Life as we know it so far...

I know that it has been a very long time since I’ve posted up here on this wall but I think I’ve got quite the excuse! Let me fill you in from the beginning, shall I?

For about 2 weeks, I didn’t have the internet working in my flat because the company we pay was being rubbish and wouldn’t hurry up and get us online. When I finally did get sorted, I had about 3 days with working internet in my flat, so I do apologise for the lack of my updates for those few weeks after returning from UK at Christmas time. It’s been quite an experience living through this revolution and I honestly did not expect it to get this far!

It all began on the 25^th January, on police forces day, where all of us at school were thinking: ‘Great...we have a day off! Then 2 days before the weekend.’ I had no idea what was brewing in the hearts of the oppressed and angry Egyptians. Over the next 2 days, there were protests still going on and all staff were told that they had to go home as soon as school finished having cancelled any after school activities. We were also each given a card with phone numbers of management in the school ( I was thinking...ah it’ll not come to that, but good that they are being precautious). Everything seemed to be normal at home and then slowly but surely, various communications began to get cut off, starting with Facebook. Later on Thursday evening (the beginning of my weekend), people were not receiving text messages but we just assumed that it was a hiccup on the networks. It wasn’t until Friday that things started to affect us personally. On Friday morning, we discovered that all communications had been cut off and in my opinion I thought that was stupid, particularly for the safety of those who might get caught in the wrong at the wrong time. My friend and I still went to church but that was ended early at the first curfew was put in place. This was a strange thing to experience for the first time. As mark and I walked home, the streets began to get more and more quiet and there was an eerie feeling about the place. Everywhere was quiet as locals shut up shop and went home to stay in for the night not knowing what was going on due to lack of communications.

To be honest, it wasn’t until the following night that I began to become aware of how serious the situation was. It was very easy to watch the news and feel that we were completely out of reach because the riots were not in our area. However, on Saturday night, the curfew was brought forward to 4pm and all the locals were out on the streets holding large sticks and batons. Some were armed with more violent weapons such as axes and broomsticks with knives attached. Later we discovered that these locals were not on the attack but well and truly on the defence and protection of their properties from looters. Yes...another new development. The revolution was really on our doorstep with gunfire in the background and army tanks outside the prison at end of Road 233 (a road perpendicular to ours).

Over the next few days, the staff at MES decided to group together for safety in numbers as well as company to defeat boredom in our flats during the ever increasing curfews. There was a little excitement in getting together to hide out so to speak as we shared food and drinks and played some quality articulate. However this could only last so long before cabin fever kicked in. We all knew that the protests and demonstrations were only showing signs of getting worse and as I write this...they are STILL continuing to do so. The only way we could leave the country was to get a friend or family member to book a flight out of Egypt. Thanks to Paul J me and 2 of my friends were able to get flights to Malaysia (we thought well let’s make the most of the revolution eh!!!) which is where I am now as I write this blog. How we eventually got here is a different story altogether having spent well over 36 hours in various airports! I am so glad that we got out when we did though because last Thursday (1 day after we eventually lost Cairo) there was a 24hour curfew and all flights were cancelled during curfew hours.

But I’m in Malaysia now as you will know which has been great! It has been wonderful to have restful and peaceful sleeps as we stay in a beautiful, green and calm country. All we have done since we arrived is relax and sightsee. We have been watching our spending because none of us can transfer money from the Egyptian bank accounts and it is impossible to withdraw money using the Egyptian HSBC card.

However I have written lots already...so I shall save my KL adventures for another day...most likely tomorrow! :D

Many thanks to those who have sent emails and left messages on facebook. I really do appreciate all your concerns, it really means alot.