Ep 10. Cairo Cowboy

Ramy season 1 episode 10, titled "Cairo Cowboy," follows the show's titular character, Ramy, as he takes a trip to Egypt to visit his family. Ramy is an American Muslim and his visit to Egypt is a chance for him to reconnect with his roots and explore the country that his parents call home. However, his trip is far from smooth sailing.

Upon his arrival in Egypt, Ramy is met with the cultural shock of being in a vastly different environment than what he is used to. The crowded streets, chaotic traffic and unfamiliar language all serve as reminders of the stark differences between his life in America and his family's life in Egypt. Despite this, Ramy is determined to make the best of his trip and learn more about his family and his heritage.

As Ramy navigates the streets of Egypt, he begins to feel a sense of displacement; he feels neither fully American nor fully Egyptian. This feeling of not belonging is further compounded when he meets his cousin, Shadi. Unlike Ramy, Shadi is wholly immersed in Egyptian culture and seems to have no trouble fitting in. Ramy becomes jealous of his cousin's effortless assimilation and, at times, feels like an outsider in his own family.

Ramy's trip takes an unexpected turn when he meets a girl named Amani. Amani is a free-spirited artist who challenges Ramy's perspective on life and his own identity. Ramy is drawn to Amani's carefree attitude and her willingness to question cultural norms, and the two quickly strike up a relationship. However, their romance is threatened by the disapproving attitudes of Ramy's family and the cultural differences that exist between the two.

Throughout the episode, Ramy struggles with reconciling his American identity with his Egyptian heritage. He questions if it is possible to fully embrace one culture without denouncing the other, and whether it is possible to find a sense of belonging in a world that is constantly changing. As he grapples with these questions, Ramy is forced to confront the idea that perhaps he will never truly feel at home in either culture.

"Cairo Cowboy" is a poignant exploration of the complexities of cultural identity and the challenges that come with straddling two vastly different worlds. The episode is a standout in the first season of Ramy, serving as a reminder that, despite our cultural differences, the struggles we face in finding our place in the world are universal.