Egypt

Halfway through my freshman year, I met several times with the Arabic professor at Wesleyan and his enthusiasm for the Arab world and Arabic language was so infectious that it made me want to study in Egypt. I’d dreamed of seeing the Pyramids since I was a little boy, after having seen Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in theaters in Puerto Rico, but my time in college reignited the dream, as I realized I could achieve many of my study abroad goals (learn about a rich film culture, a complicated language, and a less talked-about destination). I loved studying Arabic and my semester at The American University in Cairo so much that I added the Global Middle Eastern and North African Studies Minor to my degree. My adventures in Egypt led me to make friends with people all over the world and helped me get comfortable with being uncomfortable across many of Egypt’s Governorates including Cairo, Giza, the Red Sea governorate, Luxor, Aswan, and Alexandria

Outdoor courtyard scene with various furniture and sculptures, including chairs, tables, and white statues of people, against a beige building with a blue sky background.
Silhouettes of buildings in the foreground against a hazy cityscape with a flock of birds flying in the sky at sunset or sunrise.
Cats on rocks near a harbor at night with illuminated buildings and a boat reflecting colored lights.
A tall streetlight with a large decorative lamp resembling a flower or palm at the top, in an urban area with unfinished roads, parked cars, and apartment buildings in the background.
Indoor restaurant with people seated at tables, neon sign reading 'Egyptian Pancakes' and Arabic signage, large star decoration, and festive lighting.
A market stall adorned with Islamic-themed decorations, including a neon green crescent moon and star sign, hanging lanterns, and Islamic symbols on fabrics. The stall displays various items like hanging ornaments and textiles.
Two young men sit on a curb at night in front of a street market, with garbage around them, and a busy shop with colorful items and bright lights behind them.
A man standing next to a cart of cigarette packs and lighters on a city sidewalk at night. A dog stands nearby, with people and historic buildings in the background.
A woman with brown hair, wearing a black jacket and beige pants, stands in an art gallery. She is holding a phone in her right hand and shopping bags in her left hand. Two framed artworks are visible on the white wall behind her, one depicting a pers
A woman with long brown hair, wearing a black leather jacket, is in an antique shop looking at various vintage items. She is holding a phone and a shopping bag, surrounded by old photographs, sculptures, and metalware, with shelves filled with collec
A crowded outdoor celebration at night with festive decorations, including hanging lanterns and ornaments. People are socializing and enjoying the event, and a performer in a gold outfit is present on a stage or platform.
Night view of an ornate, European-style building with balconies, decorative molding, and illuminated signs at street level. A palm tree is in the foreground.
Night scene of a busy city street with illuminated storefronts and signs, and a crowd of people walking along the sidewalk.
View of a construction site through a large pipe with a circular opening, showing dirt roads, cranes, and industrial equipment in a desert landscape under a clear sky.
Stone statue of a smiling woman with Egyptian headdress, set against a blue sky.
View of a beach seen through a wire fence, with two people walking along the shoreline and a boat on the water, under a clear sky.
A calm ocean with a breakwater and a lighthouse on a small pier in the distance, under a clear blue sky.
A wind farm with multiple wind turbines visible under a cloudy sky, situated in a flat, open landscape with dirt ground.
A man on a boat adjusting equipment, with white and blue painted boats around, in a desert landscape with rocky hills in the background.
Ancient Egyptian stone columns with hieroglyphic carvings, under a clear blue sky.
A person walking in a desert landscape with a pyramid in the distance.
Night-time street scene with people walking and sitting outside cafes, parked cars along the street, and illuminated signs in Arabic and English, with old buildings in the background.
Night view of a restaurant storefront with bright neon signs in Arabic and English, including the words 'ABONASSER.' The signage is decorated with red and yellow lights.
A bar or club interior illuminated with pink neon lights, with bottles of alcohol on display behind the bar, and people sitting and standing around enjoying drinks and conversation.
A ceiling with ornate decorative molding and a rustic wooden chandelier with four exposed light bulbs hanging from chains.
The image shows a historical stone castle under renovation with scaffolding on the walls and towers, set against a clear blue sky.
A church with a large cross on top, featuring two smaller towers with crosses, and a clock on the front facade. Several people are sitting and standing outside, with cars parked in the surrounding area under a partly cloudy sky.
A store or antique shop wall decorated with framed art, paintings, and various decorative items including lanterns, ceramic plates, and photographs.
People standing outside a seafood restaurant at night, with a bright red neon sign reading 'SEAFOOD' and a large sign with Arabic text.
Two people sitting on rocks at night, looking at their phones with a dark sky and stars above.
A person with short black hair and glasses looking upwards, wearing a white scarf around their neck, standing in a dark outdoor setting at night with a starry sky and silhouette of mountains in the background.
Nighttime view of a partially constructed or damaged stone building or shelter with a large open window or doorway illuminated from the inside. The scene shows various construction materials, debris, and fabric on the ground and inside, with a sign i
Sunset over a rocky desert landscape with mountains in the background and a clear sky.
Night view of a building with colorful neon signs advertising restaurants, including 'El Masrien,' 'Julia Ice Cream,' and 'El Masrien Egyptian Food,' with Arabic script also visible.
A young man with dark hair and a necklace stands in shallow clear water at the beach, with boats and yachts in the background and a bright blue sky overhead.
Young man relaxing on a paddleboard in clear blue water with boats and a rocky coastline in the background under a bright blue sky.
A boy standing in shallow clear water at the beach, wearing black shorts, facing away, with two large rocks and a person climbing on one of them in the background.
A person with dark hair is climbing up a wooden dock into the water, holding onto the dock's edge. The water is clear and the dock has metal handrails.
A dark sky with strings of small white lights radiating outward from a central point, creating a starburst pattern.
Low-angle view of a building with a beige curved structure and red signage, against a bright blue sky with the sun shining.
City street with old buildings, balconies, trees, and a church with a cross on top under a blue sky.
Night view of a shopping mall or hotel atrium with a neon sign that reads 'RADIO' in red. The atrium features modern design elements, with curved metal railings, circular wall lamps, and a high ceiling with vertical light strips. There are a few peop
Tall tree with had with light brown bark and green leaves against a clear blue sky with a flying bird.
The image shows the upper section of a white church with two tall bell towers topped with crosses, set against a clear blue sky. Part of the building's facade and a balcony with decorative railing are visible.
Front view of a historical building with intricate stone carvings, statues, and inscriptions, flanked by two lion sculptures at the entrance, under a clear blue sky.
Stone castle-like structure with several statues on top, including angel figures with wings, against a clear blue sky. There is a satellite dish and wires attached to the structure, with greenery and a bus parked nearby.
A monument with tall vertical metallic pillars, a large flagpole with a flag to the left, and a clear sky at sunset.