Why Egypt?

I thought it would be helpful to provide some background on my trip to Egypt. Other than being the home of the Ancient Civilisation of the same name, Greek Princesses with melodramatic streaks and a losing 2010 World Cup host bid, it is not a place one hears of often.


According to Wikipedia (Really does anyone get any information from anywhere else?), it is a nation of 80 million Arabic speaking people and a million square kilometres. It also has a pretty high Gini coefficient (34.5), so I should feel right at home (ours in SA is around 57.8). Other than that I know very little about the modern Egyptian nation. Worrisomely enough, what I have noticed in the cursed liberal media that I read, it has a pretty repressive government that is not keen on opposition. However considering that it is bordering a much more violent Middle East and usual journalistic sensationalism, I'm not too stressed.

More importantly I will be staying with Ismail Masshour and his family, one of my Dad's old partners in crime (they did their PHDs together at Imperial College). Not only did he live in London during the 70s (a rough period by all accounts), but he is also a local - usually a good sign that he can cope with the challenges posed by living in the country. Ismail used to work for Motorola, but now runs his own telecommunications company, Systel.

I've actually been to Egypt before, when I was 9 (1996). My Dad was doing his sabbatical in the States, and we went along for the ride, provided by Egypt Air. On the way up we didn't spend much time there (12 hours), but on the way back the family spent an amazing three days there. Ismail was a most obliging host, showing us around in our own touring bus and with a PHD student in Egyptology. We saw the sites that you should see in Cairo, rode a camel around the pyramids and generally had a good time.


Fast forward to the present: Ismail was visiting South Africa earlier this year for a conference (hey, Cape Town is a pretty good conference venue) and of course, got together with my parents and the family. He noted that I was studying and am developing an interest into the type of work he does back home. More importantly I know a bit about Software Radio (um, kind of using Computers in wireless technology, the technological basis of cellphones). He suggested I come and visit, and in the best way, we could have an exchange of ideas. I might even do some useful work, which is an exciting prospect for any university student.

He (very) graciously offered to host me for a month or two at the end of the year. Once I persuaded my parents that it was for the benefit of my Education (wasn't too hard, I suspect it might be), I was set to go.

Coming Soon: How Egypt? The fine doted print of visiting Egypt.