Where to Go & What to Do this Valentine’s

Cupid is Ready with the Bow and Arrow at Conrad Cairo

The day of romance is approaching; it’s the time of the year where you and your loved one get to celebrate your love for each other. Join us at Conrad Cairo where Cupid is preparing your favourite venues for an unforgettable experience!

Kamala: Valentine’s day at Kamala, our Asian venue, will be preparing a tailored four-course set menu with a complimentary glass of Egyptian sparkling wine or sparkling juice. Singer Seham will provide entertainment with intimate love songs. Price is EGP 500 all-inclusive for couples including free parking, subject to availability.

OAK Grill: On Valentine’s Day, Oak Grill is offering guests a special four-course set menu while they enjoy saxophone tunes in the background. Ladies will be greeted with red roses and one lucky couple will win Best-Dressed of the night. The price will be EGP 600 all-inclusive for couples including free parking, subject to availability.

Stage One: Stage One is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a DJ, a singer and a belly dancer! Get ready for a night of fun and dancing and don’t forget to ask for the raffle as two prizes are waiting for you. Minimum charge is EGP 500 per person, spoil yourself with the wide selection of dishes and drinks.

Jayda: On Valentine’s Day, Jayda is offering an à la carte Lebanese menu with live music featuring the oriental singer Ahmed Mostafa. Minimum charge is EGP 150 per person.

A Valentine’s Special at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence

This Valentine’s Day, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence is preparing for an ultimate romantic gateway in the heart of Cairo. With a luxurious itinerary served with passion, perfected with a top-notch service to leave a long-lasting impression of a wonderful experience.

STRADA, an urban Tuscan style interior of bright yellows, cool blues and magnificent Murano glass chandelier from Venice that accentuates the backdrop of the Nile. The restaurant will prepare a delicious four-course menu on Valentine’s Day, featuring a rich Italian flavor. STRADA will be in a purple theme, featuring live entertainment.

This February, The Spa & Wellness Center launches two personalized packages to help you celebrate Valentine’s Day in a relaxed atmosphere. “Be My Valentine” features the ultimate body relaxation using Argan oil and lavender. “So Romantic” gives couples* the opportunity to enjoy an astonishing Nile view from the spa’s signature couple’s suite, as well as wonderful gifts when booking one of their famous massages or facials.

Hilton Alexandria Corniche

Celebrate the warmth of your love and enjoy a special romantic candlelit dinner with live entertainment. Treat your special one to an unforgettable night and choose from four delicious set menu options for dinner, starting from EGP 750.

Package includes:

• Romantic set menu dinner (3 options)
• Heart shaped cake
• 20% discount on room reservations till end of March (subject to availability)
• Hotel indoor pool use with whirlpool
• Spa voucher (includes free use of locker facilities, gym, salt sauna, steam room, ice fountain experience, experience shower, relaxation room)

A Special Valentine’s Day at Holiday Inn Cairo Maadi

Overlooking the majestic Nile River, Holiday Inn Cairo Maadi celebrates the day of love at Le Clovis Restaurant. Treat your Valentine to a 4-course candlelit dinner and savour gourmet delights while listening to flute music, followed by a live jazz singer.

InterContinental Cairo Citystars, Holiday Inn Cairo Citystars and Staybridge Suites Celebrate Love On Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day promises love and tenderness, wine and roses, and chocolate and strawberries. At InterContinental Cairo Citystars we help make these promises come true in a magically romantic atmosphere, with irresistible cuisine to create the perfect setting for you and your sweetheart. And the mood of love and happiness can also be found at InterContinental, Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites where red roses and love heart balloons add to the romantic mood.

At InterContinental our restaurants, lounges and bars glow with a romantic atmosphere for Valentine’s with roses at every venue for the ladies!

As live jazz floats through Esplanade Restaurant, featuring a buffet, and Esplanade Lounge, give in to temptation at My Bakery with chocolates and strawberries, heart-shaped cakes and Valentine’s cupcakes. Bellini has special Valentine’s cocktails to complement the à-la-carte menu and live music. Guitar melodies create a loving ambience for Maestro’s five course set menu, signature dessert and welcome drink.

