Time for blogging….
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3 months ago, my team (Ahmed aly, Yasser and I) has to compete in the ACM ICPC 2011 world finals that should be hold in Egypt. I competed for 5 years to gain this opportunity and always thought it will be a good accomplishment, especially If we gained a good rank in the contest. But, … The 25th revolution has been occurring, and the ICPC has to postpone the contest. Later, they declared that the contest will be hold on 30 May, 2011 in USA, hence we have to manage funds and visas for the trip. Unfortunately, the USA embassy in Egypt got closed and one work around was to travel to Beirut to get the visas from there, but that was very costly decision and we were about to forget the contest. Later, the embassy opened in 10 April, and some new hope appeared. We started to arrange the interview in the embassy and already met them. But, all the team got the visas directly, except me…. have to wait their security checks. Ups Downs Ups Downs…From time to time, I either feel every thing is going very well, or going so bad!
Time was passing, and my team has to reserve tickets for the trip, but my visa status is the same! So, there were no way except reserving tickets for the team, except me, and prepare for the trip. A plan was set up for me to catch later my team once my visa is accepted. Unfortunately, after 40 days “under security checks” and with lots of requests to speed my case, I am still under processing. At this moment, I already know that my team will compete, with one absent contestant.
This situation is so similar to a situation occurred 5 years ago.
5 years ago, my team (Hamza Darwish, 7oka and I) qualified to regional contest in Morocco, that was my 1st regional contest. I went to get my “traveling permission”, but due to misleadings inside the army institution, I got a wrong permission (actually was not a permission:D). At 7 am in the airport, my friends were passing one by one, after checking their passports heading toward the plane, but I was prevented to pass…. The officer refused my “traveling permission” and asked me to get a correct one. “Please, while simi-crying 
, let me pass, I have a contest” said by me. After all trials failed with the officer, I received a call from Dr salwa to go to get a new permission, and message from my team leadder Hamza, with some great words, as we used from him. “wala yehmak ya wa7sh, ro7 tal3 tasre7 el safr we e7na mestnyenak”, written and sent by hamza. Luckily, my coach was in Egypt and helped me to get the permission. I headed to the faculty’s Dean to ask him to help me in getting the permission so fast. With his relationships, I managed to pass some routine walls and get inside the army institution. After dozen of issues I managed to get the permission. I still remember in between statuses for me. At a moment, I was like a student who have exams and wish God help him and he promises he will be a very good person 
.
One step remaining…I have to go to get my new traveling ticket. I reached the company at 3:45 pm and they will close at 4 pm. The woman asked me for Extra 300 EGP to give me a new ticket. I called the coach to help me, and he was about to send me his friend to give me that money. Definitely he won’t be able to reach in 10 minutes! Ups Downs Ups Downs…From time to time, I either feel every thing is going well, or going so bad! Suddenly, the woman noticed that It was not my mistake: I was prevented to pass to the plane, not carelessly forget it. Hence I should not pay anything! and finally got my ticket. In 2nd day, I caught my flight, and “the absent contestant” reached and met his team. There are a lot of exciting moments in between, I may blog about them one day!
Looking inside myself, although the 2 situations may left the same depression for someone, for me they are so different. The distance between the 2 events is 5 years. 5 years ago, If finally I could not catch my team, I may be destroyed for a while and be under a great depression. But today, have enough faith and believe in density to help me to pass such critical moments with a safe heart…..We change a lot over time….
I have to say that, although I am not with the team, I am very happy that finally my friend, Ahmed Aly will compete in WF. We know, he did a lot of continuous training to get such opportunity and compete in WF, and he really deserves it…
I have nothing to help my team except praying for them to do well after little days.
“Ahmed and Yasser”…………………………..Goooo..Gooo..Goo…whatever results, we are so proud of you.
Ahh..Forgive me for my bad English
May 28, 2011 at 9:58 am |
“I competed for 5 years to gain this opportunity” have you really did that, was all your competitions and your training were for that.
I Don’t think that, i always admired your goals, your thinking and that you are looking so far.
Trust Allah – Allah wont ever waste your effort (even if you didn’t travel so you must know that is the better for you). I really that once you see this truth and get 100% percent convinced with it, you will either have the visa, or see the reason that why you didn’t get it.
May 28, 2011 at 10:02 am |
Thanks ya ref3t. Actually, 5 years ago that was my main goal, but, we change a lot over time….