River And Ocean

I studied about oceans at school, but I hadn’t seen one until I moved to the UK with my husband. My first shock was how grey it looked, but of course it’s just the reflection of the typically English grey sky most of the time.

In Egypt, we have the Mediterranean Sea in the north, and the Red Sea is the east. Both are magnificent, with shades of blue and turquoise, sandy beaches, and bustling, beautiful cities. But nothing is totally perfect, because they’re both far too hot.

One of the best memories in my life was when my father held me in his arms and took me far, deep into the sea. My small arms clung tightly to his neck as the sea waves carried us up and down. I closed my eyes and screamed while he laughed at me. He was a great swimmer, the only person I trusted to take me into the big sea.

The River Nile in Egypt in another story, a long beautiful one. There are Nile cruises, restaurants and cafes that light up the nights, and sleep during the day. Yet, my best memories are not from Cario but from the village where my father family used to live in the Upper Egypt. I can still remember the view of the river from the backdoor of the village mosque. The river looked so serene, so elegant, surrounded by green trees, listening to small birds chirping here and there. My father would hold my tiny hands as we climbed down a few steps to the riverbank. There, he let me watch some fishermen at work, and sometimes he would teach me how to hold a fishing rod. The smell of its water and fish was so special, so fresh.

In England, I’ve been fascinated by the tides. I don’t recall noticing this phenomenon in Egypt, perhaps because back then I was so young, and didn’t know much about tides. But in England, it amazed me to see the ocean so far from the shore. It felt extraordinary to walk a mile or two on bare, wet sand, scattered with seaweed and shells, and then find just a few puddles left behind, as the tide remains out, with no sign to return any soon.

Have you heard the saying: Flow like a river, and live like an ocean?

Isn’t it beautiful to let your life flow with the wisdom of the river and live with the ocean’s tides?

In the end, life is both a unique journey with an unexpected adventure.

With hope and peace,

Nahla