Thursday, October 05, 2006

The World

The world is vast and wide. I am currently trying to decide on what to do next with my life. I have enough money put away now to be able to afford a new start pretty much anywhere, provided i land a job soon. I bring out the map, that is what my indecision has come to, i actually bring out a map of the world and look at it pensively. I start with Europe, the natural process. Paris? Bad weather, still amongst the French. Barcelona? Low pay, scarce jobs, new language barrier. Germany? Ekh. Italy? See Spain. Switzerland? Zzzzzzz. Holland? Hmmmm... friendly, English spoken, beautiful flowers. London? Hmmm... very hip, very me, very possible, very cold.
But Europe is such a small part of the map! My eyes wander off to the other masses of land forming continents amidst bulks and bulks of water. New York? I'd probably die of stress. Boston maybe? Brrrrr. Brazil? :) But that's not a years move is it? I mean who goes to Brazil and leaves Brazil? South Africa... Melbourne...?
My eyes fall on North Africa, Egypt, Cairo... how can i feel nostalgic and the urge to vomit at the same instant? I dread the traffic, i dread Mr.Oriental Judgmental Man, i dread embracing sexual harassment again as an accepted part of my day, i dread everything that has to go through a process governed by the government, i fear for my sanity. And yet a force pulls me towards that part of the map, a mother, an identity, a sense of belonging, and an endearing warmth i haven't felt in almost two years now. I confirm it in my mind that Egypt is a place that nurtures self destruction and suppresses the soul so much that when it finds freedom in any refuge, it tries with all its might to turn that refuge into a new home.

One last glance at the map, the Caribbean maybe for the winter?
I fold the map and put it away and decide as i have everyday for the past two weeks to wait patiently for my boss's reply to my status-quo email, to postpone mega decisions that would break my mothers heart, and try to ignore the nagging voice telling me to go home.
Where did i put my book?

12 comments:

zoss said...

Canada (quebec city, montreal, ottawa, toronto, ..)?

If at first said...

Lol. I was going ot suggest Canada too, but something stopped me despite ...even now, as a red-and-white- beaver loving, Tim Hortons drinking hardcore Canadian... maybe its the taxes, maybe its the go-go-go till you retire attitude. Then again, I've only seen most other places as a traveler... so by all means, TO! :) Besides, there are enough Egyptians to keep your heart feeling cozy, and not too many to keep your sanity in check. Along with every other minority to keep things interesting! Yaaaaaaaay, Toronto!

FreudianSlip said...

uhh NOT Canada!!! WHAT? dude...NO!(i'm at work and can't talk too much so i'll comment later but i had to stop you from even considering Canada! DO NOT!)

Unknown said...

when u go to the Carribbean, take me with u:D
liked ur style.
well Cairo has all the stuff u mentioned, but don't u miss its smell:)

Forsoothsayer said...

NOT canada. see numerous blog posts by me.

it's either greece or dubai.

Maat said...

canada..... holland.... boston ..... london ..... if u dont like the cold, u can buy tons of blankets and winter clothes. and hey, why did u rule out italy? hot guys there.

MechanicalCrowds said...

That touched me!

Give Egypt a second chance.

FreudianSlip said...

umm you didn't just up and leave, did you?

La Gitana said...

Go to the Emirates. Lots of white folk and other multinationals. Plus, if you meet a Gulfi you get to laugh. And laugh and laugh and laugh.

Alluring said...

Definitley not canada, NY all the way ;)

To be fair, you might want to consider dubai too, good money and no taxes. But be prepared to deal with mega utlra traffic, much more than cairo, the whole 7 emirates is smaller than cairo, so do the math :D

Carmen said...

After I finished my teaching training in Barcelona I was more than tempted to go back to Egypt to start work. I firmly believed that a year would do me good and I was hours away from buying my ticket. Then I realized that if I do that I'll probably kill myself, so no ticket bought. Baby steps for me.

I agree with Forsooth, Greece or Dubai with a heavy push towards Greece.

zoss said...

This reminded me of your dilemma.