Egyptians ... When we're home we complain. When we're abroad there are so many things we miss about home that make us want to hop on the next plane back to Masr.
So if you're in a foreign country, whether for work or for studies, these are the things you'll miss most about Oum el Donya - apart from your family and friends of course.
Warning: This post will make you nostalgic.
1. Our super salty and tasty Roumy Cheese!
Unless you put about a year's supply in your suitcase, you'll definitely miss this cheese. It's a piece of home on your feteer.
What's feteer you ask?
2. Feteer Meshaltet ... our super duper greasy bread
Who doesn't miss the family gathering around that big feteera and having it with molasses, honey or any type of local salty cheese?
Speaking of which...
3. Gebna Adeema
Dab a little (OK, a lot) of this super tasty, salty, spicy cheese on your feteer and you're in heaven.
4. Wash it down with a tall glass of sugar cane juice
Especially that king size serving! Because sugar cane is love!
5. Koshari ... of course!
It's carb-loaded heaven in your mouth. Unless you know how to cook it yourself and have all the local ingredients, you'll definitely be missing this quintessential Egyptian dish.
6. Feseekh
It smells TERRIBLE, and it's not for everyone, but trust me, it's delicious.
7. What do you mean no fried eggs with Basterma?!
This highly seasoned, air-dried, cured beef is part and parcel of Armenian cuisine, and thanks to Egypt's Armenian community, we're now hooked on it too!
Though you may find it in specialty shops abroad, you'll still miss it the Egyptian way, namely with feteer and eggs.
8. Molokheya, fresh green and dry ...
Relax! it's not marijuana!
9. Where the heck is the Molasses and Tahini mix?
Now for something sweet. A molasses and tahini mix is our answer to Nutella or any other hazelnut spread for that matter. And it's much healthier too.
10. What's wrong with your pillows?
After a large meal, sleep is a must. But you can forget about deep sleep abroad because soft, fluffy pillows are not our thing! We Egyptians are used to real, hard, unprocessed cotton pillows!
11. The weather in Winter!
I'm wearing my entire wardrobe but I'm still cold! Egyptian sun, where art thou?!
12. Arabic!
You'll miss the sound of your mother-tongue and your local dialect. Trust me.
13. Loud music on public transporation, because dancing and travelling go hand in hand!
Hands up in the air, ya'll! Why don't all cultures do this?
14. Hearing the voice of Umm Kulthum
Now of course you can listen to whatever you want, whenever you want thanks to technology and the internet. But hearing it played in an old, traditional Egyptian cafe with people spontaneously shouting "3azama 3ala 3azama" takes it to a whole different level.
15. Weddings
Egyptian weddings are loud, colorful and just full of life. But one feat you'll definitely miss the most is the zarghoota!
Wilililililililiiiiiiiiiiish!