Enjoy a night of traditional Egyptian Valentine’s celebrations at Al Khal, or add an exotic touch to your romantic evening at Fayruz with a welcoming drink, the Lebanese set menu and live band from 9pm till midnight and belly dancer from 10pm till 11pm.

At Shogun, choose between the premium sushi menu or the sizzling delights of a teppanyaki feast after taking in the taste of your welcome drink. Pool Bar offers an à-la-carte menu and Valentine’s cocktails, and the international buffet at The Lounge offers two more retreats to take your Valentine occasion into the early hours with music from a live DJ in the background.

Rekindle the Flames of Love at JW Marriott Cairo

Rekindle the flames of your love and passion with your partner at the lavish ambiance of the JW Marriott Cairo.

Surprise your loved one with a dazzling dining experience at one of our restaurants; dinner buffet at Mirage Café, romantic Italian  four-course set menu at Cucina, Lebanese inspired four-course set menu at Ahlein, exquisite international four-course set menu at JW’s Steakhouse, and Asian fusion-inspired five-course set menu at Lemongrass.

Add some delight to your Valentine’s Day by indulging in our special Valentine’s gift packages at Mandara Spa. For the happy couple, a side-by-side treatment in a double Spa suite, 30-minute Aromatic Sea Salt Bath and a 50-minute Aromatic Massage all for the price of EGP 1,600.

Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski Valentine’s Day with a Glamourous Sparkle

Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski invites guests to spend Valentine’s Day with their loved one on the tropical South-East Asian shores, the beautiful streets of Tuscany or within the mystical splendour of Europe.

Presenting authentic and innovative cuisine spanning different continents, the palace invites guests to dine at Yanna, Lucca and Romanov and to choose from beautifully designed Valentine’s Day menus created by its expert chefs. Not only that, but every beautiful lady who chooses to dine with us will also leave with a valuable Guerlain goody bag generously presented by Mazaya, or they’ll have the chance to win an amazing bottle of Guerlain perfume with her name engraved on it!

For a Valentine’s Day with glamorous spark, guests can partake in the most expensive dessert in Egypt. Choose your memorable ring from Michael Oro’s latest collection and surprise your significant other during your last course of the evening with a bit of glitz in her dessert at Romanov. Also at Romanov from the 11th to the 14th of February, you can enjoy the Devour set menu with potato croquettes stuffed with caviar and sour cream, rare salamander Scottish salmon, ravioli of foie gras with truffle oil drops, surf-and-turf Wagyu beef tenderloin with half-lobster tail and Valentine’s chocolates plus one glass of sparkling local wine per person all for only EGP 2,000 per couple.

Couples are invited to dine on an exceptional five-course set dinner among lotus flower tea lights and scattered rose petals in Yanna, or can enjoy Valentine’s Day in a romantic Italian setting at Lucca.

Le Pacha

On Top

Entertainment by Onsy & Nataly, as well as a DJ. Includes Set dinner and soft drinks. Free corkage: 1 bottle of wine for each party of four.

Valentine at the Palace, Cairo Marriott.

Celebrate with your loved ones and mark Valentine’s Day at the Cairo Marriott. The ultimate Royal experience of Al Gezira Palace and the Khedivial Gardens will add charm and extravagant luxury to your celebration this year.

Show the one you love how much you care, and what expresses that better than an elegant dinner for two? Enjoy the finest Italian taste in Cairo at Ristorante Tuscany. With a special designed set menu and the guitar tunes will set the mood to pour your heart out. Valentine’s Day at the Cairo Marriott will also include a party featuring the famous Amal Maher and Wael Jassar.

At JW’s Steakhouse, red roses are your arrival treat and an exclusive experience is sure to satisfy both your culinary and emotional expectations with a set menu and the violin melodies. Treat your love to a heart-shaped cake or out home-made chocolates from the Bakery Shop that will never fail to melt their heart straightaway.

