Sunday, August 28, 2016

Some prefer her helpless!



She is the definition of perfection… Everything you would desire and more. A heart of gold; the right mindset; funny; witty; a beauty queen; she dreams big and actually delivers… The only problem is she has  “independent” written all over her! 

There is something about women who have experienced independence and achievements that sets eligible suitors running for the exit door! And I can fairly say it this time IT IS NOT YOU… IT IS THEM. All of them; the culture, the society, and the men. It is not that your strength is not welcomed, it just has to be subtle. Don't you dare use it to become the exception in the "good girl" rule book because they scare easy. Men definitely get attracted to "original" women, ones who know what they want and probably how to get it too but will they marry them?! 

I have witnessed the same scenario over and over again to the extent that it has become expected! Strong, successful women are more likely to end up alone! Consequently, a consolidating myth was born; strong, independent women choose to be single. But I can firmly assure you that no, for the women who are looking, they do not aim after the label “spinster.” They do want a man to share life with and cute chubby babies to snuggle, but they do not settle or merely accept what is being offered. It is quiet normal - no actually, it is required-  for fresh female graduates to aspire; job-hunt and pursue a career that is until age strikes close to 30… It is right then and there that the same hands which applauded your determination will point their fingers at you for being "late." Many women will admit that it is slim pickings out there but the courageous ones would say it like it is; it is not about finding a man, it is about finding the man who can handle being with me! 

As women we have been advised to be needy enough to make men feel important but not too much as to drive them away. We have been asked to limit our strength to standing by our man. We have been taught that a woman’s tears are her strongest weapon yet warned from depending on a man. We have been urged to fall for a man, get married, but keep an eye for whenever he decides to cheat or leave or even die. And I wonder, how is that working for us?! It reached the point of downright confusing, on one end women are encouraged to expand their potentials and on the other they get punished for their hard-earned success. And so slogans have been raised to point the fact that when it comes to relationships, modernisation is restricted to appearances. 

A STRONG WOMAN WAITS FOR NO MAN.
STRONG WOMEN SCARE WEAK MEN.
A WEAK MAN CANT LOVE A STRONG WOMAN. HE WON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH HER. 

And just like that a different species of women is acknowledged, the kind that men admire but would not dare committing to. As if, in an indirect way, women are given three options to be in a relationship; (1) apologize for their achievements, (2) split the costs of living, or (3) give it all up because after all compromise is a woman's specialty. 

But see, that is just an excuse for men's slackness and getting too comfortable. If you are a woman who earn, you are like a time bomb because you have a choice and therefore you have a voice that cannot be silenced, And that is just frowned upon! So why bother let's bring in kittens who would scare easily instead. But God… How wrong can they be? Because, how many times have you heard about women who felt helpless and resource-free but decided to leave when enough was just the right amount of enough?! Countless… 

Men really do not know what to do with strong women! There are many how to’s guiding men who are unfortunate to date women with a bigger pay check or have achieved more than they ever did! Can you imagine? Guidelines on how to accept a superior woman, but none for women on accepting superior men! And that for me translates to “all what men can bring to the table is financial support.” That this is the only way they know how to keep a woman caged in their homes, to own them, and guarantee that they will never leave. But I do not blame them, that is what they have been told, and they have an eye for the future. A strong woman disturbs the peace of a quiet home. She would not accept any bone you throw at her. She would not swallow lame excuses for negligence. She would demand her rights and will not let it go until her voice is heard. 

So the next time you meet a man who run away or put you in the friend zone because of your “independence” ask him these questions…

What are you really afraid of? 
Is it that I can meet you eye to eye? 
Is it that I am looking for a partner rather than a boss?
Is it that I can have a say?
Is it that I can push you to become your best version? 
That I can pack my bags and leave or worse kick you out? 
That I will not fetch any bone you throw at me?
Is it that I have the power to say “Enough”?
Is it that I can live without you but I might choose not to?
Is it that I have a clear vision of what I want and What I need?

Other than that, YOU walk away... Because he is looking for an extension not a wife.


