We are all different, yet alike

Lately I have been thinking of all the encounters I have made during World Youth Day in Krakow last summer. 

I have had many discussions with friends about Egypt and their countries: the challenges, the problems, hopes, wishes.. 

Actually, I have stopped talking about the political scene in Egypt for few years now for many reasons. Maybe cos of saturation after the intense years right after the revolution in 2011 or whatever it is called now, or cos people are now dividing everybody else according to either an enemy or a friend based on their opinion or simply cos I know that we shall face the consequences of all the past mistakes sooner or later so this is what we have to endure in this life. At the end, life goes on and it never stops.. so either go along with it and fight for whatever you want or just drop dead emotionally or intellectually or physically and be detached from the world.

Yet, what I've lived during the World Youth Day made me see the world from a different perspective.

Taking for example the issue of mixing politics with religion and separating religion from politics. These are 2 opposite examples yet both are regarded as very harmful to the general good. 

From one hand, taking Egypt as an example, we are suffering from politicians and others putting religion in everything to make people follow them or go to a certain direction. Egypt is a very religious country in terms of people putting religion on top of everything else although judging by the manners and the behavior of the general population, they are far away from the core of religion teachings (to be discussed another time). So this is a very dangerous game as having religion controlling everything is a big problem because when you try to discuss you are labeled as enemy of God and a non believer.

On the other hand, taking some developed countries where religion is not taken into consideration is also creating lot of debates on main issues like the right of life (abortion, euthanasia... ). 

In Egypt we are talking about basic rights for people, right for a good education, health system and safe environment.. other countries have already these needs satisfied for the majority so the discussion are about other topics as per Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

What some countries consider freedom of speech, other considers as hatred speech, what is considered as freedom of act in other places it is seen as immoral and so on..

So this brings us to the point, where do we stand from all this? There is no ideal place to live in, each has its own problems. What changes is the perspective. 

This was an eye opener to me and also a ray of hope that I am not alone in this world. There are others like me, who really believes they can make a change, who stands by their own principles and do whatever they can even if it is small.

Of course i'm not comparing to what's happening to countries at wars. This is totally a different story and I feel so bad about the crazy world we live in because despite the advancement in technology and the evolution, we still live in a jungle where the strongest rules the world for the sake of power on the expense of humanity.

So bottom line, every place has its own challenges and there is no such a place called paradise. You live in Paradise when you live in harmony with yourself, when you live according to your believes, when you do your best to make it a better world.

As Ghandi once said "be the change you want to see in the world".

You may choose to change country, to change work, to forget about everything else but if we don't change ourselves, the world will continue to be as ugly as it can get.

The "V" Power

Looking back to my incredible 2 weeks in Krakow, 2 months ago, I can say that yes, the volunteers have indeed super powers :D

Anywhere you go, you could meet one of those blue hands greeting you to help you find you way, those young people in blue shirts working relentlessly to distribute the pilgrim kits or working in the different venues and event areas and those behind the scenes in social media or cameras, you name it.
Even the volunteers had their own volunteers looking after them!
And they are all smiling to you no matter what.
Wearing the blue shirt and the volunteer bracelet was a privilege for us, to be there making the World Youth Day happen and witness the change and transformation it brings to everybody, including ourselves. 

We were around 19,000 volunteers including 4,000 international volunteers. If you ever passed by the place were we sleeping, in my case at Wisla Sport Center, you would always find volunteers gathered during their rest time chatting, playing music, having a quick snack.. It was challenging sometimes to stay in one place but at the same time it was great you could meet your friends who are not working with you in the same department or assignment and get to know new friends.
This feeling of having a very big family, speaking all languages, sharing stories and experiences and praying together.
The concept of borders or divisions between countries are totally abandoned. We are one big family, we care for each other, we support and help each other. 
This spirit started even before meeting in Krakow. In the Volunteers facebook group, everyone was trying to help anyone who had a question or facing a problem. If someone had an information or a tip, it was shared directly, if some volunteers were needed for a specific task or in a certain location, you just announce it.

Going for the volunteer mass, filling the metro and then walking to the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Lagiewniki to attend the mass for volunteers was an incredible experience.
You could feel the energy and the joy spreading all around. I was also impressed by the choir, who was really superb. It was a moment of prayer, inspiration and blessings before starting our work as volunteers.



On a personal level, my experience with the Social Media team was an unforgettable one. It started 3 years ago in Rio for some of us including me, and even more for the few who witnessed its beginning in Madrid.
It was great to reunite again with my friends and to make new friends.
This was my home during the 2 weeks I spent. You could feel the energy once you entered our room. 
Knowing that what we do is perceived by millions, all around the globe, was a big responsibility. Each word, each photo or status shared, was important. We were the face and the voice of the World Youth Day to those who were not present in Krakow and to bring the spirit of the World Youth Day to those who didn't know about it.
For the Arabic page which I was working on, it was challenging to have everything translated in short time since Arabic was not one of the main languages were translations were already available.. yet, the many likes, shares and comments we received made us all proud. 

3 years ago, when I was informed I'll be in the communication team, I knew little what I was about to live. Of course, I had already personal experience with social media but it's something else to be responsible for reaching thousands of people who are following you.
In 3 years, things have evolved and we had also to adapt, new applications, new means for communication and new expectations.
But I assure you, that the hard work pays off. Receiving lot of photos and feedbacks, comments and questions, interacting with our followers was a real pleasure. You feel that what you do matters and is making a difference. It was also a motive to innovate and to be present on the ground, not only online. I've decided to venture and do some facebook live to show the world, first part of the mass and prayers during catechesis, then interviewing pilgrims.





