Palestinian | Irish
My Father was born in Tiberius in Del Hamiya which was one of the 500 Palestinian towns destroyed in the 1947 Nakba. The family fled to the Golan Heights, which at the time was Syria, but were displaced again in 1967.
From childhood I was taught to be very proud of my Palestinian roots. But in adulthood almost every time I mentioned I was half-Palestinian people would either jump, keen to engage in intense political debate or would make some facetious or combative comment. Somehow everyone feels entitled to voice their opinion once they know you're ethnically Palestinian; everything from sympathy to hostility.
The first time I went to Palestine I was greeted with such warmth, hospitality and generosity. I experienced the richness of the culture and traditions, learning more in one trip than from my whole Theology and Middle Eastern degree!
But many Palestinians are not granted the luxury of ever returning home. So much of our history is being eroded and censored, so as members of the diaspora I feel we have a duty to represent and educate. Being Palestinian can feel burdensome, but my experience is nothing compared to those who are there and living through it, so the least I can do is celebrate my roots and try to raise awareness. I relish exploring Palestinian cuisine, textiles, art and literature.
My Mother was born in Scotland to Irish immigrants and was raised there in an Irish Catholic community. Growing up I always claimed to be half Irish with delight. But when I started university in Dublin everyone there called me English! After attending very English schools my whole life and always feeling distinctly not English in the company of those who ethnically were, I was perplexed. Of course, with my London accent, it was naive, laughable even, to assume I could be considered Irish. But now, I have an Irish passport, have worked, studied and paid taxes in Ireland and many of my dearest friends are Irish. I finally feel I can reclaim my Irish heritage too.
My journey has been a little turbulent but I am very proud of who I am and where I am from.