The Cairene

Some complain about how their meat is so salty or has no salt, while others don't know how meat tastes like. Some keep changing their cars every time a better model is manufactured, while others take a long tiring walk to keep the few pounds for their children. Some grass their golf playground with clean water, while others can't find few drops to quench their  thirst. Some people make the worst crimes and get away with it because class, while others are arrested for doing nothing. Some leave the country to hide with their unclean hands, others hide because they haven't done anything at all. Some throw away the rough pizza crust, while the others don't know what Pizza is. Some drop the coins or lose them around, while others search inside the litter for anything to eat. Some sleep while feeling safe and warm, while others have no where to sleep but an unclean corner under that bridge. Some get everything they need or don't, others get nothing but sleepless nights of...

بقدر ما انا واثقة و متاكدة من صعوبة الحياه في العشوائيات و الاحياء الشعبية, الا اتي دايما ب اشوف فيهم جمال في بساطة الحياه و خشونتها معا..بالاقي عقلي في تناقض يشغلني عن اي حاجة غير اني اظل اشاهد اللي حواليا وانا منبهرة و مبتسمة من جوايا.   كل البيوت هنا نش مكتمل بنائها؛ مبنية بطوب احمر ربما يكون ققد صلابته, و طبعا كلها من غير اسقف متينة, في الاغلب عبارة عن قطعة خشبية علي شكل مستطيل محطوطة كانها سقف, و لو فيه اي فراغان او فتحات, بيتم سدها ببعض الكراكيب و الحاجات اللي هما شكلهم بدل ما يرموها بيستخدموعا للغرض ده. طبعا الفتاحات مش مقفولة باحكام و انا متاكدة ان المطر بيغرقهم او بيكونوا مطريين يحطوا جردل تحت اماكن الثقوب عشان الماية متغرقش البيت البسيط..في ما بالك الهواء في البرد القارس في الشتاء...البيوت البسيطة ديه هما بيسموها البيت و الماوي؛ المكان اللي لما يكونوا عايزيين يحسوا بالامان و الدفا بيروحوه..بستغرب ايجادهم لبعض من "الامان" ورا الحياطان المتشققة و المكان اللي انا و انتوا ممكن نهرب منوا بحثا عن الدفا و الامان.   مريت بالهدوم المنشورة علي الحبل و اندهشت من التقني...

As much as I am sure I would never tolerate living in slums, I find life there so beautiful. In its simplicity and roughness, I find my mind in contradiction. The houses are all unfinished, made of red bricks and usually with no roofs. I wouldn’t refer to them as shelters; they don’t look like they are. Their walls are full of cracks and their roofs are full of gaps which are usually closed by some unwanted pieces of things that I couldn’t even recognize; most importantly, the gaps are slightly closed, enough to not let the rain water dive in although I am sure the cold air manages to get to the reckless people living below. I am amazed by how the people find “home” behind those cracked walls. Crossed by the clothes hanged on ropes and realizing the repetitive technique that every house uses to hang their clothes, you’d be left with a smile on your face. The larger cloth is usually hanged at the last rope, and the size gets smaller as you reach the first rope where you find tiny ...

This is me around Zamalek, Cairo. I started this thing because of a personal experience that has inspired me a lot.  I listen to strangers talk to me about anything they want. I get the most random stories and many other touching ones. I don't promise them to find a solution to every problem I hear, but I try to help as much as I can through showing the strangers so much attention. I care enough so that they feel comfortable to open up to me. This idea has been done in many  places around the world, but never in Egypt. I decided to do it here since we know life is not easy here, and everyone is probably having heavy loads on their shoulders. I don't take all their lifts on my own chest, but I do my best to help them remove theirs. I have been doing it since 3 days, and I am glad to say that I have successfully watched many strangers walk away with a smile on their faces. That's all what matters. Point is, even if you won't solve their problems, at least you listen ...