An Egyptian Dubber

On the bus the other day, Hibba, a beautiful young woman with long dark hair sat next to me. She told me she was on her way home to Egypt. She is a technician who dubs films for the Egyptian motion picture academy. She was in the Boston area to do some free-lance work and to visit some friends. She endured our cold spring. I told her that we in the U.S. are impressed with the peaceful revolution in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and the events in Libya and Syria.

Hibba gave me her perspective on the peaceful uprising. She is delighted. She said, "I finally feel like an Egyptian. It is our country now. Up until now it was someone else's country." She spoke of the ways in which there was no life or pride for the common citizen. Most times when someone ate something that came in a wrapper, the person would throw the trash on the ground because someone else would pick it up. It was someone else's country, not their own. Egyptians are respectful and clean people. Nowadays, no one will leave any trash around because they take care of their environment and have a sense of belonging to one another.

Hibba said 40 percent of the country (of 84 million) is uneducated and illiterate. When she returns, she will begin one-on-one tutorials with some friends to help them learn to read and write. Many of these types of individual care and concern for one another are happening now.

"We have hope once again," she says. "For many years I have wanted to leave Egypt," she continues, "but now, I want to stay and work in my country. Many people are like me. We want to make a difference. We want our people's voices to matter."

Hibba also spoke of the conflict in Libya, "Qaddafi is crazy," she said. "Everyone knows that. Qaddafi hires mercenaries to fight for him. It is a small country - only 6 million people, but they share our border." She joked about Bahrain, "There are calls for millions of people to come out and protest, but the country only has 500,000 people. Egyptians want to go there to help them get to a million people."

Hibba believes Cairo and Alexandria and other cities can be among the most beautiful in the world. Her favorite city in Europe is Geneva. She thinks Egyptian cities can be as beautiful. Their weather is much better than Europe's.

"Cairo never sleeps. In the U.S., all stores close early. I like waking up at 3 a.m. and going out to eat. You can always get food. The city is silent at this time, and it is so beautiful."

I earnestly hope that Egypt can start anew and find a way to liberate themselves from their oppressive past. Hibba says, "some of the older people are doubtful, but I know it will take time, maybe twenty years or so, but this change is good for us. We are excited about our future."

Our prayers are with you Hibba. We want you to prosper.