So, I’ve made it to Egypt. It’s the start of my second full day (but it feels like my third day, since I arrived so damn early on the 1st) and I’ve got some time to myself while my dad visits the bank with my uncle.
This isn’t going to be very in-depth, but I wanted to take a minute to share some observations and impressions of my time here so far.
Cairo is a whole new world in ways I did and did not expect. The roads are as insane as I was warned, the weather as hot and humid as I worried it might be. Sweating is a way of life, I’ve found so far, but there is air conditioning in the bedrooms, so I’m grateful for that.
Our apartment is in the 6th of October neighborhood. Dad tells me this is a nicer part of the city, and I’m interested to see how it differs from more touristy parts of town. I don’t believe there are many tourists in this area—I certainly feel like I stand out with my unveiled hair and my short sleeves. My dad insists I don’t need to cover myself, and the weather dissuades me from layering more than I have to, but I definitely feel distinct walking down the street, which I don’t love.
Though I’ve only been here a few days, the honking of the cars outside is already background noise. I’ve come to realize that despite what you might assume, the national language of Egypt is not Arabic, but car horns, which you can hear incessantly regardless of time of day.
Being here has truly made me aware of the perceptions of this place I didn’t even know I had. I’ve had preconceived deficit mindsets both confirmed and challenged, and it’s been eye-opening, literally, to see the ways this city really is compared to what we see on television or read in books. Cairo, and by extension Egypt, is so much more than its antiquities.
It’s hard for me to fathom that the reality of modern Cairo is so far removed from what people understand of it generally in the West. You don’t have to be here for more than a few hours to see that. And I’m convinced that anyone who comes here and only takes in the history of this place, and not the place on the whole, is racist, to be frank.
That said, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t envy to some degree how some tourists come here with their days mapped out, their amenities readily available, and their experience more sanitized and catered to their Western sensibilities. I’m getting a more authentic Cairene experience, which is fantastic in a lot of ways, and uncomfortable in others.
Of course, meeting my family has been an important experience. I’ve met a gaggle of Egyptians so far, with varying degrees of luck when it comes to communication. Not speaking Arabic is a huge challenge, but my family is prone to making hearts with their hands and holding them to their chest so I understand the most important thing: That we are blood, and that I’m loved. I’m uncomfortable being the center of attention, and it’s awkward when we struggle to talk, but I’m so glad I’m finally meeting everyone. Even when they terrify me by dragging me into oncoming traffic to cross the street, or try to get me to order food in Arabic or dance in front of them.
I’m not made for traveling, and in all honesty I wish I was coming home sooner still. But there are lots of adventures still ahead, so we’ll see how my feelings evolve over time. I’ll update you then.
I’ll leave you now with a picture of Blossom, my classroom mascot the kids take home when they’re star student. At night is when it’s hardest to be so far from home, and I absolutely cuddle Blossom like a five year old to comfort me as I fall asleep. I’m taking pictures of her to share with the kids when school starts again. They can’t wait to see Egypt through her eyes.
