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!

Just 2 months left!!!

Yes, it's true! the countdown to Rio is approaching. 2 months from now i'll be away in a new adventure. But this time, it's totally different. Along the way, even way before going there, i'm making new friends from all around the world. It is true that with all the new gadgets and technology we use nowadays, it's easier to find each other and build this bond between us.
Some people decided to welcome us in a different way, sending postcards & letters. Yes, the old fashioned way, writing on a piece of paper, putting in an enveloppe and sending it all the way like the old pen pals days. I remember when i used to write to people i haven't seen before and we became sort of friends.
It's super exciting and can't wait to receive my share from those postcards :)

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

On the Road to JMJ RIO 2013

I lived an amazing experience in 2005, volunteering in World Youth Day (JMJ) in Cologne. I tried to document my experience but i couldn't catch every moment in a picture or a blog. I decided to start earlier for this year and just put all what I live during this whole journey to make it last forever.

There are still couple of months to go before going to Rio in July but this time, it all started much earlier. After 2005, i tried to go back again to the JMJ. In 2008, it was held in Sydney and i was at first excited to go and discover there but i couldn't take vacation at that time and also the flight tickets were so expensive so i decided to skip it. In 2011 it was in Madrid. I was so excited cos Spain was on the top of the countries i would love to visit someday and i actually applied but then, when they asked for a small paper to be signed by a priest saying i'm Catholic, i asked them what if i'm not and they didn't accept me to volunteer. I was so upset but I respected that and i didn't try to push it further. That year, I went though to Paris and Barcelona with my friends and actually i had a great time with them so I think, probably this is what was planned for me. Anyway, when Rio was announced for 2013 I was so excited. It's like wow, it's a great place to visit and unlikely i would have the chance to go as it is already expensive to fly to Brazil. I waited maybe a year till they put the online registration for volunteers, and when I got the email saying i'm accepted and asking me to send the documents i was so excited. From the beginning I asked if it is ok not being Catholic, based on what happened for Madrid and I was told no problem.. So after sending everything and actually seeing the list with my name, i discovered that 2 friends are going too. We tried to arrange for our trip together and we booked the flight tickets. Months later, in mid March, i received an email saying i can't participate. It was a real chock and I was so angry because we are all Christians and at the end, i'm doing a service for people and it doesn't matter in which church I was baptised. My friends even tell me that i'm more Catholic than Orthodox, actually everybody at first thinks i'm Catholic. This time, I tried to send emails, my friends tried to help me and to make my complaint reach but what really touched me was people reacting to my post on faceook in which I said what happened. Volunteers from everywhere in the world decided to make an action  and write a petition to let me back in the list and it really worked. I didn't believe much that it would make any impact but when I saw the email 3 weeks later, that the organization requested my presence, I couldn't believe my eyes. I remembered a friend who actually told me it will be sorted out and that even if not, i should go anyway since i have already my tickets. He was totally right. Also the discussions on facebook and how people, i didn't actually know, showed their support. This was one of the rare moments I felt really the power of people and how caring about others really make a difference, even if my problem was not sorted out. Also, I felt that this year, the experience will be so much different.

Some of the people on facebook decided to make a whatsapp group. We call this group a 24/7 because it is  all the time on due to the different time zones. We are around 50 people from Singapore to Ecuador, almost from all contients, except Australia. it's so amazing how people who don't know each other, have so much to say. We discuss lot of things on the group, regarding the organization for the JMJ, funny stuff, food, music, dance, faith, languages, culture. It's a true melting pot. I didn't imaging when embarking in this adventure that i would get so many friends so soon, before actually going to the JMJ.

I believe that this will be quite a journey, that's why i will try to write about it and hope i will continue till the end...

So stay tuned for the next edition!

Official site: http://www.rio2013.com

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.

Egypt's Presidential Elections 2012

The 2012 Presidential Elections are the first ever in Egypt with no predicted results. Actually, it might be strange to say but the outcome of the 1st round was unexpected somehow and disappointing for many.

We are one week from the rerun between the 2 candidates, Ahmed Shafik, ex minister and lately prime minister in Moubarak's regime and Mohmed Morsy who is running for Muslim Brotherhood.

