"The New Breed Of Men" by Identity Magazine

WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM APRIL 2015 - 15 L.E. VOLUME 10, ISSUE 6

ASSER YASSIN UNCOVERED

20 + cool

FASHION items “We barely hear of a man reaching out to someone to talk about his problems." SEE PAGE 48

the

NEW

BREED OF MEN

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IDENTITY editor’s note

on the cover ACTOR ASSER YASSIN PHOTOGRAPHER BATOOL AL DAAWI COVER DESIGN MOHAMED MAHER

As a feminist, I have so much respect for women, and men as well. In a the spirits of female and male equality, we decided to have a men’s issue and we’re proudly featuring some of the most inspiring men in the Middle East. Remember, feminism isn’t about hating men, it’s about respecting both genders equally.

Rola Kamel

PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR ROLA KAMEL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NAWAL ISMAIL COPY-EDITOR AMINA EL FAYOUMY JUNIOR EDITORS MIRANA TERA, RAGHDA EL-SAYED ON-LINE WRITERS AHMED HICHAM, FERAS ZAIN, MOHAMED GHALLY, HAYA ARAFA, MALAK NAGUIB. ALIA SERRY RELATIONSHIP EXPERT MARWA RAKHA SOCIOLOGY EXPERT MICHAEL RYAN HEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER MOHAMED MAHER JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER ALIA ELABD MARKETING AND ADVERTISING MANAGER RIHAM YEHIA DIGITAL MEDIA SENIOR NOURHAN YEHIA DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST STEVE NABEEL DIGITAL SALES HAZEM SADEK WEBSITE COMPANY QPIX SOLUTIONS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY AL AHRAM PRINTING HOUSE INTERNATIONAL PRINTING HOUSE (IPH) IDENTITY MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTORS ASHRAF FOUAD & ESSAM IBRAHIM Identity Magazine was founded in 2005 by Rola Kamel to enhance every aspect of a woman’s life style helping our female readers to discover and improve their own identities. Published by Beezarre Publishing Ltd. Themistokli Dervi, 6 Papyros Building, 4th Floor, Flat/Office D5 – P.c 1066, Nicosia, Cyprus. The Subscription rate to Identity is 180 L.E. for one year (12 issues) by Al Ahram, Tel: 02-27703190 Contact us at: 26A Montazah St., Zamalek, Cairo-Egypt. Tel: 02-27361187 Mobile: 0122-9401071 email: sendus@identity-mag.com www.identity-mag.com

IDENTITYMAGEG

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IDENTITY contents

IDENTITY way of life

IDENTITY lifestyle

6 STUCK WITH MIXED SIGNALS 8 HOW TO BE AN EYE-FULL FOR

28 SHOES EVERY GUY SHOULD

YOUR WIFE

HAVE

10 CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN FRIENDS & WIFE

12 EAT NOW, REGRET IN BED

14 HOW TO KEEP HER INTERESTED 16 WHY WORKING OUT SHOULD BE A LIFE ROUTINE

26 GET THE LOOK

IDENTITY how you got there

30 ASSER YASSIN UNCOVERED 38 GEORGE KORDAHI... BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER

40 AMRO ELFEKY THE “WEL3A”

TRYING

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46 METROSEXUALITY 48 ITS ALSO HARD ON MEN 50 FIFTEEN NEW DATE IDEAS IN EGYPT

18 START YOUR OWN BUSINESS MAN 20 MOVE OUT, BRO! 42 FROM DISALATA TO TAYARA & 22 STAY COMMITTED TO THE CLAN! EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN 44 BEY2OLLAK NEVER STOP 24 MARRIAGE VS. GAMING 8

IDENTITY perspective

52 THE STRUGGLES OF A SINGLE DAD

IDENTITY bits & pieces

57 SNAPS & LATEST NEWS 64 HOROSCOPES

IDENTITY way of life

Dear Confused Man,

Please do not talk about this again with your best friend, let me tell you why not. Every woman is born with eyes and advanced sensory devices at the back of her head. Such luxuries allow her to unmistakably know when a man likes her more than a friend. She can sense the long gaze even when she is not looking. She can pick up the vibes and literally read your mind. She could know if you are thinking of a family and kids, endless romantic dates, or just sex.

Are you facing some struggles in your relationship? Send us your problem to: sendus@identity-mag.com and our relationship expert, Marwa Rakha, will be happy to help you out!

STUCK WITH MIXED SIGNALS

Dear Marwa, My best friend of 6 years also happens to be the love of my life. I tried to indirectly explore the possibility of our pure friendship turning into a serious romantic relationship but she intentionally ignored my signals and let it all pass by unnoticed. I never tried to talk about it again because I’m too scared of losing her. She’s been giving me mixed signals before and after I brought it up. She’s really wonderful and truly cares for me; what should I do?

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Your friend knows exactly how you feel and she chose not to clearly respond to your advances. This could be interpreted in a variety of ways: 1) She likes you but she does not love you. 2) She is waiting for someone better to come along and you are on standby just in case that someone does not come. 3) She likes you as a person but is not physically attracted to you. 4) She is simply a tease; she enjoys making men fall for her for no obvious reason other than self-entertainment. 5) She could love you but now she is busy doing something else. 6) She wants to keep you as a friend who loves her more than a friend. Because of all those possibilities, you need to relax and enjoy the friendship until she openly shares her feelings, or totally back off if the friendship is causing you pain and unpleasant feelings. If you choose to be a friend, be prepared to listen to a newly found love or stories of heartache over another man. If you choose to back off, please do not rush into any relationship to ease the pain you will go through. Rebounds happen but one should try to prevent them for karma’s sake – what goes around comes around and if you break someone’s heart, someone else will break yours. I would also advise you to refrain from trying to make her feel jealous by pretending that you like someone else because she will know that you are faking this whole scenario. Try not to guilt her into dating you because relationships built on guilt or pity do not last and have a very unpleasant after taste.

My last piece of advice would be to be true to yourself and to listen to your heart; do not torture yourself with whatever choice you make.

Marwa Rakha

RELATIONSHIP EXPERT

IDENTITY way of life

HOW TO BE AN EYE-FULL FOR YOUR WIFE

Most people expect wives to be perfect; they should happily and willingly attend to their house work, husbands and children. Some have the misconception that the husband’s main duty is to financially provide for his family, when it’s never only about that. Here’s how to be a caring husband; trust us it’s much easier than you think. Make her feel that she can count on you If she needs you, you have to be there for her and that goes the other way round too! If you’re married, you need to always be there for your wife, watch her back and be her crying shoulder in times of trouble. support and respect her legitimate dreams Whether your wife is a careeroriented woman or a typical housewife, she needs your support and understanding either way. Don’t belittle her dreams and goals. Lose the attitude If she’s a housewife, she does physically demanding house work to make sure everything is in proper order for you and the kids. She probably waits for you to finally return home from work so she can chitchat, because chances are she misses you. Think of how disappointing it might be for her when you come

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back home with a grumpy attitude instead of a warm smile. On the other hand, if she is a working woman, she probably also has her fair share of stressful work issues but she’s still struggling to somehow figure out the right balance between her house duties and her career. Support her and prioritise her career like you would your own. Break the routine Take her on surprise vacations even if it’s just for a short duration. One can never emphasize enough the therapeutic benefits of getting away, and how positively it can affect both of you. Help her with house chores House work can be a tedious heavy duty sometimes, especially if your wife is a working mom who doesn’t rely on house help. It’s too much to expect her to efficiently multitask and juggle all these things on her own. It wouldn’t make you less of

a man to lend your wife a hand with the dishes or help your children with their homework from time to time. Ditch your play station for her It’s perfectly alright to assign some ‘me’ time for yourself so you can unwind and have fun; however, if it reaches a point when you’re always engaged in activities that don’t involve her, it becomes highly irritating and annoying!! Try putting yourself in her shoes.

Mirana Tera JUNIOR EDITOR

W O R L D W I D E LO C AT I O N S

AFRICA

ASIA

EUROPE

L AT I N A M E R I C A

MIDDLE EAST

NORTH AMERICA

Head for The Beach … it’s closer than you think. Easter and Sham El Nessim at JW Marriott Cairo. At the JW Marriott Cairo, relish our chefs’ unrivalled Sham El Nessim breakfast and lunch buffet specialties in Mirage Café, or outside at the Lake Promenade, where the sun will shine on laughter and games for the children. The Beach is our fun-filled location for the barbecue and shawerma station, with candy, pop corn and more exciting kids’ activities. Let the fresh air and warm breezes whisk you to another world while you stay close to home for the perfect Easter and Sham El Nessim. BOOK YOUR EASTER ESCAPE AT JW MARRIOTT: DELUXE ROOM: LE 2,750 DOUBLE DELUXE POOL SIDE ROOM: LE 3,350 DOUBLE.

* Terms & Conditions: Rates are on Bed & Breakfast basis per one night and a full day use on Sham EL Nessim including services and taxes.

For more information or to make a reservation visit jwmarriottcairo.com or call (202) 2411 5588.

IDENTITY way of life

CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN FRIENDS & PARTNER You’re venturing into a new and exciting relationship; you even suspect she could be ‘ T he One’ Naturally, you are very eager to introduce your sweetheart to your closest buddies. You arrange for them to meet, hoping and praying that they’ll accept each other. That’s when your unforeseen problems arise.

tip

JEALOUSY OF YOUR FEMALE BEST FRIEND Your better half will undoubtedly be jealous if your 1 best friend happens to be a lady. She won’t have the capacity to help but ponder what you might’ve done with her in the past and what may happen later on. Anyhow, this is no motivation to end an incredible friendship. Keep your friendship, yet organize your life; don’t be excessively sensitive with your closest companion and dependably give careful consideration to your sweetheart. Above all, don’t persistently discuss your best friend with your partner.

tip

Getting them to like her Asking your friends to “attempt” to like your wife 2 in a forthright way is presumably the greatest mix-up you could make. Many people have a problem not to do what they are told, especially men. Being one of the breed, I advise you not to open up to her about every secret that you and your buddies have shared. Never commit the sin of revealing things that your group has always considered holy and to be imparted just among the individuals who are viewed as a piece of the center. This could be translated as having wounded the certainty your friends have in you.

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tip

Mixing friends Depending on the personality of your wife, she may try to drag her friends along and force them onto your own group. Although it may seem like a good idea for now, but if you ever lose your lady friend, you’re going to be the biggest loser. Never fall into that trap; always keep her friends separate from yours.

tip

Always make time Set quality time alone with your boys, your lady 4 and yourself. You need to be able to go out and have a good laugh with the lads every once in a while without compromising your wife. Your much needed ‘me’ time is also equally precious.

