Since we got back from Alexandria, our week has been full of classes for the most part! Today I went to small group dinner with Paul and Julie (our awesome professors) and the seven of us talked about observations we've made about Egyptian society. There were both positive and negative encounters with the people around us: some people were treated by the Egyptians with contempt and fear at times, while others of us had had pleasant encounters with the people around us. It's been hard to experience true Egyptian life when we're on Zamalek island, which is very westernized and full of AUC students. But from going to the Khan al-Kalili bazaar and talking to people there, I've had great encounters with people who ask where I'm from and, when hearing I'm from America, they say "Ah, America. Very good people. You are welcome here." However, there have also been catcalls and people who aren't as friendly, but I haven't had any openly hostile encounters. One thing I really have contemplated on is the view I'd created of Arab nations in my mind, before I came to Egypt. I'd thought they were pretty unhappy people and not very friendly, especially when I hear them speak in Arabic. Arabic is a harsh-sounding language and it always sounds like people are yelling at each other here. However, I was in a taxi with a really nice Egyptian driver who knew English on my way to Khan al-Kalili. At one point a motorcycle sharply cut in front of us from out of nowhere, and the driver shouted something to our taxi driver, who in return shouted something back. It sounded like a nasty exchange to me and I asked him what he'd said. He replied that the motorcyclist had said something to the extent of "I'm coming in, watch out for me" and our taxi driver had responded with a phrase meaning "Do not be afraid, I won't hurt you/I'll let you by." I thought that was a beautiful back-and-forth and I was shocked that what I thought was a bitter exchange was actually very friendly. It made me rethink my opinion on a lot of stereotypes I'd had of Arab nations and wonder whether they were accurate. We talked a lot about this at dinner, as well as the experiences other people had. It was pretty thought-provoking! 

After dinner, we got a big group of us students to go on a felucca ride down the Nile! A felucca is a small boat with lights all over it, and we just sat and played music and danced for 2 hours, watching other boats go by and acting out songs from Moulin Rouge. It was a blast.