Welcome to the Living Library, a partnership between the YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County and the Adams County Library System!  We have gathered human "books" to be checked out by readers for 30-minute conversations during the week.  Please use the form below to register to listen to Rukhsana's story.

Rukhsana Rahman, a retired radiologist, was born in London, England to parents of Indian descent. At a tender age of 3, her family voyaged to Pakistan and later, at 12, they ventured to Zambia, where she attained her high school education, undergraduate and medical degree.

With a pursuit for graduate medical training, Rukhsana embarked on a solo life-changing expedition to America in 1979, to complete her radiology residency training in New Jersey followed by New York. This transformational phase was not without its challenges, marked by trials and tribulations, peppered with some hilarious anecdotes, yet also fraught with occurrences she would rather not recount.

Since 1986, Rukhsana and her husband have chosen Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as their home. Her career spanned over three decades, culminating in her retirement in December 2017 from Gettysburg Hospital. She cherishes her American identity and deftly blends her other identities, transitioning effortlessly between them.

Book Title: So Where are you From: and other such questions

“So where are you from?” That is a very common question I am faced with. The answer many times is “how much time do you have?” 

Book Synopsis:

Although relocating to Africa was an uncommon decision for a family like theirs, at the time, Rukhsana wasn't taken aback. They had a history of frequent moves within Karachi during their 10-year stay. After coming back from London, they resided in an old army barrack allocated to Rukhsana's father due to his civilian position as an accountant for the military. In those 10 years, they changed homes five more times, the last place being an ocean front flat with their uncle. As expatriates in Zambia, they enjoyed a pleasant and comfortable life, leaving a lasting impression on Rukhsana. For 12 years in Lusaka, Zambia, they lived in an apartment, where she forged friendships that continue to this day. The transition to Zambia was relatively smooth.

When she relocated to the USA, she experienced several more moves—seven in approximately 10 years. Adapting to a healthcare and education system that significantly differed from her prior training proved to be immensely challenging for Rukhsana. Not only were the terms used dissimilar, but so were the medical abbreviations and idiomatic expressions. This adjustment was the most difficult task she had faced thus far.

In summary, Rukhsana's concise response to the question "where are you from?" would be "Gettysburg”. However, the more elaborate answer encompasses four cities across four countries and four continents, each of those places holding a special place in her heart.