Feras Zain

ONLINE WRITER

IDENTITY way of life

Eat Now, Regret in Bed? For years, we’ve been reading about aphrodisiacs that arguably boost our sex drive before an important night. What we’re about to discuss here are foods that do quite the opposite: decrease libido, testosterone and sperm count. They might disappoint you, leave you hanging or just turn you off completely. The following is a list of foods to stay away from if you’re planning for a sensual evening:

Sweets

Who doesn’t like and crave sweets from time to time? Well, we hate to be the ones to break this to you, but sweets don’t do your sex life any good. In fact, too much sugar decreases your sex hormones, namely the SHBG protein, causing acne and infertility not to mention insomnia, irritation and headaches. Ever wondered how something so tasteful could have that many negative side effects? Well, now you know what you are NOT buying next time you go grocery shopping!

Coffee

Corn Flakes

Alcohol

As innocent kids, many of us had the traditional cereal bowl for breakfast growing up, not realizing how this might affect our adult sex drive later on. Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (the actual inventor of the cereal) made it to decrease people’s sex drive to combat masturbation. He believed a bland, sugarless, meatless breakfast would be the key to keeping down the urges. Mind blowing, isn’t it?

Dairy Products

Nowadays, cheese, milk and butter are hardly made of 100% natural ingredients, thus they can harm our bodies if we over consume them. They induce toxins that interfere with the production of testosterone and estrogen and might eventually cause sexual (erectile) dysfunction. The sad thing is that what our parents used to force upon us when we were kids is now considered harmful.

Pop Corn

Trying to set the mood for a romantic movie night? What more could you possibly need other than a sweet film, your better half and, of course, popcorn? Perfect, right? NOT SO MUCH, as the inner lining of microwave popcorn bags contain perfluoroalkyl acids, such as PFOA or PFOS, known to lower sperm counts.

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Some people are highly addicted to caffeine and wouldn’t dream of starting off their day before drinking their daily dose of morning coffee. Too much caffeine, however, can cause adrenal fatigue (when your adrenal gland doesn’t produce enough hormones, you can suffer from both decreased sexual desire and energy to perform). If you wish to keep your mojo flowing, try to cut down on caffeine.

You might mistakenly think that wine can arouse you and gear up the mood for a steamy night… NEWSFLASH!! Alcohol acts as depressant that can suppress erectile function.

Fried and Junk Food

What did you think? Of course we were going to ruin that for you too! The hydrogenated fats decrease testosterone levels and can also cause low quality and abnormal sperm production in men. If you guys plan to take your ladies out before a romantic evening, your cheap options are not an option anymore!

What we consume prior to sexual intercourse can have a detrimental effect on how the evening will go. I know some people might actually choose coffee or alcohol over sex any day but others will do anything to improve their performance in bed.

IDENTITY way of life

How To Keep Her Interested Every girl has a way around her; although they are individually unique yet mostly share the same mentality. Flirt FOR KEEPS Flirt, Flirt and FLIRT! Most girls love it when you fool around and sweet talk them especially if you really mean what you say. Be cheesy, be romantic be everything she ever wanted you to be. Show her she means the world to you; that your world literally revolves around her. Surely, you must’ve tried that before, haven’t you? Spend Time With Her I’m pretty sure you have many guy friends who are probably way more fun and less dramatic than your potential partner, but as long as you don’t wish to remain single for the rest of your miserable sorry life, you might consider giving her a little more attention. Share your hobbies together but be careful not to fall into the trap of getting too involved in her feminine world otherwise you might find yourself becoming too familiar with her girly girl stuff… NEWS FLASH: it’s not for guys! SEND HER Cute Messages You can be as adorable as much as you like but don’t go all crazy sending 4 texts a minute and freaking the hell out of her… Too much of anything is just too much.

Make Her Feel At Home Make her feel safe around you. Be entertaining and funny but not too sarcastic; be protective but not narrowminded; be fair and tolerant; girls love guys who treat them as equals. And let her go shopping with your sister or have lunch with your mother and she’s officially yours; congratulations you’re married now! Share Your Problems With Her Girls love to feel they are part of your life; share your problems with her even if you know she probably can’t help you. She will truly know you’re serious about her when you start involving her in your family/work problems. BUY HER Gifts For girls, gifts are indicative of how much you love and appreciate them. During the predating phase, they will wait for any occasion to know how much they really mean to you. Be smart, don’t be too cheap but don’t be too extravagant either… Try to buy or make a personal or a customized gift; she will appreciate how much you went out of your way for her.

If you’re really into her, you’ll make sure to do whatever it takes to keep her by your side and cherish her forever.

Mohamed Ghally ONLINE WRITER 18

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SAY “HELLO” TO SPR I NGTI M E AT THE PAL ACE GARDENS.

B R I N G F A M I LY, F R I E N D S A N D T H E K I D S TO O, F O R F U N A N D ‘ G O O D I E S ’ G A LO R E !

Start with Cairo’s celebrated traditional Sham El Nessim breakfast at Omar’s Cafe or delight in our BBQ brunch at Garden Promenade Café for sizzling grills and Easter specials. For a royal getaway just in the heart of Cairo, go no further than the luxury of our rooms with majestic garden and Nile views. Why travel this year? Your Easter retreat awaits you at the Palace…

CAIRO MARRIOTT HOTEL & OMAR KHAY YAM CASINO 16 SARAY EL GEZIRA ST., PO BOX 33 ZAMALEK, CAIRO 11211, EGYPT. T: 00. 202.27.28.3000 CAIROMARRIOTTHOTEL.COM ARABIC.MARRIOTT.COM

IDENTITY way of life

Why Working out Should be a Life Routine Our bodies are amazing machines. As resilient as they appear to be, they’re actually too fragile to the point that when things go wrong, they don’t just shut down without warning us. Instead, they send us little signals telling us that something is out of order. We should start taking care of our bodies the way they take care of us. Exercising is crucial for our wellbeing; regular workout boosts our immunity system makes us stronger, healthier and even better younger looking!

one Exercise controls weight

You need high levels of physical activity unless you also adjust your diet and reduce your calorie intake. Achieving your healthy weight requires both regular exercise and a healthy diet.

two

Exercise battles illness Exercising improves your blood flow, therefore lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Exercise sends antibodies and white blood cells (the body’s defense cells) through the body at a quicker rate that also trigger the release of hormones that “warn” immune cells of intruding bacteria or viruses. The temporary rise in body temperature may prevent bacterial growth, allowing the body to fight the infection more effectively.– Dr.Barrett B.

“OUR HEALTH IS NOW SUFFERING AS A CONSEQUENCE. THIS IS NO QUICK REMEDY.”

So Why Should We Exercise? People nowadays are less active than ever before, in light of the fact that modern technology has made our lives much simpler; we drive our cars or take public transportation, wash our clothes in automatic washing machines and waste valuable time watching TV or glued to a PC screen. Less and less people are doing manual labour; the majority work for jobs that require minimal physical effort. Work, house tasks, shopping and other fundamental chores are far less physically demanding than before. Exercise is the marvel cure we’ve generally had, yet for a really long time we’ve failed to take our prescribed dosage. Our health is now suffering as a consequence. This is no quick remedy. Whatever your age, there’s solid proof confirming that being physically active can help you lead a healthier and considerably more content life.

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three

Exercise makes you feel better Physical movement invigorates different mind chemicals that make you feel more satisfied and more casual. You might feel better about your overall appearance and yourself in general when you consistently work out boosting your self-esteem and enhancing your self-respect. Try walking, parkour, gymnastics, yoga or running. The rhythm of continuous exercise releases endorphins (The Happiness Hormone!) and encourages reflective thoughts.

four

Exercise fights insomnia According to lead author Kathryn Reid, PhD, of the Department of Neurobiology and Physiology at Northwestern University, “standard physical action can help you nod off speedier and extend your sleep.”

IDENTITY way of life

Start Your Own

Business

The idea must have crossed your mind at least once or twice on a typically ‘boring’ and dull working day at the office. You definitely don’t need to deal with your boss’s anger management issues or put up with his mean condescending demeanour for any longer. You’ve had it; it’s a done deal!! Starting a business is an exciting venture many young people consider and believe is worth taking the risk. Here’s WHY and HOW you should ditch your job and start your own business. Nothing compares to being your own boss or combining your passion and career while making money doing what you really love. Conduct a self-report inventory Your idea may be brilliant, but you, as a person, might not have the necessary qualities to lead and make it work. You may need to carry out a self-evaluation first to see if you’ve got what it really takes to be an entrepreneur. Develop that amazing idea you have After Conducting a full analysis about yourself and you’re now positive that you have the necessary characteristics to be an entrepreneur. You’ll have to develop the idea, consider and analyse the relevant markets, note down your ideas and expand them and carry out competitive analysis. It’s your baby; you should feed it until it’s all grown-up and ready to blossom and reap all the money, effort and time you put into it.

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Write up a business plan It needs to be solid to guide you forward. Your plan should include a mission statement, a company summary, an executive summary, a service or product offerings, target market, financial projections and the cost of the operation. Establish a budget Once you determine your starting capital, you can estimate the cost of developing your product or service and get on with creating a clever marketing plan. Find the right investors if you need any In case you won’t be able to entirely self-finance the project, you would have to take up versatile investors who are equally passionate about your idea or else it’s doomed for failure.. Choose wisely! Look into the future Statistically, 75% of new projects fail within two years. Therefore, you’ll have to apply suitable solutions to adapt to the business growth and cope with new challenges. Prepare yourself for that day you move out of your home and get a real office. Any business should continually adjust to changing economic situations. Fresh deals open doors with a specific end goal to keep growing and flourishing.

Ahmed Hicham ONLINE WRITER

IDENTITY way of life

Move Out

Bro! Unlike many other countries, where young people move out of their parents’ homes by the age of 18, Egyptians can remain trapped in their childhood bedrooms well into their forties if they’re still single!! Only recently, a small percentage of mostly guys have started moving out to experience the downside of growing up! Why should guys move out if they can always have their fathers pay the expensive rent, their mothers cook delightful meals, their maid stake care of their dirty laundry and their younger siblings do their tedious chores?

In any case, it is essential to consider the impact of moving out on your budget, career, independence and maturity levels and how it will all affect your first adventure into the real world. Here are some points to ponderwhile you seriously consider moving out of your folks’ place. Being a grown up The minute you move out, you’re going to have to get used to doing things that you didn’t normally do like laundry, cooking, cleaning, ironing, or general maintenance around the house. Only then you can start understanding some of life’s true hardships. The minute you start to consider moving out of your guardian’s spot is the minute that your life begins as an adult. Essential habits while living solo Cleaning your place consistently, paying bills and lease on time, overseeing and sparing cash, planning and knowing precisely how to spend your cash, staying far from different addictions, figuring out how to listen to your body’s necessities, in the same way as food, sleep, exercise and staying in contact with friends that are near to you. Work You experience being a mature adult for once, work and pay your own bills. You act responsible and become more successful in life.

