Zewak - Spring Break

Our first stop during spring break was in a village called Zewak, where at least 25 students from NUA live. It is in Upper Egypt, and it is very conservative. In Egyptian culture, a guest must at LEAST have a drink with the family that they visit and can't really reject food. If they do, it is taken very personally and is insulting to the family. We stayed in Zewak for only two days... and I don't think we could have survived any more than that. The people were wonderful. We learned a lot, and it really opened my eyes to where these students come from and why they think the way that they do. Here are parts of my journal entries. If I tried to just write about them in blogs, I would be overwhelmed with all the details that I would feel the need to include, and I would never end up writing anything.



Friday, March 25, 2010 between 7:30 & 8:30pm - Ashraf's living room
I am so full I want to die... and we haven't eaten dinner yet. Saeeda's house, Wael's house, Malak & Talat's house to Ibrahim N's house, to Wael's again, to Maged S's house and to Ashraf's. Next we will go to Romany A's.

3/26/10 12:04am -- on my bed at (student)'s house
Jessica ate so much she literally almost threw up. (Student)'s mom gave us mahshy when we came back from from Romany's dad's coffee shop. I found a fingernail in mine. Krista told me... (something personal) ... We laughed and then stopped ourselves because girls shouldn't laugh (or even be outside) in public. The Christian women stay inside all day--when Maryam opened the door for Beth and Krista, she hid behind the door--and when they do have to go out, they wear this giant black burka-looking thing. They pull it over their heads and grab two corners, which they hold open just enough to be able to see. It's almost scary looking. I never want to hear them criticize Muslims about covering themselves. Never. It angers me that girls are trapped inside all day. The police keep talking to Wael and bothering him for our information. If he pays them, they will most likely leave us alone.



At Ashraf's house, Michael said, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no potatoes." It sounds dumb, but it couldn't be more true. I was SO full. It was miserable. And every strawberry, cup of Tang (mixed with tap water), or anything else questionable that we had to eat, we prayed for God's blessing. I pray that no one gets sick.

...I am so full.

I almost stepped on like 20 dead birds just laying in the roads today.

This reminds me of Maryam M's village, but I like how they treat women there much much better.

I feel like if I married a Zewakese guy and then came back to visit his family it could easily be "Not Without My Daughter II." The men get custody, and who would help me if my husband says not to? It was really scary to think about. The people are so sweet, but this will never be my home. ... This is rooted and ingrained in [them]... The man is in control. The woman cooks and cleans like there's no tomorrow and stays inside... I'm glad I'm here, and I hope to always be grateful for everything. I hope to never be the next Sally Fields. Oh God, please be with these women and young girls.

Sunday, March 28, 2010 9:45am - on the train on the way from Zewak to Luxor
I'm sitting across from poor Krista who just threw up in a bag. She threw up right before we got on the train right next to a bench. Mina was with her holding her stuff. They were all so sweet. They offered to let her come back with them and then to take her to a hospital. I went and got her a Sprite. Mina told us to not let anything happen to his mom. (He calls Krista "Omee" and "Ma," and she calls him "ibnee." It's so funny.)

Jessica and Michael had gotten sick on Friday night/Saturday morning. Poor things. We told (student)'s family that we didn't want any breakfast, but they made a ton and tried to force her to eat. Jessica was so good and made herself eat cucumbers, but they kept pushing. We finally told--Break. Krista just threw up again. Poor thing.--We finally told them that she threw up that morning... it didn't make a difference. (Student)'s mom said that she would feel better when she ate more. I downed Jessica's sweet hot milk (along with other juices throughout the day). Finally I got almost mean because I was straightforward in saying, "No, she cannot. She will throw up again if she eat or drinks anything. No." They didn't get it, and it was actually starting to make me angry. She'll get better if she eats more?

We went to Sabbath school at the SDA church. There was hardly anyone there. It was really sad. They need help down there. ...

Yesterday after church we went to Gad's, Mina F's grandma/relative's, Adeeb & Adel's, Benjamin Z's, Wagdy's, Mina E's, Wael H's again (which was like home base for us), and Shagia's for lunch and Mina S's for dinner. Shagia's was fun. There were tons of neighborhood kids that we played w/ and took pictures w/. We rode their horses, and Krista and Beth rode camels. It was fun.





We drank more Tang and Coke/Sprite than ever. At least 10 yesterday. I wanted to die.

I loved all the animals and students, but I could never live there as a woman...

I made a little boy cry yesterday when he hit me and I told him no, so he started to bite my hand. I grabbed his arm and tried to take away his palm branches (for Palm Sunday), and he cried and held a grudge against me... This four(ish) year old told Mina F that he was going to kill me outside. I was trying to make peace with him by showing him pictures on my camera. Then Mina told him to tell me no, so this little boy started to remember his grudge against me. I got mad. Mina had said to me, "But he's only a child," I said, "Yeah, and kids are smart. If you don't teach them to obey when they're young, they don't listen later." Me and the little boy made peace--I'll finish writing this later.