Home Away from Egypt

Despite being discriminated against for being Muslim, Manal Elesily has found a comforting community within Buffalo, where she can continue to embrace her beliefs.

With her citizenship within reach, Manal Elesily considers her five years in the United States to be a time of both immense heartbreak and great joy. Still, Egypt remains her home in many ways. 

Warm in more than temperature, Egypt was a place where Manal could walk down her street and strike up a friendly conversation with a stranger. She could bond with the women in her building while her husband chatted with the other men at a nearby cafe. A devout Muslim, Manal felt that her faith was respected by everyone around her, even those from other religions.

However, Egypt was not without its faults. Already a difficult place to receive an education, life for Manal’s family became even more uncertain as unrest gripped the nation following the 2011 revolution. The police oppression and government corruption of the previous regime had given way to street violence, and although Manal was first hopeful for change, she began to fear for the safety of her children.

Searching for a new home, Manal settled in Buffalo with the hope that the city’s diverse population would mitigate the rising Islamophobia under the Trump administration. She enrolled in ECC to become a dental hygienist, the closest approximation to her previous career as a dentist.

 Despite her efforts, the racism Manal had wished to avoid soon followed her. While enrolled in ECC, one instructor consistently demeaned Manal in class, and on multiple occasions, Manal would be publicly confronted about her choice to wear a hijab. Even those who weren’t overtly racist struggled to understand Manal’s religious practices like daily prayer and fasting for Ramadan.The worst was knowing that her sons faced similar experiences in their own lives, bullied in school and surrounded by those that didn’t understand their culture.

Criticizing Islamophobia, Manal argues, “We’re all human beings. Why are they discriminating against me? Why is hatred everywhere?”

Beyond the prejudice Manal faced, the language and cultural barriers she faced left her socially isolated. Tasks like paying bills, grocery shopping, and finding housing became enormous burdens without the support system that Manal required.

Thankfully, Manal has been able to find a community of her own by befriending fellow Muslims in Rochester and elsewhere in the United States. At the same time, her international counselor, Judy, was an important advocate for Manal. Judith guided her on how to take action against the discrimination she faced and became a true friend to Manal’s family along the way.

Regarding her experience as an immigrant to America, Manal reflects, “There’s always a light everywhere, people that lighten your life. It’s not always bad and it’s not always good.”

Now, Manal spends her time working as a dental hygienist and enjoying Buffalo’s beautiful nature. A proud mother to her sons, Ali, Abdullah and Ammar, she is overjoyed that both sons have progressed so much in their studies. Life in Buffalo may not be perfect, but it has its moments and Manal would give anything to see her children thrive the way that they do now.

Speaking about both her future and her past, Manal says, “This life was written before I was born: that I would move to the US with my husband and sons and face whatever challenges before me.”