Sunday, August 21, 2016

The Preface

It’s been a while since I last spoke through you…
You were my whole world 
The only way to my inner peace
You were what defined me
unique... delicate... and worthy...

But 

A lot has happened…

I changed…

I have aged 20 years in the blink of an eye…
Things changed….
Please forgive my tears as they hinder your way…
For I have been trying not to disturb you…
I didn’t want to burden you with my pain…
Or may be I didn't want to -one day-  come face to face with them…
I have changed and I’m not going back…

I'm not necessarily wiser... I wouldn't call myself that...
I learnt cautiously to be cautious at all times…
Now my smile has to dig its way to my lips…
My thoughts have to be silenced...

They are too much to handle
And way too fast to trace

I learnt to expect the worst and be prepared…
I saw the enemy… the envy… and the hate…
I used to believe in unicorns and rainbows…
Now storms dominate…
I listen to them willingly on my own…
I bow to them... I am grateful...
They define me now...
Loud... fierce... and worthy...

I am no longer yours...
I don't need to hide behind you anymore...
I am not afraid of what they might think or speculate...

Simply because no one knows...

I thought I can use you to erase it all…
But I couldn’t write till I made peace first…

I fought hard and won the battle...
I lost a lot but gained what I once owned...

Think of me always...
watch me in silence...
Witness my rebellions
And forever be faithful...

I have been through a lot and I won’t tell you about it…
But I will tell you this…

I have changed and I’m not going back…



Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Top 8 things 2015 taught me



١- أكتر حاجة كنت فاكر انك لو خسرتها هتموت هى السبب انك واقف محلك سر

٢- قوة اى إنسان فى ارادته لاهى عضلاته ولا فلوسه ولا معارفه
٣- السعادة اختيار مش حظ ولا نصيب
٤- خليك خفيف مع الناس ومتتعشمش فى حد قوى غير ربنا
٥- متقارنش نفسك بحد لأن مينفعش حد أصلا يتقارن بيك
٦- اعرف ان المشكلة اللى انت فيها انت قدها وان ربنا حايش عنك اللى انت مش قده
٧- قدر قيمة الناس اللى فى حياتك اللى على طول موجودين مع ان ملهمش مصلحة معاك
٨- الطموح حلو والحلم مش عيب بس دائماً أفتكر تقول الحمد لله

1-the one thing you thought if lost can kill you is the thing holding you back!

2- a person strength is measured by his/her will. Muscles, money and connections have nothing to do with it.
3- happiness is a choice, it's not a destiny or luck made.
4- don't expect too much from people.
5- don't compare yourself to others because no one can be compared to you.
6- know that you can burden your issues no matter how heavy they are.
7- appreciate those who stay in your life regardless of your status.
8- always remember to thank God for where you are in life regardless of how high you want to reach.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

مين اللى قال؟!


إن البنت الكوسة هى بس اللى بتسمع الكلام وبتقول حاضر ونعم.
إن البنت اللى بتروح كل يوم متأخرة دايرة على حل شعرها.
إن البنت اللى بتشرب سجاير أو بتشيش صايعة وأهلها معرفوش يربوها.
إن البنت اللى مش محجبة مش محترمة.
إن البنت هى السبب فى التحرش والإغتصاب.
إن المطلقة فاشلة ومتنفعش تعمر بيت.
إن البنت اللى عايشة لوحدها منحلة.
إن البنت لازم يكون مصيرها البيت والعيال.
إن الحرية ملهاش قيود.
إن الحب ضعف!
إن مفيش كرامة بين إتنين بيحبو بعض.
إن الراجل لازم يكون أنجح من الست.
إن الإختلاف نشاذ.
إن رأى الناس مهم.
إن السعادة نصيب


Sunday, October 12, 2014

Have you met your worst nightmare?!

