Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
AS I sit here on a balcony overlooking a neighbourhood in Cairo, I cannot help but be affected by the culture shock that has been electrifying me throughout my stay here in Egypt.
I should say it has not been a bad one but rather good and educational, mind you everything closes and people seem to sleep by the time the clock strikes 11pm though that seems to be considered very early.
I have experienced mostly what tourists see. The Nile, the Sphinx, the Pyramids. All places that have lived up to my expectations.
I am really happy that I grabbed the opportunity to experience a culture so different from ours. It is sad as a youth growing up in a country so beautiful in itself, to hear many stereotypes about other people from other countries.
To be honest, it came as a shock to me that when I went to many of the places here in Cairo I did not see overseas workers doing menial jobs.
The petrol pump attendants and supermarket cleaners were equal to each other and treated each other with respect.
Furthermore, I witnessed that the tourism industry here in Egypt is growing and profiting from using the local areas such as the beaches and water parks.
I wish that Bahrain would create public beaches open to everyone, be they expatriates or locals.
It is a true shame for an island surrounded completely by water to have only private beaches, which can be costly to use at times.
Anyway, allow me to experience this vacation before hitting the books again for another gruelling academic year.
I hope you guys (my dear readers) have enjoyed your vacation so far and are all ready for the start of another academic year.
