Being an Egyptian American student, I always wanted to find
ways to become closer to my culture. Whether it was being friends with
Egyptians in the states or visiting Egypt during the summer, I took any
opportunity to find a way to stay close to my heritage. However, summers and
making a handful of Egyptian friends was never enough. After taking an Arabic course that the
College of Staten Island offered, I became excited to discover more ways
to truly feel Egyptian and keep working on making myself more culturally aware.
I came across AMIDEAST through Queens College and knew this was the program
that would give me the chance to see Egypt. It was a chance to visit
places I have never visited, be closer with family members I unfortunately only
saw very briefly during vacations, and most importantly, make a home in Egypt.
Taking three intensive Arabic courses, an Arab Spring Course
and a Development in the Middle East and Northern Africa course, I became more
aware of all current events going on during my stay. I learned in depth things
about the revolution that happened in 2011 and that the news in the states
would never teach students. It was such a raw experience witnessing Egyptians
protest in streets together after Friday prayer to fight for their freedom and
make history. Being there to witness history being made and watching the full
election process until their new President was elected was an honorable
experience. It was a moment where I felt Egyptian.
I made some of my closest friends on this trip that I plan to keep in my life forever. As they
discovered new things and places with me, it made my trip to Egypt more memorable.
Having summer experiences with family helping me get places or speak to people
in Arabic to buy something or just being on a beach was keeping me away from
having a memorable experience. Being there for the full semester, my friends
and I discovered new things daily. I built courage to go out and explore and
get a sense of what it was like to feel Egyptian. My American friends embraced
the culture, and loved trying new foods or going to new places which made me
admire their effort and courage to explore a place they were unfamiliar with,
too. They all had amazing moments meeting Egyptians and being in this country
at this crazy time. Now, we talk about
how we all want to go back for summer vacations because of how amazing our
experiences were. This place now holds a part of us that we all want to
experience. Another experience I was blessed to have was being in touch with family more often. I was able to stregthen older bonds and make new ones, which was amazing. 
There is a saying in Arabic that translates to, “if you
drank from the Nile, you will return.” And I feel like that is destined for us
all for our different reasons. The country is truly an amazing place, with so
much to explore and so much to see. People once thought this place was all sand
and the pyramids, but once you leave, you learn that as a city that literally
never sleeps, there is so much beauty behind the chaos. Being a part of this
program was life-changing. I couldn’t have chosen a better time, place, and
people to do this program with. 