Meet Afaf Elbousty | Banker, translator, and photographer.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Afaf Elbousty and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Afaf, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am from Morocco where I lived all my life before coming to the states. After graduating, I worked at the largest bank in Morocco as per my father’s wishes. My father was very authoritarian, establishing a strict set of rules that I had to abide by. I always felt oppressed, and I never had an opportunity to express myself or my thoughts. Small things that people might take for granted were absent in our household. These draconian measures made me very shy and insecure. However, my brother had a different treatment from my parents because of his gender; I was denied the liberties he had. He was very open and strong, gaining the love and the attention of the family. To compensate for my extreme introversion, I focused mainly on school and work.

Working at the bank was a new experience, giving me no choice but daily interactions with clients and colleagues. Being at the front desk was a big challenge that I finally overcame. Thus, I learned to become responsible and more confident. I stopped being scared to speak and share my opinions. This drastic change resulted in receiving recognition from senior management.

My arrival in the U.S. coincided with the pandemic. Life has completely changed, forcing me to stay at home. For the first few days, I would walk to Yale to experience and enjoy the beauty of the campus. I started taking pictures of buildings, parks, animals, and nature. I wanted to share my artistic production with the rest of the world, the same way I always wanted to share my thoughts and opinions when I was little. Thus, I started an Instagram and a YouTube channel where I post all my photographs and videos. I, for once, started to follow my heart and do things that I enjoyed doing.

In short, I grew from being a shy little girl who was afraid to be left alone in a crowded room, to becoming a confident woman who creates things and is not afraid to share them with the world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I landed my first job as a banker, I did not realize that it was a blessing in disguise. At first, I hated dealing with a lot of people and being at the forefront. I met people who were the nicest souls that ever crossed my path, who inspired me to become a better version of myself and renewed my faith in humanity; and I met others who were close relatives to the devil himself, but they pushed me to get out of my comfort zone. I learned how to manipulate instead of being manipulated. I learned to voice my opinions loudly and stick out for myself instead of walking away in shame. Becoming financially independent was the best that could happen to me at that time. I was still half-submerged in a tumultuous sea, but I was finally able to stick my head up to breathe some fresh air. Although academic knowledge is very important, the real world is far beyond this. Learning is a process that can help a person develop various skills and knowledge that can be useful to him. A person’s mind can easily grasp different concepts and ideas. Through reading and writing, I could express the difficult ordeals I experienced as a teenager. Writing for me was both an aesthetic and a healing experience. I am now a true believer that we can learn anything if we put our heart and soul into it. My problem growing up was that I did not give myself enough time to really excel in anything but now I am grateful for this second chance in this new country to express myself and share my creativity with the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The first thing I would do is prepare a nice traditional meal at home. I am a great cook if I can say that about myself. On the first day, I would make them the Moroccan Couscous that everybody knows and loves. We would have a great time learning how to make Couscous in my kitchen. I realized that all my friends are so curious about discovering and tasting new dishes and flavors. After lunch, I would make them a Moroccan green tea with mint to help with digestion. Mid-afternoon, I would take them on a tour around the Yale campus since I live in New Haven. Each and every building has its own unique architecture and history. Our next stop is the museum of art, where we can get lost in ancient history. At the end of the tour, we will stop at a local coffee shop called Koffee for a cup of coffee. The coffee they make is the best in New Haven. In the evening, we’ll go to a Thai restaurant downtown where my husband will join us.

On the second day, I would love to take them on a hiking and grilling adventure at East Rock. Walking and nature are two of my favorite things.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I blamed my mother for my miserable childhood for so many years. She was smart, educated, and beautiful. She was ambitious and had so many expectations in life. Marriage gave her children but took away her dreams and freedom. It did not matter how educated she was in a closed-minded society; it quickly became impossible and unbearable to swim against the flow and she eventually followed its course. There was a time I wished she married another man than my father, that she achieved her dreams. How awesome would be then to meet her and get a glimpse of what I missed for so many years?! She died of cancer at a very young age, and all that hatred and blame that I felt towards her suddenly dissipated. Now that I am married and starting a family, I can finally put myself in her shoes and understand all the things that I failed to understand when I was a teenager. She is now my idol and the person I love the most in the world. She was very creative and artistic and I inherited all my creativity from her. She inspired me so much when she was alive and she kept doing so after she died. I dedicate my shoutout to her! I love you, mom!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afafelboustyphotography/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfafElbousty

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCocfHQcCkhn-HIyHLuXtaEg