HAI YEN’S

ADVENTURE

_August 2014_

OUTLINEMy city - Alexandria

My very first Ramadan

My work

My lovely Family

My food

My multicultural apartment

My tour across Egypt

My city - AlexandriaToday is my 58th day in Egypt. I’m living in Alexandria lying directly on the Mediterranean coast and it takes 3 hours by car to drive from Alexandria to Cairo – the capital city. The city was founded by none other than Alexander the Great; sassy queen Cleopatra made this the seat of her throne. The entrance to its harbor was marked by the towering Pharos lighthouse (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World); and its Great Library of Alexandria was renowned as the ultimate archive of ancient knowledge. They are also ones of the most famous tourism sites here. It takes me just 10 minutes by bus from my apartment to the Great Library and about 15 minutes to Pharos lighthouse. Alexander the Great Cleopatra

My city – AlexandriaPharos lighthouse“The Pharos withstood winds, floods and the odd tidal wave for 17 centuries. However, in 1303 a violent earthquake rattled the entire eastern Mediterranean and the Pharos was finally toppled. A century later the sultan Qaitbey quarried the ruins for the fortress that still stands on the site. Material from the fallen Pharos was reused” – Lonely Planet

My city – AlexandriaThe Great Library of Alexandria

“The original The Great Library of Alexandria which was founded by the first Ptolemy in the late 3rd century BC, was the greatest repository of books and documents in all of antiquity. Uniquely, this was one of the first major “public” libraries and opened to all people with the proper scholarly qualifications. Nowadays, while trying to find a fitting replacement for the original Library of Alexandria might seem a Herculean task, the new Bibliotheca Alexandria has managed it with aplomb. Officially opened in 2002, and inspired by the grandeur of the original, this impressive piece of 20th century architecture has firmly replanted the city back on the world cultural map” – Lonely Planet

“The impressive building housing the modern library was designed as a gigantic angled discus embedded in the ground –

a second sun rising out of the Mediterranean”.

“The ancient wealth of learning is lyrically evoked on the curved exterior walls, which are carved with giant letters, pictograms

and symbols from every known alphabet”.

My city – AlexandriaThe Great Library of Alexandria

“In keeping with its declared intention of becoming “the world’s window in Egypt and Egypt’s window on the world”, the new library has room for 8 million books in a vast rotunda space that looks like it might have been sculpted from airplane wings. And it, of course, has lots of windows. The complex has become one of Egypt’s major cultural venues and a stage for numerous international performers” – Lonely Planet

Images of my homeland in the

library

My city – AlexandriaThe Weather The weather is great. It’s sunny but

it’s really cool with lots of breeze. I can live without fans. However, Egyptian women can’t stand with the weather because of their clothes custom. Most of them are Muslim, so they avoid showing their skin by wearing long sleeves shirts and long dresses. When they wear short sleeves shirts, the long sleeves undershirts are worn inside. Muslim Women’s traditional clothes

The blue sky in Alexandria

My city – AlexandriaThe BuildingsThe city looks very old and downgraded. Most of the buildings look as old as A2 or even. All of the paint on walls has been fade-out because of breezes which from the sea, contains lots of salt. Salt erases the paint that makes every building has the same gray color. Political situation in Egypt is unstable. The rival factions within the government are busy fighting each other so they don’t care about investing in infrastructures. Hahaha.

My city – AlexandriaThe Buildings

Besides, ancient architecture remains in old quarter till now.

My city – AlexandriaEnvironment

The city is also considered as a giant garbage dump. Environment is not taken as daily consideration. Trash and flies are everywhere. When there is a gust of wind blowing, trash goes with the wind. The streets are smell and dusty that causes my non-stop running nose. Thus, I have to wear a mask to avoid polluted air when walking down the streets that every Egyptian looks at me as an alien because they never do like me. I feel suffocated when passing the garbage dump whereas the Egyptian easily gets through it without any expression on their face. Furthermore, the traffic here is crazy. Foreigners never stopped complaining about traffic in Vietnam. Let’s experience the traffic in Egypt and you will admit that the one in Vietnam is better.

