11 - Alamira Reem and Arsalan, the Native Bohemians by Nathalie Gillet

Describing herself as an overachiever and perfectionist, Emirati architect Alamira Reem Bani Hashim came back from the USA a few years ago with a PHD in Urban Planning, and became the first female Emirati with that distinction*. In this episode Reem explains how she left her country at the age of 17, to study on her own at University of California Berkeley. She lived in the USA for 12 years and experienced both enriching and life challenging moments, including depression, imposter syndrome, finding her identity as an Emirati woman and simply Reem.

Later in the episode, her husband Arsalan joins us to share the story of how they met and his own family path. They both explain some of the important things that work for them today as a couple in the Emirati context. Reem and Arsalan are also partners in business - they recently founded an interior design company with an original concept and name that resonates with their own lives: “The Native Bohemians”.

This episode is hosted by Nathalie Gillet, and was recorded in public at the French language institute Alliance française, by Fahim Benchouk from the company Fuzyo.

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* Episode 10 of “Emirati stories” was dedicated to Reem's work on Abu Dhabi and the story of city’s urban development. We strongly recommend her recently published book “Planning Abu Dhabi”.

** Music: "Unbury Your Heart", by Snowflake