Have you ever met your worst nightmare? I had… today… literally!
The day starting as per normal… Me racing out of bed, reaching for my favorite cup half asleep and struggling to prepare a warm cup of coffee to balance my twirling head. I sat down and fetched my phone to dabble a bit on the ever-misleading facebook till I’m ready to go by my day.
Scrolling down… kept scrolling till I found something that caught my eye. A friend sharing her death analysis! Yup! “Know when and why you will die,” I read.
To tell you the truth, I’m not a superstitious type of girl. While it is true that I enjoy the occasional coffee cup reading sessions offered by a relative of mine, yet I don’t usually give it much thought. But I was up, had a few minutes to spare away from the thesis writing rabbit hole, so why the hell not?!
So I clicked on the link, agreed to share my info but made sure this will not be posted on my timeline- little did I know that I will be writing about it later today for the world to see- I chose “Analyze” and a second later I was covered with boiling coffee!

I felt the cold numbness crawling up my spine, my eyes popping out the way only Tom the cat knows how to pull off, and I irrationally threw away the phone terrified that the words will latch on to me. I got up, washed for the Morning Prayer and prayed long enough to shake what I have just read off my mind.
This is MY NIGHTMARE!
I dreamt it… I have seen it… Not once, but twice!
The first time was months ago… The dream was so intense that I felt the heat of the flames burning the side of my neck crisp and the cold sharp metal of the car penetrating my ribs. I heard my own voice calming my trembling nerves, “it will be over soon… I’ll be dead soon”
And the second time was only three weeks ago… less intense but vivid enough for my right leg to cringe every time I recall the rolling of the car and the sound of my bones cracking with every hit they get…
It is not a matter of when, because I don't know how my life will turn out. I'm working today for a near future that I have absolutely no idea of whether it will satisfy my ego or my hunger for uniqueness. I'm happy today but I'm not sure about tomorrow. It was never the quantity for my life as much as it has everything to do with the quality.
For that I know this may sound silly… I know this might seem like a trivial quiz on facebook but it touched a fear I have been dealing with for months. Simply, this is not how I want to die…
If it was up to me; I wish to die young on my favorite praying mat. May be I’m choosing the easy way out, for God will forgive all my sins and for me to walk the “sirat” with confidence like a proud graduate knowing her way to receive the certificate with the highest honors. Just like that! No struggles, no sickness, no pain; as peaceful as a sleeping baby.
But I still believe in the power of prayer. If I want this then I will work hard enough and pray as sincerely as I can for God to hear me and grant me my wishes. Yet, if I die in a car accident then this thing should be studied and investigated if I might add. Because how on earth would you know that! How can you guess that?! I have never written a post about my love for driving, or the fact that I love my car the way I would if I had a third child, or the fear of crashing, or that this is the exact same age my dad died, or the fact that I dread this number... Nothing!
I think I will wait and see… But I’m telling you if on the 9th of October 2059 I died in a car accident don’t call it fate! Say that she had already read her tribute and wrote about it. That is of course if you are still around!










Saturday, August 23, 2014

Enraged

I blow smoke to your face
To everything you stand for and everything you believe in
To your invincible chains and countless restrictions

Here I am standing right where you told me not to

Wearing what you once called unacceptable
Holding something you never thought I knew
Inhaling poison to exhale your toxins out

You taught me love then took it away

You fed me security then left me alone
You gave me freedom yet you forbade it

And here I am… blowing smoke to your face


I no longer fear you…

I no longer need you…
I no longer belong to you…

Watch me walk away

Watch me as I succeed
Watch me as I stand my worth
Watch me as I move on
Watch me as I kiss another man

And weep…

Grab your heart
Present it to me
And I’ll refuse

I will not fall for you

I will not pity you
I will not give you another chance

I won and you lost

I broke your code and spread my virus
I stole your strength and left you restless
I am building a future while you’re living in the past

I have grown stronger… I broke free

Look at me...
Now I can blow smoke to your face

Monday, November 11, 2013

Excuse me while I Gloat!

Today, I saw the look in a girl's eyes... A girl who used to intimidate me...

Today I intimidated her!

I have awakened all her weaknesses and vulnerability.

I was the image she wanted to be and that satisfied me...

I felt powerful, successful, and afraid.

The fear was overpowering; that of losing what I have mercilessly earned...

Today... I... WON!


