Where it all started...

My journey starts from the United Arab Emirates. My family moved there back in the early 90s to seek better life standards, more opportunities and better environment to raise their kids!

I was born in a beautiful city called Sharjah. If you have never visited it before (and always going to Dubai) then I highly recommend it if you love calmness and tradition. The city is known as the capital of culture in the Emirates. It hosts a yearly international book fair that connects people from the whole world.

I spent 18 years in Sharjah, finishing high school and then moving back to Egypt to continue my Bachelor studies in the University of Cairo as a Computer Science student. In my school years, I've always been someone who wants to try everything. I went to competitions in playing music, singing, reading Quran, football, acting, and some other activities that I can't remember!

My 7 years in Egypt...

I arrived in Cairo in 2012, just a year after the famous 2011 revolution. The country was in total chaos! As a somewhat pampered kid from the Emirates, used to orderly streets and straightforward rules, stepping into a place with virtually no rules at all was a shock! I struggled to figure out the transportation system, make friends, and even strike up conversations with people on the streets.

Egypt is normally a tough place to live. People have faced challenging conditions for decades! Poverty casts a long shadow over everything! Whether it's dealing with taxi drivers trying to overcharge you, queuing for basic necessities like bread, or jostling with others for a few sandwiches, life can be a constant struggle.

Despite all these obstacles, I found friends for life. While I have childhood buddies from my 18 years in Sharjah, and we still catch up occasionally, the friends I made during my university years in Cairo have stuck with me to this day.

After enduring four grueling years studying Computer Science, including taking final exams amidst riots and tear gas (no joke!), I embarked on my professional journey. My university professor, to whom I owe not just my education but also my first real shot at a career, reached out to me on LinkedIn. He informed me about a job opportunity at a Czech Republic-based company that was partnering with his firm and seeking a software developer. I interviewed with them and joined their team a couple of months later. This marked the beginning of incredible years of learning and connecting with people from Europe.

Eventually, I made the move to work in their office in the stunning city of Prague!

A young man exploring the world...

In 2019, I took the leap and moved abroad to embark on my European adventure, and what an adventure it turned out to be!

For nearly a year and a half, Prague was my home base as I delved not only into the city and country but the entire continent. I was on the move constantly! From enduring a 15-hour bus ride to Milan, Italy, just to catch a football match at San Siro Stadium, to spending weeks as a solo traveler exploring Barcelona, Spain, Vienna, Austria, Berlin, and Munich, Germany. And all this while juggling a full-time job! I was absolutely unstoppable during that time!

Then, COVID-19 hit...

My company closed its doors, leaving me stranded alone in my apartment with nowhere to go and no one to see. I had minimal savings, and my residency status was in jeopardy.

I applied to over 20 companies, ranging from small businesses to corporate giants. Every single one turned me down! I didn't have a clue about problem-solving or algorithms at the time, and I mistakenly believed that my years with my previous employer were all the experience I needed. With just three months to figure out how to ace interviews and land a job offer, or risk running out of money and being deported, the pressure was on.

In the end, I managed to secure two job offers and gain 20 kilograms in weight! Living under constant stress, neglecting exercise, and resorting to eating and studying as my only outlets—I now realize that was a recipe for depression!

One offer was from a company in Germany, and the other was back in Prague. I opted for Germany, and thus began a new chapter in my life!

That chapter is still unfolding, and over the past four years in Germany, I've accumulated plenty of stories and experiences to share. But for now, I'll leave you with this snapshot. In the next article, I'll dive into my professional journey, offer some career progression tips, and highlight the mistakes I made that you should definitely avoid!