The Best of Bad Luck

As days come and go by, people tend to commit to memory those rare moments that are worthy of safekeeping. Those are the moments that we remember; they could be the first times we tried something, the first times we succeeded at something, the happiest or worst moments, or even the few surprises that we’ve had along the way. And when we’re lucky, when we’re really lucky, a single moment could manage to be all of those things. And for me, it wasn’t just a moment, it was an entire day; the first day I spent outside the customary comfort of my country of origin.

Amidst hearty goodbyes and best of wishes, I left Egypt, destination France. My excitement reached an all-time high when the captain ordered us to change the time on our watches, Paris-time baby!

After my friends and I arrived, and as we sped past the airport, I had to stifle a laugh. I had previously marveled at the first thing I’d see of France. I had bet myself that it would be something great, something fascinating, something unexpected. And much to my surprise, the first thing I saw was a cow. She was a delightful, black and white cow, which was, in a way, the most unforgettable and unexpected scene.
The next thing I saw of France was the familiar scene of crude yet artistically rendered graffiti. I smiled once more, for the first two scenes that greeted me in France made me joyfully aware that even though I was a long way from home, I was still surrounded by the familiarity of human nature.
We had only a few days in Paris, and we were confused, I must admit, as to where to start and what to see. Everything seemed equally fascinating and the day was still young. So we asked ourselves one question: what is the one thing you can’t leave without seeing? And the answer came loud and clear: “Euro-Disney.”
And as my childish inner self squealed in delight, we headed over to the subway station to start our journey.

The day turned magical when we finally arrived, and after the customary snapping of pictures at the gate, we raced in.
It was all laughs and giggles from there on out. We met the characters, jumped on the rides, and made lots of amazing memories.

A “Pirates of the Caribbean” themed ride had us in awe, while for me, a picture with prince charming on my right and Donald duck on my left was enough to have me grinning for years to come. I was vividly aware of just how great it was to have started the day in one country amid the familiarity of my daily life, and ended it at Disney.