Upon hearing Fadi’s story, I realized that the American Immigrant’s story has not really changed since the opening of Ellis and Angel Island, and the creation of the classical American Immigrant’s Story. There may be new technology, new methods of communication, new venues for the media, but none of these seem to destroy the myth that America and a better life are consistently synonymous. There is a distinct tragedy in this myth, as it almost always sets up whoever immigrates to America in pursuit of a better life, for disappointment. I also realized, however, that this myth creates a deep-seated determination that does not dissipate once an immigrant’s illusions of American Life are destroyed. Fadi’s family was assaulted with these twisted notions of America and its advantages in their native country of Egypt, thus inspiring his father and mother to immigrate to America, with Fadi in tow, in the fall of 2004.
When Fadi arrived in America, he was nearly ten years old with only a basic grasp of the English language. His father, Ameer Habashy, was the driving force behind the family’s move. Ameer fell in love with America in his thirties, most likely due to the media’s distorted portrayal of it. The primary motivation behind their move was Fadi’s future for which Fadi’s parents had high hopes.
Both of Fadi’s parents, Ameer and Emas Habashy, went to four-year universities in Egypt, and both of them have degrees in Engineering. They both grew up in Egypt, and subsequently, their lives were in Egypt. Up until the move, Fadi’s life was also in Egypt. When the Habashy family left Egypt, they left behind their friends, extended family (aside from Fadi’s aunt and two cousins, who had moved to America three years before Fadi moved), and for Fadi’s parents, their careers.
When Fadi first arrived in Borough Park, Brooklyn, his frustration began. He entered the fourth grade, and although a top student back in Egypt, his sub-par English held him back academically. On top of that, he was thrust into an ESL class, which although helpful, made him feel humiliated and stupid. His primary teacher was not of much help, denying Fadi the extra attention he needed as an immigrant in favor of passing on the responsibility of helping him adjust to the teacher in his next year of school, which was the fifth grade. Fadi felt abandoned by his teacher, and his peers offered him no consolation. They did not have the aspirations that Fadi did, and the fact that he was new and confused made him an easy target for harassment.
Fadi’s parents did not fare much better than Fadi in their first year. When they began their job search, they found out that the Engineering Degrees that they had worked so hard for back in Egypt, did not apply in America. Discouraged but not disheartened, they took jobs that they were extremely overqualified for. Through this, they remembered that they came to America primarily for Fadi, and that some sacrifices had to be made in order to aid their son.
In my interview with Fadi, he often talked about the fact that his parents came to America for him. Although noble of them, it seems that Fadi feels this constant pressure to excel. He is an only child, an important fact because he is the sole focus of his parents, magnifying the pressure to do well exponentially. It is a strange situation in that Fadi did not ask for what his parents did for him, yet he cannot get angry because he acknowledges that what they did for him was exceedingly selfless.
In fifth grade, Fadi had a much more pleasant experience. His English improved, his teacher was incredibly helpful, and his peers seemed as keen as he was on school. The seeds of American optimism began to take root in Fadi’s eleven-year old self.
Then came middle school. In sixth grade, Fadi was surrounded by delinquents determined to undermine every teacher they had. They would feign fights and scream in class. During one instance, Fadi recounts that two of his classmates began to spit at one another, and when his teacher tried to intervene she was caught in the crossfire. Fadi’s optimism faded during these years, and he was forced to adapt to his surroundings. This meant that he often joined in on the ruckus, his young mind unable to resist the temptation. But perhaps it was better that Fadi adapted, he already felt like an outsider and by joining in, it not only diminished his alienation, but it created a sense of comradery with his lawless peers.
In the eight grade, Fadi excelled. The chaos that had governed the previous two years of his academic existence was extinguished when the option to take advanced classes was presented to him. In these classes, he felt that the other students were of a similar caliber academically and behaviorally. Both the advanced classes and the stimulating academic atmosphere carried over into his years at FDR High School in Borough Park. Now, like the rest of us, Fadi attends City College through the Macaulay Honors Program.
Fadi feels, like many other young immigrants, that he is subjected to two strong, opposing cultural forces. On one hand, he grew up in Egypt and some of the most culturally crucial years of his life were spent there. His instinct tells him that he is Egyptian. On the other hand, there is the power and allure of American ambition and the realization that he has to spend the rest of his life here in America. Fadi indicates that neither force has “won” in his mind with the implications being that he does not have a distinct cultural identity. The consequences of this lack of identity are that Fadi finds it hard to relate to most people, his sense of humor is decidedly Egyptian and requires the Arabic language to effectively convey, and he does not quite understand a lot of the quirks of American culture. Not at any point, however, did I sense any bitterness in Fadi’s voice about his strange situation, I only sensed a distant melancholia, a warm and universal politeness, and an admirable determinedness to succeed for both his and his parents’ sake.
