I grew up internationally away from home. I have been marked most of my time "foreigner" or strange from the land where I used to be. Since I was a kid, I got to learn how it is to be a stranger on land, and away from what it is called home-country. 

Yesterday I met a couple. One Egyptian and another American. We had an interesting discussion about differences in cultures. It made flash back when I just moved to the US. I used to think, or wanted to believe that I have all the Egyptian roots in me, and that I will always be regardless whatever I will learn and adapt to in the US. I have to admit I was wrong.

It took me the move to Dubai and doing business in Middle East to recognize that I am not 100% Egyptian anymore. As it was hard for me to accept, I found myself OK with this, now. I looked deep inside and I found that it really is OK. I want to believe that I have the best of being American & Egyptian. I have the best of the two cultures.

I got stuck in traffic last night after my meeting with the couple, and was thinking about this topic. It made me think, what is really the Egyptian Character , and how did I base that I am not anymore Egyptian? Maybe I never knew what is the Egyptian character!

It made me think again, looking at what is happening in Egypt now, I find it very interesting and very diversity within the same country, Egypt. This is the only explanation I could make sense of.

When I remember how people can be very friendly and smile at you, and at the same time really cannot stand you. Looking more backward when I was at College and recognize that people may vote for Muslim Brotherhood in the Student Union, but really against them and against being pushed to do specific things the way the brotherhood think is right.

It is very mixed culture where people want to be modern, and they have that deep down kindness and tendency to be religious. Refuses the too religious part, but yet they would just vote for the religious party because maybe this will make them better, or satisfy the guilt that they are not that religious!

A lot of contradictory behaviors within the Egyptian Character, but at the end it is an amazing culture with all its weirdness and differences. 

I think there is no specific character that defines a typical Egyptian, because we are mix of a lot of differences that affected and shaped the Egyptian People. At this time, I think the Egyptian Character is adaptable, that's it  - This is the character definition, Egyptian Characters are different simply :)

Now, I think I took that, and have been shaped with all the different countries and adapted to the point I am myself a mix of a larger exposures of cultures and characters. I hope this made me better me anyway.

It was an interesting year 2011, to say the least .. A lot of challenges and changes that affected me directly both at personal immediate circle and family, work related and professionally as well it was a year full of events that changed a lot of things in this world. 

The great support I had for 2011 is having my beautiful wife next to me, and celebrating our first anniversary. 2011 would have been much more tough on me.

My wife and I decided to take it easy this year, and celebrate New Year without big party. We invited a couple friend, had lovely dinner and watched fireworks around Burj Khalifa in Dubai from our balcony with few drinks, and for sure Shisha :)

I managed to get my web site and blog up and running wit last addition of smart mobile phones support. So far it is a good start for this year, and I do hope that 2012 will be much better than 2011.

I do wish you all a very happy new year for you and your families.

--Sherif

My First Blog