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“In any case, it is essential to consider the impact of moving out on your budget, career, independence and maturity” Friends Your friends can stay overnight, host movie nights or gaming marathons;invite your girlfriend over for dinner without having to worry about your mother sneaking up on you. Privacy This is the most important reason, it helps clear your mind and avoid the unneeded pressure or disturbance from your parents or younger siblings. You don’t have to report to or take orders from anyone; you’re your own boss. You can return and leave home whenever you want, stay up late or sleep early; eat anything you please even if it’s a family size pizza;setyour own rules, take naps whenever you wish or even sleep butt naked for God’s sake!

Feras Zain

ONLINE WRITER

“always remember to smile”

Dr. Mohamed Emad

Tel: 01110551777 - 01066777295 Address: 123 Hassan El Ma’mon st., in front of El Ahly Sporting Clup, Nasr City, Cairo

IDENTITY lifestyle

Stay Committed to the Clan! Getting married may be about solidifying your association with the love of your life – however, such a gigantic change can create problems in the greater part of your different connections. Life can get awkwardly hectic after marriage; you can get easily distracted with your stressful job, your attentionseeking wife, and your demanding kids amongst other things, so you start losing your lifetime friends along the way. But what can we simply do about it? The following are tips on how to stay connected and not fall out with the lads:

Arrange outings

Play your favourite sport

You call all your high school or college best friends and get together for a fun reunion. Getting to hear from those you haven’t heard from for so long can be great; you’ll share all your experiences and talk about past events, or even go crazy and act like a bunch of 18 year olds again!

Whether its soccer, tennis, squash, basketball or even golf, it will always be fun to get back on the field and laugh at how bad some of you have become. Going all out and scoring lots of goals, tripping while trying to dribble the ball or even just rubbing it in the other team’s face for losing will never get old.

Make time for your friends You got back together with them? Great, now make an effort and start organising frequent guys’ nights out. Go watch a game, talk politics, listen to old songs, do whatever you want, but start doing it.

Form an all-guy band If you’re good at any musical instrument, it may be a great idea to call your friends who also know how to play and start jamming to your favourite songs, maybe learn a different genre and get indulged. Alternatively, try to pick up a new instrument; it’s always great to learn something new.

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Going on a vacation You’re old now; you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. Pack your bags, call your buddies and pick something crazy to do. Whether you go on a safari in Africa or sightseeing in Italy, it will always be a joy to make new memories with your old friends. How about trying something totally new like a cruise? Rent a car and go on your own adventure; driving around the country with your buddies could be a great and memorable experience.

Sticking to one or more of the above routines may hopefully be an efficient way of restoring your past friendships and maintaining the ties with your best comrades.

IDENTITY way of life Even though it’s not officially classified as an addiction, but it most definitely is. By definition, addiction is a strong and harmful need to regularly have something or do something. ’Gaming’ could sometimes be as serious as gambling; in some cases gamers may spend thousands of dollars on games, add-ons, in-game purchases, and, of course, gaming platforms.

Marriage

VS.

Gaming

Whether it’s a simple game like Candy Crush, or a more intense one like World of Warcraft, ‘Gaming’ is sadly becoming increasingly addictive for many people, reducing the quality of human interaction and social skills. The apparent rise of online games is making it much more challenging for hardcore gamers to control their ill addiction. They could play for hours and still find new gaming content, chat with others and have a virtual life in their own gaming platform. Marriage + Gaming= Game Over? Even though women too play games, it’s usually the men who tend to get too hooked leaving their spouses frustrated and hungry for their attention. Wives have to compete with their new found rival if they want to speak and be heard... Their husbands could literally spend most of their time at home stuck to their joysticks and hardly give them the time of day. Can married gamers reach the seemingly unattainable gaming/marriage balance?? Do women have to contend with gaming forever? There are many considerations we need to learn before answering the previous questions. ‘Gaming’ could be one of the earliest addictions humans develop, particularly during the teen and pre-teen years.

The Gamers’ Widows Wives have been struggling with this widespread phenomenon all over the world. A new community for gamers’ wives, called the Gamers’ Widows, has been recently set up. Gamer’s widow is a term used by wives who believe they lost their husband to video games. Surprisingly, there are many online widows support groups where wives discuss the problem, share their stories, give each other coping advice, and support. It goes as far as having a “rehab chat-room” for the husbands. Are you an addict? Going through one of the forums and reading the arguments between wives and their husbands made me understand that most men don’t even realize that their gaming could turn into an addiction. How do you recognize your alarming addiction? If ‘gaming’ is taking a toll over your life making you deliberately miss out on major events so you can stay home glued to your screen; spending too much money on costly games and ignoring your bills and your emotionally deprived wife; you are definitely an addict who needs to seek immediate help! ‘Me’ and ‘You’ time Managing ‘gaming’ and marriage may not be as hard as it seems. You could start off by fixing time for it with your wife. Women automatically get defensive when men start mentioning ‘gaming’, even if they only play once a week. Talk to your wife about the importance of “Me” time for both of you. Even if it’s just a couple of hours every weekend, or maybe an hour every 2 to 3 days. Let her do her own thing; go shopping, meet up with her girlfriends, or pursue a long lost hobby while you get on with your beloved video games. You vs. Your wife The best way to manage the gaming situation is to let your wife in on it. Pick a game she might be interested in to play together, and don’t claim there isn’t one because there are thousands of games to choose from. She doesn’t always have to team up with you, but if you try to let her in on your interests, she’ll feel you really care about her and want her to be part of your life. She might also understand why you really find it so enjoyable, even though she dislikes it.

Raghda El-Sayed JUNIOR EDITOR

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IDENTITY lifestyle Ray-Ban Aviator Shades

Get the Mont Blanc Cufflinks

Nude Blazer - Zara

White ShirtM&S

Suede Shoes Massimo Dutti

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look

Brown Leather Belt - New Look

Beige Trousers H&M

ShirtPolo Ralph Lauren

Watch- Tissot Shoes - ASOS

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IDENTITY lifestyle

Shoes every guy should have Black lace up shoeAldo

Nike gym sneaker

Massimo Dutti Loafers

Converse man

Casual loafers Tods

Massimo Dutti Loafers

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Top man Wingtip shoe

Hewie flip flops

IDENTITY how you got there

ASSER YASSIN

UNCOVERED Recognised for his highly dramatic and sophisticated roles, Asser Yassin has quickly risen as an adored actor and sex icon. Originally a mechanical engineer who had a strong passion for acting, he managed to become one of the most charismatic and talented actors at a remarkably young age. Not only does he combine the smart brains and killer looks, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a loving family man and father to adorable one-year-old Taher.

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IDENTITY how you got there

Why have you been out of sight lately? (before aswar el amar) During shooting ‘Aswar El Qamar’ I was actually doing other things. I’ve shot “Bibo We Besheer”, “El Baltagy”, And “Farsh we Ghata” which was my first co-production as well. I’ve also shot other campaigns mainly for the elections: ‘Go Vote’, ‘No for military trials’, and recently ‘Masr el orayeba’ video clip. Before the revolution I had a plan, I knew what I wanted to do, however, during the time where Egypt was in turmoil, the whole country was affected including the arts and cinema and that affected the general taste. I wanted for example to try out comedy roles but now you have to be bolder, you have to be tackling things in a complete different matter. Starting last year, since we have a proper president and management and a glimpse of stability, people started to take risks and invest again and at the same time during this year I’ve read a lot and tried to experience different aspects of the job; I tried producing and directing short webisodes or web series and writing them and I loved it. Does that mean that you are planning to produce and write? Definitely, I’m also planning to venture in new aspects. I really want to try Camera operating too. I got a new camer- the Sony Alpha 7s,- and im working on a couple of things. So, What are you working on right now? Who are the cast? I’m actually working on several things right now. There are two Ramadan series that I’m working on: El 3ahd ( The Pledge) written by Mohamed Amin Radi, It’s going to be a great dramatic/ political series. Luckily, I have a couple of the best actresses in Egypt; including Ghada Adel, Arwa Gouda, Kinda Aloush, Safwa, Salwa Khattab, Sherin Reda, Saba Mobarak, and very good male actors as well like: Walid Fawaz , Sabry Fawaz, Ahmed Magdy (an upcoming very good talent he acted in Microphone), and Ahmed El Awady. It will be my first historical act- dressed in costumes and everything- it’s talking about something between the 17th and the 18th century, but it’s definitely related to the present. To me it’s about the powerful authority and it’s about the loop that we go on and on all over the eras. So, I’m starting to act with a new technique, and the premise itself of the story puts me in a shell that I haven’t seen myself in before so everything is going to be different, even the script is written in a very delicate and beautifully different way. The second series is ‘Alf Leila we Leila’ (1001 nights) playing a magician role. I’m doing the second 15 episodes. The first part is Amir karara and the second part is going to be me and Nisreen El Tafesh. It has a fantasy historical realm that is irresistible. Besides, I’m also working on a movie called ‘Men Dahr Ragel’ (like father like son). Mahmoud Hemeida is playing my father’s role, and There’s also Yasmin Al-Rayes, Sabry Fawaz and Walid Fawaz and written also by Mohamed Amin Radi. It’s a great bunch of people. It’s an action/drama movie. I’m playing the role of a boxer, I’ve been boxing training for a year now to prepare for it. I think this movie is definitely going to be a classic.

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IDENTITY how you got there

Sounds tempting. Why do we always feel that all of your roles are deep and complicated - Apart of “Bibo we besheer” - Do you specifically pick these kind of roles, Or was it a coincidence? As an artist and as a person I love challenging myself every time; so the more challenging the role, the more I become enthusiastic about it. I think for me acting is about pushing yourself forward and that’s why it has become my passion, my job, and it’s a bliss that my hobby became my profession. Besides, cinema is history, and it builds up the history of the future and I want to be a part of it, so, I have to be very careful and concerned about the present that’s why I’m doing it with my utmost passion, so, forty years from now when I look back I see myself where I wanted to be. Does that mean that you aren’t considering lighter roles? Like comedy for example? I love comedy and I might actually venture again in comedy, there is a script we’re working on with my friend Mohamed Zayed who’s a very good director. Moving on to your personal life, and given that you’re married and you have baby taher now, how do you manage BALANCING between work and family? It’s tough, but I have to make time for it; it’s the base. I’m living in a family house, my parents live in the first floor and my brother is in the second and I’m in the third. The fact that I do a lot of shooting sometimes I tend to lose myself as an artist and as a Pisces - we have the tendency to lose ourselves and we mix reality with imagination, like any other job. Sometimes I need to take a minute and think “ is it the light, the camera and acting and this whole fiction your living, or the reality?”, and my family is the real thing. What kind of advice you’d like to give single men about marriage? It’s only right when it feels right. In my experience,when it comes to work, choosing a friend, even choosing a car, you’re not sure it is the right choice. But when it came to this, I was positive and I felt that god really blessed it. Are you planning to bring Taher other sibilings? I wish. I’d love to have five or six kids. Is your wife a working mum? She studied political science and economics and had her masters done, worked in several NGO’s and big corporates, then she shifted career completely - that’s a common thing between us. She is a fitness instructor and has her own fitness studio and she’s a spinning, pilates and zumba instructor.

