It’s officially been 20 days since I arrived in Cairo, Egypt. It's officially taken too long for me to figure out how to change my settings from Arabic to English. It's officially been, to say the least, an explosion to the senses.
Never living in a large city before, I find myself healthily easing my way into the constant noise pollution, friendly faces, and idea of convenience at any hour. With no previous language training in Arabic, I haven’t once felt intimidation or a lack of ability to communicate. The fact of the matter is that this has been an experience to further prove that we are all on the same walk of life, despite our similarities and differences. Here, everyone sleeks down the same path, just in his or her own way. There is a flow. There is an acknowledgment of the presence surrounding. You can choose to follow the road signs, or you can choose to constantly rearrange and fit within the ever-changing matrix of movement. Either way you choose, the language of “the other” constantly encircles you.
We all have the power of communication on a much deeper level than that which resonates through our voice. It is easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, especially in “Amreeka.” But here in Cairo, your word isn’t necessarily your way. Rather, your way is your word…
No matter the journey, I find that the easiest part of my day involves the tiniest gestures of acknowledgement. I am always safe here. My path is guided by the light that I share in a nod or smile to each person I pass. In return, I am blessed with acceptance, guidance, and security in knowing that I am respected not as one in the same, but as one of the same.
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