Kenyan AfroXpros Reunion

Yesterday was a reunion for the AfroXpros 05 Egyptian Delegation...

First Row From Left:Ahmed Maan, Chris Bowman, Salma Soliman,Lina, myself, Ahmed Sameh Second Row From Left: Mohamed El-Malky, Mohamed Salem

The whole purpose behind our meeting is to just revive the good old memories since for 95% of the delegation it was the best conference they have been to. We usually sit together talk about progress of our lives and how things are different from then, some of us are AIESEC alumni and others are still hungered for more AIESEC experience.

I wish this reunion took place as planned but ...Sameh and Salma dropped out completely, while Maan and Salem arrived late before my departure with 30 minutes. We still managed to chitchat a bit on how things are going, laugh a bit on how we were and how we all developed to be different now.

Everyone in the above picture represent a unique and special person to me no matter how we change I think I'll always long for the time where I was being called mama by those guys. It was only 10 days for us together but they represent so much more.

Handing Over....

Yes yesterday Samy Daoud President of AIESEC Egypt 06-07 Said it..

"NATIONAL COMMITTEE 05-06 ARE OFFICIALLY DISCHARGED"

Some Would Go All the Way for What They Believe in

Last weekend I went to visit St. Anthony monastery close to the red sea governorate. St. Anthony is the father of monks and he is the person who started the monasticism concept. His story is more or less like other saints and you can read it here . I was touched in this trip not by hearing his story but by seeing this...

He lived in this cave for 20 years...


























and what's more interesting that he had to climb up..
UP























uP














UP and more Up

























Just to reach it...

Being in ACNielsen for Two Months

This is the dream I got being at ACNielsen working mainly on GRAPHS

It was a short dream and went exactly as follows

First Shot
















The bars represent Margo my sister on the left and me on the right sleeping at night.



Second Shot:
















I decided to sleep upside down...

ME is an EMPLOYEEEE!!

Yes what you heard is true I'm an employee at ACNielsen the company I wanted to join most..

So my title now is Research Executive .. no more Vice President and no more National Director.. starting from step one, but it's ok.. I love the company and I love my job.. what more would I need!

Will soon post more detials about my working day.

Driver's Licenses Withdrawal

Today I was at Smart Village for a company meeting then headed for breakfast with friends in the area. Leaving smart village with my car, found a policeman telling me that I’m going against the street direction and he wants to withdraw my driving license.

I parked on the right and waiting to negotiate with two arguments:
- There isn’t a sign saying this is not an allowed entry
- It isn’t that big of an area against the street direction (Less than ½ meter)

Luckily I had my friend Bassem with me. He went out of the car and asked the policeman about the police officer responsible for the area. The policeman got so angry and started shouting and saying “Fine fine I’m not asking you for money (as in bribe) but for her driving license because she broke traffic rules.” And then he just asked us (almost yelling) to get back into the car and that he will revenge by writing me a ticket worth 500 EGP ($ 80).

I got confused (like most of you I guess) whether that’s better or worse. Usually when a driver’s license is withdrawn the driver has to wait for long time before it’s back.. Some people are lucky enough to get it and others never get that luck so I guess a 500 EGP isn’t that bad in comparison.

Bassem enlightened me with a new piece of information about the Egyptian traffic rules. A policeman has no authority to look into any driver’s license only a police officer has this right. Which means that anytime one is stopped by a policemen who wants to see the driver’s license are fooooling US the drivers out there.

ALL YOU DRIVERS OUT THERE hold on to your driving license. Policemen can only give you a ticket but are not even allowed to look at your driving license.

Chairing Elections at AUC

It's wonderful knowing that I can come back to my home LC (AUC) to contribute to the most IMPORTATN event in the year as the Chair.

For the second year I attend the AUC elections and I do not participate as a candidate. I see how stressed they were.. like we were, how tense it gets with every tricky questions and candidates mumble internally and sweat . It's like a yes we've been there three years ago and we made it.

The feelings were mixed up with extreme happiness and some saddness. I was happy for the new team and proud of seeing people I considered my babies to take new challenges. However couldn't help envying those guys for being on their middle stages in their AIESEC experience while I'm about to head to the future and leave this organization..

Congratulations for the LCP of 06-07

















And for all the confidenced team .. best of luck in SELECTION :)

How many countries are there in the world?

I was asked today by one friend how many countries are there in the world? My friend gave me two choices1)152 or2) 265. The second choice seemed closer to reality than the first one.

I came home and researched. Those were the outcomes:
1) There are 193 countries in the world
2) Some entities count them as 192 since they do not consider Taiwan as a separate country from China

This information is from infoplease..does anyone one know it differently?

It Should be an easy question to answer because countries are COUNTABLE and because this piece of information just matters to know...

