I graduated in 1983 with High Honors at the American University in Cairo majoring in Mass Communication, emphasis on Journalism, and Translation. I had two translation courses as a part of my major, one of them was Advanced Translation, a 400 level course, and I got A’s in both courses.

After graduation I started self education in the Egyptology field, and passed the Tour Guide Examination at the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism in 1985. I worked as a freelance tour guide for more than twenty years in English, French and Italian. I also started translating very early in the 80s when I helped my uncle, who was one of the founders of the Administrative Control Authority in Egypt. They hadn't completed their staff and I translated the necessary documents for free!

For two years in Dubai I collaborated with the Italian Consulate. I translated documents from Arabic to Italian for clients who needed to submit these documents to the Consulate. I also freelanced for several advertising agencies usually translating from Arabic to English and vice versa, but occasionally translating from and into Italian and French.

Recently my work has been focused on translation for International Organizations, I have done work for: FAO, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, Global Fund, BetterAid, IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance), UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), ITU (International Telecommunication Union), OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), and The Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue Between Cultures, among others.

I am also specialized in marketing, literature, and creative translation in general, as I enjoy the thrill of figuring out how to best adapt a slogan, a key phrase or a play on words so it feels as if it has been written specifically for a particular market.

I am keen on knowledge. I loved AUC because you did not work only on one discipline, but you had plenty of general requirement courses, collaterals, electives as well as a minor! I could therefore, satisfy my curiosity about many different disciplines such as Anthropology, Egyptology, Psychology, Sociology, Astronomy, Literature, Economics, Politics, Astronomy, Biology and most of all the History of Art.

I love literature and I read many among the masterpieces of the great Arab, French, English, American, Italian and Russian authors.

I had French schooling and was raised up in Rome, where I lived till the age of 17. The great art and architecture of this city have left their sign on me. Close and early contact with the Western civilization, as well as an excellent education in a cosmopolitan school have broadened up my horizons, and led me to appreciate cultural differences, and to value and respect my own culture and traditions.

I also am an artist! I paint, make silver jewelry, and mosaic and stained glass artworks. If there is any time left I crochet for my granddaughter!

I think that anything you learn will eventually turn out to be useful.

I believe that "when there's a will there's a way".