In case you didn't know, soccer is the sport of choice for most in the Middle East. I was not particularly fond of the sport prior to my travels here, but it is near impossible to escape the hype once your here for an extended period of time. All that to say I've become quite the fan.
Last night was the much anticipated match between Egypt and Algeria. It was a match of revenge for the unsportsmanlike conduct of the Algerian team towards Egypt in the previous match between the two.
Egypt destroyed Algeria with a final score of 4-0. After that, all of Egypt went into celebration mode. Celebrations in Egypt consist of people from many different walks of life coming together to bang on drums, wave Egyptian flags, sing and chant, dance, paint their faces, block the streets, and light steel wool on fire to make sparklers. It was very cool to be apart of the excitement. However, it can become somewhat of a nuisance to those en route to their home or jobs. I wish I could have taken pictures, but I thought I'd at least describe the evening as best I could.
I begin classes on Sunday and anticipate an exciting and very educational semester on many levels. Thanks for taking the time to read and please feel free to comment!
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Sounds like fun - it would have been cool to have pictures of that, but you did provide quite the visual. I noticed your post states that it was posted at 3:17 am. Is that your time, if it was it must have been quite the celebration for all of Egypt. Then again maybe that was our time, meaning it was only about 8:17 in the evening - I think, for you!
ReplyDeleteHi Jon! It all sounds exciting! I will enjoy living vicariously through you on this adventure! Keep it coming!
ReplyDeleteMe too! (living vicariously) Have you gotten your test results yet?
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful for you to be able to have all of these amazing experiences! So happy for you!
ReplyDeleteJon, you've been egyptianized. (تمصر؟؟؟)
ReplyDeleteit is the egyptians who have wronged teh algerians for the last two soccer matches!! lol im not actually sure. i just rmember it was a big controversy the whole arab world got into over soccer. It is nice to know that despite problms of economics, politics, human rights, at least the sacrality of soccer still can not be violated. ALLHAMDULILAH!
anyways, sounds like egypt is fun. Did u make friends yet? please write about them (using psydonyms if u feel more cmfortable). I just want to make sure u find replacements for us here lol.
also higgins sent out info on an arabic program at auc from jun 2-july 22. It totals almost 5500 dollars (not including airfare). I am gonna think about it and see wut my friends are planning this summer. It may be my last summer to study arabic so i may take it up, Or it is my last summer doing nothing so i want to travel carefree.
wut should i do? medical schol is around the corner, and i want to know arabic, but i also want to be free of school.
anyways, i hope egypt treats u well. stay good!