Author: Karim Maged

 

“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you rich” is a quote whose origin or purpose I don’t know. But what I do know is that it makes perfect sense and has had a great influence on my life. Two years ago, after the company I worked for went bankrupt, I had to leave my job in which I had been compensated well. I decided to follow my dream and fulfill my passion to travel more. My destination was Madrid, Spain where I intended to earn my MBA. So, I sold my car and gathered all the money I could. Thankfully, the university liked my application and provided me with a generous scholarship, which meant more money for exploring. I then booked a one-way ticket to the Spanish capital with no firm plan. All I had was some money, an enrollment in the business school and a small room 10 metro stations away from the city center. This would be one of the best experiences in my life.

On the first day of school, I was thrilled to realize that my class was a group of 30 international students from 24 countries. We reflected great international exposure and were one close unit.  We enjoyed our weekends and didn’t waste our time either. A weekend in the mountains, another renting a house in the woods and another wine tasting in a small vineyard.

Our group for the graduation project consisted of five people; an Italian from the German-speaking part of Italy, an American, a Lebanese, a Jewish Turk, and myself, a Christian Egyptian. We were a team of internationals from totally different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs; yet, we managed to share a common ground which is friendship and humanity.

After a few months of exploring the city from one end to the other and gaining insights about the Spanish people, their history, language and culture, it was time to find a job. I was lucky enough to have a friend who introduced me to the owner of one of the biggest touring and entertainment companies in Madrid. He set me up with an interview without me knowing what the job was or how I might fit into that workplace. After just five minutes of interviewing, the CEO said he loved my passion and drive. We clicked so well, that he told me I was hired. My role was to handle operations, bookings and most importantly being a Segway/bicycle tour guide all around the city. At first, I didn’t believe I was going to get a salary, plus tips to have fun riding the Segway around the city while also meeting tourists coming to Madrid from all over the world and explaining to them things that I have passion for which is history. I would have totally done it for free and for the experience.

I met people from every part around the earth and quickly I learned how people of every country think, which topics to avoid talking to with this nationality, and how to greet people in their native tongue. Often, I made friends with the people I was guiding. Many I still keep in touch with today and hope to see again, many others invited me to stay in their homes if I ever visited their city. It made me realize that this world is in many ways so small.

As an Egyptian we have sensitive relations between us and Israel as we had a war and we share borders so I didn’t know what to expect or how to behave if I met any Israeli. When the first group of Israelis told me where they came from, I froze. But many Israeli tourists come to Madrid and I had to deliver tours for them almost on a daily basis. It made me quite anxious and didn’t behave in a relaxed way, but then I started to think to myself that whatever political issues we have as countries, these are normal people like anybody else and they have traveled a long way to have fun and explore a different country, and as a responsible person representing my country and my company I should give them what they expect. I started to open up bit by bit especially as I didn’t witness anything bad happening to me from any of them, on the contrary they were dealing with me in very good manners especially after they knew I was Egyptian. So I started to feel more normal about it and break the ice. My joke was to say in the beginning “hey my name is Karim I’m from Egypt but you don’t have to worry, we are at peace now so we are not going to bomb each other.” They thought it was funny and it worked every time.

Two of my best friends from this job, and we’re still in touch, were two girls from Tel Aviv who were backpacking around Europe. They had a one-hour tour and we ended up having the 2.5 hours tour and then had drinks the next evening, we were laughing the entire time. You can say it was a cultural exchange, they taught me some Hebrew, turned out we have so much in common in terms of food, traditions, culture & language. Many Egyptians after reading this article might consider me a disloyal person or even a traitor but they would be judging based on the opinion of others. They didn’t meet the people I met.

 

I guess what I am trying to say here is that it doesn’t really matter where do you come from, what is your gender, color, religious or even sexual beliefs. All of that only divides us more than it connects us, our judgement should be based on the human being we deal with, by their behavior towards us and not from what we have heard or been told by someone else. At the end of the day what really matters is where you are going with your life and how righteous of a person you are, there are good and useful people and there are bad useless people whom others cannot stand being around. Only YOU get to choose which one you want to be and how will you be remembered.

“I’d be happy to connect with you! Find me on instagram @karimaged10 or on facebook: Karim FB link”