Why I love living in Egypt

I love that I can walk less than a block to get most of my groceries, fresh vegetables, oven fresh bread, pharmaceuticals, stationery needs and my son's haircut for about $1us.

I love the feeling of living in a community where I see the same shopkeepers, barbers, kiosk attendants, and doormen regularly. Some days, I feel like I live in Mr Roger's Neighborhood.

I love that my kids and I go to school together every day in an environment that supports our choice to be muslims, where I have wonderful students and co-workers, and my children have friends they look forward to seeing again every Fall.

I love my little circle of friends of all nationalities here that have helped me out when I couldn't do it myself and that somehow miraculously respect my opinions and seem to think highly of me. Subbahanallah.

It goes without saying, but I love to wake up to the Fajr adhaan wafting in through my open balcony window, and in Eid, to lay in bed after Fajr, waiting for the Allahu akbars to start.

I love that I had the opportunity here in Egypt to memorize almost all Juz Amma, because I don't think I could have done that in the US.

I love visiting and chatting with my various inlaws and that my children are growing up having relationships with their cousins, because I didn't, and they wouldn't if they were living in the US.

I love getting in a taxi to find Quraan playing.

I love having just about ANYTHING delivered to my door.

I love that I never have to feel self concious going out in my hejab, or in niqaab.

I love that I have a maid that comes once a week because in the US I do it allllll myself.

I love having furniture and curtains and clothes made just for me.

I love that we live in an Arabic speaking country because it enabled my daughter to become bilingual.

I love taking taxis because it means I don't have to park.

I love having places to walk to because it helps me burn some calories.

I love that being here makes me think less materialistically and focus more on charity, religion, spirituality and relationships. It makes me think less about taking, and more about giving, and that makes everyone feel better about themselves.

I love a cold aseer asab or fayrooz on a hot day.

And maybe most of all.......




I absolutely, positively, love eating special varieties of mangos to my heart's desire the first few weeks of September. :-P drool drool