Monday, February 11, 2013

On finding my "calling" or whatever!


I have come a long way from knowing absolutely nothing about my gifts, to knowing a little bit, to thinking that I know it all, to here... Where I am flat out confused!

Between the words, the fashion, the media, and the academics, I'm completely and impressively lost!

So I keep on reading, researching, and revisiting my old passions in a desperate attempt to discover what Oprah names my CALLING...

There are two types of people in everyone's life; those who are there to make you appreciate your gifts; others who will make you want to start over.

Pain is never exclusive

In my world; WORDS speak louder than ACTIONS.

A life-taught lesson; shame commences revolutions.

When it comes to beauty, God has the best taste.

Lies are always subjective; honesty is rarely objective.

Either figure out a way to worthiness, or create an exit for uselessness.

The older we grow, the lonelier we get. Period

Wish I had spent time wasted thinking about me, rather than on what people might think of me.

Ignoring is the best instantaneous cure.

Waiting does put out fires; passions too,

There is always a Plan B.

A talented man creates possibilities out of nothing; a tedious man kills what he loves the most.

One day my dreams will be my present.

The deadliest combination is a tongue that moves faster than the mind; and a mind that moves faster than actions.

Chances are to be taken at your risk. Period

The moment you'll stop feeling sorry for yourself is the same moment all your excuses will jump right out of the window.

Don't blame me for my slackness when all you did was make excuses for me.

Maturity kicks in when YOU are no longer your BIGGEST concern.

Logic is not the same with everyone. Period

Choosing a path does not guarantee the commitment.

It is not important to know what you want, knowing what you need is enough.





Friday, November 2, 2012

Get ANGRY!!


In one of my many, many, moments of desperation and the rumbles of me failing as a mother - the fact that I was not able to potty train my boy in two weeks and the fact that it has been three months since I have started... I had a thought...



What if I was magically turned into someone else?



Someone who did not get married as young as I did; someone who do not have the responsibilities that I shoulder. What if my life was only about work, success and more success?



The mere thought of a new life and a new me flattered my ego and had blood pumping through my veins. Could it be that I am not happy? Or is it just another attempt at satisfaction?



The role that I play daily, being a loving wife and a warm mother who rarely show discontent... It is just NOT WORKING! I am either faking a smile or cutting my demons loose. I find it boring... Not my style; and I feel guilty!



I want nothing but the best for my almost three year old son when all I am giving him is orders, screams, and the occasional " you're a naughty boy!"



I love my man to death, he is the love of my life, yet I manage somehow to always, I mean always, point out his flaws.



I have been going through this over and over in my head, for two years now and I realized... I AM NOT HAPPY



It is not that my son is "naughty" all kids are, it is not that my husband is flawed, I can write pages about my identity crisis, it is me... And that is something very hard for a Leo to admit. I do not need a different life... I need better time-management skills!



I need to get angry, or better yet re-focus my anger towards myself, rather than spraying it out on everyone else!



I see people, all around me, making it work for themselves... Succeeding in whatever they want to do, even if it was about making a casserole!



So, I am putting my anger out there, for the world to read...



I am angry... At me... And not someone else...
















Sunday, September 2, 2012

Why do you wake up in the morning?!

During a much casual conversation which started out as a meaningless talk to keep us alert after an intense night of serious clubbing, my husband simply asked, why do you wake up for in the morning?

Trying to hide the fact that this simple question struck a deep wound in my heart, I instantly, yet carefully replied; to work... I lied, because lately I've been turned between two lives, two worlds where I'm the only common factor, the life of a housewife who still didn't reach the point of desperation and that of a career woman who has a lot on her plate. I pretend to work, ye, that is my ugly truth so I don't feel useless and worth of a nothing. I pretend to write while all I do I just stare at a blank page with no words and no intention to be filled with words.

The question, why do you wake up in the morning, has no answer in my book. I don't know why I wake up in the morning. I want to work, in fact I have tons of dream and goals I wish I can fulfill, yet I allow the days to slip away and burn my dreams...

