Nomad LaFo Local stories from an Egyptian ophthalmologist, Youth activist and Traveler!

... I landed at Paris airport!

Finally, I had achieved the dream I had since childhood, Here I'm; or as I thought at that time,

Being a youth worker, I applied for a seminar whose topic was even new to me, but it doesn't matter as I love exploring the off-way experiences. It was organized by the main Euro-Med resource center for youth activities and I have no experience with them before, the last 3 times I applied, I didn't make it, but who cares! Let's make it the fourth time refusal!

After couple of months, I opened my mail and "Congratulations, you are selected!" Oh My God, it seems that I will be going there finally! I read the mail again and again, Dear Ahmed, Yes, They didn't make it wrongly, I'm in,

I checked the attached files where there was a metro map; they had 16 metro lines, seriously It's like a puzzle, how can I make it and in Egypt we have just 2 metro lines in which we get lost between them! I checked the other files and "kindly find attached the map to get to the youth center", Sorry, What ? I have to make it on my own and there would be no one waiting for me in the airport ? It's my 1st time in France and I don't know rather than "Bon jour" and they are not fan of speaking English, It seems that I will have to improvise; I'm a couchsurfer anyway and I will find a way. I started contacting French CSers and fortunately, some accepted my request to spend couple of days before I attend my seminar. I got for the visa, packed my luggage, arrived Cairo's airport, took the flight and "Bienvenue en France"!

I took the metro, followed my host's instructions and here's I'm in her home starting to organize our mutual schedule but it seems that she is working until 6 pm and I have to make it on my own, Why not, It's Paris; my childhood dream!

I took the touristic map and start following the places to visit, I should definitely start with Eiffel tower and Louver Museum. Slept quickly after the 4 hours flight and "Wake up Ahmed"; that was Margeret's voice, my CS host, as she was going to work and she had to give me my spare key to start my tour and come back whenever I want,

I prepared myself and went down wondering in the beautiful streets looking around; and I can't believe my eyes, that's it, Eiffel tower surrounded by couples everywhere!! Nice!

Suddenly and unexpectedly, I discovered that my childhood excitement vanished as I realized that having someone next to you is better than the best place you would ever dream of visiting it one day!