I will be returning to Cairo within the next few weeks, to see the country through non-tourist eyes. I think I did a fairly good job of not seeing the country through American eyes while I was there, but it's something I'll still need to be aware of. Western media and government have done their best to make us fearful of Arab countries. Very simple ideals have been twisted 180 degrees to give Americans the impression that Arabs are subhuman, cruel and sadistic people, especially the men. I think there are people like that from every culture, especially our own. What makes a difference is on what we choose to focus our attention and energies. We can find the negative and dark and evil in every people and place. While I don't turn a blind eye to evil, it's not where my focus lies. Evil is everywhere, even in small town NH.
Even more important than dropping the American perspective while there is seeing the beautiful country of Egypt through Ahmed's eyes. Hanging out with his friends, dining at the restaurants he frequents, seeing so much more than the Great Pyramids, Sphinx, Ramses II tomb... When he took me to his mom's place and to a civilized private hospital, I saw how much I didn't know about Egypt. It's a developing country, yes, but there are areas which are certainly developed, even upscale.
I will continue to update this blog of my journey and new developments. I hope to share my experiences with my American friends and possibly open their eyes to Egypt in a way they wouldn't ordinarily be able to see. Let my eyes be yours. As I learn and discover, so will you. I look forward to your comments, questions and suggestions! If there's something you're curious about or always wanted to know, please ask and I will do my best to have your questions answered, from my newcomer perspective and from the native Egyptian perspective.
Just ask.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
More than I could have ever imagined
Egypt is a beautiful country. If you've ever wanted to go, just go. Really. It's safe, beautiful and the people are wonderful. My largest piece of advice is to drop all preconceived notions of an Arab culture and simply observe and soak it in. The more you try to impose how things "should be" on the culture, the less you will get out of your experience.
I'm not sure how to say this, so I'll just say it. I fell in love. On a soul, cellular and spiritual level. God called me to Egypt for a reason, and Ahmed is the reason. He knew from the moment he saw me, and I knew a few short days later, when we each lay gazing at each other from our bunks, in the adjoining overnight cabins of the train from Cairo to Aswan.
He invited me to his cabin to watch a movie on his laptop. We left the smoky club car and locked ourselves into our respective cabins, each a single. Everyone else had roommates. I'm not a big drinker, and cigarette smoke irritates my lungs. We left the rest of the group to retreat to our own type of relaxation. We used the inside door to create a path, and settled in for a movie. The gently rocking train certainly gave a romantic effect, but I was not there for romance, necessarily.
We half watched the movie and mostly talked. Our shoulders touched as we sat side by side. He mentioned how good that felt, as he hadn't had human contact and stimulating conversation in a very long time. We held hands. Shortly after, I was hugging him. We talked of our family. He got close to my face and I thought was going to kiss me, but he stopped me. He shared with me something very intimate and erotic - something I've never experienced before. It still feels very private and close, so I won't be writing about it here.
As the evening went on, we did kiss. We kissed until about 3 am, at which point I returned to my cabin. He asked if we could keep the inner door open while we slept. We gazed at each other until we fell asleep, the cabins lit only by occasional street lamps and lights from train stations at which we stopped.
Ahmed and I spent every night together since then. We were discreet because of the situation, and it was only until he invited me to the cruise ship director's table for breakfast that others started to catch on.
I'm not sure how to say this, so I'll just say it. I fell in love. On a soul, cellular and spiritual level. God called me to Egypt for a reason, and Ahmed is the reason. He knew from the moment he saw me, and I knew a few short days later, when we each lay gazing at each other from our bunks, in the adjoining overnight cabins of the train from Cairo to Aswan.
He invited me to his cabin to watch a movie on his laptop. We left the smoky club car and locked ourselves into our respective cabins, each a single. Everyone else had roommates. I'm not a big drinker, and cigarette smoke irritates my lungs. We left the rest of the group to retreat to our own type of relaxation. We used the inside door to create a path, and settled in for a movie. The gently rocking train certainly gave a romantic effect, but I was not there for romance, necessarily.
We half watched the movie and mostly talked. Our shoulders touched as we sat side by side. He mentioned how good that felt, as he hadn't had human contact and stimulating conversation in a very long time. We held hands. Shortly after, I was hugging him. We talked of our family. He got close to my face and I thought was going to kiss me, but he stopped me. He shared with me something very intimate and erotic - something I've never experienced before. It still feels very private and close, so I won't be writing about it here.
As the evening went on, we did kiss. We kissed until about 3 am, at which point I returned to my cabin. He asked if we could keep the inner door open while we slept. We gazed at each other until we fell asleep, the cabins lit only by occasional street lamps and lights from train stations at which we stopped.
Ahmed and I spent every night together since then. We were discreet because of the situation, and it was only until he invited me to the cruise ship director's table for breakfast that others started to catch on.
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