In order to introduce myself to you more, I would like to start by telling you my unique background. I am an Afghan woman born and raised in Japan. I then moved to the U.S when I was 18.

It was a rare experience that I was very fortunate to have.

My father’s side of the family has a long political history in Afghanistan. Our most famous ancestor was the king of Afghanistan who opened up many trade routes through the Silk Road and strongly believed in helping people, which has stayed in our family tradition.

My family all left Afghanistan as political refugees during the war in the 80s. My parents received sponsorship from a Catholic church in Japan through a program with the United Nations. I was born a few months after they arrived in that same Catholic church in Nagoya, Japan. The nuns there named me “Maria.”

I moved to the US at 18 with my mother in order to attend college. I was intrigued by American culture and wanted to learn more. I went on to attend UC Berkeley and studied Economics, after receiving a scholarship and an Associate degree in Fine Art: Three-Dimensional Art.