Ayah Zuhour was born and raised in America before moving to Palestine in 2019. She spent 5 years in Palestine before returning to America in 2024. “I moved to Palestine because my parents wanted me and my siblings to learn the culture, tradition, and to get closer to my family” Zuhour said. After living between two different countries Zuhour learned to navigate multiple identities.
“In Palestine, people saw me as the girl who came from America. In America, I am now seen as the girl who came back from Palestine. No matter where I am I carry both parts of my identity but others often define me as where I’ve come from or where I’ve been,” Zuhour said.
When asked about how Zuhour views herself she responded, “Even though I was born in America and spent most of my childhood here, my connection to Palestine is stronger, my connection comes from stories I’ve heard about our history, my family, and my own experiences of resilience. The way I act, speak and the values I hold show that I am more palestinian at heart. Yet I still feel American through the English language and the opportunity I have to create a better future.
Zuhour spoke about the challenges and benefits of moving to Palestine in 2019.
“The first year was very hard because I was ten and adapting to a whole new place was tough. The way people interacted with me, my classmates and the social norms were all new, but the last four years were the best years of my life. I had a great experience getting closer to my family, culture, religion and new friends. It also shaped my identity,” Zuhour said.
Zuhour learned to appreciate both parts of herself; her time in Palestine gave her a deeper connection to her roots and identity while her life in America shaped her understanding of opportunity and growth.