If you want to spice up your night and experience the best Japanese cuisine, there is no better place than the Torii Teppanyaki show by our top awarded chefs. The ultimate venue for a romantic tête–à–tête is surely the Saraya Gallery at the heart of the Palace, where the superb menu is complemented by candles, flowers and accompanied by piano tunes. At Cairo Marriott, create love memories to cherish forever.

Love is on the Menu at Radisson Blu Hotel this Valentine’s Day

The most romantic day of the year is almost here and there’s nothing but love on the menu! Enjoy a romantic five-course dinner for two prepared by  award-winning Executive Chef Essam Sayed at signature restaurant, Filini. Savor the delectable dishes for only EGP 500 per couple, inclusive of service charge and applicable taxes. You can also stay overnight to ensure the perfect romantic experience. >>

Celebrate with your Valentine at Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel

Spoil your loved one on Valentine’s Day at Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel.

Indulge your better half in a charming ambiance with a Dinner buffet at Citron and enjoy romantic live entertainment, or Chinoix our Chinese restaurant with its inspired set menu, complimentary welcome Valentine’s drink and live entertainment.

Don’t miss our Valentine’s party at Vintage bar and lounge with live DJ and harp and flute band.

Semiramis Intercontinental Cairo’s Valentine’s Offerings

Enjoy fine dining and a romantic ambience on February 14th, the day to celebrate your love! For Valentine’s Day, bring your dear to a romantic dinner at the Grill restaurant & lounge or to Pane Vino for a special dinner with a harpist and a flutist setting the mood. If you prefer to celebrate Lebanese style, join us in Sabaya. Don’t miss out on the Birdcage on this evening and look out for our Rithmo St. Valentine’s special.

A Special Valentine’s at Nile Terrace: Enjoy the spectacular Nile view at the Nile Terrace and experience our live show along with tasting our special delicious à-la-carte dinner menu in a relaxing atmosphere with your beloved ones.

The Grill Restaurant & Lounge: The Grill offers a  contemporary cuisine with a French twist and boasts an imaginative setting. With spectacular Nile views, French authenticity is preserved throughout its menu. Private dining rooms and an unparalleled selection of wines complete the refined dining experience.

Romance is on the menu on February 14th, with a Valentine’s Day dinner to remember.

Celebrate your Love with a Romantic Dining Experience or Spa Treatment in Soma Bay

Valentine’s Day is here again and love is on the menu. La Pergola is the perfect place to enjoy a romantic dinner while taking in wondrous views of the Red sea. Inspired by Mediterranean flavors and nestled in the heart of Somabay’s marina, this exclusive dining venue provides fresh seasonal produce, where you can savor healthy and creative dishes with the perfect wine pairing. Bamboo Shoot Restaurant is another perfect Valentine’s venue that presents exceptional inspired evenings of gourmet Asian dining and a lavish selection of Far East distinctive culinary cuisine. For Pan Asian fusion delights, and Sushi, the restaurant is set to top all restaurants in the destination.

Indulge in a couples’ massage for Valentine’s Day at The Cascades Spa & Thalasso, recognized as the best in Egypt and one of the largest in the world. Facilities span over an area of 7,500 sqm with 65 treatment rooms offering everything from traditional massages and beauty treatments to the latest technology for aesthetic treatments and hydrotherapy.

Flowers for your loved ones

Dina Iskander (Flowershop)

JW Mariott, Mirage City

Tel: 012 85000  216

Email:flowershop@dinaiskander.com

Awan El Ward

Westown Hub, Sodic – B10

Tel: 0115 9333 344/55

Facebook: Awanelwardofficial

Instagram: Awanelward.official

Flower Power

14 Wadi El Nile St., Mohandessin

Tel: 02 330 406 46

Downtown Mall Katameya

Tel: 02 231 462 59

Americana Plaza Sheikh Zayed

Tel: 02 385 173 35

Email: info@flowerpowerdesign.com

www.flowerpowerdesign.com

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Relationship Therapy with Dr. Georgette Savvides

