Like so many Egyptian families in the late 80s and early 90s, Nada's family moved to Saudi Arabia in search of a better life. Years later, they returned to Egypt for the exact same reason.

But those years in the middle were pivotal in shaping Nada in the same way they were pivotal in shaping Egypt's social landscape.

Now on the other side of the Egyptian dream, Nada reflects on the world she knew growing up and how – at such a young age and having known nothing beyond the reality she was raised in – her soul knew that there's gotta be more to life than this.

Though Monica and Nada come from completely different worlds, they find that they have far more in common than they could've imagined, including this strange sense of longing for a home they never quite knew.

See Egypt through Nada's eyes on Instagram @nada_abdrabou.

While you’re there, follow The Foreign Local (@theforeignlocal) for more stories connecting the Egyptian diaspora with everyday life in Om el Donya.