Eiman has very fond memories of her early life in in Upper Egypt where her parents had moved to work before studying civil engineering in Cairo. She describes a close relationship with her parents, particularly her father. After getting married, she moved to Saudi Arabia where her husband worked while they saved to study in the UK. After four years, they moved to Glasgow with their two young sons where her husband studied a Masters and then a PhD in engineering. She vividly describes her first impressions of the green land she saw from the aeroplane as they first landed in Scotland and the first time she saw snow in Scotland.

There was a lot to manage between supporting her husband while he studied and looking after children. Eiman’s mother came to visit her in Scotland after she had her third child, a daughter. Life events introduced further challenges: Eiman’s mother passed away three months after she visited, and when her daughter was nine months old, they discovered that she had a hole in her heart and required open heart surgery. She found great support in the local community of Glasgow: particularly the ‘Muslim House’ where they would meet every Saturday: “we were lucky, we had a good community there [in Glasgow] … the Scottish people are really, really, kind and we had our community there to keep our identity … and they [the children] used to go and learn Quran.” They also kept their connection to Egypt, trying to travel back as much as possible despite the financial difficulties to maintain ties to family and country. To help her own children and those of other local Arab families, she worked with her husband to establish a Saturday school teaching Arabic. Life became easier after her husband finished studying and began working at Strathclyde University.

In 2000, the family moved to Birmingham after her husband was offered a job. Just as she did in Glasgow, Eiman became involved in supporting the lives of local Muslim communities by teaching Arabic at the al-Amanah supplementary school in the evenings. She also worked at Islamic schools: al-Furqan primary and secondary school, and at al-Hijrah school. She now works in adult education with Birmingham City Council. Eiman gives several examples of how she has supported her children through their education, and her assertive and protective approach to parenting. She speaks with pride of her children and their achievements.

On life in Birmingham compared to Scotland, she says, “here, the [Arab] community is big and established.” She describes her life, work and social life in Birmingham as busy: “for Eid, we have a gathering in Dr Hani Elbanna’s [house] … his wife, Allah will blees her and bless her hands, she makes food … and we gather there. Also, I go with my grandchildren on their trips … Generally, I have a very busy life .. We have a gathering on Saturdays, an Egyptian club … and another Egyptian group once a month.”