TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Egypt: Old
vs. New
Perry Jackman
In
the article, “Relocation and
Creation of a Global City”, Farha Ghannam talks about how Cairo represents
the world with its mix of
actions, buildings, people and activities. When I visited Cairo, I could
understand what the article
was talking about. I could definitely see a mixture of the
new world and the
old world. For example, I saw advertisements for global products. Also
the
hotel we stayed at was an American chain. The
hotel was completely westernized,
from the swim up bar to the food. However, right across the street were
the
Giza Pyramids. These pyramids had such a rich history, untouched by
westernization.
Ghannam
also mentioned how she
could feel both the presence and the absence of the government. I could
definitely agree with that assertion. I traveled with a Semester at Sea
trio
and we were accompanied by the tourist police. I also noticed men in
nice suits
with huge guns in there undercoat following us around. I have never
encountered
this in any other country I have visited, but I definitely felt safe.
Even
though we had the tourist police and had security guards checking our
bags, I
forgot that they were there. There was so much chaos, that the security
guards
blended into the crowds.
“Relocation
and Creation of a Global City”
states that Cairo
is heading west. I could feel that it is becoming more and more
modernized. With
the transnational companies stationed in Cairo,
like Sony and the Kodak stands at the historical tourist sites, I got a
sense
the western influence. Little by little, Egypt is losing its own
culture and
becoming more like the western world.
After
visiting Cairo,
I could really relate to Ghannam’s
article. I can truly see how Cairo’s
divers and hectic city life represents the world. I can also recognize
how Cairo
is slowly moving
towards the western influence.
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