Finding Home Across Distance

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The family photo was taken on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Alexandria, Egypt, where I was born. My family immigrated to the East Coast of the United States when I was six years old.

We left behind family, community and the culture in which we were rooted. My family is now scattered across the world, living in different countries.

I miss the interconnectedness of family, language, food, culture and community that I once had.

Now I find new ways to connect with that language and culture, building new community networks and creating connections with others who have had to leave their families and communities behind because of war and economic hardship, just as my family did.

In doing this, I feel more connected to my own culture and rooted in community

Photo caption if needed.

Elham Rafia-Yuan • Santa Rosa resident

Elham Rafia-Yuan (Age 60) has lived in Santa Rosa for twenty-five years. She currently works as a tutor and is involved in community organizing and activism. Throughout her life, she has lived in seven U.S. states and five other countries.