Sipping expensive cocktails and nibbling on exotic fruits and cheeses at extravagant events in the presence of Presidents and Prime Ministers, Kings and Queens, are all part of a hard day’s work in the diplomatic service. Or at least that is what many Egyptians like to believe. “It sounds glamorous, exciting and even romantic,” says 21-year-old Myrna Abbas, the daughter of an Egyptian Ambassador. “But in reality, many fail to realize that though our lives seem so desirable, the journey to how we became who we are, and the obstacles we have faced are far beyond what many people believe.” These misconceptions are widespread in Egypt. During a parliamentary session on May 21st, members of parliament condemned the Foreign Ministry’s budget, claiming that diplomats and their families are being paid extraordinarily high “just to fly first or business class…and live in lavish mansions across the globe.” In reality, diplomatic life for Egypt’s 980 diplomats is far from glamorous. For every posting in New York and Paris, there are many more in obscure and desperate cities like Mogadishu and Kabul. Safety and services such as functional hospitals and well-stocked supermarkets are…
