Monday, April 27, 2009

الإسكندية

Not much happening out here. Studying Arabic. Feeling frustrated. Fighting amoebas, but at least no flu yet. Eating fuul (beans) sandwiches and falafel. Walking along the beach. Has been an intense first week in Alexandria, trying to settle in...

Friday, April 10, 2009

Cairo graffitti

I'll add to this picture a little part of text - by MLK Jr. - which we read from last night's seder meal (my first!).

"We have moved into the era where we are called upon to raise certain basic questions about the whole society. We are still called upon to give aid to the beggar who finds himself in misery and agony on life's highway. But one day, we must ask the question of whether an edifice which produces beggars must not be restructured and refurbished."






Tuesday, April 7, 2009

April 6th Movement in Egypt

Yesterday, as we were coming back from seeing the Pyramids of Giza, something opened my sleepy eyes as we passed the University of Cairo. Literally hundreds of police in riot gear guarded the entrance to the University and the main plaza in front of it. I told Natty to get up and we pushed our way out the crowded bus, the bus driver being so kind as to let us off in the middle of traffic (thanks, jackass).

I asked around in my English and broken Arabic (I can now count to 10 and read the letters!) about what was going on. Something about a protest for higher wages... alright!! But we waited around for about an hour, nothing happened, and Natty was complaining that she was bored. So we left...

But I was snooping around the internet this morning (hurriedly, as we are bouncing to Alexandria now) and found out that it was a huge movement called the April 6th movement. It takes this name from the pro-democracy, anti-corruption and higher wage protests held last year on the same date, which led to riots in some parts of Egypt. So yesterday was supposed to be a national strike. But because of the heavy police presence and "preventive" arrests made a few days earlier, only a few hundred people turned out around the country.

It seems like a lot of opposition groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, backed the protests, so perhaps it may lead to a stronger unified movement in the future. It seems that they are also trying to prevent Mubarak's son, Gamal (which I swore meant "camel" in Arabic), from taking over power. I hope to find out more. I talked to one young furniture salesman on the street who summed up everything in a few words: "In Egypt, you don't say anything."

Also, in sad sexual liberation news, a swinger couple was arrested and sentenced to 5-7 years for their "indecent" acts. I should watch out. ;)

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Pa'que Gocen

Ayer regresamos de Siwa, un oasis a 12 horas en carro desde El Cairo, en medio del Gran Mar de Arena (nada que ver con el partido político de El Salvador). Las dunas eran como en las películas, imensas y arenosas. Aquí pongo un video de mi intento de hacer "sandboarding". Masalemah (chao!).