Living a year in a month

by Carol Saleh (Brazil)

A leap into the unknown Egypt

Living a year in a month After I said goodbye, my pink suitcase and I got in line to board the airplane that would take us to the cradle of civilization. I arrived in Egypt at night, without celphone, without even knowing a word in Arabic, and just knowing the name of the person who would pick me up. After a few minutes (that felt like hours), the man arrived and took me to the place where I would stay for the next 45 days. There were 11 other girls of different nationalities, who brought me a little bit of each culture and showed me their world. On the third day of travel I decided to go in a group near to the Egyptian Pyramids aiming to ride a horse at night. Everything was going well, until my horse crash in another one. At this moment I thought that it broke me and I would have to go back to Brazil, but thank God that I just turned purple. I recovered quickly and the other day I was at the Pyramids again, but now during the day. As a curiosity, they are inside of the city of Cairo, and has a pizzeria in front for those who want to eat with a wonderful view. And obviously that was the best day of the trip, because it was when I rode a camel and climbed some steps of one of the 3 pyramids. I started working on my volunteer project a few days later. My job was to take photos and make videos in the NGOs to promote them, showing society their work. I have been to different NGOs, such as those responsible for carrying out recycling, those who teach English to children, and those who take care of refugees (mainly from Syria). When I came and went from work, I kept analyzing people ... I thought it was beautiful how the population appeared to be happy with the simplicity in which they lived, how receptive they were to foreigners, and how they smiled at me. I have been to other places, and I can say that I have never seen a people as dear as the Egyptians. After visiting the entire center of the Egyptian capital, seeing mummies in museums and eating falafel, I started going to the cities around. Dahab has the best sunset, not to mention that you can swim with the fish and see the corals in the Blue Hole. Camping in the desert without tents was an incredible experience, I don't think I've ever seen so many stars in my life. Luxor undoubtedly has the best view when ballooning. The Karnak Temple and the Abu Simbel Temple are indescribable, they are works so gigantic and perfect that they take our breath away. Finally, the cutest place is Alexandria, which has a wonderful library and sea. I remember that on one of those little trips inside the country, the police thought I was a terrorist, and they didn't want to hand over my passport, but luckily an Egyptian friend helped me and talked to them. On another occasion, a girl started asking if I had a boyfriend, because she wanted me to marry her brother at all costs. The culture was completely different from the Brazilian one, so much so that sometimes I was shocked. An example of this is that there are several “speakers” all over the city, and at certain times of the day it starts playing a prayer and everyone has to stop what they are doing and start praying. Another is that men have a lump on their heads to pray with their foreheads on the floor. Anyway ... It was a leap into the unknown. Another culture, another language, completely different people, but one feeling: the desire to return. I appreciate every moment and everything I lived in Egypt, a place that allowed me to acquire self-confidence and self-knowledge, as well as taught me to be more independent.