They gave me a whole tour of the hospital (57357 Children’s Cancer Hospital) and I actually got to talk to some of the kids that were sick and the families that were receiving aid.
I was like, absolutely amazed with it. It was really rewarding to see all the money that I had helped raise and like all the work that my Mom had helped put into it, really pay off.
Laila Pence the epitome of the American Dream – rushed out of a war-torn Egypt at nine, only to become one of the United States’ top wealth advisors. Between her Baron’s Hall of Fame position and rubbing shoulders with American Presidents, Pence has undoubtably become one of the world’s most successful Egyptians. She has set the stage for many abroad as a symbol of continuous preservation, intelligence, and success.
Today, her daughter is on a similar path – one rife with philanthropy and determination. Egyptian Streets sat down with Sarah Pence, a bright-eyed third culture kid in the throes of navigating her dual cultures.
A chat with Sarah Pence.
Have you found it easy or difficult as a ‘third culture kid,’ as someone who’s trying to bridge that gap and perhaps fallen into the crevices trying?
When I was younger, it was far more difficult for me just because I felt like I didn’t fit in anywhere.
I didn’t fully fit in with my family in Egypt and I didn’t fully fit in with my family in the United States. Something that was really hard for me growing up was the fact that on the inside I was so Egyptian – like Arabic was my first language and I grew up watching all the musalsalat (soap operas) and Ahmed Helmy’s movies and all that stuff growing up.
When I was younger, I didn’t feel comfortable sharing that part of me just because I did get bullied quite a bit in grade school as the only Arab in my school. Which you would think is a bit strange because nobody. I guess nobody looking at me would think that I’m Arab or Egyptian.
You and your mother have been very active in the charity scene both in the United States and in Egypt – could you tell us a little more about that?
When I went back to Egypt this summer, it was my first time visiting after 15 years. They gave me a whole tour of the hospital (57357 Children’s Cancer Hospital) and I actually got to talk to some of the kids that were sick and the families that were receiving aid.
I was just really struck by the fact that they were so grateful, like the opportunity to give their kids this sort of care. I was really struck with the like state of the art facility, it rivaled some of the things I’ve seen here in America, especially for a hospital that gives free treatment for cancer.
I was like, absolutely amazed with it. It was really rewarding to see all the money that I had helped raise and like all the work that my Mom had helped put into it, really pay off.
If you could send a message to other Egyptians abroad, what would it be?
Don’t lose your identity as an Egyptian – it’s something very beautiful to grow up at the crossroads of different cultures. There’s a lot of pressure to assimilate if you live or grew up abroad, but I think at the end of the day, our identity is crucial to who we are.
I also want to say: stay as generous and funny as Egyptians are. I think Egypt has a special soul that no other country has, especially its people. They have a special feel to them, and the cross cultura;-connect is [worth keeping]. A lot of my friends and family want an identity apart from Egypt, and I want to encourage them to embrace traditions, and hold onto their identity.
Thank you so much for your time. Is there anything you would like to share?
I just want it to say thank you because my biggest goal in life is to build these connections between people living abroad outside Egypt and youth within Egypt. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share all of this stuff, it’s very meaningful to me.