That's What I call a VACCATION..

A great city and AWESOME Friends...

So how did it go?

Meeting friends then shopping and shopping and finally shopping. Then between some shopping experiences we went to Bryan Adams concert that ROCKED.

Only if he chose me to sing with him instead of that Lebanese girl... grrrr












Anyways.. did I mention that there was shopping?oh Yes there was big shopping..so what malls did you go to? ok there is city center.. is that like the city center (Carrfour) one in Egypt? No it's bigger TEN TIMES... aah ok.. so it is the one that has the skiing.. NOP the one that has the skiing is called Emirates Mall and it's bigger ten times than Dubai's City Center..oh ok.. so you have two big malls... yeah but we have also Mercado, Bourjman, Lamsi, Wafi .. etc.. but they are all small ones? Some are others aren't..

Does anyone do any other activity than shopping? Yes they work very hard in the morning to shop in the evening. ..

But actually there are other activities..Dubai is very high on pubbing and clubbing.. and there is the concept of Ladies' nights on Tuesdays mainly. So in Ladies nights women are served alcohol for free.. but it varies from a place to another.. some put limitations till a certain hour, others for one type of drink.. and others have no limitations.

About Sight seeing in DUBAI.. we went to..

Emirates Towers.. a wonderful panoramic view.. but sorry you have to be a resident to get access to the view..

There is also Jumirah city.. It has a market for touristic souvenirs.. can you imagine that it looks like Khan El Kahlily area in Egypt and has same products..shisha, marble boxes, belly dancers' dresses and drums that have a big "Made in ALEXANDRIA "on top. Jumirah city has wonderful hotels.. but again.. sorry only for residents to see the view..

This Hotel is one of the most fancy ones.. it's called Dar El Salaam and .. obviously we couldn't reach beyond the lobby.. oh yes and it has a balcony that has the Borg El Arab View.. unfortunately for Borg El Arab we couldn't even reach to the lobby :(... costs you $100 to take a tour around it in the water and wow.. you get a free drink with your money.. it is obviously reasonable for some people!! Maged was the victim of the day to show me Jumirah

How can I forget the WONDER BUS.. so this bus goes around Dubai to show you the landmarks and then goes into the creek.. It doesn't dive .. it just swims.

Our last sight seeing tour was in Hetta.. where we went for sand tunes safari.. literally cars were

going up a hill with a very steep slope.. close to perpendicular.. Then we sat in a Bedwin night setting... Strange enough was on Iranian theme instead of Arab one. Got introduced to those two German guys..probably we were the only four who couldn't speak the Iranian language

And lastly last minute shopping.. right before going to the airport.. then in the airport then at the aeroplane.. then finally back to Egypt and ended the shopping mania

Living in a city like Dubai seems luxurious.. but I guess without all those people it wouldn't have been worth it...

Margo... thanks for inviting me sis. I needed some pampering and definitely it was ..

Dan.. It Was funny how we figured our way anywhere only from the airport :) Driving together was so enjoyable

Sabaza..I Abused you to the fullest .. airport pick up, entertainment and work.. there couldn't be a better deal for me.. but that's what friends are for.. I know :P

Sherry.. Loved being around you.. as hilarious as you always were.. thanks for hosting us and showing us around.. your Bazbaz is the cutest baby ever with the best smile in the world..

Nevine.. Let's try to have as much fun in Egypt... I don't believe this was almost our first time to hang out.. Felt like I've known you for years... we nebaltes .. we checksat we keda

Maged.. I mean Emad.. the HUNK.. thanks for taking me around.. Dubai was super entertaining with you. I'll remember all the important lessons you taught me.. It's all about the attitude ;)

Joereed.. Thanks for showing up the last day... really made a difference

Akef.. The first guy I ever meet who likes shopping.. I'm sure the demand for you is quite high especially in a place like Dubai

Can't wait till it's time for my next trip ..

Missing on Our Voting Rights in Egypt

Since Government Election awareness is very low in Egypt some associations, interest groups and advertising agencies created this website: http://www.aswatna.net/ to increase public awareness .

The website is in Arabic and it has a great database with all the elected members of the parliament from different regions around Egypt. What's better that it has the statistics for each and every elected candidate..

If you would be interested to know about the presidential elections then it will take you to another website: http://www.egyptelection2005.gov.eg. To my surprise I found out that the total number of people who voted for the presidential elections in Egypt were 7 million out of 7o million..only 10% of the public vote then we complain about the result!?

I blame myself for not taking a proactive role myself.. it is always easy to say I'm very busy to get my voting card...... this will change from now.. Deadline to get a voting card for this year is March 11, 2006 .. I 'll initiate the wave and get my voting card and will convince as many people as possible to get theirs as well... Who is joining me?