Tips on eating healthy and staying active

Going away to college can be a fun and exciting time. For most, it is the first time that you are truly on your own and able to control your own life. No more mom and dad to tell you what to do. It’s all up to you and the choices you make.

Unfortunately, when many people go to college, they begin to make very poor health and eating choices and up pops the “Freshman 15,” those naughty little 15 pounds that seem to pack onto the bellies and thighs of some unfortunate college freshman all over the country. Not everyone gains the Freshman 15, in fact many people actually lose weight during their first year of college, but keeping those pounds at bay requires some good decision making when it comes to eating and exercise.

Keep the tips below in mind as you live the fabulous college life so you won’t become victim to this looming enemy:

• Stay active- When in high school, most students had gym or other another athletic class at least once (sometimes up to twice) a week and many students were also active in sport activities. Unless you have been recruited to be a star athlete for your college’s sports team, you’re in need of a replacement.  Find the opportunity to be active on a regular basis through walking, running, biking, etc.  Whether it’s a jog around campus, a walk to the student center vs getting a ride or biking downtown and back, the extra physical activity will do you good.




• Join the gym- Most colleges and universities have an athletic center on campus and membership is free or very cheap. Join the gym and take advantage. Most university athletic centers have a pool, tennis courts, weights, exercise equipment, basketball courts, you name it and most offer a myriad of classes to fit any need. But don’t just join the gym… GO. Get a workout buddy and make it a habit to work out regularly each week.
• Manage your portions- Most colleges have cafeteria eating and that means all you can eat all the time. This smorgasbord can be very tempting and it can be hard not to indulge in all your favorites when they are regularly available and in abundance. Don’t go crazy with portions, don’t keep piling food on the plate. Keep your portions reasonable, especially for high caloric and fatty foods.
• Don’t forget your veggies (and fruits)- Mom is not going to be there to remind you to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, but you still need them to stay healthy. Incorporate a salad a day into your meals and make sure you have one vegetable with your dinner each night. Try to incorporate fresh fruit as well and grab an apple, orange, or banana on your way out and keep as a late night snack.
• Keeps unhealthy snacks at bay- There will be plenty of cake, cookies, chips, french fries, ice cream and more readily available. While you may want to dive in head first and on occasion make a meal of just fries, don’t. Do treat yourself, but not all the time. Keep a treat a treat and limit your daily consumption of these items. Giving yourself a limit (like one cookie a day) may help.
• Don’t forget water- Drinking water is important in maintaining overall health. Eight glasses a day should be your goal. Drinking water helps your metabolism operate at its ideal level and that gives your body a fighting chance of burning off some of those snacks.

Going away to college will result in growth in maturity, knowledge and potential… it shouldn’t be a growth in pants size too!

Photo credit: by klynslis

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Tips on how to prepare for your first college roommate

Most college freshman end up living with a roommate their first year of college.  Some people may luck up and room with a high school friend who happens to be attending the same college, but most students will be placed with a complete stranger. Life with a roommate can be great or horrible and the relationship can have a huge impact on your freshman year experience.  But you don’t have to enter the situation blindly. There are few steps you can take over the summer to make sure that you and your roommate get off to the best possible start.

Reach out: Your university will inform you who your roommate is over the summer. Once you get this information reach out to him/her. Place a call, shoot an email, friend them on Facebook. Introduce yourself and let your roommate know a little about you. Keep the first communication brief, but let them know that you are interested in connecting with them over the summer prior to arriving on campus. Most people will welcome this communication.

Determine compatibility: Your university may have paired you with your roommate based on a determined compatibility, but it’s probably still a good idea for you test the waters yourself. Once you open the lines of communication, take the opportunity to get to know them and allow them to get to know you. Try to discuss subjects like musical taste, personal style, work habits, cleanliness, etc. so you can determine areas of joint interest and areas of potential problems. If you find a potential problem area, don’t panic. Unless the situation is particularly grievous, give the situation a chance first. You never how the situation may work out in the end.

Coordinate the décor: Unless both you and your roommate want a hodge podge room, it’s probably a good idea to discuss décor. You both will have your own personal style, but you will both be much happier if you can coordinate the look of your shared space. See if you can find agreement on a look/feel first. If you find your styles are too different and you can’t find a happen medium, don’t give up. See if you can at least settle on a coordinating color scheme. Remember to be flexible and open-minded and hopefully your new roommate will too.

