Ever since the age of eight when I learned about mummies, pharos, pyramids...THE history... I was hooked. It was a dream of mine to one day touch the same stones that were touched thousands of years ago. About twelve years later, the dream seemed closer as it became not just a dream, but a plan. In late 2005 after shared moments of tears and laughter, a forever friendship was created and Lisa Mamangon and I had discovered that we had the same dream. We made a pact that we would save enough money and take our lifetime trip at the end of the school year (May06).
So just to cut it short this is what happened:
2006- Didn't save enough money
2007- Didn't save enough money
2008- Didn't save money
2009- No money
2010- We finally decided that if we waited until we had enough money we would NEVER go! So instead we made a three month deadline to save just enough money for flights and bought "Arabic for Dummies" as another bit of insurance.
In December we finally purchased our tickets...
we filled up our wine glasses and toasted... to Egypt!!!
Now, keep in mind that we didn't know where we would stay, how we would get around, or where exactly we would be venturing to once we arrived. We were just ecstatic about knowing that our trip in January was a fact... it existed!
Ok so NOW we were in January and still no plan... just the "golden tickets." It was four days before the takeoff day and I was stuck at work. I was typing away when the new director Denis Ichikawa stepped into my office (stay with me now, I promise this little sidetrack is totally relevant). He started little small talk then told me he heard that I was going to Egypt. He told me that he played squash with a guy that's from Cairo, and said that if I would like he would email him and copy me on it. "Maybe he can tell you a little bit about what to expect or something." Of course I said yes but didn't really expect him to go through with it, I figured the new Head Hancho just wanted to chat up his subordinates and be Mr. Easygoing. NOPE! Denis was totally legit and was a kind soul who just really wanted to help. I received an email the very next day at 6am that connected me with his squash buddy Wael.
I exchanged contact information with Wael and he called me later that evening. His first response after hearing my voice was "HOW OLD ARE YOU?!" When he found out that Lisa and I were only 25 and it was just the two of us taking this trip he freaked!... "I thought maybe you were in your 40s/50s...you girls are going to a third world country alone?! It's not Europe where you can just backpack everywhere you know." You could just imagine his reaction when he found out that we had no game plan...or even a designated sleeping area at that! Anyway, after having a father type chat with me, we agreed to meet up at a Middle Eastern restaurant so he can talk to Lisa and I in person and give us the dos and don'ts.
We had dinner at Cafe Istanbul in Tempe where Lisa and I had the chicken shawarma plate for the first time. After talking about customs and hearing us show off the bits of Arabic we had learned, we were glad to tell Wael that we finally chose a hotel and that we would most likely get around by cab. After he gave us his two cents (a fatherly two cents!) about how dangerous that was and how expensive it would all be, he told us that him and his wife talked about us and that they had decided that it would be best if we stayed with his mom, and that his brother and sister would be glad to show us around. WOAH!!! Our eyes nearly popped out of their sockets!!! "Oh my goodness Wael! That was so kind of you but we could never inconvenience you like that!" Before we could say another word he replied with "It's no trouble at all! They already know about you two and we would all feel better about you ladies being in Egypt. We really want you girls to have the best time in Egypt... this is a big trip for you and we want you coming back talking good about Egypt." So it was settled...not only did we have a place to stay, but we had family in Egypt waiting for us!
The night before our flight we met up with Wael again at a Starbucks to say goodbye and pick up some things he wanted to send his family. As he walked us to our cars he gave us a big hug and said, "The fact that you girls are taking this trip at your age is very impressive and let's me know that you girls will go far in life. Be safe and have my brother call me when he meets you at the airport."
Continued....
(Will work on Part II later!)
(Will work on Part II later!)
