After spending fourteen hours on an airplane and eighteen hours overall in transit from DC to NYC to Rome, I finally arrived in Cairo, Egypt around 2pm. After being here only two days, I have already discovered one thing--that Cairo is completely different than anything I could have ever imagined. As my plane circled into the final airport, I was able to get a good look at the city. From thousands of feet above it looks as if the city is one huge block of a sandy, brownish color, divided only by the small lines between buildings and apartments. Not a single space is wasted, aside from the vast and open desert lining and fields of agriculture across the flat land. Not until I stepped of the plane though, did it really hit me in full force. I suppose the first thing that truly hit me was the heat--and it IS hot here.
There was another student going to AUC (American University in Cairo) on my plane, so I was not alone. Also, we quickly made friends with two Egyptians on the plane and a Moroccon girl. I was able to speak Arabic with them, although they spoke very good English as well. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), also called "foos-hah," which is the language I have studied at university, is different than the language spoken on the streets. Actually each Arab country speaks different forms of Arabic on the streets--so different that it is often difficult for them to understand each other, so rather they speak in either English or French. However, many Arabs know bits and pieces of MSA; it is the language spoken on the news, written in books and newspapers, and taught in schools. Anyhow, these people were extremely friendly and spoke Arabic with me and answered any questions I had.
Like I said before, Cairo is unlike anything I could have ever expected. When on the ground, you really do realize that EVERY square inch of space is taken up by something or someone. Additionally, it is loud, dirty, and extremely noisy. I know this makes it sound quite unappealing, but once you survive your cab ride (which, by the way is the scariest experience ever--there are no lanes, drivers have an utter disregard for regulation, lanes, signals, lights, speeds, etc.) and step onto the street, the character of the city comes alive. There are signs seemingly everywhere written in Arabic and sometimes in English, scattered about in a bright array of colors of shops, other signs, and most of all--people. The people are so diverse. Walking down any given street you might see a man neatly tailored in an expensive suit, talking on his cell phone, next to several women wearing beautiful head scarves (hijaabs) and loose, wavy clothing, and then next see a little girl wearing a "The Little Mermaid" pink t-shirt with jeans walking beside a man wearing a full white robe, almost like a dress. It is incredible.
Most importantly about the people, however, is that at least in my first impressions, that the people are simply wonderful. Although when I walk down a street I certainly attract attention simply because I am the only white person standing on the street for blocks, when I try to talk with them they are extremely friendly, always trying to help with directions, and have quite a sense of humor. They love to laugh!
For example, my first night in Egypt: I decided to go out with a couple people I met where I am living (an all women hotel for AUC students located in a residential area). Around 10pm we took a taxi out to the pyramids, in hope of going to see a "light show." It was already starting when we got there, so we ended up bribing a couple military officers (who are everywhere...though usually without guns) to let us sneak behind and watch. After this, our cab driver, who surprisingly spoke relatively good English, was driving us around and took us to what appeared to be a disco, but turned out to be a wedding! He told us we could just go in, that celebrations are open to anyone who wishes to celebrate, so we did. A few of us, self-included, started dancing, and before we knew it, we were dancing with everyone at the wedding, kissing the bride and groom, and taking pictures with them. All of the young girls were nearly fighting over who could dance with us--all of them just wanted to know our names and watch us and hold hands and have fun with the music. A few of the men wanted to dance with us, which was fun (although I made sure not to get too close so as not to offend anyone) and in little time even the older women in traditional Muslim dress were getting down with us on the dance floor. They were so happy and so welcoming to us, it was unbelievable!
Around midnight, we went to a late night restaurant for some chicken schwarma. It was a Thursday night, so a weekend night for Egyptians, and the streets were crawling with people. Men, women, families, and even children are out till very very late in the night. Even at the restaurants! We finally made it back home around 3am. What a first night and welcoming!
Salaam!
posted by Katie Warren @ 7:36 AM
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