Coordinate purchasing: There are some items that you will not need two of, especially considering the size of most dorm rooms. With these items, you and your roommate can work together to split the purchasing.  Items like extra furniture, rugs, and window treatments fall into this category. Some students may also choose to split purchasing on larger items like a TV or mini fridge, and if you decide to do this proceed carefully. Many people get possessive with these types of items and it may cause future conflict. If these types of items are shared, make sure to develop ground rules on use to prevent issues.

If you follow these steps, you’ve provided yourself and your roommate a good start for your living situation. You’ve already started to work together and know a little about each other. If, however, troubles arise, try to address them quickly. Work to always keep an open line of communication and if you are having trouble communicating, reach out for help from the university. In particularly bad cases, you will be reassigned and given a new roommate.

Photo credit: by sienacommunications

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The Pros and Cons of College Living Options

If you’re a freshman, on-campus living is probably your only option. Sophomore year on, however, the world is your oyster and you’ve got a choice between living on or off campus. There are pros and cons of each living situation and you have to determine the best option to match your lifestyle to decide where you’d like to live.

On-campus living means dorm life, or if you’re lucky and your college has them, a campus apartment. Most campuses have several options for dorms.

Pros

• Vicinity- You’ll be right in the middle of everything, near your classes, the library, the student center, etc. You’ll likely be able to walk everywhere and given how close you’ll be to your classes, you’ll be able to pop in and out of your room between classes.
• No bills- All of your living costs will be covered through financial aid or tuition. You’ll never have to worry about the cable or the lights going out.
• Cafeteria- Everyone needs to eat and campus cafeterias will provide plenty of great food options to meet most any tastes. Given most college students have neither the desire, nor the skill to cook 3 meals a day, that’s a pretty nice perk.

Cons

• Lack of privacy- Having a roommate and living with 200 other students means your privacy will be limited. Someone (usually many people) will know nearly everything you do. Rumors run rampant and news travels at the speed of light.
• Lack of control- Dorms have rules and there will come in a time in your dorm life when you would like to break a few, but breaking rules will usually mean losing your housing.
• Public showers- If you are living in a dorm, prepare for public showers and the daily toting of your personal bath items down the hall in your fluffy robe. There’s nothing like a row of public showers to make you love a pair of flip flops.

Off-campus living will mean renting an apartment or possibly a house with a few of your college buddies. Many rental options cater specifically to the local college market and there should be rental options in most college towns.

Pros

• Freedom- You are free to do what you want at your off-campus apartment (granted your roommates and landlord approve). You can throw a party, light candles and hang out with your buds all night.
• Privacy- You may luck up and have your own room at your apartment, but even if you have to share a room, you’ll have much more privacy than in a dorm. Sharing a house with even 5 friends is a lot more private than a hundred or so.
• Space- While most dorms are just one room, an apartment, or house, will usually give you multiple rooms and overall more living space.

Cons

• Bills- You will have responsibility for rent, utilities, cable, phone, internet as well as groceries, paper goods and cleaning supplies. There is a lot of responsibility and if these responsibilities are not taken care of, your utilities and services could be discontinued or, even worse, you could be evicted.
• Cooking- You won’t have the luxury of the cafeteria with off-campus living and unfortunately, most college students aren’t the best cooks. Unless you or one of your roommates is an aspiring chef, your meals will likely suffer or you’ll end up spending a lot of money on pizza and Chinese take-out.
• Safety- Campuses are usually well-monitored by security, well-lit and overall safer than areas off campus. You’ll need to be extra careful when travelling to and from your off-campus housing, especially at night.

The decision to live on or off campus is a major one. Make sure you take the pros and cons of each option into consideration before you make a decision on where you’d like to live. It’s all about what’s important to you.

Photo credits (creative commons) by Paco Seoane

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Most of your college costs may be covered by financial aid, tuition payments or your parents’ pocket book, but you may still need some extra cash now and then. For some students, a part-time job is the answer for the extra cash needed. Here are a few tips on how to find part time jobs perfect for college students and some advice on how to be the best employee and student while working. Remember, international students face different work regulations, so be sure to check with the international students office before starting a job.

• Work study. If you are eligible for work study… take it! Work study jobs are on campus and specifically suited for students. Find an area that interests you and apply as soon as you can. Most good positions are taken quickly, so don’t delay.
• On- campus jobs. If you are not work study eligible, there still may be on-campus jobs for students. Check with your student center, athletic center, bookstore, library and other key offices and departments at your school to see if there are any open positions. Make sure to let them know that you are not a work study student.




