On Eid, Vacations and BS family life

I sit here on the eve of the first day of Eid, frowning, smoking and cursing, trying to remember when the last time I had a decent vacation was. Being a student in one of the most overrated and extremely ludicrous universities in this city (the faculty of medicine, Ein Shams), the whole notion of ‘vacation’ never really exists for 45 of the 52 weeks a year.

And here comes Eid, knocking on our doors, promising relaxation, a compensation for a ridiculous social life, and a few days where a guy can actually do whatever he wants.

But, there’s obviously something wrong with parents’ perceptions on what holidays mean. After you’ve spent most of the year following inexplicable rules and living up to what they expect you to do (studying, studying, and maybe even…no, just studying), you count the days to when you’ll be free of the strings attached to you; to when you can go and come by your own decrees. What you end up with is a list of chores, schedules and never ending requests that ironically make you crave for the new school year.

And here comes Eid, knocking on our doors, promising chores, bullshit perceptions of what family life should be like, and a few days where you’d rather grab a gun and shoot everyone around you than hear one more person wish you a happy whatever.

I’d like to think that there are solutions for all this. Finish up as much as you can in one day so you can take two or three days all for yourself. Maybe even spend the first day of Eid at home. But what’s the use really, when in the end it’s a ‘family holiday’ and you’re required to devote four days to people you try to avoid most of the year anyway. So, I suggest we all stand together in one massive voice saying “If we’re required to do whatever you want on OUR vacations, then you have no right to tell us what to do for the rest of the year!”

And here comes Eid, knocking on our doors…and for some reason, I really don’t care.