Unlike what's on-going on all social medias, from facebook to twitter, i'm not going to take a side of one candidate on the expense of other.
I voted for another candidate, Hamdeen Sabahy, who suprisingly for the majority got too many votes to be in 3rd position although i knew in my heart that he would do that if people really believed in him. I believe that many did, especially after the famous debate between 2 other candidates, Amr Moussa (ex-foreign minister and president of Arab league) and Abdel Moneim Abou El-Fotouh (ex-muslim brotherhood and more into revolution). It seems that the debate instead of favouring one of them, actually defavourised both of them.

I hoped that people participation would be higher than this, but only 46% people elligible to vote did. The elections went smoothly, actually i felt it was more organized than the elections for parliament. But anyway, this is not the last elections to be held and hopefully in 2016 more people will particiapte.

Getting back to next week's rerun, it has become a war between people. Like the days of referendum, the yes and no camps.. but this time, it's about who will lead our country in the next 4 years.
Both options for me are not good but I believe in one thing. We regained our voice, we conquered our fears so no matter who will be elected, we will push him to act for the sake of Egypt and Egyptians... I may sound too optimistic for people opposing one candidate claiming he will not let this happen...
For me i see we selected the hard way anyway, things could have been gone differently but this is where we are now and we have to deal with it.
Enough fighting together, who is choosing who, cos the choice is mainly based on who you don't want as president and not on who you want as president.. it's not an active vote but a reactive one.
Whoever will win will anyway make a deal with the SCAF (supreme council of army forces) so at the end it's a big play organized in a legitimate way. The purpose of the revolution is long forgotten. The slogan of "bread, freedom, social justice" is left behind and this is the ugly truth of politics.
Politicians don't care about people, they only care about interests.. and this is where, we the people must play our role, force politicians to listen to us and care for us.
Even though all what's happening, i'm still optimistic about our future. So, whether you will vote for Shafik, Morsy or even not vote, it's just an election for a 4 year president. The important is not to let go the fight for a better Egypt and act as a good citizen in helping establishing the main goals of the revolution.

Good Luck for us and God Bless Egypt!


Finally, as in this cartoon, just do the right thing :)

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. 

Love and do

To love what you do or do what you love, that's the question. Sometimes getting used to do what you are doing makes you forget what you love in the first place. The routine kills all the senses and you end up doing what you have to do without thinking of what you want. It's at this moment that life becomes just an existence, without the essence of life itself. There is a fine thread that defines it, that it's barely noticed.

If you feel that you don't enjoy any longer what you are doing, take a pause and think what you actually love and want to do. Life doesn't go backwards so don't wait for something that you might like to come to you, you might wait forever in vain. Every moment you spend doing things just you have to do are waisted moments. You have to pursue what you love and in order to do that, you have to determine what you really love.

My favorite month!

I always love March. It's the beginning of  Spring, and it's my birthday month :)

This year is so special cos I received the PMP certificate and the Accreditation certificate and award (ALU) on the same day as the Women's International Day. I started to be an activist to achieve more, to be effective in my community at work and i'm so happy about that.

I wish that I don't lose this energy and passion to always do something different.

I wish that my birthday this year will bring me the push I need.

Let's celebrate the best moth of the year :)

Lucky 26

I always feel optimistic around my lucky 26. It might be strange, for a person as serious as I am, to believe in such things but I really do believe in my luck 26 since ever. It always carries positive vibes for me.

A moment in time

It's amazing how a simple photo brings you happiness remembering that specific moment captured in time.

You don't remember all the details and with time, everything just fades away except what your heart wants to remember.

I guess, this is why I love photography and blogging. To capture a glimpse of history in a world where everything happens so quickly.

Start to Finish

The starting point and the finish line are always the hardest phases.

One needs a lot of motivation to begin and find the way and rhythm.

As well a lot of effort is required to do that extra mile and perform the best.

25 Jan Reloaded

I decided few days ago that I will participate in the marches, mainly cos I wanted to be part of it and that the marches are the best way to reach people. It is not limited to people who go to Tahrir, it's for everbody even people who are at home or in their shops.