• Student employment center. Most college campuses have a student employment center or service, and believe it or not, the services are not just limited to full-time jobs after graduation and summer internships. The office may have long- and short-term job opportunities from businesses and individuals looking specifically for college students. Some of these options may be tutoring, babysitting, data entry, research, etc.
• Local businesses. If your college or university is located near a business area, there are probably plenty of opportunities for college students. Music stores, clothing stores, restaurants and other businesses (that typically service your university) usually readily welcome student employees. This is NOT an option for international students on an F-1 visa as you are only allowed to work ON campus.

Once you’ve found a job, you”ll need to make sure that you keep the job and you maintain your grades. Follow the advice below and you’ll be a star student and a star employee.

• Limit your hours. You may think that you want to work 30- 40 hours a week for the cash, but you shouldn’t. Your main priority is to be a good student and get good grades. You have to determine the balance that works best for you, but err on the side of less working hours. You need to make sure that you have plenty of time to go to class, study AND just have fun as a college student.
• Be professional. Whether you are a part-time receptionist at a local business or a pizza flipper at the dorm cafeteria, always act in a professional manner. This will help ensure that you always keep your job and maintain a good reputation with the employer. Arrive on time, take breaks as scheduled and don’t leave early unless you have permission.




• Communicate with your employer. Make sure that you always let your employer know in advance when you have to take time off or leave work early. If you are working off campus, give your employer a schedule at the beginning of each semester so they are aware of key dates such as midterms and finals. This allows your employer to properly determine your schedule in advance and it limits last minute changes and staffing issues.
• Know when to quit. If you find that your employment is interfering with your education, negatively impacting your grades or your personal life, quit. Don’t forget your goal during this time in your life, which is success as a college student. If your job is preventing you from being a good student, you have to let it go. Be professional with your employer once you have come to this decision. Be honest and let them know why you can no longer work there and give them at least 2 weeks notice before your last day.

Having a part-time job while in college can be a big financial help, but you have to find the right job, keep a balance and be a good employee.

Photo credit thanks to Jörg Weingrill

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Congratulations! You have successfully completed high school, applied for college and you’ve been accepted. You’ll spend your summer hanging out with your high school buddies, while feverishly preparing for your arrival to campus. You want to make sure you bring the right stuff and here are few areas that you don’t want to miss.

Bedding: Even if you have a twin bed now, you’ll need brand new bedding for college. Dorm beds are extra long twin, but luckily many retailers sell bedding sets and solutions specifically for college students. Make sure to get a complete bedding set (fitted sheet, top sheet, pillow, pillow case and comforter) as well as extra sheets and pillow cases. You may also want to bring a few throw blankets as well. There is nothing like a cozy blanket and a text book to warm your soul.

Décor: When you arrive, your dorm room will be drab and bland and it will be up to you to bring it to life. Take time to shop for items like rugs, drapes/blinds, art, photographs and throw pillows to bring a little style to your new home. Make sure to work within the color scheme of your bedding and if you’ve got a roommate, you may want to discuss color coordination between you two.

Computer: Most college campuses will have a computer lab (some open 24 hours) that can fill all of your computing needs, but there is nothing like having your own computer in your room. Laptops are best given portability. If you are planning to purchase a computer for college, contact your university first. Most universities have relationships established to provide students discounts on computers and software. You’ll also want to bring a printer if you can.

Small electronics: You’ll need an alarm clock and you’ll probably want a radio. If you have an iPod or other mp3 player dock, you’re all set. If not, buy both.

Mini-fridge: The cafeteria will not be open 24 hours a day and it’s very likely that you’ll need a snack during those times. A mini fridge will allow you to store refrigerated snacks and beverages for your snack attacks.

Supplies: You’ll want to hit your first classes armed to take copious notes. Plan to bring an initial supply of notebooks, compositions books, pens, pencils, highlighters, etc. If you have a computer and printer in your room, make sure to bring paper and printing supplies as well.

Mementos: While you are super excited about college life and can’t wait to get on campus, there will be times when you miss home. Make sure to pack a few photos and other sentimental items that remind you of home. It’s amazing how comforting these items can be when homesickness kicks in.