Even if we were not the biggest language or the largest page, I'm proud to say that the number of our followers have doubled and together with all the languages, we are growing over the years. I still remember when we celebrated the 1 Million followers in Rio, 3 years later we almost tripled that figure.


#ThanksWYD for making me live a great enriching experience!

A day to remember: "Memory, Courage, Future"!

A month ago was the last day of the World Youth Day, Krakow 2016. It was the most unexpected day of the 2 weeks I have spent in Krakow.

It started on the previous day, the day of the Vigil at Campus Misericordea. Once again, I attended it online as I was working... more about it in another post.

There was an idea to catch up the final mass with the Pope early Sunday morning. By early, I mean taking the bus for media at 4:30 am. I really wanted to attend the mass as it was one of the most memorable moments in Rio... but I had to let go of the volunteers meeting with the Pope as it was difficult to do both. It was a tough choice for me but I decided to go to the mass even if it was a challenge itself.

Arriving at Campus Misericordea brought back the memories of WYD in Cologne, 11 years ago.. a big field, people waking up early morning, the queues for bathrooms and for food.. But the mind and heart have changed in between.

I had to depart from my friends which whom i made the way as I didn't have a pass to the media section. I was supposed to meet another friend at the volunteer section. Going there, one Spanish pilgrim, asked me for help. She wanted to return to her section but the security didn't let her pass and she didn't have her ticket pass with her nor the mobile to contact her friends. She was really anxious on how to get back. I guided her from another way following the map and made sure until she found her group. I felt joy seeing her so relieved and thanking me for the help, as if I rescued her life. You never know the impact you have on people even for doing small things until you see it in their eyes. That's what volunteering is about.

I decided to find some of my pilgrim friends until my other friend arrived but I failed to reach them as they closed the main intersections before the Pope's arrival for security.. when I decided to return back to the volunteer section after staying stuck for a while, the moment I turned, I saw my friend I was supposed to meet.. Imagine seeing the person you were supposed to meet (at another point) in the middle of hundreds, thousands.. or shall I say 3 million people! It's like, divine providence, you don't need to worry about the how, you just leave it to God and everything will be managed on its time.

At the end of the mass, we started to walk to the bus drop off point.. at this point I realized how many people were actually there! It was so huge! I saw families, parents with children, even babies. People from all the places around the world.. all together in one place, chanting, praying, even dancing. I sometimes wonder, what if we remove all barriers and notions we have about countries, languages, culture, stereotypes. Wouldn't be a much nicer world to live in? 

Many people started to walk, everybody talking, and also waiting to hear the announcement of the next World Youth Day. We stayed a little in the shades waiting for the bus and watching pilgrims passing by. 

Of course no World Youth Day without rain. It stared to rain a lot.. luckily for us, we had the bus to go back to the media center, to continue working from there.. Everybody else had to walk under the heavy rain. I still had my fair share of the heavy rain later in the day. 

The day didn't end at this point. We went back to the media center to prepare for the last hours before leaving. We watched the Pope at Tauron arena, with all the volunteers. It was really amazing specially when Pope Francis decided to discard the prepared speech and to speak from his heart. Lucky for me he spoke in Spanish so I could understand it directly as I'm not that good in Italian which I started now to learn to be prepared next time.The speech (link in English) was so inspiring and can be summarized in 3 words: "Memory, Courage, Future"

"...Do you want to be the hope for the future or not? Two conditions that cost nothing. The first is condition is to remember. Trying to understand where I come from: the memory of my people, my family, my whole history... Second condition. If I am hope for the future and I have memory of the past, then what about the present? What must I do in the present? Have courage, be strong, don’t be afraid..."

Reflecting on the speech, it's true that to carry on in the future, we need to know our past, our history and heritage.. but not stop at this point and live in the past. Many Egyptians would say, we are the 7,000 years civilization, we are the builder of the pyramids.. but this is not enough.. the past is already gone, we live in the present and it's the present that will determine the future. If we live on the memory of the past then we will be stuck in our place. We need to have courage, not to be afraid and fight for a better future, our future and the future of our children and grand children.. Looking back on the past 5 years, we have gone through a lot in Egypt, politically, socially, economically, emotionally.. you name it.. 

At some point I had lot of hopes and waiting for the change. I was doing my best to be part of it, to be engaged in everything. I was always the person looking to the half full glass not the empty half. But gradually this has changed to being indifferent to the fights and divisions between people and just watching from far cos I know that we reap what we sow and these are the consequences of the peoples' choice.

The present may not be that optimistic, but I have faith that someday it will get better, but it will only get better if we have the courage to be part of the present. We are the hope of the future, we must act now and not wait for something to happen.

As every story comes to an end, to start a new one, the World Youth Day came to its end in Krakow, to start a new journey to Panama.
For this last night in Krakow, we met with some of our Social Media team for dinner in the city center.. On the way back, I was so tired and maybe feeling a little bit sad for leaving with the hopes to meet again someday, somewhere. It was my last walk (not counting walking under the heavy rain to the bus station and train station few hours later). Every step was becoming heavier, with tiredness, with bitterness.. Streets were empty compared to the previous days as many people already left Krakow. One last discussion until it was even tiring to think or speak or walk.. I remember my friend saying that the best thing was to see how we are part of the change of people. This includes me on a personal level as he was part of my transformation during this journey even without knowing it. We may not realize it but surely we impact the people we encounter. Like the girl I helped on that day or the discussions I had with friends or people I may never see again, or even family and friends.. I remember once my brother told me that he is proud of me and I never realized that I really could affect him in that way before that moment, cos we are brother and sister.

