Jomana Ismail quits her job and has the luxury of being spontaneous. Three young men in Jomana’s circle of acquaintances decide to cross Egypt on foot to raise awareness about issues related to population growth. Jomana makes the last minute decision to join the 900 kilometer trek from Aswan to Cairo. She has always wanted to travel her country but she never envisioned seeing it on foot.
While flying from Cairo to Aswan in the winter of 2018, Jomana has one thought. The idea that she’ll be walking all the expanse of arid land below her on foot is mind boggling! Her companions’ plan is to walk an average of 42 kms per day for twenty-four days. Jomana’s plan is to walk 10 km and meet up with the others each morning. But Jomana surprises herself as she finishes the total distance each day, her motivation coming from the people she meets and the places she sees as she gains insight, not only about her own determination, but on how women are treated in the diverse cultures within her own country.
Bink Books
238 pp. ● 5.5×8.5
$17.95 (pb) ● $9.99 (eb)
ISBN 978-1-949290-30-1 (pb)
TRAVEL / Middle East / Egypt
TRAVEL / Special Interest / Hikes & Walks
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs
Publication date: March 2020
Jomana Ismail was raised in Cairo, Egypt in a middle class family. Her parents are always supportive. She is the middle child between two sisters and that gave her the privilege to be the younger sister and the older sister; she has the backbone and the kind heartedness.
Jomana has an MBA from Leipzig University. She had colleagues from 23 countries from most of the continents. This exposure gave her the privilege to review her convictions and values and adopt her ones of her own. Sports have always been part of Jomana’s life. She performed artistic gymnastics when she was a young girl. Currently, she does standup paddle and won the national championship, she hikes, and practices Yoga.