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IDENTITY how you got there

“I have to be very careful and concerned about the present, that’s why I’m doing it with my utmost passion. So forty years from now when I look back, I see myself where I wanted to be.”

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tend to lose myself as an artist and as a Pisces - we have the tendency to lose ourselves and we mix reality with imagination...â&#x20AC;? identity-mag.com

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY: DOAA SHAWKY

IDENTITY how you got there

George Kordahi…

Bringing People Together The man behind “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” is now reuniting family members who have fallen out for a reason or another in his new and exclusive OSN show “E l Mosameh Karim”. He brought families together to watch his previous shows and now he’s literally ‘ bringing families together’!! We just had to interview George Kordahi, by far one of the most charismatic and successful TV hosts in the Middle East, and look into season 2 of his latest show and its impact on society.

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You are a Political Science and Law graduate, What made you have a major career shift? After the Lebanese situation got out of control in 1975,I had to leave Lebanon and relocate to France where I switched to the media field and worked at the Radio Monte Carlo Middle East.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY: DOAA SHAWKY

Which dilemma did you find the most poignant in ‘EL Mosame7 karim’ program? Honestly, it’s difficult to try to single out a particular one, because a lot of the stories were extremely remarkable and emotional. What are the guarantees that people you help reconcile will remain on good terms after the program? We have a follow-up team, whose job is to keep tracking the stories, especially the most stirring heart rendering of problems. In the upcoming season, we plan to present some of the old stories and assess their current situation to see if they are still on good terms or not.

“I’m well known for my firm political beliefs which are shared by many”

PHOTOGRAPHED BY: ALI BAHR

Do you choose your guests or do people contact the program directly? Because the show is becoming increasingly popular, people have started coming to us with their cases this season. For the first season, we had representatives in eight different Arab countries who used to do a lot of research before forwarding relevant cases to OSN. It was quite challenging because Arabs have a tendency to be discreet about their problems; they don’t like to disclose information or share their troubles in public. It takes a lot of courage for people to discuss their dilemmas on a TV program. Why did you choose to shoot the program in Egypt? Isn’t Misr “Om El Donia?” Mesh elly bana masr kan fe el asl 7alawani? Have you ever considered being an actor? we think you’d make a very good one especially that you’re charming and very charismatic? Since we started airing ‘Who is the Millionaire’ back in 1999, I was advised by many people to start considering a career in acting; I was offered a lot of scenarios and scripts to read and consider. However, I was convinced that it was a bit too late; I believe actors should start young taking on roles of young men then maturing to take on roles of older characters. Besides, I’m not a very good actor and I can’t face failure especially that I can’t risk jeopardizing my consistent popularity as a TV host. Have you ever considered going into politics since you are originally a political science graduate? I considered it before; I’m well known for my firm political beliefs which are shared by many. I was encouraged to nominate myself for the 2013 Lebanese Legislative elections but it didn’t work out because they were postponed until 2017. For now, I’m just working in the media.

Back to the media, have you considered hosting a political program at some point? May be yes, but not like the political programs we see nowadays. What are your plans for the future? Besides preparing for other seasons of “El Mosame7 Karim”, I’m planning for a huge TV production with OSN, an unparalleled competition show in the Middle East with huge prizes.. The shooting will take place at the Giza Pyramids.

IDENTITY how you got there

Amro Elfeky the “Wel3a” man

If you’re a shishaholic, then you’ve most definitely been to or at least heard of ‘Wel3a’. The infamous shisha place started as a small café in Zamalek, and has now grown to include Club 33, Maadi, and most recently their Smart Village branch. It takes a brilliant mind to turn a shisha place into a unique hangout venue. We just had to speak with Amro Elfeky, the man behind ‘Wel3a’ to find out how it all began and get insider information about business and career start-ups in Egypt. Tell us more about yourself and how you got started: I’m 36, turning 37 soon. I moved from the United States 11 years ago, and studied computer engineering. When I moved here I started working in corporate life for 6 years, then decided to take my entrepreneur jump. What’s special about ‘Wel3a’ and how did you come up with the concept? Wel3a rose from a need. I’m a big fan of Shisha, and always had a problem with quality consistency. There wasn’t a single place that was exclusively known for serving shisha; so we decided to be pioneers and start Wel3a. As a person who’s passionate about shisha, I thought “what would I like to have in a shisha place?” I want a laid back atmosphere; I don’t want it to be pretentious or overly designed. I just want a place where I could have a perfectly prepared shisha around the clock, good service, and leave happy. That’s Wel3a- We’re open 24/7, have great shisha masters, and perfectly trained waiters. You created one of the most reliable Facebook recruitment groups (Doing my part. Post a job, find a job); what made you start it? I started this group during the 25th of January, 2011 revolution. One of the main reasons behind the people’s uprising was their inability to find decent jobs. I knew

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a lot of people who had businesses and couldn’t find competent employees. It made me realize that the problem was not the lack of jobs, but lack of means to find them. So I started the group to do my part in the revolution and become a median for employers and employees. You recently got involved with the application “Otlob Doctor”. What is it and what should we expect from it? ‘Otlob Doctor’ was the brainchild of my brother, Ashraf ElFeky who is actually a doctor. My brothers and I teamed up to make it happen; I handle business development, Tamer handles the marketing, and Ashraf handles the daily operations. The concept behind the application is basically like ‘Otlob’ for food and beverage, but for doctors. A lot of times people get really sick and can’t go get checked by doctors. This application makes it easier for them to get home-checked. There’s also a doctors’ rating system where you’d be able to look for the most qualified trusted doctors. Finally, you could call an ambulance just by clicking on an “emergency button” and getting located through GPS. Finally, what would you tell people who want to start their own business? My advice for people who want to start something new but don’t know where to start: do something about it, that’s the first step. Second step is to ask. You’d be surprised with the amount of people who are willing to help and share their own experience.

From Shisha to Doctors delivery, the man seems to know exactly what he wants and he knows how to get it. He’s planning on expanding his brands, and the future might be more inspiring. Remember, if you want to be like him, you could always find him in Wel3a and ask him for all the advice you need!

h W aT’S ON

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IDENTITY how you got there

FROM DISALATA TO TAYARA & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

Unless you’ve been hibernating for the past few years, you surely must’ve heard of Tayara, formerly known as Disalata. We met with co-founders, Mohamed Bassiouni and Ramez Youssef, host of “Mish Impossible”, and their creative director Alaa ElSheikh, who also hosts their newest show “Scene”. They gave us plenty of insider information about Tayara, what happened with Disalata, and let us in on all the future plans they have for their rising company. First things first, what is Tayara? Mohamed: Tayara is basically a video magazine and an online platform that presents interesting news coming from Cairo in a funny and usually sarcastic way. Besides our own shows, we make viral videos for clients and produce all types of online videos. Ramez: We want to entertain people in a new and creative way. We’re not just looking for profit; we want to inspire people. Tayara is not just a typical production house; we specialize in “positive” videos that we hope would really make a difference.

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What happened to Disalata? Mohamed: We started Disalata 3 years ago and it mainly embraced the same idea, but we needed to expand. Our experience gave us an edge, familiarized us with the dos and don’ts, and helped us understand the audience’s needs more. We realized that we needed more than one platform and each show needed its own identity and strategy. So we decided to re-brand and start Tayara, which is basically a well-rounded version of Disalata with a slightly different strategy.

What’s behind the name? Alaa: By “Tayara” we’re not referring to a plane, but to a kite. Reason behind it is that kites could be made with the simplest tools and materials, yet could still fly really high and rise above the whole world. Ramez: Any kid could make a kite; all they need is ambition and a little knowledge of science. In our case, the science part is the 3 years of experience we gained with Disalata. So it’s metaphorical that the kites keep rising higher with motivation. Who comes up with the ideas for your shows? Do hosts pitch ideas for you? Ramez: Sometimes, we brainstorm ideas for new shows or topics to discuss in shows. We also get ideas for viral videos to produce like “Kashmagy” which was pitched from a fan. Sometimes we meet with people who have creative ideas for shows and try to create something together. Mohamed: When I first started Disalata, Ramez and Alaa were not on board yet, and I used to head-hunt for show hosts. I knew Ramez, who was a great stand-up comedian, and I asked him to start an online show and we came up with “Mish Impossible”. Same with Alaa. He started the show “Mowaten Masry”; I contacted him for show ideas, and he became our creative director and started his own show with us, “Scene”.

What’s the deal with the video “Laffa”? What was it for and did you expect all of this success? Mohamed: I wanted to make a video about Egypt. The political scene was much more stable in Egypt, and tourism was starting to come back, so I wanted to take part and create a promotional video about Egypt. Alaa: I didn’t want it to be another cliché; we needed a video about Egypt that was realistic and creative. The idea of people holding a camera and having a 360 view was going viral; it inspired us for the video. We sent out 5 teams across Egypt for the shooting. Mohamed: We pitched the idea for some clients, including Egypt Air, to sponsor it and they loved it. The video was aired on planes flying around the world; it was a big hit. Ramez: We later found out it was also aired in travel agencies, and at the Egyptian embassy in Washington DC. It won 2 awards in Dubai’s MENA Cristal Festival.

Talking to the young men was absolutely intriguing. They discussed their future plans for Tayara and how they aspire to become the leading online video content providers in Egypt, and the whole Middle East. They’re all really motivated, optimistic and highly inspiring.

“We started Disalata 3 years ago and it mainly embraced the same idea, but we needed to expand. Our experience gave us an edge, familiarized us with the dos and don’ts, and helped us understand the audience’s needs more.” Why did you decide to take it online and not on TV? Any plans for a TV show? Mohamed: Online is better for us because we have no restrictions. We could say what we want, whenever we want. It’s simple as well; no need for special lights or a big production. All we need is a creative idea, and we’re good to go. It gives us more time to focus on ideas and be truly creative. Ramez: The truth is, we started with a simple camera and one laptop and could not afford anything else.

We’ll definitely be seeing more of these guys in the future. The full interview will be posted on our website, stay tuned.

Any new shows to expect soon? Alaa: We do in fact have new shows – my show, called “Scene”, which is basically about choosing famous scenes from international movies and reenacting them in an ‘Egyptianized’ way. There’s also a sports show called “El-Coach” hosted by the infamous Aly Mazhar. Mohamed: There’s also “Ana w Heya”, a lifestyle show, which hasn’t been there for long, but is already a huge success. We have more ideas for new shows, but we won’t be announcing them now. We’ll keep it as a surprise.

