Egyptian Father In Denver Worries About Kids
DENVER (CBS4) - Glued to live updates on Arabian television, Hossam Karoussa is unable to sleep because of the turmoil in his homeland. The father and husband, currently living in Denver, is tormented by conflicting emotions.
"Even though I'm very proud of what is happening now in Egypt, I'm very worried about my family," Karoussa said.
His daughter Sarah is 10; his son Abraheem is 13. They live with their mother in the city of Alexandria, a lawless land because police have walked off the job.
"The criminals are running around the streets," he explained.
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All this is happening, of course, because the unpopular Egyptian president Hosni Mubarek won't leave office despite massive protests.
Karoussa tries to comfort his family with daily cell phone calls.
"My baby Sarah was crying and my wife was crying, I tried to convince them this was a good thing for us," Karoussa said.
Good because Karoussa, like many Egyptian ex-patriots in the Denver area, wants to see Mubarek ousted. He believes the current pain is worth the gain.
The father is most proud of his son who he says wants to experience this important moment in history.
"He wants to go down with the young men … to keep the security in the street," he added.
Karoussa became a U.S. citizen two years ago after emigrating here a decade ago. He works in local real estate. Knowing commercial flights into Egypt have been shut down for now, he's still desperately trying to return home.
"I do want to go over there to secure their food for the coming six months, I know it's going to be a big problem over there," Karoussa said.
The anxious family man believes pushing Mubarek out is just a matter of time. When it does happen, he says American aid will be critical to Egypt's welfare.