By Francesca Sullivan

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, and as couples everywhere rush out to buy flowers, red hearts and other tokens of love, we ask the question: what makes a marriage successful, and are there ways to prepare for it that might make that success long-lasting? Cairo East Magazine turns the spotlight on marriage in the company of one of Cairo’s top couples’ counsellors, Dr. Georgette Savvides. A high profile psychologist with extensive experience in clinical and business psychology, ‘Dr. G’ as she is known, has her own centre in New Cairo. She is also a regular guest on TV and radio channels, airing what are sometimes considered controversial views.

“Girls are told from a young age that to be complete they need to have a husband, and they are pushed into it too early.”

CEM: What are the 3 most common reasons a marriage can break down?

G.S.: Lack of trust, lack of communication, and lack of intimacy.

Do you think it helps for young couples to meet with a counselor before marriage?
Yes, absolutely. It is a very good idea for them to go to counseling while they are still dating, to prepare them for what is to come. Actually, even before embarking on finding a partner in the first place it’s important to have clear criteria of what they are each looking for. They should write a list! Then it becomes a process of elimination. When you meet someone you are sexually attracted to there’s a big difference between this initial lust and real sexual chemistry. The latter needs time to develop and work on.

Do you feel that young people go into marriage with an unrealistic view of what is needed? How well prepared are they when it comes to handling the responsibilities of marriage?
They are zero-prepared. Girls are told from a young age that to be complete they need to have a husband, and they are pushed into it too early. Then to fulfill the idea that they must have a man at all costs they start accepting unacceptable behavior, depending on their husband for everything and not developing a life of their own. By the time their personalities are fully developed in their mid-thirties, they realize they actually want different things. If the wife gives no reason for the man to continue the chase, he will take her for granted; it is human nature. Instead she >>

becomes a mother figure and he may feel suffocated by her possessiveness. She needs to stop revolving her life around him. From the man’s point of view, she was unobtainable before marriage, then he gets to know her and new habits appear. Unless the two of them having a strong dating history these differences can result in loss of interest, so they need to spend time getting to know each other first.

Should young couples allow their parents to become involved in issues that arise, or should they work it out for themselves?
NEVER EVER involve the families – and feel free to write that in block capitals! Parents will always be parents; they cannot be objective, and they are likely to throw in examples of their own experience which are not applicable in 2016, or shallow and unhelpful advice such as ‘all men cheat, just stick it out,’ or ‘all women are drama queens, ignore it.’
In previous generations, it was understood that even if you were miserable in a marriage you would live with it. Today, women are less tolerant, more empowered and better educated. Exposure to multi-culturalism has expanded marriage values for women and men too.
Also, in involving other people in their issues couples are actually giving up their power of creative boundaries and inviting interference, which will impact their future. If they allow interference in their marriage problems before long it will be interference in other situations such as how to bring up the children, where to live, and so on.

What are the most common problems in long-standing relationships?
Common difficulties lie around the couple not having defined roles that are gender appropriate, for example, there can be resentment if the man is a lower earner. If the wife is the bread-winner, that’s OK as long as both partners are agreed. Lack of gratitude and appreciation of the other partner is also an issue, as are lack of intimacy, sexual problems and the loss of friendship.

When older couples face problems what do you recommend?
Using various therapies specifically relevant to couples work: counseling, exercises to practice together as a couple, learning healthy communication skills and so on.

Do you see the type of marital problems changing a lot according to social and economic levels?
The bubbly myth of Prince Charming lives on no matter what socio-economic background young people are from. Many girls want to marry in order to escape a troubled home environment – and this situation runs across all classes. For example, if a parent is very authoritarian or

has very strict religious beliefs. In marriage the husband still wants his clothes cleaned and his children fed, no matter what social class he is from. However, perhaps lower social classes have the more financial strain and are therefore more accepting and tolerant of certain behaviors because they have less chance of getting out of the marriage.

