I am from

I am from the cold of the true north to the warmth of the land of the free. From the Ottoman Empire to the Egyptian Pharaohs. 

I am from the beautiful sights and sounds from my balcony. The sound of rustling leaves from deer to the wake-up call from the birds, to the squirrels fighting. 

I am from the long, long hikes on sizzling summer days to the frosty winter nights wrapped around in the heaviest blanket.

I am from wearing shorts and sandals over at the Mediterranean to wearing two coats, snowpants, winter boots, a scarf, hat, and mittens in the cold, freezing winters of Vermont.

I am from the beautiful foliage and snow on the trees in the Green Mountains to the dead trees over in the Sahara.
 
I am from the days to weeks to months that I would travel to Egypt to the days, weeks, and months of where I only could travel around my home.

I am from the long road trips that take 10 hours to the summer where we can’t travel at all. 

I am from the days that I see my friends every day to the days where I see a small box with their names on a tiny screen. 

I am from being an early bird to go to school to being a late owl since every day I work from home. 

I am from the loud, crowded streets in Egypt to the calm, quiet streets of Vermont.

I am from the big, big supermarkets like Costco to the tiny store with sweets under Titi’s apartment building.

I am from going to dozens of the Alexandrian "farmers markets" each day to going to a small, quiet farmers market just on Saturdays. 

I am from the loud sound of the Athan coming from all the minarets to having to go to the Masjid to hear the Athan. 

I am from the mango trees of Gedo Harraz's farm to the maple trees all over Vermont. 

I am from watching long soccer games with Gedo Shousha to playing short soccer games with my friends. 

I am from the amazing smell of Mulukhiyah to the even better smell of my mom's chicken panne. 

I am from being the loudest family in my neighborhood to being one of the quietest in meetings. This is where I'm from.