The announced itinerary for the march i joined was to walk from Manial to Sayeda Zeinab where other marches would join then go to Tahrir. We changed the itinerary and instead, after circulating in Manial, went to Cairo University then Dokki to Kasr El-Nil bridge, as shown in the below map.

I was a little bit disappointed as I arrived and saw not more than 50-60 waiting to start the march holding banners and flags. I was expecting to see more gathered. We started marching in Manial street itself, doing it twice and soon that feeling of disappointment left me. We were chanting loud, encouraging people to join us, chanting against SCAF. Cars and buses were cheering us, people in shops or looking from their windows as well. The more we marched, the more we were. I was touched when we saw an old lady in a car following us. When we spoke with her, she told us she couldn't march with us so decided to do it with her car. She was upset cos we were still few and she wanted everybody to go in the streets. She told us that her children are abroad cos they couldn't have a decent life in Egypt and she wishes to see the day Egypt is a better place for everyone, "Bread, Liberty, Social Justice" as we were chanting like the old days.

Just before starting the march in Manial and then the beginning of the march

Part of the chants in Manial "Dicator, dictator, tomorrow your turn will come... Inside the church, inside El-Azhar, down down military rule"

We arrived to University Bridge where at the end lies the embassy of Israel. I was kind of thinking, what if things turn bad there, what if people focused more on Israel then our march against SCAF. I was wrong, there were even people in the building where the embassy lies, holding Egyptian flags and cheering. We did say some chants against them and SCAF but nothing more.

And there, we saw more people coming from other marches and joining together, in front of Cairo University. At the point, I felt, yes, people are really there in the streets. I knew from twitter that other marches already started and with huge numbers, but seeing it with my eyes, was totally different. It's like your faith is materialized in front of you.


We continued walking and chanting, we passed by Dokki and the numbers were huge. All along the way, we were trying to not block the roads for cars leaving a lane for them. And almost all of the drivers were not at all angry with what we were doing. That day, i really felt that the Egyptian people are not that dumb.
One of the chants I liked was "This is a revolution, not a party".

This is one of the 2 big flags we crossed along the way in our march.








In Dokki, chanting "People want to down the system (referring to the old ruling system that is still there)

An organized march tribute for martyrs was organized. Wooden coffins with photos or Martyrs, drums playing. It started from Galaa square, passing by Kasr El-Nil bridge. I was ahead of the march tribute and crossed the bridge to the Square. It was already packed, with no place for a foot. People on both sides waiting for the march to come.

Finally, we managed to arrive to Tahrir. I met a friend at the entrance then we went inside, trying to meet another one. It was the most packed time I saw the Square. Last year, i only went couple of times in some of the "Millions" but it was not as full as that day. At one time we were walking against the flow of people, like being caught in a trap. My brother and friends were also trying as much as they could to protect me from being crushed or harassed. I was pushed all the way, till we could reach a less crowded place.
We decided to have something to eat which was a big challenge as we were not the only one who had the same idea. Finally, we managed to get Koshary and while eating in the street, there were more marches around us, in Talaat Harb street. After that, i went to meet other friends who were resting in a coffee. They were also in other marches that morning.

As I didn't stay much in the square itself I can't tell much about what was going on there. What i noticed is that there were different stages, the one of Ikhwan at the entrance from Kasr El-Nil bridge with lot of microphones, so that they could block people from flooding the square. There was another one with a big screen showing the martyrs and couple of other stages. I couldn't feel the "one voice" resonating in all the place. The Ikhwan more into celebrations, on the contrary of all people who went in marches to the Square, to continue the revolution and ask for all the demands that are still yet to be achieved.

I realized that day that no matter what happens, we, the people, will not stay silent  We, the people, will fight again and again for our rights. We, the people, have the power and that anyone who will be in charge of the country, should do what the people are demanding, otherwise, we will not leave the streets till they are fulfilled. No matter how long it will take, no matter what the price will be, we found our voice back and shall never lose it again.
I don't know how things will go the next period, but one thing i'm sure of, I regained my faith in my people and the revolution continues...