Tahrir

     I learned a new word on Friday: "tahrir." It's the Arabic word for liberation, and I heard it over and over again during the hours of live footage of Egypt that we watched on Al Jazeera. 

There is a group of Egyptian students that live on my floor, and the emotion and joy and excitement was tangible as they ran down the hall, shouting the news to their fellow countrymen, then, draped in their flag, sang their national anthem, smiling from ear to ear. 

Samira, from Algeria, even teared up, overcome with emotion for her fellow Arab brothers. She translated some of the news for me, and explained what was going on. I talked to some of the Egyptian students, who said that they wish they were home right now; they would have been taking part in the revolution that has swept their country. After 30 years, Mubarak no longer retains his solid grip on the government, and the students are hopeful and enthusiastic for the future of their homeland. 

I realized how lucky I am to be here among Egyptians. If I was at home I might have read a few news articles about it, but the gravity and historical significance of the situation would not have been impressed upon me. Of course it's different when it's your country, when it's your life that's changing- not when it's happening to someone halfway across the world. I have no idea what will happen in Egypt in the future, but I hope that Egyptians retain the enthusiasm for freedom and justice that I see they have now. Puzdrahvlayu, Egypt!