Hello everyone in Sharjah, I hope youāre all doing great!
Even though I was born in Qatar, I actually lived a big chunk of my childhood in Sharjah, all the way from KG up to the end of 6th grade.
After very long years I will be coming back on a short visit, but I am afraid this trip will ruin my memories/nostalgia because the image I currently have of Sharjah is the one I had as a kid, and places change over time.
Buhaira Corniche in winter with my cousins, cycling and playing football on the grass. I still remember the smell of the grass so well, and I still remember how lively Buhaira was. I remember Ramadan used to come across winter and they would have corn and chestnut vendors only during Ramadan and Eid in nice cold weather.
Sahara Centre with my mother and brothers after school, the sweet corn outside Spinneys in the basement floor. Adventure Land, the roller coaster, the football cards machine game.
My late aunt used to take me out on car rides, and she used to buy me all snacks and sweets that I liked.
My father buying me my first ever football jersey from Central Souk, it was a Brazil R9 shirt.
The first World Cup I watched as well, we used to go to a packed cafƩ to watch the 2006 World Cup games because the ART subscription was too expensive.
My school, Rosary School in Mleiha, and the great memories I had there with my friends.
I later went to another school in Al Nahda/Dubai, getting stuck on the school bus at Al Taawun Roundabout, hopping on the bus before sunrise to reach school on time. Playing PSP or Top Trumps on the bus so we donāt get bored.
Al Wahda Street and the old Lebanese Ice Cream shop, the shawarma and falafel places. Al Mukhtar Bakery on Al Ettihad Road. As a first grader with daily experience riding the school bus I have memorized all of Sharjahās roads and even used to help adult family members navigate before GPS. Believe it or not I still remember all directions by heart even after almost 20 years since I left. I also remember going to the flying saucer with my father to get lunch home from Al Tazaj (I heard the building now is an art centre), I slightly remember it was a COOP when we first moved to Sharjah.
Sharjah COOP in Khalidiya was our main place to shop, I remember how busy it used to be.
And Carrefour in City Centre was where we always used to buy our school bags and supplies before September, and I used to hate seeing the back to school decorations because I never wanted summer to end.
I wrote this post very randomly, I only wrote what came to mind with no consideration to grammar or proper writing, itās a mixture of feelings and emotions of memories when life was way simpler. Sharjah will always be a dear and special city to my heart ā¤ļø
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