Egypt

Some excursions I would call vacations, while others are trips. Egypt was neither it was an experience. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't scared initially.Though Ive always wanted to go to Africa, and I've always wanted to see the last standing Ancient Wonder of the World, the thought of being an American so close to the Mid East made me anxious during this period of instability.

Yes, of course, when you return upon a vacation you might reflect back and think, "That really was a gorgeous place," or "I never tried that kind of food before" or "It felt good to be at the beach/pool and just relax." The effect that traveling to Egypt had on me occured the instant we left customs in Cairo and entered the airport. Instantly I was surrounded by a new language which wasn't the first time, I heard sounds unfamiliar to my ears, but it was the first time, I couldn't even try to use logic to figure out signs. Looking at signs in German or French or Portuguese you can at least say it out loud and hear how funny it sounds to your ears. In Egypt, with Arabic, I had no idea what sounds to associate with the "letters" I saw.

It also took a while to get used to being one of the few women who wasn't covered head to toe. Many women wear head scarves. For the most part I was fine, until I would spot young girls looking and laughing. It made me think of every time I saw someone wearing a headscarf in America. It made me remember that I too had stared out of curiosity, and then my thoughts turned to wondering had Americans made people of a different background feel so isolated?My mind was going about a million miles a second thinking a bajillion thoughts.

It made me think about racism in our country; it made me think of my young students. It made me appreciate even more the people that risk everything to come here, where diversity for the most part is so prevalent that people are comfortable with it. In my mind I used to think that racism doesn't exist much anymore in this country. Of course, I'm speaking as a white educated woman, it makes me wonder if my students feel the same? Do people of other cultures feel the same here in the US? Are they having experiences here that make them feel as though people aren't curious by the differences but laugh at them?

Yes, Egypt was amazing I saw the pyramids and rode a camel, and visited mosques and the Egyptian Museum and Alexandria, and the Mediterranean Sea. The trip was filled with many cool memories, and we came away with many great photos, and we had a driver that taught me quite a bit of Arabic during our short stay, but I think that the trip sparked something more in me. I've always been a reflective, observant and culturally curious person, but I could never had been ready for the impact this trip had on my life.

God Bless,
Ally

Egypt Pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/allysonsaunders/Egypt2008