Egyptian men are not keen on seeing marriage counselors, how do you convince them?
I am not finding this a problem anymore. Five or six years ago women would seek help without their husbands, but these days they usually come together; there is less stigma attached to seeking professional help.

What are your 5 top pieces of advice for couples seeking to maintain a great relationship?
Have fun together! Remember at least two things you can do for your partner daily. Be friends. Spend as much time talking together as you can. Once every ten days minimum arrange to do something alone together, just the two of you. Lastly, make sure you have me-time, away from your partner; don’t depend on them for everything.

What advice do you give couples who have children and have fallen out of love, but are continuing the marriage for the sake of children? Do you ever recommend a divorce if you feel the couple have exhausted everything?
To begin with, I would always try to work towards fixing the relationship, help them develop friendship and try to rediscover the spark that drew them towards each other in the first place. However, if both partners are unable to work on improving their relationship then they are left with finding alternative options, one of which would be separating. Although I always try to help people come to a conclusion by themselves, I have to admit that I often meet couples who were clearly unsuited to each other in the first place. I have a high record of getting people divorced!

“In previous generations, it was understood that even if you were miserable in a marriage you would live with it”

Dr. Georgette Savvides holds an MSc. in Clinical and Public Health Aspects of Addiction from King’s College, Institute of Psychiatry National Addition Center, UK, and a Conversation Diploma in Psychology from the Open University in London, UK,  in addition to a Doctorate in Psychology with a specialization in Adult Clinical Psychology from City University, UK, and a second professional doctorate from Southern California University in the USA, with a specialization in Occupational/Business Psychology.

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Understanding and Coping with a Challenging Emotion from our Children’s Perspective

By Noha Abu-Sitta

Fear is a basic emotion that is meant to protect us from danger. It is a natural part of childhood that helps children gain awareness of the world around them. All kids go through various phases where they are afraid of certain things, people or places. So when does fear start and how does it develop?

Babies have an abrupt gasping reaction when they hear loud noises or while they are sleeping on the bed. All babies are born with two basic fears: falling and loud noises.

At around 10 months old, another kind of fear pops up: separation anxiety, where little ones fear the loss of people, things and places that they are familiar with. This phase can be very tough for the parent as babies start crying every time the parent leaves their eyesight. Strong bonding with your child, avoiding surprises such as sneaking out without telling your child that you are going out for a while, playing games like peek-a-boo, constructing a predictable daily routine: all help.

The older they grow, the more imaginative they become, the more complicated their fears are such as: fear of certain creatures, costumes, darkness, anything they lack control over, stage fright, fear of change, rejection, failure and fear of death.

So many times we hear worried parents complaining about their children having developed certain kinds of fear that they have never suffered from before. Understanding the development of fear is thus important because it explains that what your child is going through is quite normal.

It is also as important that parents realize that there are things that they can do that can either promote or prevent their child’s normal fear developing into an abnormal phobia or an anxiety disorder.

So what should parents do and never do when faced with their child’s fears?

There are 3 key factors to dealing with your child’s fear: Respect it, discuss it and empower your child to properly deal with it.

Babies and Toddlers: Easing pain of fear is usually done through:

1. Physical touch: patting or hugging the child.

2.Talking calmly and singing to your child.

3. Distracting their attention to something else.

Older Children:

1. Explain to your child that fear is a normal emotion. Tell them it is okay to be scared of things sometimes, we all do.

2.Problem-solvetogether:        Acknowledge your child’s fears, which may sound irrational and silly to your brain, but it isn’t to his imaginative mind. Telling your child that there are no monsters won’t wipe away his fears because his imagination will still create them. It is okay, however, to tell him that you don’t personally believe in them, but since he does, together, you will figure out a way to conquer them.