My city – AlexandriaLife-style

The citizen can live in the old messy building and use outmoded cars but they spend lots of money for clothes and food. They spend much more time shopping and eating than working. Most of the married women are housewives, they have much free time, then they use it for hanging out, sitting many hours in the coffee shop and smoking Shisha (one kind of tobacco) with bubbling water pipe. Both adults and children stay up late at night until the early morning for hanging out, shopping and eating everyday. “Doing exercises” is never in their dictionary. Moreover, I do not like the way they work. They work unprofessionally. Everything runs randomly without specific plans. Especially, they are never on time. However, my work place is different that makes me feel blessed. I will mention my work later. Finally, they are friendly and hospitable but aggressive and shrewish. Both women and men are really talkative.

The Egyptian can spend whole day smoking Shisha in the coffee shops

My very first Ramadan

It is the first time I have experienced Ramadan which is the most significant festival of the Muslim. It is also called “Fasting month”. Muslims fast during Ramadan. They eat after sunset and before sunrise. So, their breakfast starts at 7:00pm and dinner starts at 1:00am. During their meal time, the streets are empty without transportation because people are busy eating. All of shops and supermarket close and after meals they open again. Besides, the food courts or restaurants are also crowded even 3-4 hours before the meals because they come to occupy seats/ tables. They just sit, chat and wait in 3-4 hours for meals. How free they are!

Many families choose beach as great place for family meals. They can both enjoy their

food and cool air.

Even governmental offices work only 5 hours/day. Maybe they have to come back home early to come to food court

and keep their seats.

My very first Ramadan

During Ramadan, I heard prayers from speakers around my neighborhood 5 times per day. I do not understand because they are in Arabic. I feel the announcer are screaming rather than reading prayers. The voice is horrible and the volume is very loud. Actually, radios play prayers everywhere whole days, such as in the shops/ supermarkets/ shopping malls/ cabs/ buses.

Ramadan is also occasion to share “heart” with the poor. Individuals or organizations provide the poor with free meals everyday. I had an opportunity to prepare, pack 100 food portions and give them to the poor. I do not know how much poor they are but they all look fat, even they are beggars. It seems that at least they have enough food to survive. The poor is waiting for free meals

Men are praying in the shopping mall

My work

Regarding my work, I am working as an international volunteer for AIESEC which is the largest student organization in the world, presents in 111 countries, including Egypt. I am teaching in a high quality private Montessori nursery which is small but it is really friendly and creative working environment. Its name is Children’s House. They apply Montessori educational approach “characterized by an emphasis on independence, freedom within limits and respect for a child’s natural psychological, physical and social development”; so, everyday I observe and learn many new things thanks to that method.

President of the School & International volunteers Kids celebrated Ramadan at school

My work

I and native teachers teach children English, motor skills and art craft. The kids are cute, smart and disciplined. Their ages range from 2-6 years old. They are able to understand and communicate simply in English and French. I also can learn Arabic from them. This school is creating the different future generation who has critical thinking, works hard and orderly. They are hopes for their unstable country.

My work

After my 6-week-volunteering, I became official employee at that school this month. They recruited me and I will receive monthly salary. It is not too much but it is enough for living expense and saving. I also get free accommodation. I love my job and this experience period helps me enhance my CV because I would like to apply educational management master course in the future. If I come back Vietnam now, I have to spend time looking for a job which may not be my favorite one and actually I already worked for 3 companies in Vietnam after I finished my undergraduate course. Then, I quitted them in turn because I realized that they were not suitable for me.

My favorite student and my friend - Robbie coming from Connecticut College (USA) – I call my student “Little Robbie”. Look, what a coincidence! They look alike. They are also noisy & funny.

