She was born in Egypt and, although she has lived most of her life away from there, it is clear that she carries the blood of the ancient pharaohs in her veins. Magda still loves the country and speaks passionately about her childhood neighbourhood in cosmopolitan Cairo, about the pyramids as witnesses of ancient grandeur, and about Alexandria and its lovely sea...

“I moved from Egypt right away after I finished my university. I studied international law and decided to join the United Nations in Vienna afterwards. This is where I met my husband, back then a junior Danish diplomat.” She remembers dearly (fondly ?) her Vienna days, her apartment near the famous Hundertwasserhaus, the opera nights, the elegance of the city… Hearing her talking about the city, I remembered my own five years spent in the Austrian capital, which will forever stay in my heart.

“It was a big decision to move from Vienna and not an easy one, but after 15 years in Austria, I decided to follow my husband and move to Brussels. I had become an Austrian citizen in between, was fluent in German, but I had to move on.” Following her husband’s career, they lived in Togo, Estonia and Israel. Magda made lots of friends everywhere and also looked for ways to get involved and help and contribute to the local communities. She tells me,“it’s not easy to stop working. You get bored, there’s no fun in staying at home. I worked for an American company as a legal adviser for a couple of years.” Coming back to Brussels, she worked at the Jordanian Embassy. She speaks six languages, so she easily relates to people. I could see that when I talked to her. It is clear that she adapts easily to new places. She says, “Home is where I am. I loved each country we lived in. They were all very different, but I felt everywhere at home. The first year was always the hardest, until I became familiar with the place. But then, I was like a fish in the pond.”

Coming back to Brussels, one evening at a party, she met one of the founders of Femmes d’Europe, who told her about the newly founded Association. Together with an Irish friend, she then had the idea to start a new multinational group, which is still today one of the largest in Femmes d’Europe. “In only two months we found 16 members to join, from different countries. Together, we did lots of events and loved it.”

She tells me that she particularly enjoys the cultural events at Femmes d’Europe, but she also gladly joins the trips, in and outside Brussels. She likes Brussels for its food and culture. “I love Oggi a Milano - it is a lovely Italian restaurant, not far from my home. Les Brasseries Georges is also another good choice for dining out.” She enjoys the exhibitions and artistic events around the city. Magda is also very active and sporty. “I have done sports all my life. I played tennis, did yoga… I still do a bit of sport every day, whether it is Zumba, Pilates, latino dance or stretching. I try to keep in shape.”

Besides Brussels, she tells that me she likes the little old towns around even more. But she also admires new modern architecture, like the headquarters of the Antwerp Port Authority, designed by the late British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, located on the site of a former derelict fire station.

“Every summer I like to go back to Austria, together with my husband we go hiking around Innsbruck. It is a lovely area and the scenery is spectacular.”

As I left our meeting, I couldn’t help but reflect on her graceful resilience and joyful spirit. Magda is a true citizen of the world - curious, open, and full of life. Her story is one of movement, adaptation, and meaningful connection, a reminder that wherever we go, it’s not the place that defines us, but the way we embrace it. “Live and let live” is not just something she says, it’s the way she walks through life, with kindness, courage, and an open heart.

Magda was interviewed by Alexandra Paucescu
Communications Committee