I truly miss the World Youth Day for all these small moments, the talks and discussions, the encounters, the connections with people. Getting to know each other, learning something new every day, a new experience, a new information, a new feeling. The feeling that you can do whatever crosses your mind, the freedom of being myself, the true me that's sometimes hidden as people see what they are used to see in their mind. I miss all the moments I could connect with myself and listen without thinking of everyday's preoccupation. It's like switching off and reconnecting.

Those precious moments will be in my heart, until we meet again.

SDM Krakow 2016! A life changing experience!

Once again I am part of this incredible journey, the World Youth Day, this time in Krakow.
I can't describe all my feelings but definitely this time it has really changed me from inside. I feel more connected to myself. I listen to my real voice. I totally let myself be guided and open to everything.
I may have not participated in the main events like I did the two previous times but I don't regret it cos I lived something deeper.
It is hard to explain but I believe that everything happens for a reason; the people I meet, the friends I make, the things that I see. It is all connected together.
I may not have done everything I planned for but I learned to let myself just be free. It doesn't matter because every step will add a new encounter, a new experience. So maybe not what I have in mind but I am certain that it will lead to something.
I may still have doubts, I may still wait for answers but I just leave all the worries away and live the moment.

I'll try to summarize all what I have experienced in those two weeks in several posts.. It's not that easy to recount everything but I'll try to capture the essential.

A month ago, I left Cairo with lot of excitement. Excitement to meet my old friends, my team in social media since I've been working with some of them online for more than a year and meet new friends.
On the way to Krakow, we were 4 volunteers taking the same flight. We already arranged to meet before boarding the flight from Paris as we were coming from different destinations. By the time we arrived to Krakow, we were a bigger group of volunteers on the way to our accommodation. In the bus, we kept all talking and trying to figure out which will be our stop.. I remember there were several Polish old people and they were looking to us with happiness and maybe admiration. I believe they knew why we were here. The next challenge was to find our accommodation "Wisla". It was a Sunday so everything was closed, it started to rain while we were walking but we managed to arrive finally to our home for the next coming weeks. 
As soon as we entered, I felt happy. Someone playing music, others gathered and talking.. All international volunteers were grouped in two main accommodations, but for the early comers, we were all together in one big hall. It was a challenge to find an empty bed but luckily there were still some places.
It was a like a very big hostel where you can hear all languages spoken, yet I was not feeling a stranger but rather being with my family.

The main hall where I spent the first night..
after that I was sleeping on the floor of a Judo hall

The following morning, they turned the lights at 5am, don't ask me why.. some people had to leave to their other accommodations, the rest, we were waiting for our volunteers kit. 

The church

Kościół Najświętszej Maryi Panny z Lourdes

I heard that there is a morning mass at 7am in a nearby church but I was too tired to go out and by the time I was on my feet and ready people already left. I decided maybe I will try it another day. I didn't know at the time that 2 days later, i'll go every single morning to this little church at 7am to attend the morning mass. Sometimes I was late a little bit but still I went. 
This experience has transformed me. To be united in prayer with volunteers as well as with local people even if I don't understand every word (1st week mass was in Latin, 2nd week it was in Polish). I was doing my best to participate whenever there is a text I can read from and even if I don't pronounce correctly every single word. This little church next to a garden was so peaceful and yet energizing. At first I didn't believe I can get up early enough to attend the mass but I was surprised that almost during all the 2 weeks in Krakow I was even getting up earlier than I did in Egypt.
After the mass, sometimes i was staring at the nature in the garden early morning, or walking in silence and enjoying some quiet time with myself away from all the noise or talking with friends on our way back.

Staying all together in one place, made it possible to meet my old friends who were in different assignments, even just to say hi while passing or to meet on our way back home. I may have wanted to spend more time with them, but in a way or other, we are already connected.

I've worked most of the 2 weeks as first I was by myself then my friend arrived. It was very tiring at some moments but nothing compares when I see lot of messages from pilgrims sending their photos, asking questions or followers who couldn't come to Krakow and this was their way to follow live the World Youth Day.
Arabic may be small compared to other languages but what I saw was far beyond the numbers. It's how we touch people's live and make them all unite together regardless of the distances or the difficulties they are facing in their countries, giving hope and spreading joy. This what kept me going and pushing myself to do even more, knowing the impact I have on others.
This is the spirit of the World Youth Day volunteers, to serve others and through them to experience the love of God and live the World Youth Day.
Yes I may not have the possibility to attend many of the events, but sharing these moments with my team in the social media room watching what's happening on the big screen and sharing everything with the audience in social media is truly something not to miss either.
Also seeing how the impact of the social media has grown since Rio is like seeing your baby grow. You feel like you were there in every step, watching it evolving over the time.. and this made possible with the hard work of all the team who made it possible to have all this content (graphics, videos, gifs....) and managing all this together.
All the team cheered at the end of the facebook life session recordings, or when we see someone we know on the big screen, or when reaching milestones... we are all one family, praying together, caring, encouraging and cheering for each other.



The world of the Social Media Team



These 2 weeks have been the most rewarding and most incredible experience I ever had and I'm thankful for every single moment.

Nos vemos in Panama!

The inevitable change...

