On December 21st, I arrived in Cairo, Egypt with my family. My boyfriend is part Egyptian (on his father’s side) and he wanted to show the country to his children. I, always willing to discover a new part of this fabulous planet, was super enthusiastic about this trip!
To say Cairo is different from Montreal is an understatement! First, there is the noise. Car honking all the time on the streets and the highways. Second, there is the smell. A combination of gasoline, perfume, urine and street food. Not totally unpleasant but definitely not my new favorite mix!
Third, it is utter chaos for us nice and orderly Quebecers! Cars, buses, motorcycles, pedestrians crossing anywhere and everywhere. After a few minutes in the car I felt like we had avoided a thousand crashes already! Once you get accustomed to it (which I haven’t fully accomplished yet) it feels like a beautiful urban choreography or an off-off-Broadway contemporary dance show!
It seems like I’m only talking about the negative but Egypt definitely stroke points with me with its food! Tahini sauce and hummus. Kochari (lentils, rice and caramelized onions) and vine leaves. Foul (baked beans with onions, tomatoes and garlic) and stuffed zucchinis. I also fell in love with their beautiful traditional galabeyas (which I’m wearing proudly here), I felt like buying one in every color!
I could go on and on about he differences between my country and Egypt but the one thing that struck me most is how privileged we are in Quebec.
First, we are lucky and financially comfortable enough to travel, which I acknowledge and I’m grateful for every time I get on a plane.
As a woman, I also realized how much freedom I have in Canada and how I tend to take it for granted. I had the chance to grow up in a period where woman are, if not always, mostly considered as equals to men. Here, from the few snippets I got, women are not considered equals and, dare I say, are almost second class citizens.
For example, one waiter in a restaurant didn’t want me to pay because my boyfriend was with me. At the airport in Cairo, on our way to Marsa Alam at the Red Sea, they made the women wait in line at the security gate so all the men could go first.
I was surprised at first, then slightly pissed off when I realized the extent of the situation. Then, it got me thinking and I started being even more grateful for my life.
Because although I enjoy Egypt and all its contrasts I appreciate being seen, heard and appreciated on the same level as any men I know.