Arrived in Cairo finally after a day of traveling. I almost lost my luggage because the tag fell off. Of course this would have been the luggage with all my computer equipment on it. So you could believe how much panic I felt when it didn’t arrive at my feet. I couldn’t find my way around JFK airport either. Apparently Terminal Four was in another building…and of course I walked around like an idiot looking for this “Terminal Four” that no one could explain to me where it was. Apparently I had to get to it by “Air Train”…so after four hours of aimless wandering with a 60 pound bag and my carryon (seriously they weighed it…it’s 60 pounds) I finally made my way to Terminal Four. You could not imagine the relief I felt when I actually found Egypt Air and my professor. I met the rest of the group there, except one girl who was meeting us. Total there are six girls and one guy, which surprised me. I actually thought there would be more guys because of the “dangers.” I guess there are just more adventurous girls like me. We had a very long plane ride, which I had a horrible headache on, but I survived. Surprisingly, the attendants confused me as being Egyptian. They kept talking to me in Arabic even though I would only answer in English, and then talk to everyone else in English. I think it’s because of my over waxed eyebrows. I snuck in a visit before I went to Egypt…and they were pretty much taken off. Of course I was thinking, “…Oh no…I’m not going to fit in with my non-existent eyebrows.” I was wrong…every woman here has over waxed or plucked eyebrows…so I look even more similar.
We went straight to the hotel afterwards…watching through the windows the land that we had been anticipating since we got accepted into the program. Cairo happens to be a very busy city. The smell of exhaust is very stagnant. The streets are crowded…and the driving seems terrible to our standards. Of course the more I drive in a vehicle…and walk to streets…I realize, Egyptians have mastered driving a standard car. It is almost like clockwork how they drive…though it is sparatic. I would never want to drive here though….I would assume that you could only drive in Cairo…or anywhere in Egypt with much practice. The car horn is the most favorite accessory to the car. The honk their horn for three reasons…
- 1) Let you know they are next or behind you in a car.
- 2) Get you out of their way (pedestrian or car)
- 3) At foreigners
Our hotel has a wonderful view…I decided to bunk with the girl from Bowdoin who hadn’t arrived yet…and so I got to be on the sixth floor in a corner room. Two wonderful windows so I can open them up for a great breeze…and smell the exhaust… and hear the horns…. hmmm… maybe I close those. But it really is a great room. Not many working plugs…and it’s a smoking hotel so it really bothers my asthma, but we are only in Cairo for a short time.
The people in Cairo are so wonderful though. They are so nice! Very friendly…and helpful. They really enjoy teaching you Arabic. I think they find us cute. Kinda like how we (in Maine) find tourists cute trying to open a lobster with a fork and knife. I am trying to remember how to act properly in Egypt. Like Bath being a tourist town…I must assume the Egyptians have a love hate relationship with tourists just as I do with tourists. Respect is the most important when visiting. Though I am not as important some that might travel, I am still a representative of my culture, and best impressions are important. I’d rather leave a good impression…than one that made them hate us more.
The Egyptians in Cairo pretty much all know English, so communication isn’t so bad. I wish I knew Arabic. Egyptians are very friendly…because they know we are potential customers. Anyone who helps you though, usually asks for some kind of Backsheesh…“tip.” Either they ask…or follow you for one. We had to learn real quick not to accept help, or be quick about it.
The Egyptians though, are very interested in Americans. Apparently not many Americans come to Egypt, in ratio to Europeans. I did notice that most of the tourists I have seen all are from Europe. There is an Internet café in Cairo I can use, which is wonderful, very close to the hotel. So I can go there for internet! Yay! But I was tired today and didn’t go, I just slept and ate. I need to get over this jet lag.
My roommate is great, she reminds me of my friend Sarah. I must say all the kids here remind me of people from Morse…except they like Egypt…and that is great. For now I am going to bed so I have energy tomorrow for a wonderful walk to experience Cairo.