We are all familiar with the saying that Change is the constant thing in the world.. Everything around us is changing whether we feel it or not.
The earth changes its position, the plants go from one transformation to another depending on the season, even our mood changes from one moment to another.
However, when you feel too many changes in short time frame, you feel like going crazy!
Is it good or bad? what will happen? how it will impact everything? too many questions relative to the degree of uncertainty.

Recently I'm facing lot of changes, both external and internal. I can't describe what i feel, for some I feel annoyed, for others i feel excitement and for the rest, i can't tell my feelings.
The logic way to go face these changes is to embrace them and to think positively how to cope. But this is easy thing to say than do. Many of the changes, that we know about them ahead, are like a cloud you see from distance but you don't know its effect until you are underneath it and it showers you or give you a shade or make you feel gloomy.

The most difficult change to face is the one inside you. You can feel it growing, this sense of feeling something different that is not the normal you. Maybe feelings you forgot them, ideas that were once inside your head but disappeared in the busy world or even long forgotten dreams.
You can't control them and you remember how it was like. you wonder, will it go away like the previous times or it will evolve. You might be even excited but then you may think to resist the change inside you because it will change everything around you.

Looking back in the past 5 to 10 years, i can see how I really changed till reaching this moment. It is a journey through time with lots of ups and downs. For sure this is life and you need to evolve from one stage to another but sometimes i don't recognize myself.
I believe that the most important thing i learned is to live the moment. The past is over, the future is unknown and unpredictable. The present is what we can feel and see but if we miss it, we miss living for the present won't come  back again.

I don't know what will happen tomorrow, next month or next year. I don't know what if the past didn't happen, where i would be know. The only thing I know is that it's enough thinking too much about all that and to enjoy the present as much as possible for you might plan everything and then one unforeseen detail happens that changes everything and throw your plans away.
You can't control or predict the future but you can control your current moment by choosing what to do or not to do.
Yes change is inevitable and to go through it you have to liberate yourself from everything then you can live the transformation with all your heart and mind.
Listen to yourself, to your feelings and recognize all the signs of change for then you can deal with it. Otherwise, it will surprise you when you are least ready.

ALU got Talent,,,

Yes, indeed, Alcatel-Lucent got many talents everywhere... and talent doesn't need to be unique or brilliant in something, talent could be doing a creative piece of art with a team.

This what I've experienced in the past few weeks. We received an announcement that ALU Egypt is organizing an ALU got Talent competition and asking everyone to participate. One of our colleagues plays guitar and we were encouraging him to participate but then it ended up to be all involved and compose a song with video clip!!

It was so much fun working on the song and also it took lot of efforts.. starting from thinking of what we wanted to say in the song. we wanted to draw the attentions to some situations that we are facing during our day to day work, in a sarcastic way. For each part of the song, a scene was played and filmed and the recording of the voice was done separately on a weekend at a colleague's home.

The beauty of this piece of art is that it is the result of team work even if we are no longer all together in the same teams due to the change of organizations. Each one contributed in one way or another even to the smallest details. This shows that the real talent is not being a unique or do something extraordinary but rather to build on each other.

I personally don't have a beautiful voice for singing, although i studied piano and music for years since my childhood. However, it didn't really matter because it is all the efforts brought together that made it really a success. I still don't have a great voice but now i know that i actually can sing and record a song and not just singing in my car when there is a traffic jam and i want to have fun while driving.

So, talking about the professional life, we can say the same. You don't have to come up with all the solution alone, we can all do it together if each one contributed with a part of the solution. If we apply it to the broader level, we can achieve greater things if we just believe and support each other.

Finally, our main message at the end of the song is: "Let's forget our problems, our gathering is the great asset. What we have in ALU, we will not find it outside. Our unity is what matters the most."

This is so true, because it is the spirit within the team and the company at a whole that makes us survive.. and this is the thing i like the most at ALU!!!

I would like to thank everybody who participated in the video.. Maybe at the beginning i was not that enthusiastic, but at the end i'm glad that i helped in it.

I'm really proud of all of us!!! Well done team.

Why blogging is so hard?

Looking back at my posts in the previous years, it seems that in the past 5 years, the peak was 2012, one year after the revolution has started... but then my rate of blogging decreased once again.. 

Why is blogging is becoming so hard? Is it due to loss of interest, lack of ideas to share or just being busy?
I am so far away from beating my highest record, in my first year of blogging in 2005. I think that partially it is due to the diversity of social media. At that time, there were no much social media expansion.. there was the email, blog sites, flickr for photos and hi5 for those who remember it, long before facebook.

So having a blog was the main platform for sharing ideas, writing, shouting, talking.. but now, with the facebook, twitter, google+, linkedin just to name a few... the virtual space is so crammed with multitude ways for expressing oneself.

However, i feel that a blog is the most personal way to talk because you are not just expressing a status or feeling in a hurry or to show off, but rather you are taking some time to discuss something far beyond the usual social stuff.
It takes more effort to think of the idea, elaborate it, write it and finally hitting the publish button to see the light.

Once out there in the space, it will remain forever (unless you delete it).. you can go back and read it years later, remember those feelings and those memories.. sometimes you even forget that it ever existed!

So, i guess i came to one of my 2015 resolutions (4th in the list), reviving my blog once again and i hope this time i will succeed to keep it up alive!
It is time to go away from the fast world of facebook and return to the authentic spirit of blogging.

