British ex-pat Joanna Girling has shared how she is saving for her wedding to her Egyptian toyboy – despite her family not agreeing with her relationship and move to Egypt
After being dumped by her first Egyptian lover, Brit Joanna Girling, 50, has fallen head over heels for new toyboy Hysm Fygo, and the pair are now saving for their wedding.
The former Tesco worker moved from Kings Lynn, Norfolk, to Hurghada, Egypt, to live with Hysm, 41, despite facing backlash from her family, whom she no longer has contact with.
Joanna dumped her British husband after meeting her first boyfriend, Hassan Kahlied, on holiday in Egypt in 2018. This relationship ultimately ended, and shortly afterwards, in 2019, Joanna met Hysm while he was working in his shop.
The pair are madly in love, with their wedding plans now in full swing. Meanwhile, Joanna has settled into Egyptian life working as a private English tutor and bookings agent.
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“Lots of people didn’t think our relationship would last because of what happened to me in the past,” Joanna told the Mirror, recalling her past relationship with Hassan.
She has fiercely denied any part of Hysm being with her for money and added: “They still think Hysm is just with me for my money, but I know it’s not true. When I first met him, I had nothing, and he knew I had no money. Hysm actually got a bank loan out to pay for my visa in Egypt after I got divorced.”
She calls Hysm her “soulmate” and they are looking to save up funds to tie the knot after finalising her divorce from her husband in the UK.
Hysm, who is currently between jobs, hopes to get his driving license soon so he can become an Uber driver and help his fiancée save up for their big day. But getting married in Egypt is not as straightforward, as the couple will need to travel to Cairo for the paperwork.
She explained: “To get married, there is so much paperwork involved from the British Embassy. We have to go to Cairo, which is expensive. I need to leave the country too, to update my visa,” but they are facing multiple set backs for reaching the funds needed. She even moved back to the UK in 2021 and picked up her old job at Tesco to save some extra cash – while also finalising her divorce.
However, it won’t be a family affair for Joanna, as her family hasn’t spoken to her since she moved to Egypt to be with Hysm. “My family still don’t speak to me. I haven’t spoken to them since I moved out here, and originally, I was sad about it, but now it really doesn’t bother me.
“It’s now been over six years, but at first I was upset, and I found out my brother had moved to America and my parents had gone to visit him for a holiday, but when it comes to me they are so anti-Egypt they don’t want anything more to do with me. But that’s their loss I am so happy here.
“I’m not a child, I’m 50 years old now, so I think I’m old enough to do what I want to do,” she added. When it comes to her friends, Joanna said some of her friends have come to visit her, but others have said they don’t understand why she loves Egypt so much. The ex-supermarket worker previously shared how her friends “didn’t think it would last” adding: “I’m still here.”
Joanna said she loves how friendly people are in Egypt, and how making the move there has changed her life. Not only has she met her soulmate, but she also enjoys a healthier lifestyle. She shared: “It’s just a better way of life for me.
“In England, I was driving everywhere and me and my ex would eat bad food, we would be having Chinese takeaways, McDonald’s and KFC, but here it’s just a much healthier way of life.”
She always knew she wanted to live in Egypt and had spoken about dreams of moving there with her first husband if they could both find jobs there, but once their marriage had fallen apart, Joanna realised she no longer had anything holding her back from moving.
Joanna and Hysm have dreams of having a child, opening a shop together, and getting married, but for the moment, Joanna is working hard to make these dreams a reality.
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