July 2, 2003
Cairo

I found this article on Usenet. It does a better job of expressing what I have been trying to for awhile.

By Amy Feigley
26/06/2003
In light of the attack on the World Trade Center of September 11, 2001 and
the U.S. attack on Iraq, it seems that visiting an Arab country (much less
living in one) is out of the realm of comprehension for most Americans. Yet,
despite the general misconceptions that many U.S. citizens hold about the
dangerous and aggressive nature of the Middle East, more Americans are
coming to Cairo to work and pursue their studies.
Whether finding intellectual value in residing in Cairo or appreciating a
refreshing change of pace from the "go out and get 'em" approach of America'
s competitive work day mentality, a large number of Americans find
themselves in Cairo for extended amounts of time. Several had studied at the
American University in Cairo (AUC) and have been drawn back for personal or
academic reasons, while others have come to Egypt to learn Arabic for their
jobs. There are also many Americans who find well-paying jobs teaching in
private English schools or writing for English publications. In any case,
there is a large community of Americans who choose to make a life for
themselves (at least temporarily) in Cairo.
Surprisingly, and against the common assumption, the number of American
students coming to Egypt to study abroad has increased significantly since
the World Trade Center attack and even more significantly since the U.S.
began a war with Iraq.
"There is definitely a greater interest in the United States to learn more
about the Middle East and the Arab world," explains Tomader Rifaat, the
Director of International Student Services at the American University in
Cairo. Rifaat succeeded in dispelling the common assumption that the number
of American students would be on the decline in light of conflicts in recent
years.
She also stated that there has been an increase of American students
interested in AUC's Middle Eastern Studies program and the Arabic Language
Institute (ALI), an intensive Arabic language program at AUC.
Rifaat said that she usually has about 100 study-abroad students enrolled
every semester, and so far she has over 135 enrolled for this coming fall
semester, and the application period is not even over yet.
"Students see more opportunities for jobs in the U.S. government think
tanks, et cetera .for those with knowledge of the Arab world, Arabic and
Islam," explains one American student in Middle Eastern Studies from Ohio.
"I think it is all of our responsibilities to learn about the world and be
able to form our own opinions. In a world that is becoming smaller and
smaller, I feel like more people are making it a priority to be an active
part of the world. That is why I am here in Cairo," says a part-time English
teacher from Michigan. "I also want to say firsthand that although tourism
in Egypt may be down in comparison to other years, it is not a reflection of
Egypt's safety for visitors, but rather a reflection on American perceptions
of the Middle East as it is presented by the U.S. media."
Rifaat agrees that students feel "very safe" here in Cairo.
This sentiment was also echoed by a journalism student at AUC: "I feel quite
safe and comfortable here in Cairo. A person from the West who has never
visited Egypt and doesn't understand what it is like here might say that I
am deceiving myself. I guess it is similar to trying to describe to someone
that has never been outside of Egypt that the U.S. is safe, when it is
incomprehensible to them, when they know that people are murdered, robbed
and raped there daily."
After the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, only 15 American
students attending AUC left Egypt. However, Rifaat clarifies, "Out of those
15 students who left AUC after the attacks of September 11, over 50% of them
were forced to leave." And she adds that one student's parents even came to
Egypt from the States and physically brought their daughter home.
On a more positive note, Rifaat said that she did not have one single
student leave this past semester after the outbreak of the U.S. war with
Iraq.
A common observation made among many Americans is that Egyptians have a
better ability than Americans do at separating the intentions of individuals
from the actions of the governments of their country of citizenship. When
asked about their feelings about being in Cairo during the onset of the U.S.
attack on Iraq, students and non-students living in Cairo responded
similarly. The general consensus is that when the war began, no one knew
what to expect, but after feeling out the situation, they realized that they
were not in danger.
"I was a little scared [when the Iraq war broke out] because one does not
know how people will react. However, I did not experience any uncomfortable,
dangerous or threatening situations. Cab drivers and people in my
neighborhood treated me the same as always," said one fair-haired and
fair-skinned American primary school teacher.
"I felt a bit jolted," echoed one sophomore of English Literature at AUC. "I
was afraid that we would be sent home. I felt only a little unsafe, but not
treated any differently; taxi drivers were actually more talkative."
Trying to educate and reassure friends and family back in the States seems
to be one of the biggest challenges for students and non-students alike
living in Cairo.
"It seems that there is a lot of misunderstanding between those Americans
who have visited Egypt (or other Middle Eastern countries) and those who
have not," explains one returning graduate student of Middle Eastern
History. "Most of my family was apprehensive concerning my return to Egypt.
None of them have been to either the Middle East or Egypt, so it can get
quite frustrating for me because I don't feel like they understand in the
least, nor does it seem that they care to make an attempt to understand by
visiting themselves."
Even recent attacks such as the terrorist bombings in Saudi Arabia and
Morocco have not swayed one American AUC student's feelings of personal
safety here in Egypt. "Since the two bombing incidents in Saudi Arabia and
Morocco, I have become more aware, but not in the sense that I fear for
myself, but for the region and the world, for something else will surely
occur."
When it comes right down to it, people can sense what is going on and
determine whether there is danger. "Students are open-minded and can sense
what is happening, they can sense any antagonism," Rifaat reiterates. "There
is none."
*Information was gathered by and interview with Tomader Rifaat, the Director
of International Student Services and a small anonymous survey distributed
among Americans working in Cairo and attending AUC.