Hiking, a journey in life

The tragic event of a group of hikers caught in a snowstorm this week in the mountains of Saint Catherine in Sinai was a shock for the hiker communities. Lot of discussions, some blaming people including the hikers, the authority, the guide.. others trying to analyze what went wrong in order to prevents such tragidy. I couldn't help myself but remember my hikes in the mountains of Sinai.
What many people don't know what hiking is about and some even never knew that hiking existed in Egypt!. They could ask why people go up to walk in the mountains? I remember when i was telling my friends i'm going over the weekend to Sinai just to hike they were surprised why i would sacrifice my rest days to do something very tiring with people i might not even now. Their notion of a vacation is to go on the beach and do nothing but enjoying the sun and the sea.

My first real hiking experience was 4 years ago, March 2010. It was a hike to a place called El-Galt El-Azraq. It was supposed to be an easy hike but we discovered that it was more an advanced level, especially that we travelled after flood period so the guide had to change some of the trecks in our journey. I remember that I had to go beyond my limits, to walk the extra mile but reaching our destination was a big wow. I didn't imagine such beauty, in the middle of the mountains. I thought that it is all about mountains but i discovered another amazing world. This hike and others i did later showed me another face of the superb nature and the diversity we have in Egypt. Imagine to see waterfall or a lake, trees and gardens... rocks with different shapes and forms, untouched by humans. The smile of our bedouin guides, their warm feelings and their deep knowledge about the nature, about their worlds. The help of the hikers, some i met for the first time and others i already met. I remember when i discovered that the tent i had which belonged to my parents (was the first time for me to use) was not ok. So a friend invited me and my friend to share so we don't sleep outside. I remember at some diffiult places that we had to cross, there were many hands to pull you and catch you. I remember when on our way back it was getting dark and we were all tired but still everyone was taking care of the other and we were supporting each other. Hiking is a great experience by all means. It helps you to go beyond your limits and you feel actually you achieved something despite all the troubles. It make you trust the others and know that they will help you if you get in trouble.
And most of important of all, you see the beauty of the country that is not revealed to so many. You learn that outside your own world there is even a bigger and a greater one. you feel disconnected from your own fast life but you feel reconnected to yourself.

Hiking is not just a hobby, it's a journey in life. and you have to try it one day to see it with your own eyes because photos and stories are little compared to the reality. You have to experience yourself with all your senses and believe me it will be beyond your own expectations.

Links:
My post about El-Galt El-Azrak Hike
Photos of Secret Garden Hike
Photos of El-Galt El-Azrak Hike

Reporting from JMJ Rio 2013

So, i have been already 12 days in Rio but already so much to tell. It's difficult to say everything but i will do my best to remember as much as i can.
First, i found out that my name in Brazil is pronounced as 'Mariannie'. It sounds funny but i like it that way. Many brazilian don't know English so lot of time i try to communicate in Spanish. It's funny, as some of them don't even know Spanish but we manage to understand each other.
The spirit in this JMJ is very warm and joyful, specially that it's full of latinos from Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Mexico... they add a certain flavor to the whole event. I wish i can visit all these countries and get to know their culture. They are somehow like Egyptians, maybe that's why i enjoy seeing them everywhere.
My work as volunteer is with the communication team in social media. Basically i work in the social media, updating facebook and twitter for arabic language with the news from the JMJ so that people from around the world can watch what's happening wherever they are.  Today, I was working in the media center in the morning shift, then we were told that the Pope will pass by so they won't let people to come in or go out during a certain period. I hesitated to stay longer or leave and catch the welcoming ceremony itself in copacaban since my shift has finished. I decided to stay and actually it turned out to be better cos i've seen the Pope from a very close distance!! Actually we were asked later on to be human chains, those people who stand up to not let the crowd go beyond it. It was worth it cos i actually saw the Pope from a very short distance, passing through in his papamovel. I couldn't take photo for this moment but i will remember it. The Pope was smiling and he has a pure radiating face that captures you. No wonder, when you know how humble he is, in the little details we here from here and there. For example. he flew to Brazil in an ordinary flight like normal passengers, he met people in poor area, visited hospitals, and even prisons. His speeches are inspiring and I believe he is bringing a lot to the church.
Before yesterday we had the opening ceremony in Copacabana beach. It was very impressive, to have thousands of people all along the beach, first dancing and enjoying music then praying in the opening mass and following it on the big screens although it was raining. I had mixed feelings captured in between. Although i was away from the stage, i was completely taken by the prayers. I actually love the theme of this JMJ and the hymn. Christ invites us to be his missionaries "Go and make disciples of all nations".
Another amazing thing that actually surprised me is how people love Egypt. Whenever they see the flag, they just stop us to take a photo. One day i was carrying a small one as i forgot the big one at my accomodation, and a brazilian lady stopped me just to say how much she loves our country. I really feel proud for being Egyptian and representing my country to the whole world. Despite the problems and the bad habits we have, i feel so much love for Egypt and it will always remain in my heart. I really wish that we build the Egypt we want, the Egypt we are fighting for, and truly to be up the challenge. The world is watching us and many of the people respect us but we have a lot to achieve first.
One of the things i really love about the JMJ is that whenever you see someone carrying a JMJ bag, you can just go and talk to him or her. It's like we are a big family although we don't know each other. One day i was buying a juice to drink and one of the volunteers saw me and invited me to sit with the group. We just talk, sometimes we speak too many languages at the same time, sometimes we don't understand each other but still we enjoy it. Soemtimes, we meet again, in another place, sometimes not.. but this is the beauty of the JMJ. Also, from the traditions of the JMJ is to bring souvenirs to trade with each other.. so i have already some from several countries. I wish i have brought more but i didn't have much time before I travel with all the demonstrations going on in Egypt.
Anyway, this was just a glimpse of what has been going on the past week. I will try to write another post soon. As for Brazil, it's another story. I will write more about Brazil the country later on.

