Sarah in Egypt

A World of Contradictions

Cairo, and really Egypt in general, is truly a living contradiction.  This place has redefined the word “dirty”, the streets are crowded, and there is constant confusion. However, this place is also full of livelihood, kind-hearted people, and breath-taking beauty (which is not a pun on the pollution). All in the same week I have felt as if the concept of personal space no longer existed and as if I were as free as a bird; I felt like ”quiet” was merely something one hears of in fairy tales and experienced deafening silence; I felt like mankind was completely disconnected from the Earth and then had incredible interactions with Mother Nature.  This is Egypt in a nutshell.  One will feel every range of emotion, and one’s senses will all, at some time or another, be assaulted and stimulated.

 Cairo is the definition of overcrowded.  The streets are packaged, the traffic is horrendous, and everyone is in everyone else’s way.  However, on the outskirts of the city in Giza is where I found one of the most incredibly open, silent and beautiful places on earth.  Last week, a local friend took me horseback riding near the Pyramids in Giza.  We rode leisurely with our tourguide at sunset to take in the full beauty of this place.  On one side of the Pyramids I observed the city, which stretched far and wide.  It was truly incredible to see it at that distance.  It was so peaceful.  The only noises I heard were the gallop of my horse beneath me, the wind blowing around me, and the sound of my own breath.  We rode with our guide to a small encampment near the Pyramids.  Here we met with fellow riders and enjoyed a glass of hot tea.  On the other side of the Pyramids were hills and hills of sand as far as the eye could see and the sun setting in the distance. I’ve never felt more free.

This weekend, I went on a trip organized by ALI to AUC.  Alexandria has a completely different character than Cairo. Alexandria sits right on the Mediterranean Sea and was quite literally a breath of fresh air.  Our hotel sat on the beach, and our weekend was filled with visits to monuments, historical sites, palaces, and, of course, a trip the Alexandria Library. Where ever we went we were accompanied by the sea. It was refreshing to not sit in hours of traffic jams, to not hear the constant honking horns, to see beautiful colors infused in everyday life.  Not to say that I am cheating on Cairo, I’m still very much in love with this city; but, Alexandria has left a lasting impression on me and I will definitely visit again.

Arriving in Egypt

Hello, Everyone!

 I arrived in Cairo safe and sound, and I’m finally settling into my new life.  I live with Shannon and Huma, my fellow Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars from the U.S., in the neighborhood of Mohandesseen, which is pretty crowded and very popular with the locals.  My neighborhood is quite conservative, and my roommates and I stick out like a sore thumb.  However, everyone is very friendly and helpful.

 I live in the bottom floor of a two-story house, a rare find in this part of the city which is covered in high rise apartment buildings.  We have three bedrooms, one and a half baths, a large, open kitchen, a dining room, living room, and reception area.  Our apartment is furnished and has great character. I’ll be sure to post pics of our place in the future.

We have met a few of the people in our neighborhood.  Our landlord, Dr. Samy, and his wife, Madame Soraya, are an adorable elderly couple.  Their adult daughter lives Canada with a family of her own.  Dr. Samy and Madame Soraya were instrumental in helping us find our way once we moved into the apartment. Then, there’s Uma Mohammed, a round, jovial woman who cleans our apartment.  We have also established friendly acquaintances with employees at our local bread shop, fruit stand, women’s clothing shop, local restaurants, and the like.

My classes are very interesting.  I have four classes, all of them in Arabic, which focus on Arabic grammar, vocabulary, issues in Arabic media, and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (slang/common language). My instructors are all enthusiastic about teaching the language and quite willing to go above and beyond for any student who needs additional instruction. They have such passion and are personally invested in the success of their students.  I am truly lucky to have them.

Now that I am settled, I am able to start exploring Cairo and Egypt in general.  Last weekend, I went on a trip organized by the AUC Arabic Language Institute (ALI) to the Citadel.  It was breath taking.  Here’s a website to check-out if you want to learn a bit more about this historical site:  http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/citadel.htm

 This coming weekend, we are travelling to Alexandria with ALI. I’ll be sure to post some info about that trip next week.

Muhammed Ali Mosque

Kitty, a classmate, Me, Huma, a roommate, and Shannon, my other roommate