Local News 19 January, 2009
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7 December 2007
another ordinary day . nothing special. yet. no special good morning calls. no sweet good night whispers.
8 December 2008
celebrating a year to remember.
20 December 2008
making a dream come true.
US trip Intro 29 October, 2008
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Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today
I want to be a part of it – New York, New York
These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it – New York, New York
Frank Sinatra
I’ve just returned from a trip to the US. This was my first time to cross the Atlantic, so you can imagine how excited I was with the trip. I had a long long list of things to do, places to go, things to buy,,,, Elhamdlelah I did 99.9% of my list 
I heard that when you go to NY, do not expect it to be just like the movies, and that many people were disappointed with what they saw. For me I loved it. It was pretty hectic, crowded, noisy, fast-paced. Kind of similar to Cairo in some aspects. If you want good food, there are tons of restaurants. Wants culture? Tens of exhibitions and museums. Nature? you have parks. Partying? I won’t go through that, but I heard that it was niiice.
It’s really nice to walk in the streets of Manhattan, only my feet hurt that I used the cabs. And without noticing it I discovered that I imitated the fast walking method of the New Yorkers. On average I used to walk something like 3 hours a day! Just thinking about it, makes my muscles ach.
On the other hand, cabs were also fun. There is a screen featuring some news, and a GPS map showing the way. But when you ride more than a cab during the same day, the video seems annoying. Cabs in NY are way better that the ones in Washington. Only few months ago, cabs in Washington used to calculate the trip by zones, it was very complicated and expensive. Elhamdlelah, they changed the system to the normal metering.
—
The day before I go there, MBC2 was showing “The Day After Tomorrow”. It was kind of funny to watch the streets I’ll be walking in in an icy atmosphere.
I couldn’t help but remember all the movies that were shot in the streets of New York. Friends, Seinfeld, You’ve Got Mail, When Harry met Sally, Maid in Manhattan,,, It was something like a déjà-vu 
It’s London 17 July, 2008
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A long time ago, I used to write a post every day, and sometimes a couple of posts as well. Then things changed and the frequency of writing changed a bit,,,, or a lot. Anyway,,, here is a post to break the ice that the long absence has caused
I had the chance to go to London for a week. It was AMAZING! I couldn’t imagine before that I will fall in love with this city. Even though I didn’t have the chance to see much of what it offers, I can tell you about bits and pieces of what I saw.
So, what would be the first and most important thing that an Egyptian would notice first when he goes to London?
CROSSING THE STREETS
For other nationalities, crossing the streets in London might be a concern because of the different direction of the car, but for me -as an Egyptian- this point in particular did not concern me as I am used to see in the streets of Cairo cars coming from all directions (as in el etegah el mo3akes), and parking everywhere (doesn’t matter whether it was the right or the left lane). But what astonished me is the idea of waiting for the lights and then passing nonchalant Some of my friends tried to do it Egyptian-style, and they were almost run over because the Londoners wouldn’t imagine someone doing that, while here in Egypt if I were driving I wouldn’t look only at the cars, but I will also at the pedestrians walking in the street and those who are in the middle of the high way trying to cross.
The second thing that caught my attention is the transportation system and the number of cameras installed for supervision! It’s unbelievable! In some buses there are like 6 cameras installed everywhere, and there are also screens so you would notify the driver in case you saw anything suspicious!
Once we took the bus and we were a large group, so we were separated, but we started sending each other messages through the TV screens it was hilarious! 10 minutes later the other passengers joined in and started playing too
The sale season in London is unbelievable! I thought that I will go to Oxford st once or twice bel keteerto get my shopping list and then feel free to tour London, but I was wrong, we spent hours and hours and hours going up and down this street, I think I went there every other day and there were still stuff I wanted to get but didn’t have the time to go… In London I discovered that my anti-shopping claims faded in front of the shopping bug.
Now let’s talk about books…. What can I say? It’s a books heaven. The stores are immense. But they are expensive. I liked that they have bookstores chains all over the city. This was in London. In Oxford this is a totally different story. I visited Oxford for a couple of hours only, but I hardly was able to drag myself in front of the superb bookstores in order to be on time with the rest of the group. Oxford,,,, it’s like a dream city for students. Even though I spent only a couple of hours but I noticed that the whole city was just the different academies, the dorms of the students, restaurants and cafes, and BOOKSTORES. That’s it! I would have loved comparing it to medinet el talababut I don’t feel like burning my nerves now.
That’s it for now, more to come soon insha allah
strawberries, cherries and an angel’s kiss in spring 23 April, 2008
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For a time I decided to reduce the time spent online. I limited my daily mail checkings, started living life without looking at stuff as a blogging material. The good side of it is I was able to spend more time with my family and friends, and with my fiance of course, the downside is that a distance grew between me and my cyber space. I hardly reply to comments 
I don’t post regularly. I started using the delayed posting in order to write more than a post and leave it to be published over a week… etc
I miss blogging because I kept track of the thing that interested me. Now I don’t do this.
