Hey guys, it's Hibba. So we started this podcast to capture the depth that our region has to offer

in the ways we don't see in our media. But in many ways, for me at least, I feel like our exploration

in these episodes and stories helps me understand the region better for myself. My mom's Egyptian,

my dad's American, and I have the classic ongoing identity crisis.

As I grow older and am actively deciding where to lay roots in this world, this back and forth of which side, which side confuses me,

when I tell my family I want to move to Egypt and they say things like this.

I'll tell you, be clever and don't ever think of doing this stupid move.

Okay?

Does this sound good for your episodes?

There's nothing good about living in Egypt.

We didn't have another option.

If we had another option, you can, Hibah, it's difficult. If we had another option,

we would have left, I think. A lot of Egyptians are leaving Egypt to live elsewhere. The states,

Gulf, Europe, this story of a family leaving their home to pursue better opportunities

is a story as old as time. But it's not, actually, not for Egypt.

We never used to be a society who emigrated. In the past 50 years, it's like the nation has

slipped into a reputation of not being worth it anymore. And in the past five years, in particular,

there is an increasing trend in the desire to

leave. I feel like everyone among my friends and many family members want to leave or have already left.

And emigration seems like this easily black and white issue. They're leaving because they've had

enough. But really, why are people leaving?

Why are talented Egyptians leaving the homes they were born and the schools they studied

...