The W(h)in(n)ing Post

Whining.
Winning.
Ha.

I've been whining a lot lately. If not to boyfriend, then to myself.

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Things that go along the lines of:

1. I hate my boobs, I wish I had smaller boobs so I'd wear low cut tops without people staring or me feeling self conscious, it would have also been so much easier for me to buy bathing suits. And bras. Cuter ones at least.
2. I need to fix my car. I say that every day, I've been saying that for, at least, the past month.
3. I need to study
4. I want to go to the gym more often! I feel fat, I have lost my muscles....they were so much stronger, I had abs of steel, where have they gone, I get tired more quickly now...UGH!
5. I hate how ill-informed the people are, it sucks, I wish they'd know better.
6. I am too young to have all that grey hair...this is unfair. So unfair. AND I am getting lines. LINES, LINES!!!! I don't want wrinkles, I am only 23....(anyone recommend any moisturizer?)
7. My brother is growing up, he's almost as tall as I am and his shoes are only 2 sizes smaller than mine. I am 14 years older than he is, this is just unfair, I am too scared to forget younger him. But I won't, right? Older him (now him that is) has the most curious green eyes and the sweetest smile. He makes me proud.
8. I HATE MY JOB. IT DEPRESSES ME. I HATE IT. I HATE IT. I HATE IT. Yet, I love my boss and the girls I work with, TO BITS! They really are the best. My salary is okay, and we don't get to work at all (which sucks, it depresses me because I want to learn, and be productive) but my job is perfect for the time being, because I have all the time I can ask for to study.

There, I feel so much better now. I really do. If anyone has read all this, thank you for reading my list of complaints :)
I think I have been watching the news too much, and reading the newspaper more than I would like to. I need the break from all that, maybe. But I guess you understand, with everything that's going on in the country...

A list of gratitude is to follow soon. 

On Teachers

I have a midterm that I am dreading. It is due tomorrow in class, and being the procrastinator that I am, I have a ton of readings to do and it's just...hopeless.

It is hopeful, but you know how you want to scare yourself so you actually get off the computer and study? Yes, that is exactly what I am trying to do, and it doesn't seem to be working...

I am, instead, listening to Mindy Gledhill and reminiscing over school days and the teachers that have made a change in my life, who have left a remarkable mark. One of whom has added me on facebook today and it literally made my day, it made my day because she was one of the best teachers who have ever taught me and was full of smiles and optimism, I don't remember her ever being mad at my very mischievous class because we loved her. Mrs. Sadika :)

I also need some new music...any suggestions? Also, is it my excessive emotionalism or does everyone have a certain teacher or professor who have affected their lives immensely or not so immensely...but, you know?

Hug Me

The vintage label on Tumblr is beautiful! I keep reblogging photos like there is no tomorrow. And it makes me feel like I don't belong here, like I was born in the wrong decade.

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I feel like I should be in dresses all the time with lovely hair and red lipstick.

My best friend and her boyfriend called me "cloud" yesterday, referring to how I  float maybe? or how I am not in touch with reality? I don't know..

A bit of Politics:
I was too depressed yesterday to be a cloud though, I am sad that I am represented in the media and such by people who I find relatively ignorant and I don't mean to say that in a derogatory manner. I mean, if you are going to meet with international figures, at least do your homework, know who you are meeting with and what they do, know how you could benefit from such meeting, brainstorm before you go to the meeting, know your input. Know your politics and economics, know who Jeffery Sachs is- at least!

I am talking about Wael Ghonim (who now has a wiki...) who sat with Ban Ki-Moon and very rudely spoke to him, I am talking about the people who call themselves the "the coalition of the youth of the revolution" who were also rude. I will not accept this. I am not rude, and I am not ignorant, and if there is something that I don't know enough about I will not participate, and I will listen and go home and read more about it...

I am sorry, but you do not represent me.


I want to travel, I really need it right now, and I want to attend a festival, and listen to good music, oh how I want to do that right now. Because I need a break from all of this, I need my mind to stop thinking and I need to stop the stream of thoughts and the insane amounts of news and articles and events that need to be processed.

I need a very big hug from the universe.

Like the World is Ending

My heart goes out to Japan.

When I woke up to the news, all I could think was whether the world really is coming to an end...whether 2012 was a wrong year and maybe it was 2011 and not 2012... I mean, the earthquake in Japan and tsunami in the Pacific Ocean AND all the uprisings in the Middle East.

I am not saying that I am right and I am not saying that I really think the world is coming to an end.

But all I could think of was how this could be the end of capitalism. Yes, and I was singing in my head "Capitalism is falling down, falling down, falling down. Capitalism is falling down, my fair lady."

An Economic Bit:
I am going to speak about economics for a bit, because at the end of the day, it is what I do.

If technology is what shifts a country's PPF curve upward (After having reached maximum capacity) so the country can grow, and if Japan is technology central, or the technology capital of the world if I am to speak in more formal terms...

Then, if Japan is to recover in let's say 3-5 years, technology generation will slow down, and accordingly no new technologies will be applies to production techniques, efficiency will not increase, and global production will not be able to keep up with population growth.

I know this is a very grim view. But, let's assume I am right.

If I am right, then a crisis might happen, and that crisis to come would be the mirror image of what happened in the US Financial crisis- such that the financial crisis has caused demand shortages or collapse, the Japanese technological crisis would be a crisis of supply.

And so, Capitalism is falling down.

End of economic bit.

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Now, what I want to say is that, it might not really be the end of the world, but it feels like it, it seems like it is the end of the world. Maybe the universe is trying to tell us that it's time. It is time to stop procrastinating and putting all our plans or hopes or dreams on hold. It is time to rise up, rise up and never be the same again. It is time for something new.

It is time to dare.

It is time to finally do it. And no, there's no time for us to wait- not tomorrow, do it today. Do something new everyday, or something old you've wanted to do for a while. Anything! Just do something, because there is no time for waiting. Nothing waits.

Bikya Book Cafe

You know that the universe is a beautiful place when you know a place like that exists.

This is not an interview sort of thing, it's just a post of appreciation.
A tribute to my new favorite place, and that is not even an exaggeration.

(Unintentional rhyme)

A post of appreciation for the beautiful, intelligent girls whose dreams brought this place to life, for the colors that feel so much like home, for the great playlist.

Appreciation for the second hand books and the coffee combined. And the comfortable seats and board games. For every little thing this little cafe is.
It's a lovely place, really.

Now Bikya Book Cafe is 8 days old as of today, and yes, I am pretty sure I am not just speaking for myself when I say it has become a favorite. It is a lot of people's favorite new place; it feels like an extension of your own perfect living room. You know, the living room you always imagine would have when you look at pictures in magazines. (and it never does)
Well, Bikya is an variation of the living room you've always wanted.

I just found the perfect description!

They hold performances of all kinds (I have attended music and stand-up comedy) and well, have I mentioned this place serves a perfect (THE perfect) peanut butter shake?

So yes, if you live in Cairo and haven't been there yet, then you definitely should, you're missing out on the spirit and the vibe and all that. Very youthful and inspiring.

I believe it is by far the best thing that has happened to Madinet Nasr (Nasr City), since I really hate the area but Bikya is on a quiet street of Abbas El Akkad so the noise doesn't reach you.

Click on the photos to enlarge, they were all sent to me by one of the girls behind the genius that is Bikya (I just quoted myself) and well, in this photo above you can see Hany Mustafa performing.

Follow Bikya on Twitter here