While the wave of uprisings rolling through the Middle East is taking places thousands of miles away, they are not entirely foreign. U.S. business, diplomatic, and military interests are inextricably intertwined with the fate of the region. But beyond the political, there is the personal: Immigrants from Middle Eastern countries are watching the same news, witnessing the same moments of triumph and violent scenes.

They left their countries of origin for a variety of reasons. They are New Yorkers – and they are also Libyans, Egyptians, Yemenis, Tunisians, Bahrainis and Algerians. Check out the interactive to map to the right to hear some immigrants from the Middle East speak about the movements in their homelands.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Click on the map above to hear New Yorkers born in the Middle East speak about the uprisings sweeping the region.