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IDENTITY how you got there

BEY2OLLAK

NEVER STOP TRYING

It’s fair to say that Bey2ollak has become by far the most popular phone application in Egypt. Founded in 2010, it developed from a simple traffic announcements application to an integral part of the Egyptian daily commute. Other than the application, their twitter account is also a live feed for the Egyptian streets. We had a chat with one of the main founders, Ali Rafa, to learn more about their company, how they started, and what more they have in store for us. Who are the people behind Bey2ollak? Gamal Sadek and I are the original founders; we’re both computer science graduates - from the Arab Academy for Science Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT) and Ain Shams University respectively. We have tried doing a start-up before but it was a failure. This time we involved Mohamed Rafa, our current CEO - who’s is a bit older and more experienced. He’s also a computer science graduate from The American University in Cairo.. We also approached my brother in law, Yehia Ismail, who was an art director at a creative agency in Bahrain, to be responsible for the identity, the logo and user experience. We needed someone to handle the marketing, and that’s when Mostafa EL Beltagy joined us. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from The American University in Cairo and was working with Vodafone back then. Last but not least, our sales and operations manager, Walid, who actually built the social media for Bey2ollak with Gamal. When did you start implementing it? The idea hit us back in July 2010 but we only started to take it seriously by the end of August. We finally launched Bey2ollak on October 10th, 2010. How did the name come about? Gamal was actually driving back from Sahel to Cairo when he called me at work and kept saying “Folan bey2ollak el

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taree2 kaza, we folan bey2ollak el taree2 kaza.” So, we thought why not name it “Bey2ollak”? Gamal bought the domain name as soon as he arrived to Cairo. How did the process go? After we picked the name, we launched it on Blackberry application, because BBM was very common at the time, also because there was another application, called ‘Circle Tie’, which had spread quite successfully. WHAT HAPPENED DURING the launching DAY? We made a broadcast message with the download link; Mostafa was actually the only one with a Blackberry so he sent out the broadcast to his network. The following day everyone headed to work (Mostafa and I were working in different departments at Vodafone back then), and I kept hearing some colleagues whispering about this new application that tells you about the flow of traffic on different streets. At this time, we had no idea how many users were on the application. We were pleasantly surprised by an e-mail from Vodafone, congratulating us for the amazing application and offering to sponsor Bey2ollak; they had no clue we were Vodafone employees too. Mostafa and I headed to Mohamed Ayouty who sent out the email and revealed our identities as Bey2ollak founders. By the end of the day, there were already 5000 users on Bey2ollak and they kept increasing with every click on the refresh button.

What was the sponsorship like? It was a barter deal in return for marketing deals such as SMS shots, Facebook and Twitter posts and advertisement on Saramdy network (a mobile website). It was a good deal, especially that the presence of Vodafone logo on the app made it more credible. People loved the little details about Bey2ollak; who was the one behind the expressions you used (7alawa, zahma, mashy, mafeesh amal, fa3el kheir)? Yehia was actually the one behind the logo, the language and the best part “bey2ollak esbor shwaya” instead of “Loading” It gives a feeling of ownership to the user. It’s a family business. How does your relationship survive the tough business atmosphere? I think it’s because we know that when we argue it’s usually for the best interest of Bey2ollak; it’s also because each one of us has their own job description. What kind of struggles and challenges did you have to face? At first, we were clueless if people will report or not. Everything was self-funded and we had to refuse some of the ads because we felt they won’t be suitable for the user; we wanted the user to benefit from the ads. That’s when we accepted the Coca Cola ads; it had value, because it was like a quote starting with ‘bey2ollak’. Generating revenues was very hard at first. Most of us were working full time jobs besides Bey2ollak; we were totally swamped. Duplicating the application in other countries was also very challenging, because you needed to identify a marketing gap and customize it based on the country. Finding good caliber is an absolute challenge for most of the entrepreneurs. Presence of interested investors who are willing to take risks in startups is also a hardship; most of them care about a quick return on investment. How do you guarantee that all the inputs and reports of the users are accurate? Till now, it’s still challenging; however, we have several ways that counteracts it. Technically, we have a ranking system for all the users who are classified into old and new, regular and credible or not and accordingly the system neutralizes any errors. Additionally, we have the option that users could report each other by pressing on ‘3eib

keda’ button; if a comment was reported by a number of users it gets automatically deleted, and if a user was reported several times they become blocked. What are some of the awards you won? In 2011, we won the ‘Next Gen.’ competition; it was a one week workshop where top-notch entrepreneurs from Denmark, America and startups from Egypt were followed by an elevated-pitch. There were four winners and we were one of them. The prize was an office in Smart village from 2012 till 2013. We also headed to America where we spent a one week internship in one of the startups that participated in the Next Gen. event. The second prize was in 2012, Google Ebda2. It was a major prize and we won 200,000$. It started with 400 contestants who were eventually narrowed down to only one contestant to win it. And we did. There were several other prizes; the last one was in Dubai last month where we named the most helpful application. What are your plans for the future? In a couple of months, we’re planning to start a global version in Istanbul, with a Turkish look and feel. We’re very excited about it. What advice do you give to starting entrepreneurs? 1- Think out of the box. 2- Don’t let the struggles stop you. 3- Launch as quickly as you can; don’t be meticulous and don’t wait for the perfect conditions. 4- Conduct a market research. 5- Don’t let the money drive you; focus on the business model but don’t expect revenues from the beginning. Try to create something valuable. 6- Always listen to the feedbacks and consider them. Finally, how do you manage to balance between work and family life? When we started Bey2ollak, none of us were committed yet so it wasn’t really a problem. Now, I’m newly married and I try to give my best at the office to make sure I have free time outside of work. I also try to avoid working on weekends as much as possible.

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IDENTITY perspective

Metrosexuality

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magine you are a man who likes to wear pink, watch ballet, wax your eyebrows, cry at movies, and defend women’s rights. You do not, however, for fear of being labeled as feminine. And perhaps you are. Or maybe you are just a metrosexual? The concept of meterosexuality has become an increasingly accepted identity in many parts of the West and the rest of the world. At its base it refers to men who have a desire to take care of their physical appearance, are concerned with lifestyle and fashion, show an increased sensitivity, especially toward women, and who enjoy other attributes stereotypically associated with femininity. In more common vernacular, the term metrosexual has come to refer to a heterosexually identified man who acts in ways stereotypically associated with gay men and/or women.

everyday “masculine” attributes in Egypt are, in fact, “feminine” attributes in the eyes of many Westerners. Thus, what it means to be a metrosexual in Egypt will be very different than what it means to be a metrosexual in France, Canada, or the United States. So what does it mean to be a metrosexual in Egypt? The question is not an easy one to answer. There are no doubt many parallels with what it means to be a metrosexual in many other places – wearing pink, enjoying cooking, getting a facial. But there are also many differences – wearing gold, having your ears pierced, wearing jewelry – all things not necessarily perceived as feminine in many other places. Many Egyptians would perceive many of my students at AUC as metrosexual while they themselves do not. Perception, culture, and context are key to understanding a metrosexual identity. The acceptance of metrosexuality has a number of positive implications for men and women alike. Men could feel less constrained by the strict boundaries of masculinity, being more free to express their own individual identities and preferences without fear of social reprisal. Women would benefit from a loosening of their

“what it means to be a metrosexual in Egypt will be very different than what it means to be a metrosexual in France, Canada, or the United States.” The origin of meterosexuality can be traced to a variety of factors but perhaps most important among them is the desire of heterosexual men to be able to take care of themselves, be sensitive, and to feel less constrained by the rigors of masculinity without being perceived as gay. Despite being heavily rooted in stereotypes – not all straight men act masculine and not all gay men act feminine – the idea of meterosexuality has also succeeded, at least to a certain extent, in lessening the use of stereotypes to determine sexuality. As it has become increasingly socially acceptable for a straight man to “act gay”, what it means to “act gay” or to “act straight” has lost a lot of meaning. By bridging stereotypes, it has, in many ways, helped to lessen them. As gender and sexuality are socially constructed, meaning that what it means to be masculine and feminine is different from place to place, from one historical moment to another, and from one social group to another, it is difficult to pin down exactly what being a metrosexual means in different contexts. In other words, it is difficult to exactly identify what it means to be masculine or feminine on a global level and so an identity that purports to transgress those identities is even more difficult to etch in stone. For example, many in the West already perceive many Egyptian men as feminine. The style of dress, the haircuts, the mannerisms, kissing on the cheek when greeting, waiting until marriage for sex, and many other

own strictly enforced social roles and by the increased ability of men to express sensitivity and decreased pressure on men to express their masculinity through the domination of women. Stereotypes of both masculinity and femininity could be reduced paving the way for greater acceptance of everyone regardless of gender expression or sexual identity. Society would win. In the end, metrosexuality does not so much represent a new form of masculinity as it does another change in the constantly evolving state of what it means to be masculine at all. Ideas of gender are constantly changing and, in recent years, in the direction of greater gender convergence. That is, the boundaries between masculinity and femininity are becoming increasingly blurred. Many see this as a positive thing as it also means that gender inequality and oppression are also being reduced. In the end, if men and women are to be considered equals then masculinity and femininity must also be considered equals, regardless of which sex is expressing them.

Dr. Michael Ryan

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY (THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO)

IDENTITY perspective

itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also hard on men

Many women are guilty of victimizing themselves thinking life is treating them unfairly and challenging men to dare to live in their shoes for even one day. They sometimes despise, envy, or even hate, men because they believe the lads have it so much easier. Women, however, barely take a moment to slow down and think of how hard life can be for men. True, we live in a patriarchal society; yes, they have more rights, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to deal with painful mood swinging monthly periods, going through labor and giving birth, getting verbally or physically harassed on a daily basis, and all the rest of the agonizing issues we have to face, but they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have everything served to them on a silver platter either.

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Most of the problems between men and women are the result of the mutual lack of respect of each other’s problems. Women are more outspoken about their issues and communicate them more freely, because it’s socially accepted. We barely hear of a man reaching out to someone to talk about his problems. That’s the first dilemma they face.

