What is your full name?
Pablo Sahag Collin
Where were you born (City, Country)? Were you also raised in this country?
Suva, Fiji.
We left there when I was about 5 years old.
If you have a religion, what is it?
I was exposed to some Catholic instruction early on, but my family was never rigorous about religion. I married a Jewish girl, and we are raising our children within those parameters, so they have a sense of belonging to the Jewish community.
Did your religion play a big part in your childhood and upbringing?
No. Usually I would have said I was "non-denominational".
What did your family structure consist of? (Number of siblings, parents job occupations, place in family [ex. Youngest of 4 brothers])
Father was an architect, and an artist.
Mother a translator (French/ Spanish/ English).
What were some special cultural moments (such as traditions or events) that happened in your life?
With both parents being from Europe, and being raised in a former British colony, the celebrations of Easter and Christmas was different to those of my school friends. That was all part of being generally different to everyone around me, so these moments seemed special.
What was a pivotal point in your life?
Getting married!
Were there any main social changes or events happening in Zimbabwe around the time you moved?
The government in Zimbabwe was starting to fight for its life, as there was the first civic movement that formed a powerful opposition in 1999. They cracked down on civil liberties and had started to close all avenues for freedom of expression years earlier, so the people had been made powerless almost without noticing it, until it was too late.
What was one of your most emotional or challenging memories of while you were living in Zimbabwe ?
The decision to leave Zimbabwe was taken after fighting against it for two or three years, so when I did take that step it was a huge shift in my thinking.
What was a moment in which you learned an important life lesson?
We all deal with having to do things we don't want to do, yet find ourselves doing them. A big lesson for me was when we decided to leave Zimbabwe, I realised how people can just carry on like that, trying to live a "normal" life in crazy situations. You understand how entire countries remain in these bizarre situations for decades (eg North Korea, Germany before and during World War II, South Africa under apartheid, etc. etc. etc....). Then I crossed that line, and didn't find our circumstances acceptable any more. I could have done it much earlier on.
When did you move from your country? How old were you and for what reasons did you move?
We moved in September 2000. I was 39, my sons 3 (Zak) and almost 1 (Eli).
Do you think there was more of a push or pull factor for your idea of moving?
I was pushed! I resisted mightily until that chnge of mind, on April 29, 2000. That was Zakary's 3rd birthday party, and looking at him and all the other kids made me realise there was no future for them in Zimbabwe. Not at that time, but maybe later. At least it can be a choice we or they can make later on.
What were your means of transportation for moving?
Flying.
Did you experience any troubles while moving?
Upon leaving Zimbabwe, we did not officially emigrate. At the back of our minds, we still believed that we would go back within a few years, and that hope was always there until about five years later. The idea that you can go back "home" is powerful, and is conflicting when you are actually building a new life, in a new home. At a practical level, we were not able to bring much in the way of assets, since it was illegal, and there was no access to foreign currency. We came with our suitcases and very little money. We still have our house in Harare.
What were some of your hobbies/ things you liked to do at the time of your move?
I am the kind of architect who does not have hobbies - my work is my passion and my pleasure. Apart from interesting old cars, of which I had a few over there.
Did you know you were going to miss some things when you moved? If so, what?
My friends, our mothers, our entire community. There are only parts of that which remain there, since many have had to move as well, all over the world.
What kind of differences in life style are there in the US compared to Zimbabwe ?
Much less flexibility and leisure over here. Also a much more conservative environment in the US.
Would you consider the move a good thing?
Yes, because it was better than not doing it.
Do you think you would have been better off if you stayed? If so, why?
Staying was just not an option. To survive there I would have had to deal with more and more corruption, shortages, repression, desperation.
What are your thoughts on the current state of Zimbabwe ?
Zimbabwe is in a state of total collapse, and the wonder of it all is how long a place and a people can continue to endure and survive. It is beyond our understanding. I feel despondent and incredulous - any time there has been a glimmer of hope for a resolution it has been extinguished by Mugabe's brilliant ability to outmanouvre the opposition and the world at large. It appears that some deal is being agreed upon in Harare, for powersharing with the opposition, because it seems that the country is really on its last legs.
What do you think is the most important thing people should understand about Zimbabwe ?
The country is magnificent, the people are wonderful, and yet it can all go wrong because the ruling clique takes over and looks after itself only, at the expense of the majority. The concept of democracy is new to humans, and keeps getting hijacked by ruthless individuals. Zimbabwe did not see it coming, and the big lesson would be that we must be vigilant and hold our leaders accountable when they are in positions of power. It is a lesson that I share with my American friends, because even though there is a system here that helps to safeguard their individual rights and liberties, its not foolproof either. The Cheneys and George Ws would happily head down that road to control everything, for their own benefit and at the expense of everyone who does not agree with them. Hopefully their excesses will be curtailed, but there is no guarantee of that happening, it is a constant fight that good people (who tend to be in the majority everywhere) must not give up.
Any other comments or memories, etc.?
Let me know if you want to follow up on anything in particular. I will be happy to make myself available.
That's all for now.
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