Pre-Revolution:
The Egyptian Revolution started like any other revolution. No School Day!! January 25th had been considered a national holiday for many years. With that, we felt it our duty to celebrate our current home country on Monday night at a jazz club in downtown Cairo. This place was buzzing with the local flavor. But, when I say local I really mean someone average, you know, like former Egyptian Royalty or the (recently former) Minister of Education's son. Each of them very well dressed, very well educated, and fairly moderate in the traditional Islamic values ie: pork and alcohol.
Throughout the night, there was not one hint of revolutionary talk. If there was, perhaps it was spoken in code (Arabic) or far away from the ears of western looking women. I woke up the next morning with nothing more than a small hangover and a much needed Cola Light.
Day 1-3:
These days were all the same. We went to school and taught. The only exception of abnormality was a 15 minute early release. Essentially, Hayah's attempt to avoid the "small" protest traffic our students would face as they passed through downtown on their way home. Each day, we returned to work hearing more and more about the peaceful crowds gathering in Tahrir Square. But each day, I was reminded about the risk these protestors were taking. As Egyptian law stated; the gathering of small groups, peaceful or not, was an illegal act. Many Egyptians were worried for the protestors and the potential brutality Mubarak's Police could bring. On Thursday, January 27th, 2011 our first form of communication was cut off-- FACEBOOK.com??
The Egyptian Revolution started like any other revolution. No School Day!! January 25th had been considered a national holiday for many years. With that, we felt it our duty to celebrate our current home country on Monday night at a jazz club in downtown Cairo. This place was buzzing with the local flavor. But, when I say local I really mean someone average, you know, like former Egyptian Royalty or the (recently former) Minister of Education's son. Each of them very well dressed, very well educated, and fairly moderate in the traditional Islamic values ie: pork and alcohol.
Throughout the night, there was not one hint of revolutionary talk. If there was, perhaps it was spoken in code (Arabic) or far away from the ears of western looking women. I woke up the next morning with nothing more than a small hangover and a much needed Cola Light.
Day 1-3:
These days were all the same. We went to school and taught. The only exception of abnormality was a 15 minute early release. Essentially, Hayah's attempt to avoid the "small" protest traffic our students would face as they passed through downtown on their way home. Each day, we returned to work hearing more and more about the peaceful crowds gathering in Tahrir Square. But each day, I was reminded about the risk these protestors were taking. As Egyptian law stated; the gathering of small groups, peaceful or not, was an illegal act. Many Egyptians were worried for the protestors and the potential brutality Mubarak's Police could bring. On Thursday, January 27th, 2011 our first form of communication was cut off-- FACEBOOK.com??
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