September 27, 1997. That was the day I moved to Egypt. 10 years have passed and I still don’t get this country.

It’s a common theme that people who’ve been raised abroad dwell on. No matter what you say or do, deep inside you know you’ll never fully adapt.

As individual Egyptians… we’re not really connected; except maybe by a shitty green passport, too big to carry around as identification if you don’t have an ID. I’d rather be anonymous than carry the damn thing in my pocket.

As individual Gypos, we’ve each signed our own policies, sworn allegiance to our own virtually assumed president. We live by our own rules and shove a special card to the face of a policeman who asks to see a driver license at a roadblock. We have signed our own peace treaties with the enemy. Nothing matters. My generation doesn’t care much.

As Egyptians, we don't care about the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) being implemented in 2008. We already buy cars we can’t afford. We don’t mind applying for a car loan and paying 40% of our income to pay it off including a total interest of 45%. We pay for every piaster increase in fuel price. Why make a change when the people don’t demand one? Why give a raise if your staff doesn't ask for one? Why is it that the only two feasibly profitable industries in Egypt are food and cafes? When have we run out of ideas? Why are most men in this country either ahlawy or zamalkawy when we fail to diffuse their undeniable retard-ness? When have we declared ourselves football experts and strategy professionals? Why does every Egyptian think that his/her political statement should be heard? Why is it that most of the young men of today don’t have enough information about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? Why don’t most of the educated Muslim minds of this country know the answer to the question ‘Why Islam?’ Why are most of our drama genre films based on sex? Why do we have so many beggars on the street and when did we stop believing that they need any money at all. When has begging become a profitable profession? Why are there still people who believe that we’re doing just fine?

When has going as "couples" become a requirement for going to Taraweeh? How despicably sick have we become?
Why change ourselves if we believe that we’re superior to all races.
We-are-by-far-not-the-champions-of-the-world.

Are we all asleep? Is this all one big dream?

Why don't I find any of the above funny?

Why do I need to leave? I thought that I adapted, but the harder I try, the more I go back to the state of mind I was in during the first year of my living here. Why should I be any different than any of those who left? I used to tell myself that there is a purpose beyond my understanding of me living here. Have I been bullshitting myself all those years?

Why do I feel the need to run away now?

Is this deep feeling a sign from God that no good would come from staying or is it a sign of my absolute coward-ness?

Rhetorically speaking... Ill just shut up.

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Trivia: 10 also marks the beginning of writing the number of years I’ve spent here numerically, rather than alphabetically.