Let’s take a look at some of the aspects of life that men have to struggle with: They’re The Strong Ones Men find it much harder than women to express their emotions. Women tend to automatically assume that’s the result of them not having any. That’s definitely not the case. It’s culturally unacceptable for men to break down and “cry like a woman” or show any feelings. They become stereotyped as less manly sissies and lose their respect. They’re also expected to be the rocks, back-bones and crying shoulders for their families and friends. If something should go wrong, they have to stay strong; they don’t have the luxury of breaking down or collapsing. Even in tragic situations, like the death of loved ones, society still expects them to pull themselves together and “manup”. The Providers: It’s more difficult for men to find their direction in life and pursue their dreams. As soon as they graduate from college, they’re expected to work, save up for marriage’s costly expenses and provide for their families. Of course, there are some lucky men who manage to pinpoint their passions and follow their dreams, but most probably they’ve had to hit rock bottom multiple times before getting there. Mama’s Boys: There’s absolutely nothing shameful about loving your parents and cherishing your mum. If a man turns to his mother for advice, he’ll be labelled a ‘mama’s boy’. It’s, however, totally acceptable for women to do the same. Their Looks: Women are strongly affected by how the media portrays them. News flash: men are too! They too are expected to be fit and look good all-the-time. Believe it or not, they have to struggle more with their overall appearance. Unlike men, women have many wardrobe options. It’s not the end of the world if men wear the same outfit twice, but it’s hard enough to find something to wear even once. Conversely, men’s grooming habits could be perceived by some as feminine making its enthusiast ‘less of a man’. Men should be able to look and feel good about themselves without being judged or intimidated.

Career Choices: If they are not doctors or engineers, they are stereotypically perceived as major disappointments and total flops; while career switches are damn near impossible. They don’t have the luxury of having a major career shift, because, as mentioned above, they are expected to provide for the family right upon graduation. Marriage: Marriage is a very materialistically draining process for men, particularly in our society. They’re expected to have a handsome bank account, a decent apartment, a stable job, good education, and a reputable social background. It became really hard for young men to get married if they don’t already come from wealthy families. Let’s not forget to mention that if his parents offered to help out with the marriage expenses, he could be considered a spoilt dependent immature brat. The Army: AKA, hell for men. Don’t get me wrong; I’m all up for the army and men serving their country but the process here in Egypt can be a tedious waste of life. If it were a matter of choice, men would be more dedicated and willing to adjust their lives to it. Instead, men are forced to join the army and put their adult lives on hold for at least 2 years without their consent. They are not allowed to travel or work and most importantly, miss out on a possible head start in life. All that Jazz: Let’s not forget dealing with female drama, being forced to take a punch for their friends, and most importantly, not having a guys’ night at clubs, because in most clubs, if not all, men can’t get in without a date. Sexism: As a hardcore feminist, I always have to reinforce that sexism does not just apply to women. Many of the judgments placed above are based on sexism. Sexism affects men and women alike. Everyone should be able to live their lives whichever way they choose.

Raghda El-Sayed JUNIOR EDITOR

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IDENTITY perspective

Fifteen New Date Ideas in EGYPT

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The idea of a date in Egypt is usually synonymous with going to a restaurant or a café, catching a movie, and that’s probably about it really. Trying to come up with an interesting idea for a date is often a struggle. Couples always have the “we should do something new” conversation before every date, then end up at the same old place. We barely do anything spontaneously; dates have become more like a regular boring routine. When all else fails, we google “new date ideas”, only to realize that none of the entries listed are actually available in Egypt. Truth is, there’s more to dating than restaurants in Egypt.

1. A day at the beach: Ain-Sokhna is a little over

an hour away from Cairo. Why not take your car for a pleasant drive, borrow or rent a place if you don’t already own one, and spend a glorious day at the beach? If you’re not swimmers, you could just enjoy the view and each other’s company.

. Stargaze: Pick a non-polluted spot and go stargazing for a change. You could look out for the schedule of meteor showers online and plan for a romantic evening to watch it. Even if you didn’t manage to see anything, it’s still a fun experience that both of you would remember.

3. Visit Art-gallery: Appreciating art is a matter

of taste; chances are you’ll find out more about each other’s personalities through art analysis. If you both favour the same pieces, your characters probably match. If you’re not really into art, it would still be cute to admit it to each other and have a good laugh about it.

. Cycling: Cycling is becoming a popular activity now in Egypt, and I’m really glad it is. It’s not just good exercise; it’s also so much fun. There are many rental places around Cairo, if you don’t own a bike. You could roam around Zamalek or Maadi together.

5. Dance: With the rise of Zumba and similar dance classes, you could easily take your date for a dancing class. You could go once for a trial, or even take on a full course and learn some new moves.

the adorable animals. Maybe visit kids with cancer; you’ll get a lot of satisfaction from putting a smile on the children’s faces. There are endless volunteering ideas that could be both fun and rewarding for you as a couple.

10.

Play a real life game: You could build a kite, play people-bingo in a busy street, maybe set up a scavenger hunt or even play a board game in a café. FYI, there are plenty of interesting games to play other than video games.

11.

Something you both hate: Hate palm reading? Go get your palms read. Hate getting pictured? Go get a cheesy Kodak photo shoot. Nothing is as fun as enjoying something you both truly hate. You laugh at yourself doing it, you telepathically make fun of your surroundings, and it later becomes an inside joke. Who knows? You might end up liking it too.

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Go to the opera: This place is extremely underrated. There are new acts and performances almost everyday, featuring international artists and performers. Why not act classy and suite up for a day at the opera? Get cultured and enjoy the art.

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Felucca day: Feluccas aren’t just about Shaabi music and extreme lightings that can give us seizures. It could actually be quite romantic. Make sure you go before dark so you’d avoid the dizzying lighting fixtures, and either get your own music or ask them not to play anything. It’ll be enjoyable.

14. Go to a theme park: Admit it; you like acting 6. Barbeque day: You could go to an open area, like like a 5 year old and screaming your lungs out on a

Wadi Degla Protectorate, for example, and have a mini barbeque. Prepare your own food, get your drinks and enjoy a private dreamy night in the desert.

Become Tourists: Egypt is full of interesting touristic sites; sadly most of us haven’t seen even half of them. Tourists from around the world pay thousands of Dollars and cross seas to come visit our country; all you need is a 15 minute drive around town to guarantee a culturally enriching experience. It’s definitely worth it!

Bowling: Bowling is one of the most underrated activates around. It’s a fun way of getting competitive with your partner. There’s plenty of bowling alleys in Egypt as well, so it won’t be a struggle to find any.

Volunteer: I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s a great date idea to give back to the community together. Why not help for a day at an animal shelter? You could make a difference and have fun playing with

wild roller coaster – we all do! No matter how serious or sophisticated you’d like to pretend to be, you’ll still enjoy riding on roller coaster!

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Horseback riding: It’s a great sport, but you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy it. There are many places in Cairo where you can go horseback riding, especially around the Giza Pyramids area. Try riding during the sunset for an extra special experience.

There are plenty more things you could do together. Be spontaneous and have fun with your partner. Don’t turn into an old married couple, even if you’re an old married couple. Remember that monotony is the number one killer for any relationship. When everyday is the same old routine, your partner might be compelled to look for entertainment elsewhere. Don’t let that happen. Make every day count; make everyday a new experience.

Raghda El-Sayed JUNIOR EDITOR

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IDENTITY perspective

The Struggles of a Single Dad

eing a parent is one of the toughest yet most rewarding jobs in the world; it’s almost like having to confront a daily struggle for the rest of your life. It’s even more challenging for single parents who basically need to put on their super heroes capes to be able to do it all on their own! In a functional family of two loving and supporting parents, responsibilities can be divided and shared, allowing for occasional breaks for each party. Whether the reasons behind your current single status is due to a friendly or unfriendly divorce or the tragic passing of your spouse and mother of your children, the situation is always complicated and requires major life adjustments that you’re not always ready for or looking forward to. If you’re divorced and share custody of the kids, it means you have to co-parent with your ex-wife. If the kids reside with her, you have to suffer the consequences of living away from your kids and missing out on the important milestones in their lives. If your wife passed away, you’re left with the emotional void, sorrow and tremendous grief that you and the kids have to deal with together; you’re still, however, expected to be “strong” for the kids. Whatever your situation, it’s never a piece of cake.

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The following is an account of a very courageous father who found himself solely responsible for the up-bringing of his children after the sudden and heartbreaking passing of his beloved young wife. I lost my wife shortly after she gave birth to our second son, and I was left with a 3 year old girl and a newly born baby boy. I found myself having to deal with my own grief while still looking after two kids who became orphans overnight. I had been quite domestic before and often helped around the house but always under my wife’s guidance. I realized I had no idea what’s happening in my life and I was clueless about what to do and where to start. How am I going to commit to work, and still take care of my 2 children? Am I good enough to replace their mother? I was scared and I did not have the luxury of time to think things over; I had to act fast. While single mums almost always get the much-needed support from other mothers, single dads don’t. For instance, when you attend your child’s parents’ meeting at school, you’re usually not very well informed or on top of things regarding your child’s academic performance and behaviour. No one really volunteers to give you the sound advice you’re so desperate to hear. Mothers of other kids in your child’s class will be organizing activities and fun events which your kids are always excluded of because you’re the primary care taker and you happen to be a man. I never get invited or even approached by other parents; it makes me and the kids feel bad and left out. Young children don’t understand the situation; they take things personally. They believe it’s because other kids don’t like them, not because society doesn’t accept single dads being around other women.

One of the most difficult yet exciting phases I’m expecting to have to deal with is my daughter’s adolescence. I know she will hit puberty before I know it and we will need to have that “talk” sooner than I think. I’m not sure I’m the best source of advice when it comes to all the girly girl stuff like female puberty, sex education, and all these sensitive issues. Young women usually prefer to discuss such private matters with their moms without any restraints or inhibitions. I will always try to be her friend and confidant and she can always come to me for love advice and tell me about her secret crushes; I hope to live up to her expectations. The question is, will she turn to me for advice?! . Being a single dad doesn’t just affect the kids and my bond with them, it also affects the stability of my career and my performance at work. Any parent would naturally get distracted by their child’s problems at the office, but they know they can rely on their partners’ help. I don’t, and I have to handle the stress all by myself. Not to mention that I can’t stay after hours and achieve equal output to my colleagues because I always have to get back home before they do, yet I’m still expected to perform and shine at work and be the primary financial provider for the family.

There are also some personal struggles: I hardly have time for myself or my forgotten hobbies, going out for a change, or even meeting new women. If I do, however, meet someone, it’s extremely difficult to make things work out because there are too many factors to take into consideration. First thing I think of is, will my kids like her? Will she agree to not having kids of her own if she likes children, will she mind if the kids occasionally mention their mum? Sadly, I know I will never be able to give her my total undivided attention. All in all, whatever happens, there will still be the guilt infliction of bringing a potential “step-mum” for my kids. That being said, I’m very grateful for my kids. There’s nothing more satisfying than waking up to their beautiful faces and there’s never a better motivation. I wish their mother was still around, but I know that everything happens for a reason. All I could do is work harder on being the best father and mother I could be for my kids. I wish we’d have support groups for single parents in the country. I wish schools give support to single dads as much as they give single mums. Finally, I wish my kids would be proud of my parenting when they’re old.

