If Egyptian Sayings Were Translated to English

Have you ever met an Egyptian?

They are what I believe to be; the kindest, most generous, and most humble people ever. They smile carelessly, and appreciate all that life has to offer. And above all, they are incredibly faithful.

Egyptians (to me) seem to come up with the most ingenious ideas for any and all situations.

Aside from everyday situations, the Egyptian language on its own is quite an impressive and creative piece of literary work. 

It should come as no surprise to any Egyptian, that our Arabic is a real work of art. Not only because the word choices that we use are so unique, but also because even when we are upset, we use statements that are so well-mannered and sophisticated, one would only assume that we really are a classy bunch.

So to prove my point, let's begin. Here I have combined 12 of the most common Egyptian phrases (in my opinion) that literally make absolutely no sense in English, and probably in any other language, but somehow, make perfect sense to the average Egyptian.

1.  Enta lesanek taweel

English Translation: Your tongue is long

Actual Definition: You are rude

2. Ana 7akhreb betak

English Translation: I will mess up your house

Actual Definition: no actual definition, more of a threat of physical abuse.. I think.

3. e7na akalna 3esh w mal7 sawa

 English Translation: We ate bread and salt together

Actual Definition: We grew up together

4. bint/ibn nas

English Translation: She/he is a daughter/son of humans

Actual Definition: She/he comes from a good home - usually referred to admirers for marital purposes

5. shaklaha zay el ammar

English Translation:She looks like the moon

Actual Definition: She is beautiful

6. 3agbak 3agbak mesh 3agbak eshrab men el ba7r

English Translation: If you like it, then like it, if you don't like it then go and drink sea water

Actual Definition: If you like my plan, great. If you don't like it, too bad. 

7. ana mesh 3arfa rassy men reglaya

English Translation: I don't know my head from my legs

Actual Definition: I am so lost - usually referring to cleaning a mess and not knowing where to begin

8. 7atrou7i ya3ni 7atrou7i w reglek fo2 re2abtek

English Translation: You will go means, you will go, with your head over your neck.

Actual Definition: You will go, no questions asked. 

9. law mesh 3agbak ekhbat rasak fel 7eit

English Translation: If you don't like it, go and ht your head on the wall

Actual Definition: If you don't like it, too bad. 

10. mate2ta3sh 3eishy

English Translation: don't cut my bread

Actual Definition: Don't destroy my source of financial income

11. ya set el kol

English Translation: woman of all

Actual Definition: a strong woman who is capable of anything - not often used, but referred to mothers and wives

12. 7a2ablak fel cafe, ishta?

English Translation: I will meet you at the cafe, full cream?

Actual Definition: I will meet you at the cafe, cool?


But we can't only be credited for our literary work. We have a lot to be proud of. After all, our ancestors did discover wifi;

binscorner.com

I challenge anyone to tell me that Egyptians are not an assortment of cool, funny and dramatic put together. Any takers, please step to the comment podium below.

I would just like to point out that Egyptians are a pretty cool bunch, and so are our traffic police.

All jokes aside though, we really do have a lot to be proud of. We may not be where we want to be, but we are a step closer today than we were yesterday. History will rewrite itself and Egypt will prevail once again with pride and dignity.

26 feelings travelers know all too well.

After my annual 12 hour flight from Dubai to Toronto, I realized that the struggle of long flights is all too real.

I am about to take you through a whirlwind feelings and emotions all airline travelers know to be true. Enjoy your flight!

1. As you board the plane, you have carefully planned your sleeping pattern on the airplane to avoid jet lag when you arrive to your final destination.

2. Once the plane takes off, you search through the entertainment system and find a good movie, and try to find your comfy spot, in high hopes of falling asleep with your high-definition companion.

3. LOL.. comfy spot.

4. You get momentarily agitated as the person seated in front of you reclines their seat backwards, although, you have your seat maximally reclined backwards as well.

5. After a few more attempts of finding comfort in the tiny seating space that you have, you accept the fact that comfort is a nonexistent part of the economy class.



6. You fall asleep for 10 minutes, only to be woken up by the flight attendant, who is offering you your first airline meal. Chicken or beef?



7. After indulging in your bland and somewhat tasteless meal, you try to get comfy once again. Only to realize there is absolutely no possible comfort with a tray filled with trash, taking up roughly 50% of your sitting space.

8. What seems to be decades later, the flight attendant finally comes to take away your tray.

9. Now, time for some shut eye. At this point, the internal plane lights are off, all windows are closed and the majority of the passengers are asleep.

