A day of badminton

Living in Egypt has been a unique experience, full of moments that challenge me and others that bring unexpected joy.

Today was one of those joyful days, where a simple game of badminton turned into an opportunity to connect with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

It’s Friday, and as my new normal, I headed to my weekly badminton group. This was my fourth time joining the group, and I could feel the difference in my energy and skills compared to the previous weeks.

Today I felt particularly good, maybe because I was in better condition, or perhaps I’m getting better at the game. Either way, I was excited to see what the day had in store.

I think the new people who saw me play for the first time might have thought that I am good at badminton. haha. It’s not entirely true, but it felt good to perform well today.

Meeting new faces and learning more about Egypt

One of the highlights of the day was meeting new people. Emily, a French teacher here in Egypt, shared some surprising things about Egypt’s education system. She told me that many of her students aren’t focused on their studies and simply buy their diplomas instead of earning them. It was shocking to hear.

She also mentioned that her school has some notable students, including the grandsons of Alam Hassan, a huge construction company owner in Egypt. I thought Memaar almorshedy was a huge and reputable construction company, so I asked if the company Alam Hassan owned was even bigger than Memaar almorshedy. They told me that compared to these two companies, Memaar almorshedy is actually very, very small. Interestingly, her husband Omar’s school is attended by the grandsons of Egypt’s president, Sisi.

She has been living in Egypt for 10 years, but she’s now considering moving back to France because of the worsening economic situation here.

Another new face was Shell. She had such a great vibe, friendly, funny, and just easy to get along with. We ended up playing together for quite a while, and it was clear that she and I were much better than the two guys we were playing with.😜 We were playing well enough that we eventually had to mix up the teams to keep things balanced.

I felt a bit bad that I didn’t get the chance to ask the names of the two guys, but it was clear we all had a good time. They joked that it was their first time playing badminton, which surprised both Shell and me because they were quite skilled for beginners. Eventually, I realized they were just joking, so I played along and said it was my first time too. Shell echoed the joke, and it felt like we were all on the same wavelength, sharing a fun, lightheared moment.

There was also another lady named Manar. She’s Egyptian and a complete beginner, it was only her second time playing badminton. She seemed to feel the difference in skill level between us, and I noticed she felt pressured even when we gave her the opportunity to try. Everyone has a starting point, but being the only one falling behind in a group game must have made her uncomfortable, and I completely understand.

Also at the same time, I wanted to play harder, I wanted to run more, jump, and make it more challenging. I think it would be better if we played according to our skill levels. That way, it would be more enjoyable for everyone. On the way back home, Emily mentioned the same thing. But then I realized that if we play by skill levels, it might limit the chances to play with new people, which isn’t ideal either. The more I think about it, it seems like we’re already playing in the best way possible, haha😅

The last new lady, Cat. I am curious if the name ‘Cat’ is common in Scotland since she’s from there. Her name gave me a sense that she has a cat-like vibe. I didn’t get a chance to play badminton with her, so I thought she wasn’t part of our group. but it turns out she was.

When there wasn’t much time left, Osama gathered eight of us to play sitting badminton, and Cat was there too. She was really good at it. I told her she was great at playing while sitting, and she humbly replied that maybe it was because she’s tall.

She also mentioned that I am the first Korean she’s met in Egypt. She studied Chinese in China, but because of Covid19, she had to go back home in 2020 and finished her degree online. It was funny because Osama had spent some time in China as well, and Emily had lived in China 12 years ago. They all started talking about China, and I joked that I could join their conversation because I’m Asian. But right after I said it, I regretted it. When someone greets me with ‘Nihao’ or ‘Konnichiwa’, I can’t help but think they must be poorly educated. But to think that I said something so low myself🥲 I wonder how the people took it.

Things I’ll miss about Egypt

The list of things I’ll miss when I leave Egypt keeps growing. The number of people I’ll miss has also increased. This is why I’m thinking about focusing on Instagram, but it feels like such a hassle and a charge.

After writing this journal yesterday, Osama contacted me today, saying that people had been complimenting me a lot. I’m really going to miss this place. It’s going to be tough, I wish I could visit Egypt often, even if I end up living somewhere else, once I have more money.