Ana mostawrada..?

For those of you who know me I'm not exactly the most patriotic person in the world.


I don't go crazy when Egypt wins a football match.


My Arabic reading level and vocabulary is probably that of a 12 year old.


I am convinced that it's right to '2ste3'ata' and not '2t3'ata' and to ride '3ala the bus' not 'fl bus'. :D


I'm still not quite sure what is Ali baba's story but vaguely know about some guy called Goha.


There are times when I find it hard to understand and relate to Egyptian culture. Most of the time I don't have the will to even try and comprehend it.


So I can understand why I would be labeled as 'mostwarada'. I can see where it comes from and I guess to a certain extent it is true.


But give me some credit. :) How else would I have turned out to be? 3 years ago the only memories I had of Masr were simply those of me going to the sa7el playing in the sand and swimming in the sea. I wasn't actually exposed to anything else.


I've always felt that those around me have a stronger Egyptian identity and connection to their country. I thought that I didn't feel anything towards Masr...that it was just a holiday resort or a transit to my final destination.


What I feel is simple. Masr is home. Ana masreya not mostawrada. I guess some may feel I don't deserve the 'title' or that it doesn't suit me. Fair enough. There was a time I felt the same...or at least thought I did. But you know what? :D


It says on my passport born in Egypt. It's the place where I took my first steps and spoke my first words.


In England I chose to register my nationality as Egyptian.


I love molo5eya.


My British friends say I'm Egyptiany and claim I smell of sand.


I feel home sick if I'm gone longer than 2 weeks.


I secretly cried every time we left Masr to go back to England after the summer holiday had ended.


If god blesses me with children... I would like them to live their childhoods in Masr.