I have the same goals since 2009 and yet I always startle when I come across a note with an old date showing my achievement skills are up to nothing. It's as if all that I'm good for is watching other people live the life that I want and do nothing about it as if I have no will power... If I continue like this I will definitely end up a nothing and i'm not used to being a nothing.

In another life, I should be waking up for what should be worthy to and of me , the multiple fires that would drive me right out of that bed but I'm putting them all down as a result of my slackness...


My baby boy, my husband, my work, my home, my family, friends and life...

I need to start living my life instead of dreaming and fantasizing about it... I need to get it together and suck it up for once till I make it through... I need that feeling of a proud worthy woman back... I desperately need it...

Everyday I realize that what I'm doing right now is not enough to get me where I want to be yet I do nothing about it... 

Why do you wake up in the morning? 
Answer: blank



Monday, February 13, 2012

Ever thine... ever mine... ever Ours




All my life I swore never to depend on a man for happiness,
Yet, here I am… writing with your pen… on a paper you bought me… in your home… waiting for you…
You have made my life magical in ways that I never thought is real.
You have made every Valentine’s more special…
You have made every impossible… Possible

For forever my name will be connected to yours…
My entire life… Presence and future relies on you…
It is hard for me to admit that
But without you I do not exist…
I grew up in your arms
I became a woman and a mother because of you…
I love you with everything than I am
I am yours and you, my love, shall forever be mine…

Ever thine… Ever mine… Ever ours…


Friday, January 27, 2012

To all the morons out there...


In my head I won a nobel prize
In my head I’m friends with Oprah
In my head I’m a renowned writer,
         One who matters
In my head I’m the world’s focus
   My every word is important
   My every move is worth covering
In my head I’m a bestselling author
In my head I’m better than Paulo Coelho
In my head everyone is interested to
               Know me
In my head I’m the reason why the world
             Is a better place
In my head my existence matter
In my head I’m named by people’s magazine
      The no.1 most influential person
In my head I build an effective education system
In my head I’m the reason behind every
             Great change
In my head I’m a supermom
            One whose kids look up to her
In my head I’m flawless
In my head I’m the perfection of
           Mankind
In my head I’m fabulous
In my head I’m the one who
        Sets the standards
In my head I’m always smiling
In my head I reach satisfaction
In my head I’m a mogul
In my head I’m the source of
          Power
In my head I die a noble death
In my head I leave while
          Praying
In my head I live the full life
In my head the whole world
         Mourns my death
In my head I die young
        Never to be forgotten
In my head I’m larger than life

So please,
the next time you see me don’t just tell me I’m beautiful



Monday, January 9, 2012

Top 8 sources of POWER!


What a world we live in! One day you’re ready to take over the planet and on the next you feel like everything is worthless and every attempt is useless. It’s very easy to give up and torturous to keep going. We try to find that power we need to continue, to persevere and in rare cases to excel yet it becomes almost impossible to find optimistic people when you’re down. It becomes too dark when you need light to guide you through your already bumpy road.

To find reasons to quit, that’s easy; but where can you find that power to go the extra mile? Where can you get that fire to thrive and achieve uniqueness?
 Books? Too Cliché… Internet? May be, but you have to go through a hell of personal experiences that might or might not work for you. People? Well, I don’t want to seem mean but not all people mean well, in fact sometimes they’d rather see you dead than succeed. So, it’s better, always better, to depend on oneself and exert that extra effort on soul searching to get to where you want to be. Think a little bit more, open up your eyes because not everyone is that lucky to catch their chance train, and you’ll find your torch. As for a start, I have got eight sources for you, may be one will work!
  