The right of killing

I can't imagine that some people think they have the right to kill a human being, regardless of the reason (war,   theft, revenge, race, religion....).

We didn't give life so we can't take it out, as simple as that. No matter what happened, even if it is the worst person on earth, we can't just kill to get rid of.

I can't imagine how come that even if not killing with their own hands, some people actually call for it, or if witnissing it, they just watch calmly.

Where is our humanity? Did our world of technology made us cold blooded?

Why we always look for the killer who carries out the killing with his own hand but we don't look for the spiritual killers?

Why if we can't accept the other who is different, we try to erase his existence spiritually or physically?

Too many questions without an answer, and they will remain as long as more people die everyday...

Demonstrations and protests

Last week I was in Istanbul, where there was sit-in and demonstrations against the government. I couldn't pass by and see what's going on but the rest of the city was not affected. People go to work, tourists everywhere. The only inconvenience was the heavy rain in the mornings. But still, this doesn't mean that everything is perfect.
At the same time there are demonstrations in Brazil. People are angry because of the cost of the world cup and the lack of money spending on health, education and other important issues.they are asking for their rights not for having something nice like the Worldcup lord the Olympics.
Next week we have in Egypt big demonstrations to protest against the president and the muslim brotherhood due to all what is going on in the past year
3 countries, different reasons but one goal, to change the current situation because people believe things should improve. Some protests are peaceful, others might turn to violence but tais doesn't really matter. What matters is to not only dream of a better place but to actually stand up and make an action. It is time to fight for the world we want, it is time to reunite for one goal which is a better world for us and for the next generations. If we don't fight then nothing will change and could even get worse.
I wish that all the leaders start to realize that they are there to serve the people and if the can't do their job right they should leave it to someone else. It is time for the world to realize that injustice should no longer be tolerated.
I don't know how things will turn out, in Egypt, Brazil or Turkey. But I know that the wind of change is coming whether you like or not.

Letters of Joy

A group of JMJ voluntarios (volunteers) decided to create a page on facebook to exchange addresses and each one to pick 5 others (3 international & 2 brazilians) to write them letters. Yes, letters, in the old fashion way.

Yesterday, when back home i discovered 4 letters from Brazil waiting for me. I was so excited to open each one of them. I knew that some had picked my name to write me a letter but to receive all 4 together at the same time was even better. I didn't know the senders in person so it was so cool to read what they have wrote, in English, Portuguese and even one took the trouble to translate a part in arabic just for me!. I felt so special receiving those letters of Joy as i call them. I remembered when i was young, and used to have pen pals from other countries. It is not the same as nowadays where we are almost connected all the time virtually. Reading and writing letters is a different story because it's part of a long process. You actually put effort to write what you have in mind, to choose the paper to write in, to put stamps on the enveloppe and to wait for the answer of your letter. 

I'm happy because i'm making new friends and getting away from the virtual world we are submerged in. At least it's not a fake place where people are just polite enough to write you something on your facebook wall or comment on a status, it's much deeper because it's from the heart.

Well, i think you should all try to write letters and send to your friends the old fashion way, it might be strange but sure it will be somehow exciting!

Rules for Life

Notes before reading:
These rules are applicable anytime, anywhere.
They are not ordered by priority.
These are not the only rules, more to be added as life goes on

Rule #1: Don't think people will treat you the same, so do as it pleases you without waiting for something in return

Rule #2: Don't put high hopes on people so you don't feel hurt or disappointed if they are not up to your expactations. Your standards will always be higher than the actual.

Rule #3: The person that will care the most about you is yourself, so don't waist time in fighting yourself

Rule #4: Be happy if someone texts you or send you a nice greetings online, it means you are still on his/her contact list

Rule #5: Life is too short to waist for nothing, so just start living it

Rule #6: Family are the only people who will love you no matter what. So take the opportunity of any available time, even if little, and spend it with them

Tahrir Square is Back

I can say officially that Tahrir Square is back after almost 2 years. Last friday's marches and protest were just a preparation for yesterday 27/11. It was a Tuesday afternoon, in the middle of the week yet the people who joined the several marches or went directly to the square were in thousands.
Since Moubarak had stepped down, there were celebrations, protests, demonstrations.. some were big but not big enough. I didn't go to Tahrir in the 18 days of revolution but I did afterwards several times. Mainly the morning after Moubarak's end and it was really celebration, 2 more times during summer for one reason or another, during Mohamed Mahmoud clashes last year (it was really a big one), and 25th Jan this year (big marches but the square was full of Ikhwan celebrating the revolution opposit to all other political parties as the SCAF was still in control at that time).
Some of the protests were huge, but I felt there was something missing that i couldn't identify cos I was not there during the revolution to compare with and this is what i discovered yesterday.
It is uniting against one cause, against injustice, regardless of who you are or what you believe in. It's singing the national anthem song with one voice and one heart. It's listening to people like Hamzawy, Khaled Ali, Ziad El-Elemy, Ala El-Aswany, Gamila Ismail talking about Egypt and not political parties or personal gains, even if you agree or disagree with them on other issues.