10. You sleep for a good hour or two if you are lucky.

11. Remember that kid that slept as soon as the flight took off? The one who got comfortable after take off, and used his seat and his parent's seats to stretch his body for a good night rest? That kid is awake. Enjoy.



12. Somehow, the majority of the passengers are still asleep, except you, you are awaken by the sound of a bored, confined, well-rested, highly energized child.

13. Falling asleep now becomes a difficult task, that can only be challenged by a rare few.



14. Time to put on another movie to help pass the time by.

15. What seems to be your new permanent residence, has only been an airplane ride of a few hours.

16. The internal airplane lights are now on, and most passengers are starting to awaken, the remaining few will be woken up by the airplane turbulence, that is sure to blend your organs together for a moment.

17. Breakfast is served. Is this scrambled eggs or mashed potato? I have never been more confused in my life, and no amount of salt and pepper can change the way I feel.

16. After the food tray has been taken away, time for a bathroom break. Why is the line to the bathroom so long?

17. You finally reach the front of the bathroom line and you cannot hold it in any longer.Once you enter the bathroom stall, a feeling of freedom and liberation hits you hard.



18. The toilet flush - rumour has it, that if you stand too close to the toilet as it flushes, it can suck in your soul along with your excrement.

19. Only 2 hours left for your flight, you start to feel optimistic. 2 hours, that's roughly equivalent to 1 more movie.

20. The airplane starts to descend, and the seat belt sign is on.

21. You start putting your seat up-right, and pack your belongings, the moment is finally here.

22. You bend down to put your shoes on, but they are no where to be found. After some panic and anxiety, you find one pair under the seat beside you, and the other pair, under the seat across from your neighbor's seat, 2 chairs down. How did it get there?

23. You have finally landed, you take out your carry-on, and you are waiting in line to exit the airplane.

24. The line is similar to what you would see in a crowded buffet, crammed, no space to stand, and everyone breathing your air. Personal space is not something that is common in such line ups.



25. After what seems like forever, the line finally starts to move, and you couldn't be happier to have landed at your destination.

26. We hope you enjoyed your flight, see you again soon, the flight attendant says with a friendly smile on her face; and that smile gets me every time!

The Middle East’s first cat café opens its doors in Dubai

Guests enjoying coffee, cakes and cuddles by the cats in
Ailuromania Café – Photo Credit: Gulf News

Combining Dubai’s love for coffee and animals, Saudi sisters Eman, Aliaa and Omnia Al Aulaqi launched the first ever cat café in the Middle East on April 2, 2015. Located on Jumeirah Beach Road, Ailuromania Café is a coffee shop, which is home to 20 different rescue cats of a diverse breeds and ages.

“It all started 4 years ago, when Eman received a kitten as a gift, she has been rescuing and adopting cats ever since,” said café co-owner Omnia. “She was always keen on starting her own business someday. When she heard about these cat cafes that opened in London and Japan, and it was like a lightbulb moment for her,” she added. 

The idea originally started in Taiwan, and has become a big hit, as many furry feline lovers stand in line, waiting for their cup of coffee and quality time with the cuddly cats. “The concept of the café is unique, not many places have this sort of café, and here in Dubai there is a need for it,” explains Omnia. “There are so many people who love cats, but they can’t own one for whatever reason, so we make it easier for cat lovers to connect with cats on a personal level, by allowing them to have a bite and a cup of coffee in the company of our cats” she said.

Ailuromania is the first cafe featuring animals in the UAE, therefore, the process for opening the café was not an easy one. “This is the first café of its kind in the UAE, there were no rules or laws for it, so in order to get a permit and license the business, the municipality had to actually create rules and laws that the café would abide by, this process alone took us about 1 year,” Omnia explains.

Aside from the permit and licensing issues from the municipality, a strict concern from the Dubai Health and Safety Department gave the sisters many obstacles on how the café should serve food in a sanitary manner.

The idea of animals being in a café where food is served can be daunting; therefore, a separate extension was made with its own private entrance for the kitchen, where the food is made. “Nothing is cooked in the café, due to obvious health regulations, we cook our food in the kitchen which is separate from the café, and we only use the café to heat the food before serving it,” says Omnia.

The prestigious look and feel of the café comes at a minimum charge of 50 AED per person. “I find that the minimum charge is a bit excessive, but I guess that this figure is justifiable for the owners, considering that these cats need food, litter, vaccinations and regular grooming. I am not sure who would be willing to pay 50 AED just to see some cats, but I for one will be back,” said Elizabeth Bailey, a customer at Ailuromania café, and a self-proclaimed cat lover. 

