مرحبا / Hello

According to the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, the term “monachopsis” is the subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place.

A typical conversation would start with the causal hellos followed by a “how are you doing?” And of course, we’re designed to subconsciously reply with a “good, and you?” although it may not truly reflect the way we’re feeling. So while I began this conversation with a hello, I will go on to tell you that the definition above resonates with me often, and that imposes on how I function. My Palestinian roots are intertwined with my American identity, as I was raised in Colorado but born in Amman, Jordan.

Back home in the East, where my heart eternally belongs - I am characterized as “Americanized” although I have no desire to neglect my core identity. And in the West, where I physically reside, my being is undermined and belittled by stigmas and misconceptions. In this struggle, I continue to discover my individuality and express it through different forms of art - writing, advocacy/activism, beauty, and fashion. Oh, and coffee, but we’ll get more into that later.