AT LAST....Egypt!!!!

This trip has been a dream come true for me. Since I was in the second grade, I have been fascinated with Egypt and have wanted to visit. When I first came to Howard, I was so excited to hear that an Egypt study abroad trip existed. Now, in the summer before my junior year, I am writing a blog entry in a beautiful hotel on Elephantine Island in Aswan, Egypt. Words cannot describe the feeling of knowing that I have finally done it. I have made it to Kemet.

Since the time we arrived in Cairo on Tuesday, we have been running. The first full day here, we visited the iconic Pyramids of Giza. Their peaceful majesty in the midst of a chaotic city is remarkable. From the time we saw them in the horizon on our way from the airport, we all knew that we had arrived. Seeing them from a distance is one thing. Walking on them, and touching the same stones that Egyptians, our people, shaped and assembled over 4500 years ago is a whole other. Everywhere I go, I am sure to touch as much as I can. Just to be in the EXACT same places as such great people is a wonderful feeling. Not only did we get to visit the pyramids, but we were also able to enter into the Second Pyramid, the pyramid of Khafre. As Dr. Carr says, “You don’t go half way around the world and not take the last two steps.” I was never scared, but just extremely excited, as some of my classmates can probably attest to.

Along with the Pyramids of Giza, we also visited the Step Pyramid in Saqqara and we also entered the pyramid of Titi there. Going inside two pyramids in one day was so exciting. I have so many great pictures and memories from that day. One of the best, and iconic pictures of my trip is the Sphinx profile picture. I will definitely admire this picture forever and it will always remind me…I WAS IN EGYPT!!!!!

I am so excited to see the rest of the sights during this trip. Egypt holds so many great treasures. I knew that prior to coming here, but you can’t even imagine the amount of artifacts, monuments, and sculptures that exist from Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians were truly an AMAZING people.