My workWith kids

My lovely FamilyAt first, I planned to work as a volunteer and come back Vietnam this August. Then, I got a job with salary. So, I will stay in Egypt until this November. I will spend the whole November in Vietnam and I do hope I am able to persuade my parents to let me come back Egypt. They never stop urging me to come back Vietnam as soon as possible because of the political crisis here. They inbox me on Facebook political news of Egypt everyday and say: “Read it! Are you afraid? Do you want to extend your stay there?” I replied them “I am aware of the risks. I am careful. I know how to take care myself. The life here raise me a strong belief that destiny determined life-and-death. There was a bomb attack on tram near my apartment. I did not know about it until I read news on Internet. I still survive. If destiny decides I have to die, I won’t be able to escape from it although I am in Vietnam”. My daddy with my big baggage at the airport

My lovely FamilyWhen I first noticed my parents that I would extend my stay in Egypt, we had a debate in around 2 hours. At that time, it was late evening in Vietnam. It was serious but also funny. Finally, my parents said I had to think twice and decided myself. I said “I thought about it more than three weeks and now I just informed you my decision”. I won.One day later, I asked my parents “After I informed my decision, did you sleep well last night?” They said “Yes, we did but we had a stubborn daughter”. I know my parents worry about my safety; however, I know how to take care myself and I enjoy life in Egypt. Thus, when I chat on Skype with my family, I always prepare my appearance a little bit to let them see I am still healthy and happy. I also update my news and pictures on Facebook frequently.

My 6-year-old little brother passed the grade 1 entrance exam. His primary school is also mine. However, I learn English and he learns French. Those are his pictures with my mom on his first day at school last month. I wish I had been there with him. He always asks me when I would come back Vietnam. He shows me his paintings and good grades when I have video chat with him. I miss him a lot!

My foodI don’t like Egyptian food which is spicy and smells disgusting. It is just my opinion. I tried it in Vietnam before I went to Egypt. Thus, I brought here rice, fluffy pemmican, instant noodle and spice from Vietnam. Besides, I can easily buy vegetable, fruit, imported food cans, eggs, frozen food, etc in the supermarket. I find in the supermarket frozen shrimp imported from Vietnam. I cook every meal. In unwilling circumstances, I have to eat fast food such as Pizza Hut, McDonalds and KFC but I don’t eat them too much.

My typical Vietnamese dinner – White rice, cucumbers, beef and pumpkin soup

Egyptian food – Disgusting & Expensive

A vegetable shop with an old-fashion scale Fruit in the supermarket with price written in Arabic

Horse sells watermelons

My multicultural apartment

Now I share an apartment with other 18 volunteers from different countries. We work in different projects organized by AIESEC. Actually, there are 10 out of 18 volunteers being Chinese. Others come from Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, Turkey, Ukraine, Italy and Vietnam. All of them can’t cook and most of them don’t know how to hold a knife to remove fruit peel because they have their parents or housemaids made it for them at home. When I was in Vietnam, my mom always complained me that I’m lazy cooking. However, at least I can cook some Vietnamese dishes, use knives and wash dishes clean. So, I feel proud of my cooking skills when living with bad cooks in my apartment. My best room-mate comes

from Columbia

My tour across EgyptI and some volunteers spent 10 days travelling around Egypt through 6 main cities. It was amazing trip being full of historical sites and natural beauty. Our transportation was car, coach, train and boat. The weather was really hot. The travelling expense around Egypt was cheaper compared to a tour across Vietnam. Egypt is safe and you should visit once in life. If you are interested, let’s come to Egypt with me. I’ll be your tour guide.

The map of Egypt – I visited 6 cities circled red color

Cairo Suez Luxor Aswan Sharm-el-Sheikh

Dahab

Alexandria

My tour across EgyptCairo – The capital city

Egyptian Museum

Cairo by night # Indian, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Chinese # On the top of the highest mountain in Cairo

The Pyramids of Giza with nothing

inside. All of the antiques were

moved to the museum and we aren’t allowed to

take photos there.

Mosque of Mohammed Ali took 18 years to build (1830-48)

Army stands everywhere

My tour across EgyptLuxor

Nile River Bank

My tour across EgyptAswan

My tour across EgyptSharm-el-Sheikh, Dahab & Suez

Sunrise in the dessert

To sum up…• Egypt is safe even under the water• I enjoy life here that helps me grow up• Although there’ll be lots of milestones ahead, I’ll never give up• I miss you & Hope to see you soon!

National flag appears everywhere that is

another reason I like this country