Absolutely Lovin Egypt

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So I finally got the rest of my pics loaded up from the first month of my time here in Egypt. There are quite a lot and the links to reach them are at the bottom of this page. I was in Cairo/Luxor/Aswan last week and had an asbsolutely fabulous time. I will write about that next week once I've got all those pics loaded (I took about 700 - I know crazy but I went to sooo many Pharonic sites it was impossible not to).

I'm heading to the Siwa Oasis tomorrow - it's an oasis way out in the desert (about a 9 hour bus ride from Alexandria). There are many famous sites there from Pharonic, Roman and Greek times, as well as both hot and cold springs and, well, desert of course! We're going to spend at least 1 night out in the desert but hopefully two! Also tomorrow is the start of Ramadan - the month long fast for Muslims. It's really exciting as there are decorations and these special lanterns hanging from all the streets. Muslims can't eat until after sundown and can then eat until sunrise. There is usually one big meal (breakfast) and then another smaller meal right before the sunrise. So during the day there is no food or drink (not even water). I'm going to try doing it - for several reasons- one being that I only eat dinner anyways so for me not to eat during the day isn't going to be any different. Another is that since I'm surrounded by Egyptians it's quite rude to eat and drink in front of them. The third is that the restaurants are all closed during the day and I don't cook so there isn't much I can do there. I don't think it will be too bad except for the drinking water part - I'm going to see how it goes. There have been a couple of days where I didn't drink enough water and got quite sick.

I can't believe that I've already been here for 2 months and have just one month left. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Egypt. It's hard because with all of my travels I've always fallen in love with the countries that I've visited, the cultures and the people that I met. I always feel that I lose apart of myself because that part of me is now in that country and with those people who I have befriended and only feel that part of me to be "complete" when I go back. It will definitely be the same here with Egypt. I've made so many great friends and have so many amazing memories it is going to be really hard to say good-bye to them all in a month.

Egypt has definitely been a country like no other that I have visited, primarily because of the fact that it is a Muslim country. I've talked about it before about how interesting it is to be in a country where everyone's lives are based on a shared faith. They aren't these crazy terrorists/bombers like they're made out to be like on the television, but some of the most caring and kind people who are extremely devout to their religion but also to their family, friends, and neighbors and even for foreigners such as myself. But there are definitely some things about the culture here that can be difficult to understand.

While there are some things about Islam that I find to be, for me, just nonsense you can find these things in just about any religion - one being that women who are having their period are not allowed to fast, pray, touch the Holy Koran, go inside a Mosque, etc. because they are considered "dirty" - I have been told that the same is with the Jewish religion as well as with the coptic Christians. I find this to be such a primitive thought which should have been changed by now but again, who am I to say or make judgement. I guess what I'm saying is that as much as I love Egypt and definitely wouldn't mind staying here longer or coming back in the future to live for a bit I wouldn't be able to LIVE here. As a woman it would just be too difficult, especially being a Western woman. Unfortunately, women
here do not have the "freedom" that I, for example, have in the States but at the same time many of them don't know any different and most women are proud to be Muslim and wouldn't have it any other way. As a westerner here I am constantly hear remarks from men no matter where I am but I have also been groped, grabbed at, touched, etc. and had extremely inappropriate gestures made at me and it would always be like this here for me and obviously wouldn't be something that I would get used to. Here it is illegal to have sex before marriage and it is illegal to live with someone of the opposite sex if you're not married - if you want to buy condoms or stay at a hotel with someone of the opposite sex you have to show proof that you're married. So many Egyptian men believe that they can have sex with western women and that it "won't count".

There are some other "ridiculous" thoughts, for example, tampons aren't available here because they think it is a form of losing your viriginity and most women won't be seen by gynecologists (I read this in a recent article published here) unless they're married because they don't believe that there is any reason why Egyptian women should be seen unless they're married (because only women who have sex- who are married- need to go to one). It's difficult to hear things like this because knowing what we know and not fully being able to understand why they believe such things because for us it just doesn't make any sense.

Punishment is another interesting topic that we seem to talk about with our teachers quite a bit here since we hear all the stories about Islamic cultures. Here when someone is sentenced to death they are hung in Cairo. They used to be public hangings but recently have become private. You can kill for "revenge" - if you catch your husband/wife cheating on you then you can murder them as long as you have proof and of course, its much easier for the husband to prove than it is for the wife. They don't cut off your hands here if you steal like they do in Sudan and other countries but you could be tortured for a few days in the local jail. Because tourism is soo important to Egypt and because Islam doesn't allow for wrongdoings (I know no religion does but since these people are so devout they don't do these things) Egypt is extremely safe. I can easily walk around with my bag wide open if I wanted to with my wallet and camera and don't have to be worried about someone snatching them.

Another interesting fact that I've learned is about the women who are completely veiled and who is allowed to see them unveiled. Well, when they're in the home her immediate family (husband, children, parents, brothers, sisters, as well as aunts, uncles, and grandparents) are allowed to see her face and other parts of her body such as hands and feet. However, cousins and other extended family members (men that is, any woman can see her not fully covered) are not allowed to see her because they could be prospective husbands (in case her husband dies or she is not married yet). Yes, in Egypt cousins still marry cousins.

These may all seem extremely negative and for some they may be and others maybe not I just wrote them down to give you further insight of my experience here but all of this aside Egypt is an asbolutely amazing country and I love it here dearly. The people are all extremely hospitable and want to know all about you and invite you in for karkaday (hibiscus tea - absolutely AMAZING!) It is soo safe - I feel safer here than I do in NYC.

Okay, I'm off but promise to post pics next week of last week's trip, especially for my hot air balloon ride over Luxor and all the temples.

Love to all,
~D


Warning: BEWARE these are all from my facebook so some of the pics might be a bit much for some of you as well as some of the comments (MOM!) But most are fine so ENJOY! They are all of the first month here in Egypt starting with the very first pictures (pics of the pyramid are one of the latter albums)

http://lclark.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2016619&l=def06&id=31601096

http://lclark.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2016701&l=6f9d9&id=31601096

http://lclark.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017931&l=b6a4a&id=31601096

http://lclark.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017968&l=b713b&id=31601096

http://lclark.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017989&l=22fa5&id=31601096

http://lclark.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017991&l=cbc19&id=31601096

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Comments

[Meghan]

Absolutely JEALOUS
Danielle, I miss you to start with! I read these blogs and I am so envious. Thank you for continuing to post them - I love learning all the stuff that your learning (or portions of it anyways). I cant believe that you've been gropped...are you okay!!? haha - All the stuff that you wrote about women - Im just in awe the whole time Im reading. I guess if you've lived that way your whole life, you dont think anything different - but surely the OBGYN exams was a huge shocker! Oh - and the fact that you can kill for "revenge" WOW! I know some people here that would probably like to hear that one!! Im glad that your having a good time - the pictures are awesome. You look like your having so much fun! Im so jealous....lol - Nothing has changed here of course! What are those big tubes with smoke coming out of them? Look like bongs to me...but I assume its something else! They are very cool - how was the apple tabacco? The Pyramid pictures are amazing...I cant imagine seeing those in person! Did you get to go inside of them? Are you learning stuff about them as you go through them? You just freakin Rock!! Im so glad that your having a good time! We miss you - but know that your having a good time! Keep the blogs coming, I enjoy them so much!!! xoxoxo Megs