I'm Back Home

So I am finally back in Egypt.

It was a long and terrible experience to be away from my husband. When I think of the pain I felt for those five long months it still brings tears to my eyes.  While I had many triumphs, it wasn't without a lot of pain and suffering along the way.  But, Alhamdulillah, I made it and we are back together again.

Leaving the United States is always bitter sweet.  I miss my girls.  I miss my family.  I miss my friends.  I miss familiarity.  I miss work.  I do not miss the ridicule I get for being Muslim, I don't miss the constant stupid questions or religious lectures about accepting Jesus as my savior.  I do not miss the lack in halal food or the freakin' Wisconsin cold.

But, again, any time I have to leave my girls is hard.  At least this time they know that everyone lied to them last time.  Mom came back.  And inshallah I will be back even sooner this time.

Leaving work was really hard.  I was well liked, respected, and good at my job.  I have never had a place of employment give me a guilt trip about leaving before.  The last two weeks after giving my notice was hell.  My team lead went on to convince me every day that it wasn't fair to me to have to leave, it wasn't fair to the team, and therefor I needed to stay.

Time before I left seemed to crawl.  28 days ahead of time I knew I was leaving.  And that first 14 days went so slow.  Then from day 14-7 even slower.  The last seven days were like hell.  Finally Friday, March 6th was my last day at work and at the end of the night I knew it was only until Monday morning until I left.  It started getting real.  And I still had so much to do.

What to bring to Egypt (I will elaborate on this in another post) that I didn't have before is a big one. There were so many things last time that I wish I had brought.  And no, an oven thermometer isn't one of them.  Now a bigger factor comes into play.  What to bring to Egypt when you have a 2 bag, 50 pound per bag limit.  A lot of picking and choosing between what's important and what isn't.  And that includes clothes.

Honestly, another whole bag wouldn't have made my life any easier.  If you're anything like me, you'll understand when I say that it only would have complicated things further.

I had to gather documents, spend time with my girls (which was all day Saturday), spend time with my mom (which went longer than expected and ended up being almost all day Sunday), and still do laundry, pack, repack, check, and double check.

Monday morning was hectic.  I had to get up at 5AM so I could talk to Wael before I showered.  I had to leave by 6:30 so I could gas up the rental car, stop at Walmart and cash my check I forgot to bring to cash Sunday, get breakfast, and drive to the rental car place all the way on the South Side.

Of course Monday morning Beltline traffic sucked.  Bumper to bumper for 6 miles past Monona Drive. 

I arrived at the Enterprise Rental Center at almost 8AM.  My bus was scheduled to arrive at 8:30.  I was sweating hoping to make the bus on time.  But alhamdulillah, I was early.

Actually wasn't late.  Had time to breathe and wait for my bus.

Buses actually have seat belts now.

Waiting in Ohare.

Almost time.

In Newark, view of NYC

So I did arrive safely in Cairo, an hour late.  Delayed leaving Frankfurt for a busy runway.  No big deal except my husband was worried sick.  But I'm home.  And with all that said and done, I'm really happy to be here.  Now, on with my vacation.