Use his imagination to his advantage by asking him to consider what would help him work through his fears? It could be simple things like checking the room every night before you go to bed, inventing a monster water bottle spray and leaving it on his bed, saying a few prayers together. >>

3. Modeling brave behavior: You as a parent or caregiver are the source of security for your child. Learn how to break your fear too not just for his/her sake, but also for your own. Empower yourself, face your fears and you’ll start enjoying different things in life in addition to being a good example for your child to follow.
4. Read stories together: There are so many children’s books out there that help them with explaining their feelings and give them tools to deal with their own fears.
5. Acceptance: So many parents refuse to accept that each child has his own limitations and capabilities. They can’t be brave in absolutely every single situation whether it is swimming in the sea or going on a safari trip! Realistically, this is impossible. We all have our own fears.
6. Celebrate every time your child faces their fear just like when you did the first time your child started walking.
7. Break their challenge into small steps: Instead of forcing her into the water, encourage her to wet her toes and ankles first. Take it one step at a time and show her how you jump in and enjoy it yourself. You can also go with other mums and kids her age who love swimming so she sees everyone is enjoying it and feels more motivated to take a step and face her fear.
8. Seek help if necessary: If your child’s anxiety is interfering in his or her life, then definitely consult a child therapist.

Try to avoid:

1. We all want to protect our kids so sometimes we are tempted to avoid putting them into situations that would trigger their fear, which does nothing but maintain their phobias. The key is to help kids feel empowered, so they feel in control of their world and refuse to be controlled by their fears in the future instead.
2. Our children read our emotions through our tone of voice and facial expressions. If your child sees fear and anxiety in your eyes, he/she will immediately mirror this feeling and feels even more scared.
3. Many times a parent will say to their child “Stop acting silly, you’re not scared,” or “don’t be a coward”. This will only escalate the matter for it conveys the following messages to your child: “I disappointed my parents and myself and I shouldn’t feel this way,” or “My parents do not understand me”.
4. This will lead to them feeling angry at themselves as well as at the parents.
5. Lying to the parents and making up excuses next time when faced with those fears.
6. Many children are controlled by their fears when they feel tired and weak. Calming bedtime routine should be established. Also watching movies or reading bedtime stories that involve villains or scary pictures/incidents before bedtime don’t help.
7. Sometimes we, as parents, build up phobias in our kids by being overprotective in an irrational way by telling them things like:  “If you eat this, you’ll get a booboo in your tummy”, “If you drink that, the doctor will give you an injection”. There is no doubt that we do all this out of love and with good intention yet all these threats could develop phobias and kill trust later on between kids and parents.
8. Lying to your child won’t help either and will cause resentment, lack of trust and more fear. Avoid telling your child things like, “The vaccine injection won’t hurt at all”. Tell him/her the truth,”Yes it will hurt but only for less than a minute.” You can also tell him/her that this one-minute pain will help them overcome more pain if they get infected by this virus if not vaccinated.

Understanding your child’s fears and accepting them makes life much easier for both of you. The only way to control your fears is by empowering yourselves to face and conquer them. Also remember that fears don’t last forever and when dealt with properly, you gain a great sense of power, confidence and accomplishment.

Noha Abu Sitta is a certified Health Coach for children up to 12 years old, by the Dr. William Sears Wellness Center. She is also a certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator by Dr. Jane Nelson and Dr. Lynn Lott. Noha regularly conducts parenting, health and nutrition courses covering a variety of topics. She also makes regular appearances on TV programs to dispense her expert advice.

SHOPPING – FREE HOME-COOKING

By Tati Hafez

Want to enjoy a healthy, fresh, home-cooked meal without the hassle of having to do all the shopping?         Easy Pan is the way to do it.

Whether you are a busy working mother, a newly-wed facing the kitchen for the first time, want to impress your in laws, or simply enjoy cooking special meals for family and friends, the task of putting together all the ingredients for a healthy, gourmet, home cooked meal has just been made into a hassle-free experience

Launched recently, Easy Pan is a recipe kit home delivery service, offering a unique concept. You order your preferred meal online from their menu list and they send you a box filled with all the ingredients, already pre-packed and pre-measured for you to cook. All you need to do is to follow the instructions on their recipe card. No previous cooking experience is required. It is suitable for everybody, including those who have never cooked a meal before.

