An Arrival
Yesterday I arrived in Egypt with my colleague @Louis_Abelman, we are here on a new Small World News project, investigating potential partners and local support to expand and continue our http://alive.in/Egypt and /Libya projects.
It’s amazing to be here right now, the future is on everyone’s mind and it seems they are all free with their opinion. Perhaps then only thing more numerous than opinions right now are the ubiquitous Egyptian flags, on sale in the street, on display from houses, car antennas, hotels, bumper stickers, they are everywhere.
One of the most amazing things to me is to see the young guys everywhere in the street selling flags, rather than newspapers, drinks, or the many other things often found in the terrible traffic across the Middle East.
When we first arrived at the airport I was amazed that we had such an easy arrival. Although we are carrying a variety of media equipment, we were not searched, nor even asked our business. I guess the need to increase tourism these days I working in our favor to ease the heavy hand of customs and passport control.
After grabbing our bags we had to wait for our first contact to arrive and it seemed like a good time to grab a smoke. I was at first hesitant, given the crowd of official looking guys by the terminal entrance. I had the immediate assumption these guys were mukhabarat or other security services, but I should have known that was not the case. Rather than security it turned out these guys were taxi drivers, just looking to make an honest day’s pay.
Once they realized we weren’t potential customers but just waiting for a colleague, they weren’t pushy. Instead they just began offering us any advice or support they could, directions, advising us on where to find our friend at the parking lot, providing a light, etc.
Our colleague arrived shortly after this, and the only thing surprising about him was perhaps how typical was his look and demeanor. In a khaki sports coat and slacks, well-groomed, he was the perfect picture of a northeastern liberal arts college professor, Egyptian style.
This probably shouldn’t have come as a surprise given that he studied and taught at just such a Liberal arts school for several years. Hussein was talkative and very proud of Egypt, matching the stereotype you’ve no doubt heard mentioned too much in the ends given the heavy focus on Egypt in recent days.
He was an interesting guy for certain, but left me wondering whether his views adequately reflect those of less educated or less privileged Egyptians. So far not just he, but nearly everyone has asked me what I think about Egypt’s revolution and the future.
Seeing the calm, unassuming, but ever present. Soldiers and armored vehicles all over Cairo, the best thing I can say is I’ll have to wait and see, and I hope things will continue to improve.