Goodbye Egypt - moving back home

Dear readers! Who has not heard the news yet... tomorrow I'm moving back to Estonia, for good! It is mainly due to a strong thrive to pursue my international dance career. I have accomplished everything I was looking for in Cairo and am now hoping to find new challenges in Europe and around all other planets of the Solar system ;)

Egypt, Estonia & Kaidi

My friends in Cairo ask, how do I feel? The interesting thing is, the feeling keeps changing.
First there was the euphoria of buying a one-way plane ticket, the happiness and excitement of a plane ticket finalises the moving plan. The week that followed it dawned on me that I will be seeing my friends for the last time. Dancing, talking and joking with them the last time. It was a heavy feeling. The bitter part of bitter-sweet.
The next weeks I started seeing Cairo in new eyes. The eyes of a person leaving. I saw all the good and positives of living in this crazy city. Already I started missing foods, fruits, fresh juices, my corner shop, my vegetable vendor on my street, the street cats, the sunny and sweaty weather ... list goes on.
The very last week is simply busy. Ending work relations, seeing friends for last time, planning my packing, thinking ahead ... this is when it gets scary! There is no turning back, just forward!

Now the last couple of days are the most emotional because I finally realise I will be without my adorable loving husband for a while. Salah has been my partner for last 6 years, my husband for the last 1 year. We are best friends, lovers, partners! He will be joining me in Estonia after he graduates his pre-master degree of Egyptian traditions in Giza Institute of Folklore. He is so close now! And then he will apply for long-distance master degree, again in Egyptian folk and heritage study. These are big steps - becoming an Egyptian folk dance teacher with 3(!) academic dance degrees. I support him in every step of the way, but it does require him to stay a bit longer.
Having my husband by my side every day made me take it for granted. Now realising I will loose my partner for a while is very emotional and somehow affects my own spiritual balance. Thankfully there is Skype :)

With Salah on our 1st wedding anniversary

So here I am ... sitting behind my laptop in Cairo heat and humidity. Listening to quiet sound of my neighbour playing Koran and distant sounds of traffic from Haram street. My bedroom is full of suitcases, lots of clothes on the floor organised to piles "must have", "can survive without" and "halas, too old and ugly". This is my last day in Egypt. I will come back in the future, since Egypt has become my second home, not a holiday home, real home! 6 years here have made me love it and hate it, understand it, also has taught me to accept variety and different thinking, be kind, helpful and share!

Despite the bitter-sweet mixed feelings, I have big confidence my life in Estonia will be a new kind, because I am different, a better and stronger version and I am truly waiting to put this all into practice, into fresh motivating dance work!

 .... to be continued...