Now that you’ve got your list of needed items, you’ll need to decide the best path to get them. Most retailers will have back to campus sales and specials throughout the summer so be on the lookout so you can take advantage of these discounts and offerings. And if your parents are scoffing at the price tag of your wish list, suggest that they throw you a trunk party where friends and family can celebrate your going away to college and bring you gifts to help with your upcoming journey. You can even create wish lists or set up a gift registry at many retailers to ensure that you get exactly what you need (and want) for college.

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Planning ahead is probably the biggest key to lessening the stress and amount of time you’ll have to spend in the books. Keep up on your course work and schedule hourly allotments of studying before the big test. This won’t leave you opening your book at 11:00 pm the night before your test.

Studying in groups or with a partner always helps out. We learn information better by teaching the material to someone else. It causes us to use the information in new ways and forms better memory circuits in the brain. This can also make studying more enjoyable than slaving away by yourself. Make sure to study with someone who is going to reciprocate the effort and not just goof off the whole time you hang out.

Review your material at night before you go to sleep. Studies have shown that we commit most of the information gathered throughout the day primarily during sleep, so reviewing before you hit the sack will give you an edge up on those flashcards you’ve been looking at all day. On top of that make sure to get plenty of sleep, at least 6-8 hours. It’s unhealthy for the brain to go without much needed sleep, and you perform worse under less sleep. Caffeine helps you relieve the feelings of grogginess but it doesn’t erase sleep deprivation and won’t help your brain perform at maximum capacity.

The study aides you choose can be powerful tools, so find out what works best for you. You can rewrite your notes or outline the book, make flashcards, read, or just review your old work. Always try and use the information you’ve learned in situations outside of the classroom. Reusing information given in lecture in new and novel ways helps you understand it better and commit the concepts to memory. Caffeine is great in moderate doses, as is chewing peppermint gum which will actually boost your cognitive focus, but no matter what testimonials your friends give you, stay away from ADD and ADHD medications because they are not only illegal to take but they are highly addictive and can cause serious complications.

Take it slow and divide your study load up into manageable bunches, be healthy, stay calm and your studying will prove to be productive and easy going instead of stressful and unsatisfying.

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Han Chen is a student from American University of Washington D.C. and recently had the opportunity to study in Cairo, Egypt.  Her trip overseas has given her the experience of a life time.  Here is a sneak peak of Han’s experience in a new country.  Look for the full interview in Al Jamiat’s fall issue!

About Studying Abroad
What helped you decide to study abroad?
I had funding through my fellowship with the Institute for International Public Policy. Some previous fellows had studied in Cairo, and HIGHLY recommended it. If any other students of color want to study international relations, they should definitely apply to IIPP.  Also, many people had told me that Arabic was a tough language, but I am pretty good at picking up patterns/syntax, so I thought Arabic would be a fun thing to learn.

Were you living on campus or did you commute?
I commuted; it was about 1 hour from campus in New Cairo to get to my apartment in downtown Cairo. Bless etisalat for making an internet USB stick that works while commuting IN THE DESERT!

About Crew
How did you first hear about the crew team?
I walked by the Student Activities fair at the beginning of the semester and it seemed like a good idea. It was perfect timing because I was looking for something to join at school to meet more people.

What was the key factor that made you decide to join?
I was always going to be free at 6am so why not go ahead and try it out, right? And it was a 5 min cab ride from my home. On the first day, everyone was really nice and helpful to the new students, so I really liked everyone right away.

About Friendships
What was the best way you made new friends?
Find an activity I would enjoy even if I were still at school in the US, and keep doing it! Since I’m studying in a foreign country, I will inevitably meet locals, and doing it in the context of something I already enjoy (or learned to enjoy, like crew) makes it easier to find people I liked, rather than trying to make friends with all Egyptian people simply because I was in Egypt and felt like I should prove that I could befriend all local people. Because then that inevitably attracts people who are more appreciative of the novelty of having a ‘foreign’ friend from America compared to anything else.

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While I went to Cairo to experience a new culture and a new way of life, I think a part of me really believed I would just be an observer. It is, however, important for us travelers to realize that there is no such thing as observing your surroundings. We are all active participants of the world around us, even if we are quietly sitting at the outskirts. At first, I didn’t believe that I would be treated badly, even as a woman. After all, I was only an observer. How wrong I was.

