Elena, a Russian national who lives in Sharm el-Sheikh, said her first visit to the Red Sea resort was a turning point in her life.
"I first visited the city 16 years ago," said Elena. "I loved its weather and I was attracted to the nature, so I decided to live here. I married an Egyptian man and we have a daughter named Yasmin."
A few years later, Elena wanted her daughter to play gymnastics, but she could not find a school for gymnastics in Sharm el-Sheikh. Elena decided to establish her own school for gymnastics and started to give gymnastics lessons at her house.
Elena moved to Sharm el-Sheikh Sports Club to create a school for rhythmic gymnastics that had 30 participants who competed in the tournaments and championships in Egypt and Russia.
She also hired Russian gymnastics coaches.
"My daughter achieved first ranks in many tournaments and represented Egypt in championships in Russia," she said.
Elena said she feels that she is an Egyptian citizen. She speaks Arabic and exercises the habits of Egyptians. She added she applied for Egyptian citizenship before the revolution, but the papers were burned during the unrest following January 25, 2011.
"Its not about documents or passport though. I feel 100 percent Egyptian," she said.
Elena said her father is also buried near Mount Sinai and she visits his grave often.
Russian tourists cannot stay away from Sharm el-Sheikh for long, which they consider their second home, Elena said regarding the recent crisis of tourism in Sharm el-Sheikh.
She said 6,000 Russian tourists are living permanently in the resort.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