I joined the march from Mostafa Mahmoud in Mohandessin. It took us couple of hours to reach Tahrir Square. It was a huge one, with drums and slogans. The side of the road were we marched was empty while the other sides with traffic. Majority of people in cars were cheering us and didn't mind to be stuck for a moment till we pass. People from shops or in their homes cheered us while passing in front of them. We were a mix of young and old, girls and boys. I even saw an old women dressed in black like the lower/middle class marching with us, limping with a stick. Another bearded guy holding a sign sayig Morsy doesn't represent me and a totally veiled woman (monakaba) chanting agains the president.
People were chanting from their heart, expressing their anger against what's happening in the country.

For those who are wondering why now we are in the streets, the revolution didn't end. At least the 3 main demands "Bread, Liberty, Human Dignity" are not yet satisfied. We have been in struggles since 2 years now. we've been pushed into different directions, away from the main problems we should deal with. The referendum divided people into 2 parties, and it was a big mistake by the SCAF cos if we had focused on writing a new constitution before electing a president, we wouldn't have been in trouble now. We focused on trials for killing protestors which were in vain and didn't start with reforming the police and national security (or whatever its name is now). We focused on giving adjectives to people like islamists, salafists, liberals, socialists, communists without thinking of how to all unite for the sake of a better Egypt. We focused on election battles, who will vote for who, who will win but not on what those elected will actually give to the people... and it's Egypt who is loosing.
Finally the 2 major issues, the commiteeof writing the constitution and the last announcement by the president giving him ammunity for all decisions already taken or to be taken and full ammunity to the commitee writing the constitution triggered the alarm, we don't want one person to rule above all. Our fight is for freedom and dignity. Our fight is to give back the rights of people, the living and the martyrs. Our fight is to treat all Egyptians the same without discrimination and i talk here about all kind of discrimination (gender, sexe, religion, political, believes.....).
Those who voted for Morsy were promised a lot of things, none was achieved. The current government is following the same rules as the old regime. The people may have changed but the system we fought against is the same. This is why we are in streets. It has to stop. We left the square once thinking our job is done but we were wrong. We must continue the fight till the end.

It doesn't matter if you were pro or against revolution before. It doesn't matter if you went in the square or not, participated in marches or not... but believe me, don't wait too long to be part of the change cos it might be too late. If you want Egypt to be as you believe it to be, you have to fight for it or else accept the consequences. I was too afraid to go to the streets during the revolution days but after it was all over I regretted it. I might not be as brave as those who actually risk their lives but at least I try to do whatever I can. I learned during the last 2 years that nothing comes without effort. You have to work hard to obtain it and even harder to keep it, no more sitting in a bubble or a corner.

And the revolution continues....

Back to the streets

It took just few hours for people to decide to go to the streets, after the president had announced a consistutional law giving him supreme authority. Things are turning very quikly, yesterday marches, to Tahrir, clashes between protestors and police at some places, some Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in other cities set on fire (although i'm against that act). Yesterday, judges announced suspension of work till the presidents cancels his decree, a march being prepared on Tuesday...
I joined the march on Friday. I didn't feel the same thing as the one in the 25th Jan memory. Maybe cos I joined at the end so it was not that intense, maybe cos the numbers at Tahrir Square were not as I hoped for (for sure less than 25th Jan and Mohamed Mahmoud last year).
I know that we must to go the hard way, there is no choice. I hoped that some would learn from the past and work for the benefit of Egypt but it seems it's only power that they seek.
I wish for a better country for all. I might sound too idealist, or dreamy, to reach that without blood or pain but this is how revolutions are.

I am disappointed but I have faith. I read what i've posted back in January (25 Jan Reloaded). Yes it is true, that people won't stand still. As long as there are people who believes in justice and freedom the struggle will not end. God bless Egypt!!!

Receiving compliments

It's always great to receive a compliment or a thank you for an accomplishment you have doen. It's an acknowledgmente for the hard work done and an appreciation for all the trouble you had to do your best.
It gives you a satisfactory feeling and give you a push to do even more the next time.
So, whenever you feel that someone has done a great thing, don't forget to let him/her know. It will sure change his/her day :)

Aida encore et encore

I wasn't expecting myself to write one more time about Aida (Love kills and resurrects, Personal tribute to Aida) but once again, i feel the urge to share my experience..
This time, the main leading role of Aida was performed by a new face, at least for me.. the past years, it was performed by the same cantata, at least all the shows i've attended. It was a new revelatation, to discover the same story told over and over again but with different interpretation. I suddenly realised that sometimes it is not just the story, the words or the scene, it is all about the performance. It can carry you from one place to another, from one feeling to another, just like that. You can feel the intensity of the drama and the feeling of the character are transmitted to you or you just enjoy the story and that's it..
Or sometimes, you are just caught in the routine of seeing the same performance with the same cast so you are so familiar to it that it seems all the same. All you need is a change to discover new dimensions or new perspetive.
And i believe this is true in everything in life, so break a habit, try a new thing, discover and explore and you might be surprised with what you find :-)

On other note, at a moment during the 3 hours show, i started to see Aida in our time. Aida who is so miserable and unfortunate by the defeat of her country, the capture of her father, her lover to marry the princess of Egypt but yet, she does what she feels is right even if against what others would see.. Amonasro, Aida's father who till the end believes that what he does for his country is the best and till the end he try to triumph against all odds and even after being defeated by the Egyptian army. Radames, who can't stand that he betrayed his country unintentionally and chooses to die and at the same time he feels that he didn't do any wrong and that the Gods would forgive him and is happy to know that Aida that he loves is still alive..
Life is not a fairy tale. We might not die physically as the the heros in the story but we sometimes live like we are dead. Do we really fight for what we believe in or we give up just like that? Do we feel satisfied with all what's happening even it is for the worse or we just complain and loose interest? Even Amneris, the princess who had it all except the mutual love from Radames, didn't loose hope and tried till the end to win him and save him from death. This is the perserverance that we sometimes lack. We sometimes give up from the first time thinking that's it, although if we give us more chances, we might or might not reach what we want. But at the end, it's the journey that makes it worthy, not the destination..This is what Aida and Radames did, they died at the end and for sure this is not they wished for but they died happily cos they were together and this is what was important.
So, enjoy the ride and the journey you are in, and don't just focus on the destination.

