home again, abroad again.

I miss Cairo already. I miss my gaggle. I miss my boys and their herd of dancing camels. I miss AIESEC in Egypt. I miss the feeling like I know what I am doing.

home, but not.

masalema masr.

see you in September, insha'Allah.

on mint tea and goodbyes.

There is a crumbly rim of sugar on the edge of my tea cup, still steaming although its been sitting undisturbed for the past several minutes. Absentmindedly, I am stirring the escaped mint leaf around as I think about everything that is poured into that cup of tea, or poured into my life over the past two months.

I have been sitting here, in this café, drinking tea and avoiding the reality of saying goodbye to everyone who has left their thumbprint on my life here in Cairo - and then understanding that most of them will not be here when I get back. I am torn between that crushing reality and the happiness of me stepping out into Hartsfield-Jackson on Monday night and seeing so many people that I love that have been absent from my life for the past two months, and will be absent again after the first of September. What weighs more - the pending heartache over my friends that are leaving here, or the existing one for everyone in my non-Egyptian life?

I find myself avoiding the responsibilities of my life at the moment in my cup of tea, including answering that question. Although I know it isn't true, I keep stirring pretending that I can drown all of those thoughts like a mint leaf, and they would dissolve like sugar.

you say you want a Revolution, well you know...

I got out of my black and white taxi this morning in the middle of Midan Tahrir and saw almost no one. It was like seeing it underwater or full devoid of buildings, it was so unsettling. Tahrir, at any point of any day, is usually full of people hustling and moving as one to their collective goals, even if it is only to sit and watch the chaotic symphony travel around the square. Every day, that is, except today. happy revolution day.


speaking of revolutions, I will be home in 5 days.

epic failure.

I am an example in failure of Cairene blogging. And there is so much to write about, I apologize. There is so much here to share with you, I don't know where to begin. This summer, already, has been a revolution in perspective and in identity for me.

And on the note of exciting revolutions, I am so proud of the members of AIESEC in the United States for starting their own. It's time to start my part over here, Incha'Allah.

happy birthday, america.