Blogging

Blogging is a way for online writers to express themselves. Anyone could create a blog, and post whatever they would like.

There are different types of blogs and platforms that give people endless options!

For example there is Blogger:

Blogger is a website that allows people to write whatever they want to, whenever they want to. It is a blogging website that people can create and customize and eventually share with the rest of the world.

It is also an option to keep blogger blogs private. A private blogger account would basically be an online journal or diary. The writer would be able to access their account from anywhere, including mobile applications.

Whenever a blog entry is posted on blogger, it is time-stamped. The time-stamp marks the exact date and time that the post was created.

WordPress is another platform used for blogs.

WordPress is more than jus a website that allows someone to blog. It is a blog publishing tool. Through wordpress you can build blogs or websites and maintain them throughout your use. You’ll be able to show more than just your posts. WordPress gives people the chance to show off their creative side due to the options available when customizing their site. 

There are two different variations to wordpress. There is wordpress.com and wordpress.org

There are differences between what is offered to the .com users and the .org users.

.com is free for the users to set up.

.org requires a fee – “self hosting is needed”

.com will show advertisements occasionally on your blogs

.org will not show any advertisements unless they are your own.

.com has a limited selection of themes and widgets for you to choose from when customizing your blog.

.org has an endless selection of themes and widgets, including paid themes to choose from.

.com also has limitations on customization.

.org offers more flexibility when customizing your blog. You’ll be able to personally design your own features, your own theme, and more.

.com does not give permission for the user to use their blog for money. You cannot make money off of a “wordpress.com” blog.

.org on the other hand, allows the users to use their blogs for any reason they would like.

Both .com and .org have support available to them.

.com provides spam and security protection for the blogs.

.org requires additional free plugins when it comes to security and spam protection.

Those are the major differences between wordpress.com and .org. 

There are also micro-blogging social networks like Tumblr. Tumblr allows people to share videos, photos, quotes, and more with followers and the public. It is a tool that also allows people to express themselves. Their posts on these types of blogging sites will reflect on their interests and creativity.

Another example of a micro-blogging social network is Pinterest.

Tumblr and Pinterest are both considered micro-blogging social networks; however, Twitter is considered Micro-Blogging in general.

Micro-blogging is expressing oneself in a limit number of characters. (Twitter tweets are 140 characters).

It is important to be aware of the different types of platforms. It is also important to consider what each individual platform offers in regards to what you want to use your blog for.

For example, something to consider would be the multiple languages; blogger offers 50 languages, whereas wordpress has over 120.

Wordpress also offers more image storage for free users, and even more for paid users.

The list of possible ways to use each platform are endless, and it is important to be able to determine which tools will be the best to use for your personal needs and goals.

Different lifestyles

I was born and grew up in Jeddah,Saudi Arabia before I moved to Alexandria,Egypt. The lifestyle of both countries is completely different. 

When I was in Jeddah, overall things were easier than Egypt. The differences between the two places are worlds apart.

Despite popular belief, the people in Saudi were more open-minded than the people in Egypt. Overall the community was more diverse. There were people from all over the world. It could be because the area I lived in also had a dominant compound presence. Expats would move to work in Saudi Arabia, and this added to the diversity of the country. In Egypt, the people are more closed-minded. It could be because a majority of the people here are from the same place. There is not a lot of diversity, and people are used to certain traditions. Because of this, the general population is not open to anything “new” or “different”.

People in Saudi Arabia were more respectful of others in many aspects of life. This includes other people’s culture, their privacy, even the driving! In Egypt, people are more opinionated. Everyone has to tell their thoughts on every situation in people’s lives. People could be extra friendly, when strangers will come asking questions, but most of the time it is because people are extra nosey and want to know more about what’s going on all the time. And when it comes to the driving, there are no rules. Driving in Egypt is so crazy! You have to keep an eye out for people, animals, potholes, other cars, bikes, different variations of motorcycles, and the list goes on! When it comes to the driving rules, there aren’t any solid ones, or any that make sense. 

In Saudi Arabia, the country holds on to its culture and heritage. They manage to hold on to what makes them the country that they are, along with its roots. The people of Saudi Arabia are proud of where they are from. In Egypt there is a sense of culture, but at the same time there is a popular distaste for the country through out its citizens. A majority of the people I met when I moved here want to leave the country at any chance they get. I have even met some people who don’t like mentioning that they are Egyptian.

In Egypt, there is a high rate of sexual harassment. The people in general have no respect for others. Especially when it comes to gender diversity. The reaction to sexual harassment offenses is also saddening, because the woman is always at fault. Saudi Arabia tends to have a more solid form of respect regarding its women.

One thing I do prefer about living in Egypt is the integrated community. Saudi Arabia is generally a segregated country. There are limited areas where there is integration. These things only happen at international schools, compounds, and malls – however, there are restrictions to the single men that would like to enter malls at certain times.

The rest of the world does not share the segregated lifestyle, so living with that has always been like living in a bubble. In Egypt, that one aspect makes things a little bit more realistic. But that does not excuse any of the negative activities that happen between men and women, like sexual harassment.

Living in Egypt also gives me the freedom to move around freely. I would drive in Saudi in the compound, but I was limited to only driving within the compound gates. Here I am responsible for where I want to go at all times, so I drive myself around.

In Saudi another issue was that I had to be in the company of a man in my family in most situations. In Egypt, I am not dependent on the other men in my family when it comes to coming and going to certain places, or dealing with important issues related to the bank or university or even the hospital.

Egypt has a relaxed mentality when it comes to getting things done. That is something I was not used to when I was in Saudi Arabia. There, things were done more promptly than here. In Egypt everything gets done eventually, but it is done with a “what’s the rush” mentality. When it comes to registering for courses, or payment fees, I’ll have those done after I start university.  In a way it can be seen as a positive factor, because it is laid back. But at the same time it is stressful when you want to get things done, it wont happen in the time that you want it to.

That is another issue about living in Egypt. There is “real time” and there is “Egyptian time”.  If you make plans for 4 pm, expect them to start around 6. This is something I was not used to in Saudi, because there was more respect for schedules and planned times.

I wouldn't say I love one place more than the other but overall the two places were completely different. There are pros and cons of both places, but it is like that anywhere in the world.