The downfall of expats

For four years, each time back in one of our homes, people’s eyes would light up, full of hopes, wonder, envy and curiosity after hearing that we lived in Istanbul. 

This time, when you say that you currently live in Cairo, it is bewilderment, fear and inquisitive eyes that stare back at you.

On one hand, you defend it, to justify your sanity and focus on the great aspects of Egypt, on another, you say things as they are. 

The media is on the Egyptian case daily, which doesn’t help; so no sparkles or envy for Egypt. Even though you show yourself welcoming, it is pretty clear that we won’t be fully booked in terms of visiting! The current situation has also worsen, and sadly, this will continue this way throughout the year, I also have great confidence that the media will depict Egypt with the colours of Syria!

As you post photos of your travels, you show the exciting part of being abroad, how unpredictable and varied life is; that is what ignites spark and interest. 

The truth is that it is an amazing and fortunate adventure, nevertheless, there are several downfalls to being an expat and as we are close to returning home, nostalgia springs up to mind through four aspects.

Evidently, the most challenging one is your family. Nothing regenerates you the way kinship does. Fortunately, the teaching world offers several regular holidays and we live in an era when you can communicate through several instant medias, there are still times when you should be around and can’t, and no Skype nor pyramid can make up for that.

Along with your family, you also dearly miss your friends. Away from home, you do create wonderful friendships, which develop at a frightening speed (For instance, I find myself missing my buddy Brandy, and we’ve been around each other for four months!).

On the other hand, it is your friendships back home that have to withstand the time and the distance of your travels. After being away for many years and despite the efforts of keeping in touch and some social networks allowing you to re connect, you still lose some friendships over the years. Also, after leaving a country and moving on, it is difficult to remain in touch with everyone

Yet, strong friendships do survive the expatriation and it is a precious moment to meet an old friend after a while and still feel as though it was yesterday.

Having recently enjoyed some delicious food and luxuriate in Epicurean products such as wine, cheese and charcuterie, there is also the whole ethic of eating that takes up the third place.

The European efficiency is the final wistful aspect that will be partly missed in Egypt.

Things tend to be organised in the EU, depending on the countries, you are pampered by health and safety, smothered by rules and working systems, over worked by bureaucracy, but indeed dipped in efficiency. The roads are fully built punctuated by signs and traffic lights that people actually respect. The buildings are finished, including the details and technologies such as the internet and the phones work! You find yourself marveling at the connection speed whilst posting this entry 😏.

In August, we arrived in Cairo aghast; it would be untruthful to dissimulate my apprehension given the current situation, as Egypt seems caught in an endless whirlpool of violence, but this is home and it has been good to us so far. 

On this start of 2014, let us wish all the best to Egypt, a new start, for the sake of its people.