CAIRO - She was wearing a galabiya with a heavy pair of trousers and woolen socks to protect herself from the chilling cold and was a poor-looking woman, whose pale face and tired wrinkles spoke of her hardships in life. She called on the passengers in an underground carriage to "Pray to God because hard times are coming ahead". A popular uprising erupted in Egypt in 2011 in protest against endemic corruption, poverty, and social injustice and ended the authoritarian rule of President Mubarak on February 11. One year later, people living below the poverty line have become disenchanted with the national salvation government because of the harsh financial circumstances they still suffer from. The poor of this nation are frustrated. Their hopes for a better and dignified life after the ousting of Mubarak have dimmed while Egypt is still reeling from the aftershocks of its revolution. They see no improvements in their life. The price of food is still soaring and work dried up. Post-Mubarak Egypt may be freer, but of the county's more than 80 million population, around 16 million people are struggling to live on less than $2 a day. "I don't care about Al-Tahrir or El-Mosheer (referring to Field-Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi head of the ruling military council). I just want to collect the money I need and come back home at the end of the day with food for my children to eat," said Moushira Mohamed, a street vendor. Some Egyptians, tired of the political, social and economic instability that has engulfed the country ever since the revolution, are keen for things to go back to normal. They have started to wonder how long Egypt will experience turbulence. "Matters seem to be deteriorating rather than stabilising. Egypt is still beleaguered with rampant corruption, crime is surging and there are continued attacks by thugs,” 32-year-old Amir Atef, an accountant, told The Egyptian Gazette. Meanwhile, others, despite their discontent with the slow pace of reform, are determined to move on and hopeful that their country will change for the better. They look at the gains achieved so far with optimism; the most important of which is breaking the barrier of fear between the ruled and the rulers. "It is clear that the path of reform is slow. But change is tangible. We enjoy newly captured freedoms. We speak up and ask for our demands without fear. I'm sure that Egypt will change for the better, but it will take a long time," said 31-year-old Doaa Ahmed, a housewife. "We breathe hope, we paid with our blood to get our freedom, my beloved Egypt is and will always be great," said Farida Nasr, a pharmacist. "This year is filled with a hope for a better future, even though it is still marred by uncertainties," said Ahmed Mahmoud, a medical student. However, the rising tide of hope, which has filled people's hearts since the toppling of Mubarak, sinks when there is any instance of violence. The bloody clashes that erupted in Port Said Stadium pitch on Wednesday evening following a football match between the home Al-Masry and visiting Al-Ahly teams have depressed many in this country. More than 72 people were killed and hundreds injured after the home team's supporters flooded onto the pitch to beat up Al-Ahly's fans. “I'm really furious. There are recurrent cases of riot and bloody violence since the revolution. When will the ship of this nation be anchored?” asked Heba Belal, a civil servant.