The idea emerged after noticing friends struggling to cook. “Easy Pan comes to make home cooking accessible to everyone”, says Doha Tantawy, co-founder, “as it saves all the shopping and preparation time that has to be done before cooking.”

Recipes are carefully crafted by their culinary team, taking into consideration all cravings. Each month 12 recipes are available online with a variety of starters, main dishes and desserts, including carbs and proteins. The best 6 sellers are offered again and 6 new ones are added to them. Seasonal fruits and vegetables guarantee the freshness of their meals. To guarantee the originality and distinctiveness of their recipe selection, Easy Pan makes all sauces and spices in-house.

We tried their Pistachio Salmon recipe, consisting of salmon fillet, glazed with a honey and orange dip topped with crushed pistachio and breadcrumbs accompanied by spicy sweet potatoes on the side. The salmon came in a vacuum-sealed bag to conserve its freshness. All in all it was a worthy experience. Ingredients were very fresh, and rightly proportioned. There was no waste. Instructions were easy to follow. In the recipe card, the step-by-step are perfectly illustrated and in 5 easy steps. The whole process took 45 minutes until a warm home cooked meal was ready. Not to mention the enjoyment of preparing a gourmet dish, which came to EGP 120 for two people. They also offer weekly packages, so you can organize your menu accordingly. Delivery is done in 24 hours and you can choose within two time slots. They are available for the whole greater Cairo.

Easy Pan is more than an ingredient recipe kit. It is introducing a new culture of home cooking, by delivering fresh ingredients, and a healthy, flavor-rich recipe straight to your doorstep. It is guaranteed quality food and quality time! Thank you Easy Pan. You have just uncomplicated the cooking experience.

By Nadia El Dasher

Psychologist Najla Nagib on Love in the Internet Age

There’s a paradox when it comes to having choices. Which shampoo to buy at the store, where to order takeout from tonight, the destination of your next trip – and more recently, which dating apps to use.

One could argue that Internet dating is a revolution in matchmaking, taking out the awkward middleman and replacing it with an impartial machine.

However, that middleman, be it the parents, an aunt or uncle, is one of the concerned parties when it comes to the current trend in online dating. And rightfully so, says Najla Nagib, a Cairo-based psychologist at the recently-opened Inside-Out Counseling Center. Cairo East Magazine sat down with Nagib at her Madinat Nasr space to talk about finding love in modern times.

CEM: How would you describe the dating scene in Egypt at the moment?

NN: It’s a crowded world now – we have all of these options and ways to reach out to everyone. Some people chose not to get into all of this and live a quiet, simple, happy life where they meet partners like we’ve done for generations.

How are different age groups approaching online dating?

When I raised the question of Internet dating with a group of 14-17 year olds I teach, they immediately said, “No way!” Even if they were dating online they would hide it. For older groups in their 30s, it’s different – they know what they want, they are more mature and have the ability to see what the person in front of them wants. There’s also pressure from society to get married so they are more likely to seek something serious.

What are some of the pros and cons of Internet dating?

The young people I deal with are sometimes very shy and going online is a way for them to express themselves, so it’s a good way for shy people to meet others. You also have the time to express yourself and show the real you (through creating a profile and talking in a more relaxed setting). And lastly, it saves you time. On the downside people can lie easily about anything, one of the partners might feel too open so would show more than what they can provide and, of course, there’s the danger of meeting any stranger.

Internationally, online dating has a reputation for attracting people who are not looking to commit. Do you feel that this is applicable in Egypt as well?

The nature of young Egyptian people is to sit around cafés in groups, with their friends and boyfriends/girlfriends openly displaying their commitment to one another. When they’re not together they’ll be on WhatsApp or Snapchat detailing their time apart. This all goes back to the sense of community within these groups of friends – maintaining connections with each other and commitments to their boyfriends/girlfriends. In fact, they’re actually using the Internet to prove their commitment, not run away from it.

