Students' Experiences 2008
The Egyptian desert safari exceeded the expectations of fun despite the heat. On the 2008 University trip to
As we reached the Mediterranean Sea, we went to visit the Qaitbey Fortress, which is built on the site of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, which was destroyed over time by a series of attacks and natural disasters. It was built around 1480 by the Sultan Qaitbey, and was considered to be one of the most important strongholds along the Mediterranean Sea. In the centuries since it’s construction, the fortress has seen a rich and violent history. It was used by the Ottoman Turks for centuries, during the height of the power of the Ottoman Empire until it was attacked in 1798 by Napoleon Bonaparte. The powerful cannons of the French ruler proved too much for the forts defenses. It was restored by Mohamed Ali in 1805, only to be attacked by the British Fleet toward the end of the 19th century. In the 1950’s, it was converted into the Maritime Museum it is now.[1
There is no denial that the ancient monuments in Egypt are magnificent and grand. Many people wait the entirety of their lives in order to see the Pyramids of Giza up close. While I was excited to see these lasting monuments of civilization, as an Anthropology major I was more interested in the culture in Egypt today.
On March 31, 1914; Husayn Rushdi, minister of Justice and the University Rector was speaking at the university's ground ceremony for a new building, he said:
"On the eastern side of Cairo, al-Azhar has stood for nearly a 1000 years. It has been a lofty beacon sending light all directions and immortalizing the sciences of the Arabs and the civilization of Islam. Now here is the new university which will be built in the age on the western side of the city to spread Arabic sciences together with Western learning. These twin brothers will cooperate henceforth in enlightening both banks of the blessed Nile, from the right and from the left, in the things which will restore the people of the valley to complete well-being and full glory."
I took the Egypt 2008 trip and had the experience of a lifetime. Not only were our hotels amazing but each place we went to left us with a taste of Egypt and the wonderful people who live here. Aside from learning a great deal about the country and about gender and history, we got to see all of the sites that people wait their whole lives to see. The Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids, the Sphinx, Zoser’s Pyramid, Khan al Khalili bazaar, and that’s only in Cairo. We also had a lovely cross-country trip to Tanta, which is a beautiful, green city, and to Alexandria, which no words can adequately describe, to Luxor to see the Valley of the Kings. Truly something I will never forget.