I dreaded walking to the school bus every morning, a dread that arose from knowing I must keep my head down and wear my sunglasses so to avoid making eye contact with any men. I always dressed conservatively, often wearing jeans and tank top with a cardigan, never showing my legs, shoulders, or cleavage; however it probably wouldn’t have made much of a difference if I had been naked: my blonde hair and white skin attracted attention everywhere I went. As I walked down the street, I would hear the police officers and bowabs begin to whisper and feel their stares begin to penetrate thorough my shirt. I was constantly angry at this situation; Angry that I, and every other woman, could not smile and converse freely with others in the street. Angry that I had to put on a façade, and a rude one at that, in order to get by without any mushkelaat (problems).

For all the disconcerting looks and comments I got, I always felt ten times safer in Cairo than I do living in downtown Los Angeles at USC. I felt safe even walking alone at night in Zamalek, which I would never do near my apartment in the States. I never feared being robbed or raped, which has a lot to do both with the pride Egyptians have in themselves, as well as the high degree of religiosity that dominates all aspects of their lives.

What does lack towards women in Egypt is respect. I taught refugees once a week in a an area of Cairo called Ain Shams, which is about an hour and half away from my house in Zamalek. The cab ride can get pricy (less than $10, but pricy when you have adapted to the currency), so usually I took the metro home since it costed 1 Egyptian pound (less than 20 cents). Each train on the metro has a car specifically designated for women. Men are not allowed in this car, although if you are a woman you are welcome to ride in the men’s car. My first time on the metro, I did not know about the women’s car, so I hopped onto the first car I found open. The train was so crowded; men, only men were pressed up onto me like sardines. And the smell, oh goodness. After a few minutes, I felt someone’s hand touching my butt; since it was so crowded, I assumed it was an accident and started to move to another wall of the train. I realized the man who had been grabbing me was following me as I moved around the train, his hand on my butt the whole time with the most innocent look on his face. Had this happened at the end of my residency in Cairo, he may have received a good punch in the face and some rude Arabic words; but since I was new to the city and unsure of my boundaries, I remained quiet, and his hand remained on my rear.

From then on I rode in the women’s car.

Rachel Tobias is a junior at the University of Southern California, majoring in International Relations and minoring in Entrepreneurship. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Rachel has had the privilege to travel to many different regions of the world, and is fluent in Spanish with a developing proficiency in Arabic. She is interested in working in international development in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East once graduated from college. Stay on the lookout for the fall issue of Al Jamiat to hear more about her experience abroad.

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Laptop

A laptop makes life as a student so much easier.  When students have their own laptops they can do everything on their own time instead of always trying to coordinate everything around the campus computer lab hours. Plus students can take their laptops to class which will most likely help them take better notes. And students can usually get a pretty good discount on a new laptop like on the Apple MacBook.

Lap Top Sleeves

Over the course of college there have been thousands of people that have damaged their lap tops because they’ve just been in their back pack without any sort of protection. So invest in a case or a sleeve to protect it. A laptop is a big investment and even though they make them better now, they still break easy.

Thumb Drive

A thumb drive is a really small piece that allows students to take their documents with them everywhere they’re going. Plus it can serve as a backup if a student has problems on their own computer they can effortlessly turn to the document contained on the flash drive.

Cell Phone

A cell phone is a must in case you haven’t already got the memo. Pick a phone that at least has text messaging but having internet on it is a great feature. So if a student wants a social life then they need a phone. Plus, sometimes students don’t have a phone in their apartment for one reason or another so having a cell phone is the best option.

iPod or MP3

An iPod can keep you company while you either ride the bus or walk through campus. And if you want to be anti-social this is a great way to keep people from talking to you. And you can even keep movies on it for that road trip over fall break.

Alarm Clock

Even though there is probably an alarm clock on your phone that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in an alarm clock. Having an alarm clock with an annoying buzzer set across the room helps even the laziest student get out of bed. And it’s a good idea to buy one with batteries because if the power goes out and you miss your calculus test at 7:30 A.M. you’re going to be in a pickle.

Textbooks

Textbooks can be expensive and honestly a waste of money. Students are lucky if they get back 25% of what they spent on them at the end of the semester. So students should buy used books if possible or copy the chapters that they need out of the reserve copy at the library. But before students buy all of their books they should make sure they don’t drop any of their classes and verify with the teacher what books are needed. Otherwise, the student will get stuck with a lot of books they don’t need.

Pencil & Paper

Even though this seems a bit old fashioned, students should carry a pencil and paper with them. Some teachers like to surprise students with a pop quiz and it can be a pain for yourself and your fellow students if you always have to try and borrow one from them. So take your own notebook and pencil to class, especially when in statistics or math class.

