10 Years of JMJ/WYD Social Media

I didn't have in mind the intention to return back writing in my blog and sharing my experience. 

I just returned last week from my "last" World Youth Day / JMJ. To my surprise, now after my return to Egypt, looking back to the past weeks it has been a remarkable journey. 

It was different from my previous participations and maybe I didn't expect to live and experience some of these moments for some reasons but still, I was caught by the magic. 

While I was there, I was looking to some of the memories and one of the blog posts about my experience in Krakow 2016 popped in my screen. I started to read about it and I felt that writing is always a way to document the feelings that may be forgotten by time. It was a mixed feeling, rediscovering some of these moments, at a moment when I was not feeling the same and I needed a little nudge to think differently.  

I still don't know why I didn't write anything in my blog during the previous one in Panama 2019, maybe I'll discover some notes/writings in some notebook and then maybe I can share some of it here in my blog.

Anyway I decided, one month after starting this journey to try to relive some of these moments, share some thoughts and maybe to surprise my future-self again all the way.

In Rio 2013, I started this journey of working on the social media. Little I know that I'll still be doing it for 10 years, passing by Krakow 2016, Panama 2019 and finally Lisboa 2023.

It has been an incredible journey, learning a lot (evolving with new tools and new platforms), working with international team and making new friendships, meeting friends from one JMJ to another, having the responsibility to share with people who are miles away what's going on the ground so they can feel they are also part of this big gathering.

It has been difficult sometimes, but still fun most of it.

This post is a tribute to all the leaders I had for the social media team, to all the volunteers I have met during this amazing journey.

I have learned a lot from each one of you. We may not still be in touch but I still remember our discussions and chats, or maybe eating lunch or dinner or hanging out or attending one of the main events.. these are memories that will stay forever.

So thank you dear team(s) for being part of this journey and having me part of this big family.

The happy moment of the day is when someone tells me that he/she still remember me after 4 years, 7 years or 10 years and is still keeping the little souvenir from Egypt. 

Tomorrow will be another day and another story to write.

Rio 2013

Krakow 2016

Lisboa 2023

Cheers to the new decade (old post from January 2020)

I was about to write a new blog, after several years of stopping writing anything.. and found this post still in the draft.

I know between the time I wrote this and now a lot has happened... but I'll publish it as it is since I guess this was my intention to reflect on what I have lived and what I thought at the time.

I know there are a lot of other important moments I have lived and maybe it was still in the draft because I wanted to add more. 
And as I'm adding photos to show a glimpse of these moments caught it time, I found others that probably I would have added if I worked on this post for some more time.

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It's the start of a new year, of a new decade.. It has been long time since i stopped by to write. Maybe it's time to come back to writing among other things I'm trying to restart in my life.

Since we are celebrating the start of the 2020's. I thought it's time to remember the great moments marking the last decade (now that sounds a big a word).

The main highlight would be, welcoming new members in our family, the new generation Alpha and of course welcoming my niece Rita.

Travel has been a big part of my life, reaching country #40 last year. I have been to many places in all continents. It's really difficult to pick the best city or country because each place has its own charm.

The top moments (not in a certain order):

• Swimming with Ray fishes and small sharks in French Polynesia in the pacific (furthest place I have been to in my life) - Dec 2016

• Attending a rocket launch in Cap Canaveral (Aug 2019), 20 years after seeing the first rocket Ariane 4 in Kourou, French Guyana and missing the launch due to weather conditions (1999)
  
  
  
  
  
• Attending the holy mass with Pope Francis on Copa Cabana beach with estimated 3 Million people - July 2013
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Hiking in the mountains of Sinai - 2010
  3 photos from 3 different places (El-Galt El-Azraq, Serabit El-Khaddam and Abbass mountain)
  
  

  
  
  
• Visiting Gaudi landmarks in Barcelona - August 2011
  
  
  
  
  
• Visiting Foz de Iguazu falls in Brazil and Argentina - August 2013

• Traveling alone on vacation hopping from one city to another in Italy - August 2012
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Traveling 1000km by bus from Florence, Italy to Riga, Latvia - December 2016
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Watching Federer play live in Montreal's final in his perfect 2017 season although it was just his 5th match he lost that year (lost to Zverev). I reserved ticket for the final as I had arrived the night before so this was the only match I could attend and I just hoped he make it till the end.

• Attending matches in the Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros - May 2011
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Obtaining the MBA. It has been 2 hard years, running around the clock, running around Cairo from one side to the other, pushing for the extra mile not taking stops (taking 2 summers and 1 winter in between the normal spring and fall semesters) - 2012-2014
  Photos from the graduation, Feb 2015
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Living a dream of a better country, after Feb 2011 (for a moment of time), aka Tahrir Square

What is more important is the journey itself and all the friends I made throughout these trips.