Why I wouldn't want to leave Egypt

When I moved to Egypt I went through a lot of changes. But after living here for three years, there are reasons why I would never want to leave or live anywhere else.

Yes Egypt has its chaos and its weird moments, but there are also good parts about living here.

I saw an article on Scoop Empire that gave 16 reasons to never want to leave Egypt. I agreed with all of the points, but have a little twist to each one, as well as some personal additions.

Sure, it is easy to say “I can’t wait to leave this country” or ”one day I’m going to move and I’ll be happy”. But before jumping to those conclusions we need to take a deeper look into the things that make this country a place worth living.

A major part that makes Egypt different than anywhere else is the family feel to the country. This includes real family, and the family you end up choosing for yourself.

The article I read mentioned specifically “family’s Friday breakfast”. There is nothing better than a giant home cooked meal with your family. Fridays are generally known to be “family days’ and on these days breakfast especially is the time for everyone to gather. It gives you a chance to see everyone, sit back, relax, get some well deserved hot falafel sandwiches and a nice cup of tea with the people you love the most.

Speaking of food, street food is another delicacy that isn’t the same anywhere else. Where else could you find little cotton candy bags, corn, hummus, fool and other fun Egyptian delicacies? Everyone knows you can not consider yourself a local until you survive the local kebda cart. But once you try it, you will never go back to getting it from anywhere else.

Over summer, it is more than exciting to see the corn vendors coming back to their regular posts. It is the best season for grilled corn, and a nice indicator that summer is right around the corner.

Speaking of summer, the beaches are always sweetened by the freska man and his box of heavenly goodness. Nobody does freska like Egypt.

During Ramadan, there is no better place to feel the month like Egypt. There are colors and lanterns and so much more that add to the overall feel of Ramadan.

Eid and other holidays are also spent in a nationally noticeable way. It doesn’t matter what city you are in, you’re celebrating with the country.

The general traditions are also great, like having “fesheekh” during Easter and other typical Egyptian delicacies.

The shopping is a whole other story. Egypt’s enjoyable shopping isn’t malls and high fashion, it’s more the downtown side ally shops. These side ally souks tend to have a series of ridiculous options from belly dancing attire to ridiculous outfits to amazing accessories!

And the weddings! You haven’t been to a wedding until you’ve been to one in Egypt. Everyone is over the top when it comes to being grateful and happy.

Apart from all the big things, it’s also the little things that make the country so enjoyable. Like taking a walk on the beach and having the sea as your backyard.

Even though the country has a lot of weird chaotic sides to it, it also has a flow. Things just work. There is something pleasing when you’re stuck in traffic and you see a little kid riding a horse next to you at full speed in the middle of the main road. This is apart from the horse and donkey carts. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.