Nubia, the forgotten land

18th of April marks the departure of the last Nubian from the ancestors land. Today is the day to remember Nubia and shed a light on a heritage we should cherish and promote. I have heard a lot about how Nubians are generous and kind, but I never imagined that they are actually that generous and kind. I went of last year to Aswan, to attend a cultural festival "Characters of Egypt". I returned with more exciting and everlasting memories of couple of days spent in a small Nubian village in Aswan. I discovered a lot during this short trip, friendship, kindness, hope, patriotism, loyalty...
Nubians had to leave their lands for the sake of Egypt. They were fighting since that time for the right to return back near their homelands. The places where they were relocated are not comparable to the place where they used to live. They owned lands overlooking the Nile, their houses built on their own style. The new place were they are supposed to live is in the desert and houses so crowded. I was lucky to stay in a village which was more or less Nubian but not many Nubians were as much lucky as those who live in Gharb Seheil.
Did you know that the Nile is their entire life? They live in islands, they go from one island to another, they are like fishes in water. The Nile flows in their heart. It's the Nile that expelled them from their land, yet it's the Nile that they adore.

Nubian Numbers

It's a pity that the Nubian language is about to extinct. No one talks it except the elderly as the new generations don't really learn it. We never learnt at school about Nubian tradition or culture although it's very rich, as if they never existed. I met a teacher in a small school, in his 40's, he could only write me few numbers in Nubian and couldn't remember all, and those numbers were only what he knows to write. I was discussing with him why there are no classes to teach Nubian to people.  


If you just get to know one Nubian, he will treat you as if you are old time friends, I befriended a couple met at the lodge where I was staying, the following day they introduced me and other friends to a Nubian guy, on the 3rd guy this guy invited all of us to lunch, may i say to a feast, in his in-laws. And what i mean by a feast not just  one or 2 things to eat, it was a table full of delicious courses. I was so impressed as it was hard to believe that there are people who treat like that. This is a generosity I never encountered before in my life.


Hammu, another Nubian, who was working in the lodge, was of great help. He was treating us as friends not guests, opening his heart to us, make us discover the beauty and serenity of the place. He took us on an early boat trip to watch the sunrise on the Nile, he invited us to his grandparents house where he was raised. One of the traditions I discovered there is that the the newly wed couple live with the bride's parents for a couple of years till their first born kid. During that time they prepare their own house. When they go to their new house, the elderly kid lives with his grandparents. That's why the family ties are very important to them, it goes across the generations.
Although those working in Abou Simbel, suffered from the lack of tourists post-revolution, they were so happy that the revolution happened and really believed in it. I am not sure if they do still have the same opinion up till now, but really, Nubians suffered a lot in the last decades, and they deserve more than what they have.

The beauty of nature

Nubia, is certainly a piece of heart, where you have a peace of mind. I wished I knew about it earlier. I wish I can know more. 
Certainly I would return back, to discover more and more about the beauty of Nubia which lies in the hearts of Nubians.

Life is priceless

I never imagined how my feelings would be, knowing that my own safety was on the stake. I had an accident 2 days ago, on my way to work. I still don't know why or how, but I was hit while driving at 90km/h and I momentarily lost control on the car, going left and right. These few seconds were like eternity. I didn't panic, I didn't have the flashback thoughts like in the movies, when someone is about to die. All my thoughts were focusing on regaining control of the car and keeping it steady in a straight line. I wasn't sure if it was due to impact or something in the ground or a tire that exploded and I was just preparing myself for the final stop or crash.

Thank God, I didn't hit anything else on the left side, only the back and the right.  I can't tell whose fault it is, I don't remember all the details of how this happened in the first place. All i know is that i was lucky that i'm unharmed.

I'm just starting to realise that I owe to God and to the car for my safety. The car could have flipped with such a hit by a lorry. I could have hit the fence on the side road (although i was in middle lane) or hit other cars all along. I am thinking what would have happened if... I don't want to be negative but I can't help myself to question, was it only cos it wasn't yet my time, or cos I did at least have good reflexes and didn't panic.

Life is priceless, God granted us life and health. We should be thankful and try to make the best use of it for the greater good. We should appreciate every moment and fight for it. Life is not taken for granted. It can be stolen in few seconds any time, anywhere so it should not be wasted for nothing.

Challenge

Don't listen to people when they tell you it is so difficult to achieve, rather tell yourself you can do it and you are up to the challenge. Believe in yourself and just think that if you want to do it, you can do it but you need to work a little bit harder. That's the key to achieve anything in life. A little faith and hard work, will surely pay off. Look at the challenge with a challenging eye, and do all you can to overcome it. Don't waste time thinking how am I able to go through it or feel discouraged. Dig in yourself for positive energy and take it one step a time, you will be surprised of the results.