I hope that I will be able to find a balance between my social circles, my families circles, my work requirements, and my own space. Wish me luck
Engaged! 12 April, 2008
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Even though being in a relationship was one of the things I wasn’t expecting to happen lately, especially because I needed some time to settle down in my new career and to arrange my thoughts and look at my campus, I think that from my side and from his as well, this was the most appropriate moment for lightening to strike. After few months of going out, we decided to wear the rings in a small family gathering.
Elhamdlelah, everything is going smoothly. I hope that we will continue to provide each other comfort and happiness. (And him to provide me also with endless movies and books 
)
Elhamdlelah. I am happy.
Hiking diaries 24 November, 2007
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I found some papers I had with me during the hiking trip :
“The best thing about hiking is to learn how to grow the sense of endurance. The mind has two options, either to reach for the impossible, or to find the safest haven. Both choices are crucial to life, but when one side wholly conquers the other, then the human being is in serious danger.
There is nothing better than the moment I’m living in. surrounded by amazing people. Observing the moon. Had an interesting challenge. Feeling self confident (in contrast to the pre-hike phase of uncertainty and fear).
The only thing that makes me feel out of mood is knowing that my mother is anxious about me because this is y first time to do something like that, but I know that I will make feel more comfortable. The other thing is feeling some pain in my feet and my back, but this will go away.
This is our second (and last) night, and till this moment I can’t believe that I am here! Please God, give me the opportunity to discover my potential and discover the world.I hope that this calm sensation will help me reach a good decision in the changes I want to have in my life.”
trrrn trrrn 8 October, 2007
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It’s funny how a phone call brings u to a final decision in a matter that took ages of thinking
They say that because I’m a gemini, I am moody, and what I like now, may become my source of nuisance later on. But I think I made the right decision and I’m happy with it (i.e. I’m ok with it mentally & emotionally). And in case things turned out not as expected, there would always be an exit plan. Hopefully things will turn out to be all right
Shou ma3na hal 7ayah? 24 September, 2007
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Last Friday was the anniversary of my blog. It’s funny how I anticipated this day few weeks ago, and kept thinking about the things I’m gonna say about my blogging experience, and on that day, I totally forgot! I had Iftar at my cousin’s (this was my first time to visit her after her marriage), then I went to el Azhar Park to attend a concert by Upper Egypt Choir (كورال الصعيد ) singing Sayed Darwish, Salah Jahin and Fouad Haddad songs and poems. (They were amazing btw! These kids were sooooo good, I’m thinking of going again on the 5th of October at the British Council). So I went home drained and fell asleep at once. No blogging thoughts whatsoever.
So what about this year of blogging…
Definitely I enjoyed it tremendously. I got to know amazing people, many of whom I discovered that we has lots of friends in common! El donia soghaiara moooot!
I remember when I was young that I had no problem in So`al el ta3bir, when I hold a pen I can write many pages non stop. This doesn’t mean that I write some significant in itself, I just loved the feeling of taking all on paper.
I also had all the freedom to write whatever coming on my mind, little things and big things.
Perhaps my next step in this blog would be to write some meaningful posts along side the small, unedited kind of posts. Hopefully I will have time to sit and arrange for it
***
Anyway,
Last Saturday, me and my friends decided to have a different Iftar, so we took our dishes and headed to ein el sokhna. It’s not that far from Cairo, it’s only 1 hour of driving. We spent the day there, the guys went swimming, I took lots of photos, we ate, had small talks while sitting on the beach (mostly sentimental topics thanks to the romantic atmosphere ), played a new game (التعلب و الفلاحين) which was surprisingly very entertaining, the guys played playstation (I really can’t believe them!), we also played Risk for a while, we sang in the car on our way back home. It was fun
Elhamdlelah the place was deserted; no one could have tolerated the noise we made.
That was the best Iftar I had so far!
***
This year I was surprised when I knew that two of my recent acquaintances do not fast during Ramadan! It’s really weird being a Muslim Egyptian (and living in Egypt) and not fast during Ramadan! Even those who don’t pray regularly (even at all) and don’t follow the rituals of Islam in general, they try to go with the flow and refrain from eating and drinking like the others. I don’t dare judge both sides, only God knows what lies in their heart, and only God knows that I am far from criticizing others when in it comes to their relation with the Most Merciful. But still, this remains to be a cultural shock in a way…
***
On the 14th of September 2004, I dressed up and started my professional life.
This was my first day in the company that I work in. I worked in the call center for a while. Yes, I used to answer the customers’ enquiries and demands and try to solve their problems (I should tell you about this period one day )
(Before this one, I worked for another company, but it was for only 2 weeks, so it is counted.)
I remember sitting in a meeting room, trying to memorize the names of 15 newly hired colleagues (I’m very bad with names). We had few weeks of induction to the company’s culture and background. Then we started the real thing.
I remember my first day
God, I was scared!
Now as I remember it, it feels like ages ago, not just 3 years!
