The Sacred Game - Atif Mahmood

Cairo is a very Islamic city. It’s called the “City of a Thousand Minarets” not without reason. Where we Duke Engagers live in Garden City, we can hear azans (the call to prayer) from not one, not two, but three mosques. Taxis either have Umm Kalthoum, arguably the most famous Arab singer of all time, playing on their stereos or the recitation of the Qur’an. Men with heavy, moustache-less beards and prayer marks on their foreheads – signs of Islamic conservatism – litter the streets. Most women wear headscarves, and some don the full veil. For the Friday jumma prayer, some mosques become so overcrowded that a few people are forced to brave the blazing sun to sit out on the pavement or a patch of grass in order to be able to be within hearing distance of the imam. Many people become overjoyed when they hear that I’m Muslim and immediately greet me with assalam-o-alaikum. Most Egyptians are serious about what Allah wants from them, and many beseech Allah for help in times of need. And nothing epitomizes a united concern of 70 million people than a football game in which the Egyptian national team is on the brink of victory against a football powerhouse like Italy.

On Thursday, June 18, I came out of my Arabic class to hear the guards of an embassy erupt in cheers. I knew the Fifa Confederations Cup was going on, and that Egypt was to play Italy soon, but I did not know when. Luckily, the cheers of the guards made me realize that every single television set in Cairo at 10 pm at night was showing a football game. Along with Dan, I rushed to a busy street in search of a hookah café to watch the game in. We quickly found one – a narrow, shabby-looking place obviously geared towards the less fortunate citizens of Cairo. But the people were more than welcoming and brought out chairs for us to sit. I took a seat beside a nervous employee of the nearby gas pump who was smoking cigarettes incessantly. Over a green-apple hookah and a cold Fanta, I began watching the second half of the game. Egypt was up 1-0 and Italy was bent on changing Egypt’s fortunes.

Throughout the game, the people in the café kept praying to Allah. Distinctly Islamic phrases like alhumdulillah, masha-Allah, ya rabb, Allah-o-akbar etc. reverberated in the café. In the final five minutes, everyone was on the edge of their seats and had Allah’s name on their lips. And when the game was finally over, and Egypt had won, Allah’s name was mentioned yet once more, this time not for help, but in gratitude. I could not help thinking while sitting in the café and later on about how truly muslim Cairo was. When the camera focused on Egyptian players making the sajda (prostration) to thank God when they had finally won the game, I realized that Egypt does not revolve around the Nile, but around God. Whether they’re Copt or Muslim, rich or poor, most Egyptians take God seriously. This is one of the defining characteristics of the Middle East – God is everywhere and in everything in this region of the world, but a tad bit more so in football.

What Now - Daniel Barron

“Why do you want to learn English?” I asked my Somali student on the first day of class. The answer seemed almost too simple. He wants to learn the language spoken around the world. This explanation is similar to my own reason for studying Arabic. A common desire to communicate unites us in our language studies. In fact, many similarities exist between me and Abdullah including a similar age, a common interest in soccer, and unfamiliarity with Cairo.

Had circumstances been different, we may have been lifelong friends, running cross country with our friends or, conversely, leaving our country without our families. Fate, chance, God, or any other reason could have caused our roles at Saint Andrew’s to be reversed. The book could have been flipped around in order that I could struggle to read English and Abdullah could attempt to teach English. But instead, I stand as the privileged American college student attempting to engage the world by teaching colors and prepositions in a small classroom filled with students.

Our summer program involving teaching English to unaccompanied minors in Cairo is only a fraction of the ministries of St. Andrew’s United Church in Cairo. Throughout the small complex, both children and adult refugees attempt to rebuild their lives through education in all areas. Most dream of moving to the United States or some other western country, but for now they continue to live in Cairo. I can only begin to wonder why I was so blessed with the opportunities I have been given. But perhaps this question is useless. Instead of focusing the reason behind the disparities in Cairo and around the world, I should focus on what I will do about it.

First Impressions - Susan Park

Even in our state of fatigue from the long flight, we were nonetheless struck by our initial experiences in Cairo. The second day we arrived, we visited our main local partner St. Andrews, a church that provides education and aid for the refugees from various African countries. During the whole cab ride there, I felt the full brunt of the unbreathable air, heat and traffic. In fact, my initial thought upon seeing St. Andrews was how anyone could study right in the middle of traffic and noise. Moreover, my image of a wealthy church providing charity was shattered by a small humble one.
Despite these first impressions however, as soon as I stepped through the threshold of the gate, my thoughts transformed into awe. Some of the refugee children were playing soccer together, as gleefully as any child in the United States. It was evident that the noise, the heat, and the pollution were not on their minds and these things I had immediately noticed as a foreigner would not hinder them from seeking education. Furthermore, I was amazed at the courage and love St. Andrews must have in order to continue the children and adult education program, the legal office, or even something rather mundane like meals. Such operations rivaled those offered by wealthy churches in the United States. It was humbling to realize that a community need not be huge nor rich to make an impact on others.
As the Dukeengage members stood and waited, some smiling children shyly came up and offered a "hello" and a handshake. They were beautiful and seemed happy but during orientation, the Dukeengage members learned that many of these children are unaccompanied minors and settled in Cairo alone. Some of them lived in groups together but the refugee treatment by Egyptians are not favorable. Therefore, education and job opportunities are limited, making living difficult for the refugees. Learning all this during orientation renewed my conviction to instill in the refugee children an enthusiasm for learning and a hope to seek further education.
During the teacher training, I was further encouraged by my group members who also displayed enthusiasm for teaching through creating model lesson plans. As we prepare for our classes next week, I hope that our group members will display an open attitude that exemplifies that we ourselves value and willingly seek education. Moreover, we hope to get to know our students on a deeper level in order to understand their background and their culture. So far, we are somewhat burdened by the task ahead of us but we will continue to be optimistic!