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IDENTITY perspective

THE WAIT IS OVER! UPPER DECK LOUNGE JOINS CAIRO’S SKYLINE AT FOUR SEASONS CAIRO AT NILE PLAZA UPPER DECK LOUNGE, CAIRO’S NEW HEAVENLY RESTAURANT!

Upper Deck Lounge, the new lounge at Four Season’s Hotel at Nile Plaza’s rooftop, will certainly be you new home away from home. With an astonishing view of the inland oasis surrounding the pool area, it’s set up with an incredible cozy and home-like furniture, as well as a state of the art large Television, along with amazing paintings with hand crafted sculptures that provide a refined taste of art work that enriches the overall lounge and creating a gallery like experience. The menu offers a handpicked selection of International Tapas that fulfill an array of tastes, offering a wide range of appetizing delicacies and a completely revamped Sushi & Sashimi selection, complemented with a mouth watering variety of Desserts for an incomparable gastronomic experience. An array of specially blended cocktails and refreshing mixes, all complimenting the ingenious setting. With an extraordinary artsy ambience, melody tunes, delectable menu and refreshing cocktails, Upper Deck Lounge offers a relaxing extraordinary experience for a friendly gathering or a business day out.

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TIME ADDS RED SEA RESORT TO REGIONAL PORTFOLIO Management contract for luxury property and residence in master planned Sahl Hasheesh resort development near Hurghada brings UAE hospitality group closer to 2016 goal of 11 properties

UAE-headquartered hospitality company, TIME Hotels Management, is continuing its impressive programme of regional expansion, having been awarded the management contract for a luxury property, located 14 kilometres south of Hurghada International Airport, in the up market development of Sahl Haseesh, on the Egypt’s Red Sea coast. The low-rise landscaped hotel, which will open under the TIME Hotels banner later this year in November, offers a total of 87 guest rooms and 110 suites, all of which have panoramic sea views, with the residences comprising a collection of 287 one, two and threebedroom luxurious homes. Resort facilities include an All Day Dining and signature restaurant serving traditional and Italian cuisine, a total of six swimming pools including a children’s pool and playgrounds, a full service spa, state-of-theart gymnasium, five tanning terraces, a lounge and reading room, a club house and a kids’ club. For more information, please log onto http://www.timehotels.ae/

IDENTITY bits & pieces

SPEND YOUR EASTER AT... PALATIAL EASTER, CHILL OUT AT THE CAIRO MARRIOTT

Enjoy the sun and perfect weather of Sham El Nessim with your friends, family and kids too with exceptional royal indulgence. Go for the splendid Sham El Nessim breakfast at Omar’s café or experience our special BBQ brunch with its sizzling grills and Easter specialties at the Garden Promenade Café. For Easter goodies and chocolate bunnies for the kids, the Bakery is the place you shouldn’t miss. If you choose an escape not far from home, the Cairo Marriott is waiting to welcome you with an extravagant room experience with balconies offering stunning views on the historical gardens and palm trees or the serene river Nile.

TO ALL MOMS WITH LOVE…at Ramses Hilton

“MOMS eat free when dining with her family” Celebrate Mother’s day at the best possible way at the Maharaja Restaurant on 21 of March, Where all moms eat free when dining with her family. Don’t forget to ask about our special accommodation package tailored only for this occasion, also a special Mothers Day cake created by our Executive Pastry Chef Abdel Aziz, available at the Garden Court Café.

Sham El Nessim the Dusit Way

Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo delivers an enchanting line-up of festivities and goodies to delight guests and give them a truly memorable and authentic Experience. Celebrate an ultimate Easter and Sham El Nessim and enjoy great food, heart- warming Thai hospitality and World Class facilities with your whole family. With live entertainment, fabulous kids’ activities, crafts, sports, games, and competitions, your little ones are sure to enjoy the festive atmosphere while you unwind and feel the warm breezes of springtime. Head over to the Dusit, there’s fun in every corner. Easter Family Fun with Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence

Celebrate spring with family and friends and experience Sham El Nessim in Cairo at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence. Family fun, open air, great food awaits for a truly ShamEl Nessim dining experience in Cairo. Cairo’s favorite poolside dining space is nothing short of sensational this Sham El Nessim. Aura restaurant presents both indoor and outdoor seating options overlooking the pool and is offering a buffet packed with flavorsome dishes with Egyptian local favorites and a range of Lebanese grilled specialties, mezze, salads, and Oriental desserts. Four Seasons younger guests are in for a real treat with their very own buffet! Invite friends and family and enjoy the beats of the resident DJ, pool vistas, the poolside cabanas and enjoy the numerous Easter kid’s activities including a magic show, face painting and an art workshop. SPRING FESTIVAL GETAWAY AT SOFITEL CAIRO EL GEZIRAH

For an Easter to remember with family and friends, don’t miss our exclusive room package and spend an unforgettable night. For an exceptional dining experience, Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah offers the finest culinary delights with our special Easter mouthwatering specialties at La Palmeraie on the spectacular Nile. For Oriental cuisine lovers, Kebabgy’s traditional BBQ set menu and the special baked a la minute bread is a must try. For more fun for the kids, spend the day in the open-air overlooking the Nile and enjoy our special buffet for adults and children. Indulge in a gourmet Easter buffet and enjoy a bountiful Monday brunch at SUD restaurant, featuring Easter specialties with multi colors seasonal decoration and live entertainment. Let the kids enjoy the fun corner including coloring eggs corner, coloring books, toys, clown, face painting and more surprises!

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Eggs-tra special Easter party at Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh

With Easter celebrations in full swing, the Red Sea resort is offering festive themes and great ambiance, culminating in special events for Easter where the whole family is invited. Easter inspired parties include children’s activities, buffet selection and plenty of live entertainment. Celebrations continue with a fabulous family lawn Easter party, egg hunt, live shows and Camel riding on the scenic Reef Lawn. Easter party will be held On April 6th with a Family Party at the reef lawn where your taste buds will be entertained with the variety of food shacks

Easter is different in Sheraton Miramar EL Gouna

Guests looking for the perfect break that will give them and their families a quiet escape, as well as the fun, the sun, the freshness and perfect weather of Easter and Sham El Nessim. This hotel is for families who want safe water for the little ones to play in and a nice friendly beach where they can all relax and soak away the stress of “the real world ” under the warm sun. You will find that it is also attracts a wide range of older couple as well. Hotel offers delicious Easter breakfast buffet, Easter seafood BBQ with live band , special shrimps menu with antipasti buffet and dessert buffet for lunch.

At Holiday Inn Cairo Maadi, Sham El-Nessim is fun for the whole family

Celebrate Sham El-Nessim by the Pool & enjoy our lavish brunch buffet overlooking the majestic Nile with DJ, kids activities and live band for only 297 EGP per person all inclusive of taxes and service charges. Also, get the chance and discover our festive Easter accommodation packages starts from 790 EGP per night including Sham El Nessim brunch. To book call 25260601/2

A Sunny Easter Escape at Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay

Treat yourself this Easter with booking our special Easter package complete with remarkable fine dining experiences and exciting daily live entertainment at the Sultan Bar. The following morning, enjoy our signature Kempinski breakfast in the stunning winter sun. The package is valid for stays from 25/03/2015 until 18/04/2015.

Celebrate Sham El Neseem At Hilton Zamalek

Keep your whole family entertained and celebrate this occasion by the Nile. Enjoy our flavorful Sham El Nesseem breakfast and lunch for only LE 350 in a festive buffet spread, interact and sing with our duet singers and DJ, join in with various activities for the children. Continue your celebration with our fantastic 2 bedroom Nile suite at only LE 2000 per night including buffet breakfast for four persons. For reservations please call: 27370055 Sham El Nessim Offerings at Renaissance Cairo

Photo Credit: Sonesta Hotel Easter is made special at Sonesta Hotel, Tower & Casino -Cairo

Staying in Cairo during Easter is different with Sonesta. Get together with your family, friends and the little ones for an inspiring sham el Nessem day around the pool while enjoying the fresh air, sunlight, delectable breakfast and brunch buffets with live entertainment , exciting kids’ activities and kids’ special buffet. For a splendid Easter Getaway, book our “Family Accommodation Package” for only LE 600 per person in a double room including special Easter buffet breakfast and Easter Brunch by the pool with live entertainment, special kids’ activities and late check-out till 6:00 pm. For reservations or more information please call 2264.1111 ext. 255-254. Sonesta .com

RENAISSANCE ROOM PACKAGE Deluxe Room: LE 1,750 Double Club/Garden View Room: LE 2,000 Double Family Room: LE 2,300 Double * Terms & Conditions: The above rates are on a bed and breakfast basis, inclusive of one night and a full day use on Sham ElNessim. Check-in date: Sunday, April 12th, 2015 Check-in time: 3:00 pm. Check-out time: 7:00 pm. Children: Rate includes breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children 12 years and under. RENAISSANCE CAIRO DINING CITRON: Celebrate Sham El Nessim with the whole family on a one of a kind breakfast or lunch buffet with refined delicacies from salty fish and chocolate Sham El Nessim bunnies along with delectable dishes. SOL POOL BAR: Tempt your appetite with a sumptuous lunch with your nearest and dearest. Get into the holiday vibe with some fun kids’ activities down by the pool area.

Special Easter Celebrations at Sheraton Montazah Hotel

Sham El Nessim Offerings at JW Marriott

Deluxe Room: LE 2,750 Double Deluxe Pool Side Room: LE 3,350 Double Celebrate Sham El-Nessim by the Pool & enjoy our lavish JW MARRIOTT CAIRO DINING MIRAGE brunch buffet overlooking the CAFÉ: Gather the family and celebrate this Sham El Nessim with an upgraded majestic Nile with DJ, kids breakfast or lunch buffet. activities and live band for THE BEACH: Savor an enticing a la only 297 EGP per person all inclusive of taxes and service carte and barbeque menu in additional charges. Also, get the chance to our favored Shawerma station and enjoy a special day out by the beach! and discover our festive Kids will enjoy many special activities Easter accommodation THE LAKE PROMENADE: Enjoy a packages. starts from 790 EGP per night including Sham beautiful Sham El Nessim breakfast or lunch buffet with various kids’ activities El Nessim brunch. To book and your favorite shisha flavor. call 25260601/2

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IDENTITY bits & pieces

FASHION FUNDS The city’s finest fashionistas, and more than a sprinkling of social butterflies, descended upon Eat & Barrel for Fashion Funds by Fashion Garage. The cutting-edge concept - by mummy-preneur Heba Serag Eldin - featured cute-as-can-be stalls by Cairo’s coolest designers; including Zaam, Norine farah. It also featured some high end stores; including The dressing room, Villa baboushka and Temple Tramp london. Exclusive trunk show modelled by an array of high-profile and Beautiful bloggers. Of course lots of yummy bites were included too. We’re already looking forward to the next event! Photo Credits: Cairo Zoom

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EXPERIENCE A WELCOME FIT FOR ROYALTY The Grand Rotana Resort & Spa invites you to holiday in Regal Style in Egypt – recently visited by 6 country delegations including 2 Head of states. A significant milestone at the Grand Rotana Resort & Spa - Sharm El Sheikh prevailed, since it has been selected recently to host more than 6 countries’ delegations within the Economic summit in Sharm El Sheikh. 2 Head of States and a large number of Prime Ministers as well as Ministers of Foreign Affairs & Economic were hosted at the Grand Rotana Resort & Spa - Sharm El Sheikh and enjoyed their stay at the luxurious Royal Villas and Suites, where extreme privacy was provided.

