Xiaohongshu
Election post
Having lived in Egypt my entire life, English was an afterthought and Thursdays meant 3ezooma. My culture was secure. It always surrounded me.
Living away from home made me realise that identity and language can slowly thin out when not reinforced daily. I learned that preserving culture is an active process of resisting the dilution of your language in spaces where it is not spoken. This process cannot be sustained alone.
For me, finding a shilla in London created a space where Arabic wasn’t secondary and my culture could be expressed in its fullest form. Through my friends, I was able to stay connected to and appreciate my history, culture and religion when they did not physically surround me. They taught me to carry my culture proudly in a foreign country, something I hope changes how Arabs are perceived.
I’m standing for Vice President because I know what it means to feel your identity thin, and I want Arab Soc to be the community where it grows stronger