“We have a lot of cats at home, which we hope to bring into the café permanently, but we do select the cats that are the most sociable. If any of the cats in the café are sick, we bring them home until they feel better. We do our best to make sure that both our customers and our cats are well taken care of,” said Omnia.

The cats, which are chosen to stay at the café, are based on their health and behaviour. They require grooming every 3 months, and annual vaccination check-ups to ensure that the cats are healthy and up to date and that the cafe upholds the highest standards of sanitation. “I’ve heard of these types of cafes, but I never imagined that I would see one in Dubai! The cats are so cuddly and beautiful. I hope that this business becomes a big hit; we need these kinds of open-minded ideas in the region, so that the idea of animals and humans living harmoniously together doesn’t seem so far-fetched. 

And They Say...

They say that we are the most intelligent species
They say that we are smart, compassionate and caring
But they speak without thinking
They say what they are but don't listen to what they are not
They believe that they are pure hearted yet they dare say that a dog is filthy
They say that a dog is ferocious, wild, needy and stupid
And they say and they say and they say
Yet they fail to mention the millions of lives that dogs change everyday
That dogs help heal the sick and bring joy to the elders
That dogs teach all humans how to live and how to love
That dogs are selfless, calm, rich and happy
That dogs can dedicate their lives to helping someone in exchange for affection
While we sit and fight for bread, power and money
We dare compare ourselves and even claim to be better than the very beings that serve their lives to protect
We are the species that can kill its own kind for greed
We are the species that harms due to an indifference of opinion
We are the species that discriminates and hates more than we can ever love
And yet they say, we are compassionate
They say we are smart, if intelligence justifies the thousands of killings and tortures from around the world Then I wish to be stupid
For being stupid - like a dog is the most peaceful way to live
They say we are caring, yet we barely acknowledge our own neighbors
They say that we are pure and clean, yet we can wash our hands with blood and feel no remorse
And they dare say that a dog is filthy
They say that dogs need humans to survive
Yet they don`t realize that we are learning the most valuable life lessons from dogs
We have learned to love, care, live selflessly, be patient, be loyal, to love unconditionally, to accept ourselves, to enjoy the journey (and I am just getting started..)
And they say that all this is not relevant in today's world, when the lessons that dogs teach us are what matter most in life
And they say and they say and they say.
But they will never understand because they are only humans.

The Power of a Single Rose

A head of brown hair, surrounded by roots of white and gray

Each strand tells the story of the pain and sacrifice of a mother in distress

A bed of wrinkles upon a sea of soft, radiant, illuminating skin

Each wrinkle tells a fascinating tale of courage and beauty

You are the stem that holds each pedal and each leaf together to form the perfect flower

As the pedals begin to grow, the leaf flees to fight passionately to save the soil that keeps you alive

For years he has put his life at risk, to shield you, to protect you, to save you

And you, you are left to care for two small pedals while you patiently wait for your better half to return home. 

Unknowing if you will continue this journey alone

The time was ticking slowly, and as painful as it was, you somehow remained hopeful

And though the winds were rough, and the rain was hard, you planted your roots firmly and remained strong and faithful

Until the day he returned home, and from then, your leafs grew greener and more vibrant than ever

Your soil was saved and your pedals continued to bloom as time flew by

With every passing day, your pedals grew more, and more, and more,

Forming a garden of devotion, loyalty, faith and love in an unimaginable and beautiful way

Looking down at the small garden that has resulted from your strength, sacrifice and courage, you have achieved a field of diverse beauty beneath you

And as the small flowers begin to blossom, we look up at you with tears in our eyes and pride in our hearts, as you have always been our inspiration and the beauty beneath our existence

The Cry of the Young

As I spent some quality time with myself last night, gathering my thoughts together and pondering upon my life, I began to realize a problem that is potentially destroying the young people of today. From the day that we are born, we have been completely victimized and manipulated by society and the expectations that have been implanted in our minds. We are constantly told what to do, how to think and how to feel. We have been taught to shield our emotions and to hide our feelings in order to show our strength.

The more I kept trying to understand life and society the more enraged I got, because I began to realize that my worth and my value in society has been immensely undermined. I have become a victim of a society that has set high standards and expectations (that are often not realistic) for people of all ages. We have all been manipulated by this system. We are all victims.

