Om El Donia, I Love You

I wrote this almost a year ago.. I wonder if I still feel the same way, especially after the Yacoubian Building's sense of negativity have invaded me..

Egypt…
Misr… and its better if you pronounce it Masr…
It gives me a chill… a sense of belongingness, excitement, and fear in the same time…
I just love my country.

Walking every morning through its crowded streets, seeing everyone running to his school, and people waiting for their public transportation to pick them up and take them to their everyday destination…

And the newspapers coming fresh and new to be placed on our doorsteps. And the smile of the “Sayess” who takes my car every morning to park it for me… He has been calling me “doctoora” for 7 years now and I didn’t even earn the degree yet…

Walking everyday in the streets of downtown to reach my office, I see the nice old buildings, who are all dirty and make you feel like they are going to fall off… but if you really look at them, you will figure out their beauty. And the many stores and café’s sticking to each other.. and the smell of the delicious “ta3meya” and “liver sandwiches” that I would never approach even if they paid me money to eat them… And the “foul” cart, with all men gathered around it and eating together before they go to work. How I love Egypt…

and the comments I hear while walking to my office... No one man can leave a lady walking in the streets without giving her a comment, even if she is the most ugly creature you can ever see. I think men like complimenting women and filling them with confidence. I guess this is part of the Egyptian culture I’m living in.

I just love my country. I love the breeze I smell every morning on my way to work, although it is full of smoke and pollution, but it just makes my day... I just love my morning walk…

I love our wedding ceremonies… although they are very loud and noisy and you would end up with a terrible headache afterwards… but I just love the fact that everyone is happy for the bride and groom and giving them this big smile and greatest moral support for taking such a step… kefaya kelmet “rabena yes3edko”… J

I love the Nile, the 6th of October bridge, which is always blocked and we never stop swearing while on it… I love the Tahrir square where I spent 7 years (and still) of my life walking in back and forth. I love the people, the Egyptians who seem to be harsh, but deep inside they are supportive and warm. I love it… all of it… with all its faults and all its beauty…
Masr Om El Donia