A thought on Arab women

Do you know how we often get those emails with power points attached about random things? I usually dont bother to open them, but some time ago i got one about arab women wearing burkas and how bad they are treated and how much they suffer etc. The powepoint reffered to women in Afghanistan in particular but i couldnt help not replying to that email, especially that i was living in an Arab country.
I did not agree with the sympathy for these women that the email was inviting to. My response at that time was that to these women it is normal to wear a burka and be covered all the time and they find nothing wrong with it; to them, wearing a burka is the same thing as it is to me wearing a skirt.
The email was talking about the fact that Afghan women have no rights at all and how they are forced into arranged marriages, raped by their own husbands etc .... Well, i wont go into that, because to be honest, it happens nowadays even in the Western world, but we do not want to accept it. Just turn the News Channel on and you will be surprised...
I am not here to say that it is right and we should accept what is happening to these women, but sympathy does not help at all.
I kept thinking about this very often since that email and i was wondering if i was right or not - if these women do feel pressured, or have hard feelings because they are wearing a burka...
But now, if you do not know anything else apart from that, how can you say you do not agree? If this is how you were raised and have nothing else to compare it with, how can you feel sorry for yourself, in bondage?
This takes me back to the comunism that me and my family endured in Romania; i know i was still young, but i remember some things. At that time you couldnt have more food than you were allowed to buy, you had only 2 hrs/ day of tv (and that was news and some Russian cartoons for children), you had to have at least 3 or 4 children and i could go on and on about it - my point is that people thought this was normal just because they did not know anything different than that!!!
I remember when my dad came back from Irak, in 1987 or 1988 and he brought us oranges. We DIDNT KNOW what those are because we had never seen oranges before!
So, how could i crave oranges if i didnt know what oranges are? I hope you get my point.

Anyway, i was watching National Geographic and this Arab woman (the first female photgrapher in the UAE) dressed in a burka said: "i do not mind wearing a burka; it represents who i am, an Arab woman, it shows my identity; i am proud to wear it!"...
And i hope this says it all!

Favourite tune at the moment

You Were There - Avalon (quite inspiring for these moments)

I wonder how it must have felt
When David stood to face Goliath on a hill
I imagine that he shook with all his might
Until You took his hand, and held on tight

'Cause You were there, You were there
In the midst of danger's snare
You were there, You were there always
You were there when the hardest fight
Seemed so out of reach
Oh, You were there, You were always there
You were always there

So there he stood upon that hill
Abraham with knife in hand was poised to kill
But God in all his sovereignty had bigger plans
And just in time, You brought a lamb

So haven't I learned that my ways
Aren't as high as Yours are
And You alone keep the universe
From crumbling into dust
You are God and though we would
Not have understood You
There You were

Hanging blameless on a cross
You would rather die than leave us in the dark
Every moment, every planned coincidence
Just all makes sense
With Your last breath

You were there, You were there
During history's darkest hour
You were there, You were there always
You were the Victor and the King
You were the power in David's swing
You were the calm in Abraham
You are the God who understands
You are the strength when we have none
You are the living, Holy one
You were, You are and You will always be
the Risen Lamb of God
You were, You are and You will always be
The Risen Lamb of God

A wonderful surprise in the midst of a hectic week

Being home hasnt proved to be such an exciting experience that i expected it to be (at least, so far). After 2 days spent home (excepting the weekend in Bucharest) i was already complaining that i want to go back to Egypt, i was missing my friends etc. Well, slowly i started to readjust and even though i am still looking forward to be back in Cairo, i am trying to enjoy my time at home.
It is great to be with my mum and see my friends, but some unexpected situations have arised and it makes me want to be away. I had a rough week with many frustrations, but i spent today on my own (with my ipod) and i learned to accept everything and find a solution to all of this thing.
I was out for a walk, and on my way home i saw the most beautiful sunset ever!! Such a shame i didnt have my camera with me! I cannot describe it ... the sky was all red and you could see the fluffy clouds floating around, melting in the sun and combining the white with red and yellow... it was gorgeous!! I took it as a gift, as a surprise after this whole week!!

Summer thoughts

I just realised i've been home for a while and i havent been updating my blog ... I had so many stories about Egypt to post!! I am angry with myself for not doing that!
Anyway, i guess i will use this blog as self-therapy this summer, as much as some people might condemn it ... i just need to find balance, peace and sort my life out + post more pics from my first year in Egypt! :)