Ciao Bebe!

I know that this blog is SUPPOSED to be about my experience in Egypt, but I recently got the opportunity to visit Italy for three days and the incredible sights in that country are definitely worthy of a blog post. My boyfriend EJ was recently relocated to Vicenza, Italy about 45 minutes from Venice in Northern Italy, which is the reason I was able to visit. So after I found that I had four-day weekend, I decided that I just had to go up there and see a familiar face and explore a new country that has always been on my mind. I arrived in Venice around noon and was off on a bus to reach the center of the city on my own. It was the first time I was able to walk around and tour a city by myself. I got off the bus and just wandered and bumbled around for a few hours and got to see some really amazing sites and areas of the city. The next EJ and I got on a train to Florence to see the largest Dome in Europe, El Duomo and it was absolutely humongous! I’ve seen some large cathedrals in my travels but this one takes the cake, and the outside detail of the Dome was so intricate and beautiful. Unfortunately my camera died towards the end of our day trip but the famous statue of David was massive, much bigger that I had expected. The last rainy day of my vacation was spent in Vicenza gathering my American products that have been truly missed and making a quick stop at Popeye’s, mmm. We did make it to Venice for the evening and took the infamous Gondola ride through the numerous canals spanning Venice. It was just like the movies except our Gondola man did not sing to us, you couldn’t have everything I guess! One thing I realized going to Italy is how much I really missed green things; Grass, flowers, trees, the whole bit. Also I took such notice of how clean and unpolluted Italy is and the initiative to keep it that way. I won’t lie, going to Italy made me a little homesick. As many other feelings pass, I’m sure my homesickness will be gone before I know it!

A day in Coptic Cairo

Yes, I know plenty of things have taken place (both in and out of Egypt!) since my last blog post. But I really wanted to take the time to talk about a famous site in Cairo, that I think many people forget about when they think of Egypt.
About a month ago my roomies and I set out to go visit Coptic Cairo for the day. A little history behind Coptic Christians and Coptic Cairo: Copts are the Christian Majority here in Egypt and are the first group in Egypt to follow Christianity in the 1st century. They are the largest and oldest group of Christians in the Middle East. So in Coptic Cairo, there are numerous historical sites: the Babylon Fortress, Church of the Holy Virgin, The Hanging Church, and the Abu Serga that are all in this old part of Cairo. What makes this area so important and interesting is that the Holy Family visited this exact area on their “flight into Egypt’ from Judea and King Herod. The Holy Family stayed and rested in the Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church (Abu Serga), which was destroyed in 750 A.D. and rebuilt many times since. While we were visiting these sites, It was very surreal to know that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus once were here centuries ago seeking refuge and security.

Misr. A home? I think Yes

Making adjustments, adapting to my surroundings, and learning the ways of life here in Egypt are all things that I have done in the past 12 weeks. Admittedly it has not been the easiest or most painless journey, but one worthwhile nonetheless. Just about every place I have traveled, it has been extremely easy to adapt and understand the culture I placed myself into until Cairo. I decided to fulfill my AIESEC internship in Egypt because I wanted to challenge myself; I did not want to go to a country that was inside my comfort zone. And so far so good! It has been a challenge but I have learned more about another culture’s traditions, daily life, and religion than I would have if I had gone somewhere ‘comfortable’ which is really what AIESEC Xchange experiences are all about.
Having said this, I am actually feel a sense of belonging here, weird I know! But it is quite nice to not feel like such a stranger in another man’s land. From eating the neighborhood Al-Shabrawy to making friends with my bawab, Cairo has become a home. Yes, dear Cairo and I still have our differences that may never change, but are appreciated. The incredible people I have met have only helped me establish a sense of belonging here and they will make it that much harder to leave in July. It still boggles my mind to think that I could find a place and live across the World and feel this at ease.