"The Others" & Orientation

In my downtime today I finally got around to uploading some pictures. First up is Coptic Cairo, or the block that Egypt cordoned off for people from the other side of the religious tracks. Unfortunately, I didn't spend much time in the area, but I did pass through the museum and had a quick stroll around the block. Many of the churches close pretty early, but the pics should give an overview of the area. For the historically inclined, this is supposedly the area where Moses was found by Pharaoh's daughter.

Next up are pictures from the in-country orientation. The commission took all the Fulbrighters to the embassy for a few informational sessions. The Ambassador was also on hand for a brief welcoming address. Of course, cameras weren't allowed in the embassy, so the pictures are from the Citadel. The complex was constructed under Saladin in the 12th century to protect the city from the Crusaders. The large mosque inside was built by Mohammad Ali (considered to be the founder of modern Cairo) in the early 1800s. The Citadel is quite literally a city on a hill, so there were some pretty amazing views from the top.

News about adventures in Zagazig forthcoming. In the meantime, I do want to point everyone's attention to the blog of another ETA here in Egypt. Eric is a great writer who tends to focus on comically dissecting the finer points of the Fulbright experience. Enjoy.