"Wish you were here"

Yesterday I was a teacher for the first time. No really, I was. Before we begin our actual classroom teaching, we have one on one sessions with an English student. Some of us had young learners (children under 15) but most of us had adults.

My student's name is Mohab, he is 20 and an art student at Alexandria University, he is a sculptor. To be perfectly honest, the first 10 minutes may have been some of the most awkward of my life, it was like pulling teeth to get him to answer a question with a yes or no answer, let alone complete a sentence. He has had English classes since he was six but hasn't had any since he has been at University and thus is a bit rusty and so shy about speaking. When he finally opened his mouth and spoke more than a yes or no, I was amazed. His English was wonderful, so proper and with his lilting accent, it almost sounded like he had walked straight out of a movie.

Once I got him talking, literally I couldn't get him to shut up. I learned he LOVES Pink Floyd (hence the post title), has a girlfriend and will graduate next May. While his English is quite good, there are still a few things he needs to work on and so I spent most of the night last night, preparing a lesson to fit his needs. I can't wait until we meet today!

On another note, I have noticed that the students here are extremely accomplished. Mohab not only attends University but also play s the violin and the guitar as well as works part time in his father's company. Children here are taught from an early age that you must work yourself to death in order to succeed in this country because no one will help you get to where you want to be.

In the US we always say its not about what you know but rather who you know. This is not the case in Egypt. Everyone is self centered, they live in their own worlds, blind to the atrocities that are going on around them. If an event doesn't involve them, their family or close friends then its almost as if it doesn't exist. They would never stop and help a stranger who has fallen on the street or open the door for a woman with a baby, it doesn't even cross their minds. I'm generalizing here, of course their are exceptions, but for the most part what I have just described is the majority.

Perhaps one of the only times "who you know" can help you in Egypt is when you are in trouble. For example, if you are caught by the police for a traffic violation and are taken to jail (for a serious traffic violation of course) and happen to know the police chief, you will sit in the comfortable air conditioned office for 2 hours while they "fudge" your paperwork. At the same time you are watching DVDs in the chief's office, another man, who committed the same violation, is sitting in a wet, rat infested cell for 8 hours, simply because he doesn't know anyone at the police station. This is the part about Egypt that I can't stand, the inequality of the system.


Ok enough for now.

I'm loving every minute here and am dreading the day when I have to board the plane to come home, while I am excited to be back in my own country, there are SO many things about Egypt that I will miss. At least I know this will not be my last trip here :) (Sorry D).

Miss you soooooooooooooo much.

Bahebek,
Megan