Maram Eleleimy is a Bahai Egyptian American. Born and raised in Egypt until the age of 12, she then moved to the UAE, where she completed middle and high school. She returned to Egypt for college. Maram is a wife, mother, daughter, and currently works as a jet pilot.

Maram holds a BA in Mass Communications, with a major in Radio and Television. After moving to the US in 2015, she initially aspired to become a physical therapist, completing two years of pre-med studies in preparation for a PhD program. However, she later changed her career path and pursued aviation. 

Maram had no intentions to move to the US until she met her husband, who lived there and was visiting Egypt. They fell in love and got married. Her biggest challenge upon moving to a foreign western country in her 20s was developing authentic connections and friendships with like-minded people.

Maram has a three-and-a-half-year-old child whose first language was Arabic until starting preschool, where he picked up English. 

Raising a bilingual child in the Midwest comes with its unique set of challenges. Living in a predominantly white, English-speaking area, speaking Arabic to her son in public is always interesting for Maram. People usually do a double-take when they see him respond in Arabic and are fascinated by it. 

There is significant room for growth in terms of diversity and inclusion within the local school system, which Maram believes will be their biggest challenge as her son grows older. She wonders how to keep him proud of his heritage while supporting and encouraging him to embrace his unique self without feeling the need to blend in.

Since Maram’s son is still a toddler, she believes the best way to connect him with his heritage is through experiences. They visit Egypt at least once a year, speak to him only in Arabic, frequently talk about Egypt, and mostly cook Egyptian food. His favorite dish is molokhia. She puts a lot of emphasis to teach her son Arabic. 

Not too big on TV in general, Maram doesn’t watch much Egyptian TV, but they play a lot of Egyptian music at home.  Describing her feelings when she sees the Egyptian flag, or hear the Egyptian anthem, Maram said she feels a deep sense of pride. “Every day, I get to share my heritage and background, and I do so with pride! It’s always received with excitement and awe!”

 About the difference between Egypt and the US, Maram says, “The social aspect is definitely lacking in the US. However, the growth opportunities and infrastructure need a lot of improvement in Egypt. The US is truly the land of opportunities; if I wake up tomorrow and decide I want to be a surgeon, I can work towards that goal and achieve it. The main barriers to your goals and dreams are often your own limiting thoughts. Here, age, past education, gender, or background (most of the time) are not limiting factors.

However, raising a child in the US can be very exhausting as a working mother. You’re expected to do it all, and you don’t have your ‘village’ to fall back on. In Egypt, every time we visit, everyone happily supports us, runs after my son, and keeps him occupied. There’s a sense of community that’s definitely missing in the US.”

As a woman of color in a white male-dominated industry, Maram faced cultural and societal challenges. “People often try to guess my background and heritage. I’m frequently mistaken for Hispanic until they discover I’m Egyptian, which is usually well received. However, there are many layers to American culture that I’m still uncovering. I didn’t grow up watching the same shows or share the same sense of humor and childhood experiences as many here.

Initially, it was tough to connect with others due to these differences. Over time, though, I became more comfortable in my own skin. In the past, I might have felt embarrassed if I didn’t understand or relate to a reference, but now I laugh it off and share my own cultural experiences.”

Among the many accomplishments and successes she has achieved, Maram is most proud of starting flight school and earning her first of six certificates during the COVID-19 pandemic, even while being 9 months pregnant. She considers completing her career milestones, which involved not only learning to fly a plane but also becoming a flight instructor. Over 1200 flight hours, she taught American students from diverse backgrounds how to fly. Now, flying jets professionally while raising a curious and wonderful 3-year-old toddler, and experiencing the world through his eyes, are among the most fulfilling achievements and blessings in her life.

Also being recognized by Women of Egypt platforms as a successful female figure was a moment of pride for Maram. It affirmed her ability to inspire younger Egyptians (and older women) who “want to take the less travelled paths.” Moreover, it was gratifying to realize that her journey to the USA had made a positive impact.

Maram believes it is very important for new immigrants to integrate into society. “Unfortunately, some immigrants integrate by only speaking English to their kids and completely stripping themselves of their heritage. From my experience, I think holding onto our heritage gives us more depth. We can integrate into society by expressing a genuine interest in learning about their culture without losing ours, by learning their language without losing ours, and by opening up and letting them into our lives.

Americans are usually fascinated by Arab hospitality, language, and culture. Finding the balance between taking pride in our heritage and showing a genuine interest in theirs is, in my opinion, the best way to integrate into society.”

To the Egyptian women living in the USA, Maram asks them not to compare themselves to others, “comparison is the thief of joy,” she says. She encourages them to find the beauty in every encounter, seek opportunities to grow as a person in the ever-changing and ever-growing society, and to discover their niche where you can impact others. Be the change you want to see in your environment. Be a driving force and go beyond any limiting beliefs about what you can or cannot achieve (or what others think of you). 

And for anyone who is moving to the USA, Maram says, “In this country the sky is the limit! Dream big, go after your goals, hard work pays off, but be prepared for a steep learning curve.”

Maram owes a significant part of her success to her husband, who has opened numerous doors and supported her through career changes and unconventional ideas. She also credits her parents, who made the sacrifice of leaving everything behind in Egypt to move to the US and support her and her growing family. Maram acknowledges that without the continuous support of her family, she wouldn’t be where she is today.