I already posted the pictures of the traces of the revolution but I also talked a lot with Egyptian friends and other people about their hopes and fears. I arrived just after 77 per cent of the population voted "Yes" for the constitutional referendum and exactly the day the Ministry of Interior burned. The revolution is still everywhere - a newpaper article is pinned at the hotel reception and in the elevator, people are discussing the latest revolutionary events in other Arab countries, e.g. Syria and Yemen, whereever you go you the TV is turned on and does not show soap operas as one year ago but the news by Al-Jazeera or Al-Arabia. And then there was this silence well after midnight. Silence in a city that is know as the one that never sleeps. No traffic, no honking, no laughter, only the screams of fighting cats during the night because of the curfew.
Most of the people I talked to had voted "No". Young liberals who had been at Tahrir square, some for all of the 18 cold, cold nights, some only a few times, but all with high hopes. Did you know that coke works against tear gas? I did not and my new friends did not either. But some Tunesians knew already and helped their egyptian friends by telling them. Some of the people I asked now started to work at the grassroots, talking in their neigbourhood about the coming events and political decisions, planning to campaign for promising parties and candidates or just keep talking with family and friends because they lack time to be engaged more. Most of them fear the influence of islamists, even the moderate ones as the Muslimbrotherhood, but none of them denies that especially the Brotherhood will play a important role in new Egypt.
So I also met the Muslimbrothers because writing my PhD about Egypt means that I need all the information I can get. I confess that I was a little trouble by the thought of going to their office and meeting them. For me it felt like walking into the lion's den. (No offense to anyone! Just my feelings!) It was interesting though. I did not get this much new information because we had a little misunderstanding when I asked for an appointment with an official some days before. But it was important anyway because now my personal fear is gone and I can handle them with reason although I am still pretty sceptical about their ambitions. And it was interesting to see how many people are visiting the office and try to get into the network of the brothers - memorable especially to see the western visitors.
The strangest encounter came when I did not expect any more. Heading for my flight back, drinking my last coffee in Egypt in the crowded lobby I accidentally shared my table with a young woman who catched my attention before because of her stylish clothes. It turned out she was an actress on her way to Casablanca to present her new film. "I hate the people of Tahrir" she told me and "I want Mubarak back, he is so sweet and good." I was not surprised because I knew already about the role of the state owned media and a lot of entertainment VIPs like actors and singers during the revolutionary days. I did not ask for her name. But I realised that the girl that traveled with the blonde, sunglassed actress, her "friend" and stylist, did not participated in our talk although I invited her to. The second girl stayed silent, ate her meal and then as a matter of course took the big bag of the starlet when the two of them left for the gate.
So what will happen next? I have to change the design of my PhD to catch the changes caused by the revolution. Hopefully I will be done by the end of the year and then gather my data in Egypt. I do not expect to travel before Octobre, but who knows - maybe we will have a litte summertrip for a week or so :)
Most of the people I talked to had voted "No". Young liberals who had been at Tahrir square, some for all of the 18 cold, cold nights, some only a few times, but all with high hopes. Did you know that coke works against tear gas? I did not and my new friends did not either. But some Tunesians knew already and helped their egyptian friends by telling them. Some of the people I asked now started to work at the grassroots, talking in their neigbourhood about the coming events and political decisions, planning to campaign for promising parties and candidates or just keep talking with family and friends because they lack time to be engaged more. Most of them fear the influence of islamists, even the moderate ones as the Muslimbrotherhood, but none of them denies that especially the Brotherhood will play a important role in new Egypt.
So I also met the Muslimbrothers because writing my PhD about Egypt means that I need all the information I can get. I confess that I was a little trouble by the thought of going to their office and meeting them. For me it felt like walking into the lion's den. (No offense to anyone! Just my feelings!) It was interesting though. I did not get this much new information because we had a little misunderstanding when I asked for an appointment with an official some days before. But it was important anyway because now my personal fear is gone and I can handle them with reason although I am still pretty sceptical about their ambitions. And it was interesting to see how many people are visiting the office and try to get into the network of the brothers - memorable especially to see the western visitors.
The strangest encounter came when I did not expect any more. Heading for my flight back, drinking my last coffee in Egypt in the crowded lobby I accidentally shared my table with a young woman who catched my attention before because of her stylish clothes. It turned out she was an actress on her way to Casablanca to present her new film. "I hate the people of Tahrir" she told me and "I want Mubarak back, he is so sweet and good." I was not surprised because I knew already about the role of the state owned media and a lot of entertainment VIPs like actors and singers during the revolutionary days. I did not ask for her name. But I realised that the girl that traveled with the blonde, sunglassed actress, her "friend" and stylist, did not participated in our talk although I invited her to. The second girl stayed silent, ate her meal and then as a matter of course took the big bag of the starlet when the two of them left for the gate.
So what will happen next? I have to change the design of my PhD to catch the changes caused by the revolution. Hopefully I will be done by the end of the year and then gather my data in Egypt. I do not expect to travel before Octobre, but who knows - maybe we will have a litte summertrip for a week or so :)