Printer

Having a printer is extremely nice if you have to write a lot of papers or do coursework online and bring it to class the next day. Computer labs aren’t always open so if you have a deadline for a project or term paper then you must plan ahead otherwise you’ll probably lose points or not be able to turn it in.

TV

Most students are pretty busy between school and work, but a TV can be really nice to have in your dorm or apartment. There’s no better way to unwind from a long day than by watching a half hour TV show. Plus in today’s day and age many people can’t stand the silence and need a background noise in order to focus and do their best work. But don’t take a huge nice TV and surround sound system because there isn’t room for it and it might get stolen or ruined by stupid roommates.

Surge Protector

This is cheap but essential for every student to have. If the power goes out and you were working on that paper you could lose the paper and damage your computer.

Headphones

Whether you prefer earbuds or actual headphones, don’t forget these when moving in with roommates. It’s courteous not to blast your music to all your roommates if you don’t want to hear theirs. By using headphones you can enjoy the music and your roommate can study for his calculus test.

Digital Camera

A digital camera is the best way to catch all of your memories whether it’s the crazy frat party, perfect date, or study abroad in Thailand. A camera is a must if you want to remember years from now what you were doing in college. But just remember that the higher the megapixels and the further it can zoom the better.

Lamps

In those 1940s dorms the lighting usually isn’t very good, so it’s a good idea to invest in a lamp. Plus, if your roommate is sleeping and you’re trying to finish some homework late at night or early in the morning your roommate would greatly appreciate it if you turned on a lamp rather than the fluorescent overhead lights.

Calculator

A calculator is important the higher you get in math class. Most math classes will either require a scientific calculator or a graphing calculator. Depending on the professor, some teachers will require their students to use the graphing feature frequently and others never. So before you go out and spend $150 on that fancy calculator, make sure you really need it.

School tuition and fees, housing, and everything else associated with college is expensive especially when students have to purchase a ton of supplies. Everyone always wants the biggest and best especially when it comes to gadgets, but in all honesty these are just suggestions that can make every students life easier. However, these items add convenience to their life but buying a cheap used one of these items will also work well. If you’re poor or just trying to save money then buy used ones at discounted prices. Going to college is expensive but there are ways students can save money and still get the 15 must have items for college.

Diane Johnson graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing, particularly about travel and online classes.

<image used with creative commons license>

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One of the greatest perks about studying abroad is the experiences students receive for the first time. Whether it would be your first time eating an apple pie, attending a rock concert, or seeing an amazing landmark.  Here at Al Jamiat, we are interested in hearing about your firsts and what they were like!

Shaheed Sabrin is a senior at USC School of Theatre, majoring in Theatre and minoring in Entrepreneurship with the USC Marshal School of Business. He was last Spring’s recipient of the Jack Nicholsan Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Actor and hopes to one day open a restaurant for his mother.

My first… time seeing the great pyramids of Giza

My first time seeing the great pyramids of Giza was such a rewarding and educational experience. I arrived in Egypt on my birthday, August 22nd, which was also the start of Ramadan. I contemplated not going with my University mates for the trip, but then realized the best time to go was with my school’s guided tour. I braced myself and overcame scorching summer heat in the midst of keeping my fast. As our bus approached the raised area of Giza, I stared in awe, wondering what genius went into constructing this massive structure of and all the history behind it. As soon as I stepped off the bus I was bombarded my children trying to sell me postcards for 5 Egyptian Pounds. Then, as I approached the entrance of the pyramids people tried hustling me into getting a 250 Egyptian Pound camel ride for only 2 minutes. I dismissed everything and headed straight for the pyramids.

Since the guards could tell I had some Egyptian in me, they rushed me to the front of the line where I approached a dark and humid entryway. My whole way up was extremely claustrophobic as the passage was narrow, but when I reached one of the areas that one of the tombs were held in, I took a breath of excitement. As I headed back down the pyramid, I made a promise to myself that I would not leave Egypt without knowing the significance behind Egypt’s fascinating monuments. Most of all, the great pyramids of  Giza inspired me to not just live in Egypt as a tourist, but as a student of the land, journeying into the unknown and educating myself all throughout the semester.

Interested in sharing your first experience?

Email allizon@al-jamiat.com with your story and see how you can contribute to the “My first…” feature!

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