Nabil, a Coptic Egyptian man living in Queens, keeps an old laptop behind the counter of his jewelry store. Scratched and outdated, it has been with him since the early years of his life in New York. Although he now has newer technology, he has never gotten rid of it.

When Nabil first came to New York from Egypt, he knew how to work with jewelry but had to learn how to navigate American business on his own. He remembers spending hours on the laptop communicating with customers, keeping track of orders, and learning how to run his business. “Everything was different,” he explained. “I had to learn as I went.”

Over time, the laptop became more than a tool for work. His store became a place where other Egyptians and Copts came in not only to buy jewelry, but also to ask questions, find connections, and share their experiences of adjusting to New York.

Today, the laptop remains behind the counter as a reminder of those early years. For Nabil, it represents the process of building a life from the ground up. What once helped him adapt to New York eventually became part of how he helped others adapt too.

The laptop is no longer just a piece of technology. It represents how one person's experience of starting over can become a way of creating community.

– Ounay Tawadrous

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