Egypt

I’ve tried for three days now to start an entry – I don’t really know how or where to start. So much as happened, so much remains uncertain. Sounds cliché.

Facts of the situation:
Egypt is in great turmoil.
I am safe and have been safe from the beginning.
My apartment is two blocks from Tahrir Sq (the main place of action) and has been on CNN numerous times. It is also the direct route the Ministry of the Interior, a target the first few days. Knowing this and the unpredictability of life in Egypt, I left my house last Friday morning .
I am staying with my Egyptian friend and his family in a safe and relatively quiet neighborhood.
I am intending on staying it through. A lot goes into this decision but I promise that I will be more responsible than stubborn.
Your prayers and support for all involved are a appreciated more than I can express!

If you haven’t been following the unprecedented and amazing coverage of the situation, you can find a wealth of info at CNN, BBC and please check out Al-Jazeera English. Especially in the past few days I have never been more impressed and grateful to courage and persistence of reporters. They are true heroes!

My roommate Rosa has been in the thick of things from day one. She has been shot multiple times (w/ pellet guns), tear gassed more than a couple of times, stuck in our apt one night as she watched the building across the street go into flames, and just last night she was detained and interrogated by Egyptian Security forces for 6+ hours. I think that finally scared her into retreat, but I’ve said it before so we’ll see how long she’ll stay put! While many of you may think this is absolutely crazy- you’re right, it’s not the life for everybody- at the same time she’s capturing some amazing things and is helping in anyway possible. Please keep her and all other risking their lives to bring a positive change. As soon as she blogs, I’ll pass along the site for more front-line news.

I will admit that I have not seen any direct action. My job contractually prohibits me from participating in any political events- for the safety of the refugees. Thus for the sake of my job and the security of my refugee friends, despite my desires, I did not participate in the first few days of protest. Then as things have turned uglier, in the past few days, it is evident that this in not my fight and I would be much more of a burden than a help w/ my blue eyes and lack of Arabic. My status as a female-foreigner, my current location away from downtown, and the eye’s of my friend’s family have made me all but dependent on the moves of my male-Egyptian friends to do anything or go anywhere. (Needless to say I’ve mastered the tight-jawed smile that really says “I don’t agree at all but urgh, I have to.”)

In one way, I struggle with embarrassment and shame about my retreat as I desire to work in conflict areas and disaster relief. At the same time, I must humble myself to realize that while I fully believe in human rights, this is not my fight. And as previously stated, I could quickly become much more of a burden than a help. I have resolved myself to do what I can in terms of moral support to refugee communities in my proximity for the time being.

Refugees are also at extreme risk because of deeply entrenched racist attitudes and general security issues in Egypt; not to mention, many of them fled their countries because of similar unrest and they simply do not wish to live it again. So, many of them have been locked in their houses for the past 8 days. There are a number of single mothers who are particularly afraid, for obvious reasons. To compound problems, many people in Egypt get paid at the end of the month- this did not happen in January, so money is very scarce. Thus the beginning of this week my friend and I drove around near-by neighborhoods to drop off cash and make friendly home visits.

I'm still working out specifics of other aid projects...more to come...we'll be in touch! ;)

I intend on writing more as emotions and internet allow, so feel free to stay posted. This country is filled with amazing stories and demonstrations of hope, democracy and solidarity. The news reports of Egyptians picking up trash on the streets. In Egypt, as in many other developing countries, trash is a daily part of life and people rarely think twice about it. Well, apparently the people are sick of trash. Please keep spreading the word of this amazing movement and show of what people can do in solidarity.