We landed in Cairo at about 18:00 two nights ago. Yesterday was spent getting familarized with the American University in Cairo (AUC from here on out) and then a nap in the afternoon during the hottest parts of the day. It's only about 95 to 100 degrees here right now - yes, ONLY - a cold front is moving through. It will be 120 - 130 when we visit Luxor and Aswan, but luckily it is a dry heat (30 - 40% humidity) so I am managing. Our classrooms and hotel rooms have A/C so that is a blessing. At night its only 85 or 90 so we can go out and look at shops, etc. Last night Rachel and I walked to the Nile River (only about 20 minutes away) and just tried to take it all in. We are in Egypt! How incredible. It really hasn't set in yet, but since we are here for awhile and able to finally unpack our suitcases I'm hoping that I will be able to appreciate it all. I'm just trying to take advantage and live everyday to the fullest. It's been such a shock coming here and everyone speaking Arab and many of them being Muslims. In our media we hear all the time how these people are the anti-christ and are terrorists and want to kill us, but there are very nice people. George Bush is the devel - that's really all they know and are told. It is unfathomable to them how we could have elected him a second time, and our Professor (who's been here for 30 years) told us he's never met an Egyptian who was pro-American policy, and it's been on an even steeper decline in the past half decade. This is also attributed to America's pro-Israli policy over the past decade, which obviously will not please a single Egyptian because of all the history of the West Bank. It will surely be an interesting culture to absorb.
Frankly it's a little ridiculous that you at home be worried about us being victims of a terrorist attack - we have an armed guard with us on the bus at all times, and to get into all the hotels here and the AUC you must pass through metal detectors and show ID's...with at least five policeman outside of all the entrances. Really, I'm much more scared of crossing the street here. It is quite a spectacle to watch. NOBODY obeys any traffic laws/signs/stopsigns; you just step into the middle of the street and play frogger. Ironically, it's more safe if you just keep walking because they aim to miss you, and they aim where you would be one second ago, so if you stop and you're still there when they get there then there's a problem! Basically, I've looked death in the eyes about 7 times now just crossing the street!
We've also started a male bible study. I've been struggling a lot with my faith lately and I think this will be a good oppurtunity for me to explore my relationship with God further and more indepthly. There are two religion majors on the trip as well as Biology majors so there have been some excellent philisophical and theological discussions. I am learning to respect other people's opinions and have a more open mind to why somebody would be pro-life or think homosexuality is a sin. In no way do I agree with either point of view, but at least, as Danny put it, "I am beginning to see the value in respecting someone's opinon, but I don't yet have to respect their opinion." haha. This will be very hard for me, but I think it's time I learn to respect other people for their opinions and beliefs even if I completely and 100% disagree with them. No guarentees I won't come back a red-letter christian, but I promise I will come back pro-choice and pro-gay rights...don't worry, I won't allow them to brain wash me that much!
Today is a free day, so we are all working on our papers. Lectures start more formally soon - not excited. Up to this point I've been on a ten day vacation, and now need to switch into a mindset that I am studying abroad. We'll see how that goes...
CM
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