1.   Faith
You won’t believe what faith can do to your life! If you have faith in your dream; if you have faith in the realization of it; if you can see yourself perfectly and comfortably fitting there, then it will happen! Have faith in your abilities; in the possibility of tomorrow; in the ever changing fate and you shall succeed.
Trust Allah and in the power of prayer; trust that He can hear you and He shall grant you nothing but the best and you’ll be blessed with the inner-peace you need to focus on nothing but your dream. Faith is a must if you ever want to become, period.
2.   Love
In utopia, love should be a sufficient source of power. It should lift you up and push you to be a better person. In the real world, sometimes love kills ambition when all you care for is to be with that person you love all the while knowing that he/she will love you no matter what you become or don’t become, WRONG!
That hopeless romantic concept, I believe to be, too naive and shallow, because I’m a firm believer in constructive love, where two people hold hands to move forward; to motivate and support each other to become the best they can be.
Love is actually the most effective weapon of all, whether you choose to love yourself deeply as to see yourself worthy of nothing but the best or you choose to love and be loved by others, in the normal sense, love was never made to be destructive.
3.   Loss
Yes! As much as any form of loss hurts and jabs, but it’s a real life-changer, I should know! Ever since my father’s death, I hated failures and weaknesses. I chased success in every corner as if my life depended on it. I refused people who called my vulnerable; I was trying really hard to prove them wrong. I didn’t want anyone to think that my dad left a fragile girl behind, easy to break and too heavy to move. I wanted to be his best work, I still am trying. And I pray for him every day because it’s because of him that now I know my passions, dreams and aspirations. And he’s the reason why I want to carry on my plan, to make him proud of who I shall become.
4.   Acquaintances
My mom always told me that good friends bring good and bad ones bring nothing but bad. And you know what, I believe her; although if you asked me 7 years ago I would have firmly disagreed! Yet, she always pushed me to befriend the top 5 students in my class and I always wondered, why would I care what their grades are? I just want to have fun, popular friends! But she had a point, when you surround yourself with losers, in time you’ll become a loser too with a dumb attitude to prove it. But if you surround yourself with successful people, their aura will haunt you and in no time you’ll be thinking success and you’ll be acting success.
5.   Experience
Your CV is your best representative! Where you’ve been and what you’ve learned can easily add up to where you are going to be. Internships, travels, readings, mixed cultures and courses will definitely boost your drive to your destination. And human relations will add years to your age. The more you meet people, the faster you’ll learn that not all people are good, not everyone is necessarily honest, but above all you’ll know that everything happens for a reason and you’re just too rushed to realize the benefits of everything you go through.
6.   Time
At that point you must have at least heard of time- management, but that’s not what I want to talk about. I want to tell you that it’s never too late. No matter how old you are, you can still live your dream rather than just live in it. Today, the world has changed so much and I’m not trying to sound like a redundant anchor, but it’s true. Today, you can rejoin school and continue with your education. Today, you can resume where you left off and move on to a better you. It can seem ridiculous at first, but if you can open up a catering company only through facebook, I know anything is now possible. Just consider time as a variable factor, not a constant routine. It’s your right to refuse to be called a retired old man, just as much as you can reject the idea of being another tedious housewife. It’s your time and only you can decide how to spend it.
7.   Jealousy
The green monster isn’t always evil; actually he can help you go somewhere. Pick someone, feel really jealous* of them, don’t envy* because that’s immoral, but just feel that burn of the I want to be like him/her and watch your life change. If they can succeed, so can you. If they can achieve, then for God’s sake, so can you. They are humans just like you, yet the only difference is that they used their full potentials and that rusty thing we usually overlook called the brain. If you can avoid crossing that fine line between jealousy and envy, everything should go in the right direction.
*jealousy: I want to be like someone
*envy: I want to be this someone and I hope he/she dies!
8.   Human Nature
You want to be the better man; that is human nature. Everybody wants to be the best, and do much better than others. Everybody wants to be the center of attention. Everybody wants to be that someone who everyone points at and wish to be him/her someday. Everybody wants everything others don’t have. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, we were born to compete. We were born to try to be distinguished. Use that! Embrace your human side, we’re not angels, if God wanted us to be angels He would have created us that way. But we are not and thank God for that, because that what makes us work even harder, even if just to prove that we are better than others. Any reason, as long as it is legal, is a justifiable one. 


Thursday, December 15, 2011

Once Upon a Voting Day!



