Yassin and I love the orange. :) Go Vols.
amazing
great work, God bless Him and his family, sure with dreams are goals with a deadline .
Thank you guys 👍🏼
What an amazing inspirational video.
God bless you and bless USA
Loved the story, Video and Yassin
So inspiring!! Great video
Superb! Congrats! great video.
Welcome to USA Yasin.. Keep dreaming big and be good they is your limit
ROAD TRIP!
super)
Keith Kenniff
يؤلمني جدا ان اشاهد شخص فقير ومحتاج هناك الكثير من المشردين حول العالم وخصوصا امريكا بعضهم بسبب الادمان علي مخدارت افلاسه يكون مصيره الشارع البعض يكون فقير او طرد من العمل مفروض دول تتكفل فيهم لو كل شخص غني يساعد الناس الفقير كان لن يكون هناك شي اسمه فقر بالعالم الحمد الله نحن المسلمون فرضت علينا الزكاه ولو بشق تمره ماشاء الله هذي الرجل ربي رزقه يارب ارزق كل محتاج
The American Dream
I'm a native of Knoxville my brother told me about his story. He seems like a very sweet man. It'd be great if all Muslim's would be peaceful like him and there be no jihadist in this world! I really liked how he went to the Salvation Army that is off Broadway that is the interstate and that's why the homeless stay in numbers is cause of the Salvation Army is right there helping them many of them may be alcoholics, drug addicts, have mental issues, and some just down on their luck. It's sad but touches my heart when he was giving out free food to them. I recognized everywhere that was filmed except his neighborhood which are dime a dozen all over the city. Just 5 years he's speaking fluent English doesn't take long! We have some African Christian refugees that just arrived late August in my church and they are going through the struggles he went through when he got here. I hope they too will be a future success story because the gov. help is only a year! Glad to see the American Dream is alive and well. Many people came to this country since its beginning in the same state like Andrew Carnage came here as a kid broke impoverished and became a millionaire and gave every cent he had away before he died and during his life!
Jihadist make less than 1% of muslims but the media chooses to ignore the 99% because they're boring and no body wants to see those .. they want to show the crazies
I would like to donate money to your business. Do you have an email address that I can fund the money?
We are immigrant in this world....