How has courtship in Egypt changed over the past few years as we move into a more online-driven world?

In Egypt, it hasn’t changed because of the Internet – it changed because boys and girls are now meeting each other as they transition to co-ed schools. Young boys are meeting and dating in school and going out in groups. The initiation of online dating in young people is not yet done except in certain social classes where boys do not get to meet girls face to face. Generally we’re a community-oriented society – if people don’t meet in school, it’ll be a sporting club or football team.

Technology is faster than culture. Culture is very slow and discrepancies between the paces of both are problematic. There’s a huge gap between social media and the way the culture is moving.

What benefits come from increased channels of communication before marriage, allowing people to get to know each other’s beliefs and attitudes before committing?

You have the chance to compare and understand different types of people. It gives you the time to find out what it is you really want and what to expect in a relationship.

In a way online dating sites are like modern day matchmakers, how is matchmaking evolving as a whole in Egypt?

Meeting someone on an online dating site is similar to gawaz sallonaat (the milder version of an arranged marriage whereby two groups bring a couple together). Nowadays there are a lot of groups on Facebook and WhatsApp that reflect certain interests or hobbies. Fitness groups are growing in Cairo so people who wouldn’t cross paths normally are getting to meet in an informal group environment – for starters, it’s safer.

Safety is a major concern for online dating newcomers, what are the best ways to reduce risks?

Frankly speaking, it’s difficult to control and avoid risks. People believe everything they read on the Internet so they need to verify that the person they’re talking to is who he says he is and meet in person before things progress. That said, they can’t reduce their risks completely. There’s no censorship, no protection- parents don’t know and you can’t follow what your kids are doing on the Internet. There’s no communication between the children and parents.

Is online dating the way forward to finding love, as life becomes busier? It’s no longer for 20 year olds, it seems to be popular with the older age groups as well.

It can give a chance for people who want serious relationships to pursue it in an upfront way. However, humans are humans and technology is technology – we can’t just rely on technology for emotional support.

What advice would you give to anyone using online resources to strike up relationships?

Don’t jump into a relationship because the person looks good or speaks in a meticulous way. Love is a click – it’s something that happens when people are not focusing on it.

In a world that is better connected than ever, human relationships and interactions are being examined at a minute level. On one hand, it could be viewed as a form of capitalism on love, using a raw, instinctual feeling and twisting it to your advantage. On the other, it is inevitably connecting people who might never have the opportunity to find each other otherwise. >>

With a growing demand in the region, online dating sites continue to expand at a promising rate. Regardless of cultural views on the matter, Internet dating is here to stay – will you get on the bandwagon?

The Tinder panda strikes

After her parents got divorced, Sarah wanted to help her 65 year-old father get back into the dating scene. She encouraged him to start a Tinder profile but he only agreed after she created one herself – albeit with a bogus name and the photo of a panda. After aggressively looking for a soul mate on Tinder, Sarah’s father gave up when he did not successfully match with anyone while his panda daughter got hundreds of matches every day.

The damsel in disguise

Over a boring summer in Cairo, Ahmed decided to entertain himself by creating a female Tinder profile and messing around over the long, hot days. Enter German-Moroccan Julia, an exotic (fictional) personality who within two hours had 700 matches while sitting on a sofa in Rehab. Julia was not only getting matched to people who Ahmed knew but also his married male friends. It got creepy fast and he realized, “how horrible it is to be a girl trying to date online in Egypt.”

The swipe addict

For some, browsing is the beauty of Tinder – similar to the autonomous scrolling up and down of Facebook and Instagram. Noha explains that swiping right and left on the app (right if you’re interested, left if not) is the real addiction here, far more interesting than actually communicating with the guys.

Najla Nagib is a Cairo-based counseling psychologist whose work includes Psychology and Sociology teaching for O-level and A-level IGCSE students.

Ph.D., Environmental Psychology and MA Counseling Psychology American University in Cairo.

BA Social Sciences (Political Science, Psychology and Sociology), American University in Cairo.