Reserved Hosts First Style Days Event at Cairo Festival City Reserved, everyone’s favorite one-stop-shop for all things stylish, organized special Styling Days event with well-known fashion bloggers at its flagship store in Cairo Festival City from March 5-7. During the three-day celebration of style, all Reserved customers had exclusive access to the Stylist Zone inside the store where fashion bloggers. Adding even more fun to the fashion festivities, innovative Reserved Styling Days booths were located in the village area of Cairo Festival City Mall. On the 6ths of March, members of the Egyptian media were also invited for an exclusive tour of the store.

Always committed to a better community As part of Marriott international initiatives known as the spirit to serve the community, the Cairo Marriott Hotel partnered with the downtown cotemporary festival (D-CAF) and the Egyptian Society for Women’s Imaging & Health Care (ESWIH). It is for the 3rd year in a row that the Cairo Marriott is supporting The Downtown contemporary arts festival – also known as D-CAF, which is Egypt’s only international multi-disciplinary contemporary arts festival that takes place at multiple sites in Downtown Cairo. This year the festival is taking place from the 19th of March till the 9th of April. One of the main aims of D-CAF is the revival and reclamation of Downtown Cairo. D-CAF is comprised into six strands, Performing Arts, Music, Film, Visual Arts, Urban Visions, and special events. As for the Egyptian Society of Women’s Imaging & Healthcare (ESWIH), their program “Amaal” is aimed to raise funds for women who were subject to violence that led to serious injuries and damages physically and psychologically. The event included Zumba trainers to teach the 700 female attendees with Zumba and belly dancing moves at the Aida Ballroom of the Cairo Marriott. Dr. Nuran Hussein, the Breast Imaging Consultant and founder of ESWIH, stated the objective of the initiative, which is to raise awareness and unite hands to support the girls with medical and psychological means to help them gain back their confidence and restart their lives. They also raised awareness for the importance of early breast cancer detection, and general health and nutrition awareness for a women’s wellbeing.

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IDENTITY bits & pieces MOTHER’S DAY CARNIVAL AT BARON MALL

The Baron Mall hosted a mother’s day carnival on Friday March 20th. The event was full of things to do: Tanoura show, kids’ competition and a shopping bazaar.

REAFFIRMING FULL CONFIDENCE IN EGYPTIAN ECONOMY & CONVEYING POSITIVE SIGNALS TO FOREIGN INVESTORS AHEAD OF EGYPT ECONOMIC SUMMIT

AbrajMisr to invest L.E 4.5bn in ‘The Gate’, first-of-its-kind Smart Eco-Friendly Landmark Project in Egypt. The 35,000m2 multi-use Complex in the heart of Cairo is anticipating the creation of thousands of job opportunities

A CONTINUOUS JOURNEY OF PARTNERSHIP

As part of its continuous support of 57357 Children Cancer Hospital, the Cairo Marriott Hotel participated in 57357 Children Cancer Hospital Forum. The forum is designed to highlight the role of businessmen, big companies and enterprises to support civil society projects. The event was held at the hospital headquarters and was attended by Dr. Ghada Wali, Minister of Social Solidarity and top management of reputable organizations and banks. HAITHAM NASSAR PROMOTED TO CLUSTER GENERAL MANAGER RAMSES HILTON & HILTON WORLD TRADE CENTER HOTEL CAIRO

CITYSTARS PROPERTIES SIGNS FIVE HOTEL MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS WITH FAIRMONT RAFFLES HOTELS INTERNATIONAL (FRHI)

Including a hotel branded residential apartments for sale with full hotel services Announcement was made during the recently held Egypt Economic Development Conference taking place in Sharm El Sheikh from March 13th to 15th 2015 under the heading (Egypt the Future).

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In consideration of his efforts and great achievements Christian Muhr Vice President of Operations Hilton Worldwide Egypt and Levant has announced the promotion of Haitham Nassar/ Cluster General Manager Ramses Hilton & Hilton World Trade Centre Hotel Cairo Haitham Nassar was awarded General Manger of the year award for Hilton Egypt for two consecutive years and Area President Award for Hilton Middle East and Africa.

THE CHARMS MOTHER’S DAY BAZAAR AT THE JW MARRIOTT CAIRO!

JW Marriott Cairo hosted a magnificent bazaar for the Charms JW Ladies Society members where the exhibitors were Egyptian designers supporting Egypt with their Egyptian made products showcasing unique handcrafts designed and produced specially for handcrafts lovers, such as shimmering jewelry, silver accessories, plexi-glass items, scarfs, paintings and antiques. The ceremony was held at “Tutankhamun” ballroom, known for its elegance and luxurious decoration. The ceremony was attended by the elite society where they enjoyed the fascinating live performance by the famous singer Rula Zaki FOUR SEASONS HOTEL CAIRO AT THE FIRST RESIDENCE ORGANIZES “CLEAN UP DAY”

Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence, a luxury hotel in Cairo organizes a “Clean up Day” - part of its “Make a difference” campaign an important aspect of the hotel’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to better the standards and lives, and by impacting its wider community. Mahmoud ElKeiy, General Manager added” Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence has respect for the environment and its surrounding communities, and we are proud that as a team we were able to make a positive impact”. “This is one on a few projects we are taking on as part of the hotel’s corporate responsibility” added ElKeiy. WORLD CLASS GALA DINNER AT DUSIT THANI LAKEVIEW CAIRO

For the 4th consecutive year, Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo has been selected to host “Community Services Associations’” extravagant annual Gala Dinner at the spectacular Lakeview Ballroom. The evening marked a great success, commemorating with a world class cocktail reception at Ruen Thai restaurant’s stunning terrace followed by an exquisite seated dinner at the LakeView Ballroom

DUSIT THANI LAKEVIEW CAIRO; PREMIUM CHOICE FOR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

African ministers and experts of over 50 states gathered in Cairo to discuss the environmental challenges facing the continent topped by climate change; marking the 15th African Ministerial conference on the Environment (AMCEN). Dusit Thani Lakeview Cairo was the premium choice to host this remarkable event in elegance & style. Not only were guests amazed with such grace of interiors and the secluded privacy of the hotel but also enjoyed the attention to detail service embraced with an exquisite Thai touch. The session was attended by Egypt’s Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab and chairman of the 15th session Egyptian Environment Minister Khaled Fahmy as Egypt is taking over presidency of the AMCEN which was first held in Cairo 30 years ago.

IDENTITY perspective

ADIDAS OPENS THE FIRST KIDS STORE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND RELAUNCHES THE ORIGINALS STORE AT CITYSTARS MALL

adidas, the global leader in the sporting goods industry, announced the re-opening of its Originals concept store and the launch of the first Kids brand store in the Middle East region at the CityStars Mall adidas currently has 16 brand stores, one kids brand store and one Originals concept store in Egypt.

LEMONGRASS RESTAURANT AT JW MARRIOTT CAIRO

An Asiatic Connection... Enjoy a fine dining experience and let your taste buds explore a panorama of diverse Asian flavors within the sophisticated surrounds of Lemongrass restaurant at JW Marriott Cairo. Lemongrass offers exceptional service and mouthwatering dishes from popular destinations such as Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and mainland China. It is a chic spot to ‘meet, greet and eat’. Lemongrass restaurant is guaranteed to enhance any social occasion, from casual to corporate.

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Palm Hills Developments and Aabar Investments

A Subsidiary of the Emirates Sovereign Wealth Fund - formed the largest Private Joint Venture in Egyptian Emirati History to codevelop 10,000 feddans in West Cairo Yasseen Mansour: Egypt’s economic and political backdrop is seen as very attractive, regaining confidence of International and Arab Investments

Extensive Scientific Activity at Magrabi Eye Hospital in World Glaucoma Week One Million Egyptians Blinded Due to Glaucoma to be doubled in 2020

Ophthalmology experts revealed that more than one million Egyptians are threatened to be blind due to glaucoma and the number will be doubled by 2020, according to the WHO statistics. They called for the importance of coordination among all to control the spread of this disease.

HILTON CAIRO ZAMALEK RESIDENCES AWARDED AS THE TOP CHOICE HOTEL OF 2015 BY LIANORG

Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences has been awarded as the “Top Choice Hotel of 2015” by Lianorg. com. The award is testament to the hotel team’s hard work, dedication and an outstanding achievement to win such a prestigious honour. I am immensely proud.” said Medhat Samir, General Manager, Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences. The hotel popularity, clean, comfortable environment and friendly services have received positive reviews by judges and Asian visitors leaded to the successful qualification in the Top Choice voting ranking system and win such prestigious award.

THE FRENCH MICHELIN STAR CHEF JULIEN VERRAT AT CONRAD CAIRO.

Conrad Cairo held a press conference for the French Michelin Star Chef Julien Verrat Attended by Media and Press figures. During the conference, the chef gave a speech talking about his secret way of cooking and his experiences in the French and Japanese cuisine.

Ruen Thai Turns 4 Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo’s Signature Thai restaurant ‘Ruen Thai’ celebrates its fourth anniversary by hosting an elegant cocktail reception where guests were welcomed by exquisite Thai delicacies

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IDENTITY bits & pieces

Aries (March 21 - April 19)

“ARIES TEND TO LIVE ADVENTUROUS LIVES AND LIKE TO BE THE CENTRE OF ATTENTION, BUT RIGHTLY SO SINCE THEY ARE NATURAL, CONFIDENT LEADERS.”

Aries Strengths Independent Generous Optimistic Enthusiastic Courageous

Aries Weakness Moody Short tempered Self-involved Impulsive Impatient

Most compatible with: Gemini, Sagittarius, Leo

Least compatible with: Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus

Aries is the first of the zodiac signs. Aries is the sign of the self, people born under this sign strongly project their personalities onto others and can be very selforiented. Aries tend to venture out into the world and leave impressions on others that they are exciting, vibrant and talkative. Aries tend to live adventurous lives and like to be the centre of attention, but rightly so since they are natural, confident leaders. Aries are enthusiastic about their goals and enjoy the thrill of the hunt, “wanting is always better then getting” is a good way to sum it up. Aries are very impulsive and usually do not think before they act - or speak. Too often Aries will say whatever pops into their head and usually end up regretting it later!

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