***
شو معنى هالحياة
حلم ومارق ساعات
الباقي من عمري بهديك
وعمري لحظه بتناديك
امبارح واليوم ولاخر يوم حبيبي
حبيبي – ماجدة الرومي
****
Few days ago, I was attending a concert with some friends, and I was introduced to some of their friends. El mohem, one of the guys was sitting next to me, having this little talk, and after few minutes he asked for my number! The guy seemed ghalban moot, not the flirty type, but he was not my type of male friends. But I just gave it to him knowing that he won’t call me, and if he did I’ll not be that bothered as I’ll manage to end the conversation without giving a snobbish face. Nevertheless, I didn’t understand why he did it, it was like a teenager trying to pull it together and try to talk to a girl, and this guy was –at least- in his late 20’s or early 30’s, he should by now know how to differentiate between acquaintances, colleagues, friends,,,
***
My Birthday ! 20 September, 2007
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I discovered that last tuesday was my birthday according to the hijri calendar! Now I am 25 years old !
I know that I was born in Ramadan, and thanks to the calendar converter I got to know the exact day: the 5th of Ramadan
In the 1940’s, my grandmother was under age for marriage according to the Gergorian calendar, so they used the Hijri one instead for the contract! Till now I can’t beleive that she got married that early! At the age of 15 I was still in sanaweya amma ta`riban! Wow
2 August, 2007
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July 2007 was not my favorite month. But still I discovered stuff that affected my life in positive and negative parts. I realized many new concepts, and I am very grateful to each and every experience I have encountered.
There are thousands of stuff I wanted to blog about but I didn’t have the time to do it,,,, mmm actually I didn’t have the energy,,,,, la la,,, I didn’t have the will, because if there is a will there is always a way, and time is just an excuse to those who lack a strong will to do the stuff they intended to do.
***
We are not born with maps. We have to make them, and the making requires effort. The more effort we make to appreciate and perceive reality, the larger and more accurate our maps will be. But many do not want to make this effort. Their maps are small and sketchy, their views of the world narrow and misleading. – M. Scott PeckI know that I mentioned this quote before, but I had to write it again just to remind myself of this idea. I really need more energy to enlighten my path more, so I can truly define what I want to be proud of if one day I turn back and contemplate the years I lived on this earth…
***
Remember the movie “Snatch“? There was a memorable scene with Brad Pitt losing a boxing fight. He just had an awful punch that made him hit the grounds. He felt like diving in the water. He looks above him, and sees his oponent standing there, as if standing on the water. So he swims to the surface, back on his feet, punch the guy and wins the fight.
I really want to see this scene again. Hopefully I will find it on Youtube.
***
Harassment on the streets is really getting on my nerve. I can’t count the number of times I almost had a fight on the street due to some idiot’s remarks. I don’t know what the summer did to the people on the streets. I always maintained a deaf ear to these comments, but it really bothers me just like a buzzing mosquito in the middle of the night.
The only thing I do if I had to walk alone (especially by night) is to have the walk of a soldier. Looking straight ahead with that look on my face and -if it was by day- wearing sun glasses so they won’t look to me in the eyes. I hate this!
***
Few days ago I had a beautiful dream. I dreamt that I had a triplets! two boys and a girl! They were adorable! One of the boys was slightly bigger than the others, and it gave him the look of a protector!
I told my mother about that dream and she was overjoiced! She saw it as a good omen that maybe the wind is bringing me good news.
The funny thing about that dream is that I woke up to the alarm, turned it off and continued sleeping and continued the dream as if I was watching a movie!
The subconscious sometimes just sends us memorable gifts!
***
After sending my story “27″ to some of my friends,I received one of the sweetest replies from my dear friend Meto (http://tulipinthedesert.blogspot.com). He also sent me a great surprise, a story he wrote 2 years ago in the name of “The Key of Life” which was very similar to mine.
I couldn’t beleive it begad!
I truly loved it. It’s about a two days love story between an Egyptian girl and a guy from Portugal in the 1980’s; and it starts with her seeing him nowadays and remembers what happened 25 years ago! But in this one she is the one who got married and has children, and she didn’t have the courage to say hi, she just wanted to keep this far away memory as it is intact.
Here are two paragraphs I fell for:
It was late and I had to go, he went with me downstairs, we walked through the hotel and we talked but I was not the same person that entered that place two days before, nor was the place the same place. I was a new woman; I was in love with a man that I have only met two days before. A foreigner from a far away place, a man who did not belong to me but my heart and my whole life belonged to him. I tried to keep my sadness to myself, I tried to prevent my emotions from reaching the surface and I tried not to tell him that I loved him, that I want to be with him, that I would be so sad and lost without him, that I loved everything about him, that I loved him. But I could not, it was so powerful and I was so weak and vulnerable, I told him what I felt, I told him what I have been going through since I first saw him, how I became so strangely and powerfully attracted to him, how I suddenly realized that my whole life was revolving around him and how I would be so miserable without him.
…….
Rodrigo, In my imagination I took him with me to all the places that I liked, I talked to him and told him a lot about my life, I sent him waves of passion that I was sure were powerful enough to go to Portugal but not powerful enough to enter his heart. I waited for the full moon every month to send him messages watching it for he told me that he likes to watch full moons.
…….
Meto, begad you amaze me!