At exactly 10:30am on a sunny Monday morning, I was standing in line next to my mother ready to give my voice to someone I was in no way terrorized to vote for. This time I was going to take part in making history and witness Egypt as it blossoms into the beautiful democratic country it ought to be. Well, I was a part of making history alright, but the democracy part now seems like a blurry image of something I can’t really tell if it’s real or just mere hallucination!

Since great minds think alike, all women showed up early and I mean all women! The line was endless; it was two streets away from the Mohamed Taymour’s school door where I’m supposed to vote. It was hopeless, part of me actually considered leaving and coming back in the afternoon or may be tomorrow but the look my mum shot me when I started complaining pinned me right where I was, sinking in the muddy streets of Nasr City.

You would think the fact that it was all women would make the four hour long waiting interesting and fun, but as it appeared women didn’t talk about politics, in fact we were ordered by one bossy woman not to talk about the candidates because she considered that to be a form of advertising and influencing. So, what else women talked about? Food, yes it came down to the point that women were exchanging recipes, actually two got into an argument of whether it was better to use garlic chopped or minced when preparing molokheya! And knowing that my knowledge about cooking ends at microwaves you can guess how happy I was.

As the street got busier with cars dropping off women and the sun was growing merciless, a young woman appeared with a megaphone screaming that any woman above 60, pregnant or with children should proceed to vote directly. That’s when my mum chose to sarcastically mock me for not bringing my 20 months old baby along.

By 1:30pm my back was killing me and my feet were slowly outgrowing my boots but on the bright side the school’s door was at least visible to me. Right in front of the school, there was a Muslim brotherhood booth with lots of men wearing hats with “El horeya wal Adala” logo, they weren’t actually promoting for their candidates, not in an obvious way at least, but they were lecturing people on how to vote. Other parties sent in their youths wearing t-shirts with printed logos distributing informational flayers about their candidates. Some women refused to take those flyers because that was unethical while others took them then threw the flayers away.

Approaching the gate, we were walking a lot faster now; I had to part ways with my mother because we were in different voting committees. My battery was dead by then so we agreed on a meeting point. I headed to committee number 75 and I was devastated to find a line again. But with the scary bossy lady off the radar we were free to talk about politics, candidates, and the SCAF whichever way we liked. One woman innocently joked about the Mubarak era saying that he saved us from the elections hastiness, when another woman starting yelling “who’s saying Mubarak? Do you have any idea what he did to us? He robed us blind?!” After we soothed things out between the two and prevented what could easily turn into a catfight considering the heat and the long hours came my favorite part, the talk about the candidates and the parties. I was voting for “El Kotla Al Masreya” and “Mostafa el Naggar” out many reasons but the most important, I think, is to bring diversity to the parliament. Almost everyone I know, including my grandparents, are voting for Muslim Brotherhood and I just don’t want to repeat the farce of the NDP all over again.

Just as I wrapping up my wise political theory, three army soldiers barged into our diminishing line yelling, “Lobna Khairy! Where’s Lobna Khairy?!” I swear it was my first time to be aware of my knees’ existence, my heart just pounded as the thought of being arrested, tortured and rapped like the horror stories I hear about women’s interrogations in the Egyptian police station brought vomit to my mouth. I replied hesitantly, that my unfortunately I was she, one of the soldiers answered “your mum is waiting for you outside” Could I be any more embarrassed? My mum actually sent the “army” to look for me when I was just lecturing the women, who by the way were much older than I am, about the importance of diversity in the political scene!

It was almost 2:00pm when I was up next to vote. I was doubtful and scared; what if I marked the wrong person? What if I took too long and people started complaining like it happened before with other candidates? But the truth was the people in that small filthy, if I may add, classroom was more helpful than I could have ever imagined. They guided me through every step and successfully managed my stupidity. And I voted without messing it up. For the very first time, I wasn’t hesitant about my candidates of choice or the vision of the political party I am for. For the very first time, I actually knew what I want for my country’s future to look like and I did my part. I voted!

So as I walked outside the room my head was filled with two thoughts, first, how sorry I felt for those students who have to go to that school because it was unbearably hideous, old and smelly and second, the fact that I, ironically, waited for 4 and a half hours to vote in just 2 minutes!