I was lucky to catch Marwa in between trips to Muscat and even luckier to steal some time from her to take these photos, since her two little kids were visiting at that time. For the last four years Marwa has been living with one foot on the UK and the other in the Oman Gulf, constantly flying back and forth, bravely adding pressure to an already demanding, time and emotionally consuming PhD program; and for this she forever has my absolute admiration. Marwa is one of three amazing women I meet that had to be away from their kids while studying abroad. All three committing to a split-life, renouncing the main gift of mindfulness of being present, to always being connected to what’s happening miles away to the ones that matter to them the most. Not being a mother myself yet but being around one since I was 1 millisecond old, I say with no disregard to fathers, I praise the incredible power of women in their lifelong commitment of unconditional attention and sacrifice for their children, from that first cry to everything else that comes after. I never know the path a story will take until I start writing and Marwa´s story ended up being about motherhood, and as motherhood usually goes, a story about strength. And Marwa has the best kind, she has inner strenght, one that is not obvious at first sight where you´ll see a reserved, serene and elegant woman, with impeccable makeup, wearing modest traditional outfits with style. I love how friendship can be all about differences and my friendship with Marwa showed me there are no limits for them. I can’t remember how or when exactly we became friends, but I will always remember and value each of our breakfast club sessions, one of the few traditions I manage to hold during these crazy nomad years were change have been my only constant. And because long distances does not affect strong relationships, and this one I learned years ago, I am sure our breakfast club will live on, I see future pop up sessions in Muscat, Valparaíso and wherever Skarleth (our third mousquetaire from the breakfast club featured in the next story) is based, so no need for too much nostalgia in our last breakfast coming up very very soon…
