 Author |
 Post
|
 |
|
Saladin
Joined: Oct 1, 2002
Posts: 1000 (view all)
Poster Rank:
Blabbermouth
User is
Offline
Gender & Age: Male & 27
Country: Egypt
Province/State: Al Qahirah
City: Cairo
|
Initiative for Cultural Dialogue
July 15, 2006 - 09:30 AM
|
|
From January to July 2006, me and my family decided to host a Danish student at home.
We had the opportunity to arrange this matter through AFS International.
At the time the Danish student arrived to Egypt, in Jan. 2006, there were lots of tensions against Denmark because of the cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and the violent reactions of some Muslims-including torching of some embassies- made the impression that Muslims are all fanatics and violence-thirsty. Moreover, there was a general boycott against Danish products all over the Muslim world.
In all these difficult times, we decided that the best way to deliver the true image about us-Muslims- to the ordinary Danish people, is to host a Danish student for a long period of time.
Now after the Danish student left Egypt, I think that she had changed lots of ideas she used to have about Arabs and Muslims. I think the most important thing she felt, is how Muslims feel towards their Prophet (s).
Furthermore, she learned to speak Arabic, she was able to participate in many volunteer work, and she made trips around the country: to El Salloum, Siwa, Cairo, Mansurah, Kafr-Ashash, Hurghada, Luxor, and Aswan....she's planning to come again in the month of Ramadan, maybe to see how Muslims behave, fast, pray...and eat (on sunset)  !
So...what do u think about all of this?
|
|
back to top |
link to this post
|
|
hammodi
Joined: Apr 17, 2004
Posts: 151 (view all)
Poster Rank:
Chatterbox
User is
Offline
Gender & Age: Male, 28
Country: Iraq
Province/State: Baghdad
|
Re: Initiative for Cultural Dialogue
July 15, 2006 - 05:54 PM
|
|
hi Ayman, how r u?
that was a good thing and in my opinion that's what we need, more communication with the west on individual level. anyway, u didn't tell us what you've learned from her.
|
|
back to top |
link to this post
|
|
Saladin
Joined: Oct 1, 2002
Posts: 1000 (view all)
Poster Rank:
Blabbermouth
User is
Offline
 Virtual Volunteer
Gender & Age: Male, 27
Country: Egypt
Province/State: Al Qahirah
City: Cairo
|
Re: Initiative for Cultural Dialogue
July 16, 2006 - 07:30 AM
|
|
We have learnt from this experience a lot of crucial things; first of all, is that general judgments about a certain group of people should not be made unless the differences between individual perceptions is examined thoroughly.
This student we had hosted for 6 months showed a lot of respect tp our culture, and her educational level was very impressive.
The main thing she was complaining about here is that most people do not respect "time", and completely agree with her.
|
|
back to top |
link to this post
|
|
Saladin
Joined: Oct 1, 2002
Posts: 1000 (view all)
Poster Rank:
Blabbermouth
User is
Offline
Virtual Volunteer
Gender & Age: Male, 27
Country: Egypt
Province/State: Al Qahirah
City: Cairo
|
Re: Initiative for Cultural Dialogue
July 16, 2006 - 09:34 AM
|
|
This is a very good initiative from a colleague at my university, who is the friend of the Danish student we hosted:
www.eg-dk.org
|
|
back to top |
link to this post
|
|
Ahmed Haroon
Joined: Dec 11, 2004
Posts: 78 (view all)
Poster Rank:
Chatterbox
User is
Offline
Virtual Volunteer
Gender & Age: Male, 25
Country: Egypt
Province/State: Al Qahirah
City: Shubra
|
Re: Initiative for Cultural Dialogue
July 16, 2006 - 07:42 PM
|
|
I think what you did is great. It reminds me of a story in which I was the star.
I was setting on a couch in a hotel in Cairo waiting for some friends where a group of German tourists came by. They were of old, young, and little people. The all people sat except an old man who couldn't do so because he couldn't find place to set in....
I could do nothing but to stand up and ask him to set down. The entire group were looking at me and the man was astonished. I saw it in his look. His face showed that....
I didn't know German, but I used the sign language then I went to the nearby sofa. And when I sat down I was astonished too. The entire group over there were looking at me while talking to each other. I couldn't hear them, but I saw their lips moving up and down....
Untill I left the hotel they were still looking. That made me feel the pride. I did something for my homeland not for me....
I thought if every one of us was acting this way there wouldn't be bad thoughts about us in the west.
And here I'd like to emphasize on the government's role. Because if we do it here we cannot do it there. And the government can go there.
What you did is great. It promotes peace and love. And as the Quraanic verse says: (translation): "Treat others well sothat your enemies become as close friends" ...
|
|
back to top |
link to this post
|
|
Saladin
Joined: Oct 1, 2002
Posts: 1000 (view all)
Poster Rank:
Blabbermouth
User is
Offline
Virtual Volunteer
Gender & Age: Male, 27
Country: Egypt
Province/State: Al Qahirah
City: Cairo
|
Re: Initiative for Cultural Dialogue
July 31, 2006 - 09:04 AM
|
|
This topic is actually most needed to be discussed now, in a time where the east and the west are tragically divided because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
More contribution to this particular discussion is needed. Since it is the most crucial time to build cultural bridges, instead of building walls.
|
|
back to top |
link to this post
|
|
some1onearth
Joined: May 23, 2005
Posts: 41 (view all)
Poster Rank:
Talkative
User is
Offline
Gender & Age: Female, 22
Country: United States
Province/State: Washington
City: Seattle
|
Re: Initiative for Cultural Dialogue
August 3, 2006 - 03:02 AM
|
|
that's a great thing what you did, exactly what we need right now.
realise or not, people are unaware about people different from them, they just don't understand. intercultural relation and understanding is the right way to solve our problem. thru understanding we can make anything better.
i'm also an exchange student by the way.
peace
|
|
back to top |
link to this post
|
|
|
Display posts from:
|
Home
Community
