Where I'm From

When you look at me what do you think I am? White? Italian? Spanish? Think again. Most people dont know that I am 100 percent Palestinian. Both of my parents were born in the middle east, but I was born in the United States. My father was born in a little (now big town) called Ramallah and my mother was born in Jerusalem. My father moved here when he was 3 years old and my mother moved here when she was fourteen. My mothers father died before she was born. My grandmother was left with 5 boys and 1 girl to raise.  My father had to work for everything he ever had. His father came to the US with no money. He had to work multiple jobs to support his family. My grandfather opened up business' and became successful. Growing up without a father was hard for my mother. She did have 5 older brothers but it is never the same as having a father. My father paid his way through undergrad and his way through Georgetown Law. I know that many people think that just because you are an immigrant you dont have a chance to do anything or be somebody, but you do. Here is something funny, my parents look white. They dont look Arab! I think its hilarious. Anyone can be successful if they set their mind to it. My father one of the biggest role models in my life of course after my grandfather who passed away when I was 12 years old. I was his only granddaughter, and his angel.

                                                            My grandfather:)   r.i.p 12/25/03


Now its time to talk about how I grew up and how I was raised and how most arab children are raised.. I am the oldest and the only girl. My brother Michael is 18 and Andrew is 14. Being a girl in the Arab culture is extremely hard. You have to always act like a lady, dress like a lady and talk like a lady. Arabic parents expect the world and more out of their children, so sometimes it can be hard. I went to church every Sunday growing up. My parents always want the best for me but they push me because they know how smart I am.  They want me to be the best that I can be.  They wanted me to have the life they never had as children. Being a girl, my parents were more strict on me than most parents were on their girls.  I wasn't allowed to date, when the rest of my friends could. It was hard to find friends that I could relate to, so I turned to my cousins.  We all were raised the same and we understood each other.  It was easier on my brothers because my parents were not as hard as them as they were on me. As I got older, they were much more lenient, but my mother is the worriers of all worriers. She worries way too much and it drives me crazy, but it shows me how much she loves me. My father was more lenient because he was raised here. My mother on the other hand was raised in the middle east by her 5 older brothers. So you can imagine how strict they were on her. Surprisingly, I tell my father more than I tell my mother even to this day. Most girls in my family, their parents do not let them go away to college. They have to live at home and drive to school.  My parents didn't think twice.  If I wanted to stay at home and attend school my parents would have been fine with that, but they wanted me to go away and so did I.  Going away to school was amazing.  It made my mother worry less. Now that my brother is going away in the fall, my parents are having a hard time letting go because we are so close.

My mother and I:)

Anyway, I kind of got off topic. I just want people to know that just because you are an immigrant doesn't mean you cant have a career like everyone else. Also, I wish that some people were more educated of other people's cultures. Nobody really knows what I am unless I tell them which I think is neat. I love when people ask and I love asking other people where they are from. I understand what it is like to grow up "differently."  My mother cooked arabic food growing up while my other friends had "normal food."  As I got older I realized that nothing is normal. I am happy that I was raised the way I was. I am happy and proud to say I am a Palestinian. I am so grateful to have such amazing parents. I questioned their way of raising me when I was little because I thought it was so "unfair." I wouldn't be where I am today without the guidance of my parents. So dont be so quick to judge, and learn about other peoples' cultures. It's exciting, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. I can say I used to be ashamed when I was younger but I couldn't be any more proud.

                                                 

          Miami, Winter Break 2011. My family:)