From the day that we have graced the earth with our existence, we have been taught to go to school in order to be educated and above all, to make something of ourselves. We have been taught that a university degree will guide us in our career and help us live the 'American dream'. Society has taught us that we can make change in the world and that with education and determination, we can and will be the future of tomorrow. Therefore, we subconsciously and stupidly assume that at age 25, our life will be like Barbie's dream world; married with a dream job, driving convertible cars, living in a luxurious house with two dogs and children. We are set to believe that by age 25, we will have it all figured out and our futures are assured.

This sounds wonderful and all- except that this is the kind of scenario that would happen to people like Paris Hilton. In the real world, the real harsh world, at age 25, you are clueless as to what you want to do with your life and your life has barely even started.

The job market today has dropped immensely and finding a job is like finding a needle in a hay stack, it's not impossible, but it's incredibly difficult. Why? Because in order to find a job, we need experience, in order to get experience we need a job. It is a never-ending vicious cycle that is controlling the young people of today.

So as we all play the real life game of survivor, we are on a mission to chase our dreams and to keep our ambitions alive by finding a job that will recognize our true potential. However- we start to lose faith in ourselves because of the higher authority that continuously reminds us that we are inexperienced, young, or simply not good enough.

Finding a dream job has become something that you read in fairy tales and novels because reality is a cruel and unkind teacher. At age 25, we are struggling to find jobs and to be happy. For some of us, putting food on the table is easier said than done. As a result, we settle for much less than we deserve in order to survive because life is nothing but a game of survival.

We are humans and though we are young, extremely undervalued and underestimated, we continue to dream, and to be optimistic. We continue to keep our spirits and ambitions alive by having hope, but hope- hope can only get us so far.

How many times have we heard, 'invest in the children of today because they are the future of tomorrow'? But how can we depend on the future of tomorrow when the future of tomorrow are not given a chance today?

So, what do we, the future of tomorrow have to offer?  A lot more than you will ever know, if only we are given a chance to prove it today. 

Dear 2 Year Old Me...

e.

Right now, you are a big ball of energy. You smile contagiously without a care in the world.

You embrace your perfect smile and chubby cheeks that helps shape your big, round, beautiful face- and have the courage to be different.

You have been told that life is not always what it seems, and that the world can often be a cruel place. You have heard that beyond the four walls of your home lies a life full of challenges and difficulties and you often wonder if it's true.

Your parents have moved you around from one country to the other, leaving you to make new friends and adapt to a new life independently.

During your journey, you will meet bullies, and you will get bullied. You will meet people who will question you. You will meet people who will tell you that you can't do it, and you will meet people who secretly hate you. You will fail and you will cry.

It's okay to be scared baby, but don't you dare let your fear control you. You are an extraordinary girl, you are a smart, strong and beautiful girl. Don't let anyone make you feel like you don't deserve what you want, and "don't you dare even for a second allow yourself to be manipulated by people who are not aware of your greatness."

During your journey, you will fail - many times. The key to failure is to get back up and keep going. Failure is inevitable - nobody is perfect. "Sometimes you have to get knocked down lower than you have ever been to stand back up taller than you ever were." Failure lies within those who are willing to be defeated. "The sound of failure is not heard by people who refuse to give up."

In your future, you will meet people who will tell you that you are not pretty enough, you are not smart enough and that you are not good enough.  You will meet people who will tell you that you are not beautiful, and the closest people to you, will become complete strangers.

Please remember, that to be beautiful means to be yourself.  Your beauty is within you, it is your heart, your character and your attitude that defines your beauty. Believe in the person that you are capable of being and the beauty that you bestow. Please remember that you are smart and that anyone who brings you down is threatened by the greatness that you are. Don't be alarmed by those who belittle you, and those who despise you, those people secretly wish they were you. You are extraordinary.

Don't worry about life, life can be tough and people can be mean. But this is your life baby, this is your story, and you have the ability to change your story. You are your own author. Everything that you do, you are doing for yourself and you don't have to prove anything to anyone. "You were given this life because you are strong enough to live it."

Life is short baby, you will have plenty of ups and downs, you will struggle and you will thrive. You will defeat and you will be defeated. Don't take life for granted because "life is more beautiful than you can ever imagine, and so are you". Please remember to be kind because everyone is fighting a hard battle. Be kind, do good and live your life without regrets, after all, no one makes it out of here alive anyways.

"If you work really hard and you are kind, amazing things will happen."

Stay fierce babygirl

Love 24 year old me