FROM EGYPT TO THE WORLD, MR. DAVID ADEL HABIB
EGYPTIAN CULTURE
David Adel Habib is a tour guide, born in Egypt who practises Christianity. This country stands out for its desert landscape, but this does not prevent it from being a place full of history and cultural richness. Despite the wonders we may find there, Egypt faces a great conflict regarding its large population of more than 15 million people living only in the capital city. A typical family that inhabits the central part of the region manages to raise up to four children. However, in remote areas it is common to have a larger family.
Egyptian adolescents must attend high school, just as we do in Argentina, but unlike here, it will only take three years to continue with other studies. The average age at the time of graduating is 17 years old and it is very common to start college immediately, not like in other countries where they take a year off. Also, in their free time it is usual to meet friends, spend time together and mainly play football, which is a highly valued sport there.
Since his profession requires it, he speaks more than one language but predominates Spanish when it comes to taking his tours. In addition, he also speaks English because much of his studies were in this language. In his free time, like many, he spends time with his wife and children, enjoys watching soccer and playing it at the same time.
He is a huge fan of his country, its landscapes and its culture. He loves its history, and everything related to it, which led him to become a tour guide, as well as his desire to meet new people. A huge obstacle for him is the extreme clustering of people in the capital of his country.
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| Cairo is the capital o Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world. |
HIS PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC LIFE
Mr. Habib told us that he likes to meet and talk with people all around the world, meet people from different cultures so that’s why he used to work in a cruiser and now he is a tourist guide. For him the most culturally riches places in Egypt are the pyramids obviously as they are the seven wonders of the world, also Karnak is a very good place to visit. He told us a strange experience he had with a woman that was on one of his tours, and she had Alzheimer so that week was a mess for him. The differences among the rest of the tours and the ones he guides is that he offers tours to some temples that others don’t, for example one temple that is for horses and other of crocodiles and he runs tours to Abu Simbel where there are a lot of temples. He explained how he deals with difficult groups but for him there are not difficult groups, just different groups which try to have fun. He advised us to visit Egypt to see and understand the past civilizations. He told us that visit Egypt is a must, you can’t travel around the world and not visit a pyramid, also there is nature, the Red Sea where you can do diving, there are mountains, a bit of everything. He said that if he could be a tourist guide somewhere else he would choose France because of the Louvre Museum where he finds Egyptian treasures there too.
PANDEMIC IN EGYPT
David talked about a lot of interesting things, among them his experience in Egypt and how the pandemic has affected the country so far. He delighted us with a series of interesting stories and anecdotes. One of them was about how he traded off spots in the house with his wife, he was the one who would usually work, and his wife was the one who cooked. During quarantine, which took place for five months, that changed, now he makes dinner because tourism is not a priority among all jobs, and his wife works. He told us about how the pandemic affected his work, unfortunately he lost it but in October the temples will be opened again. In Egypt, even if they wear a mask, respecting the distance is very difficult because of the amount of people that live there.
WHAT KIND OF MEALS DO EGYPTIANS EAT?
What is the traditional Egyptian food?
During the interview he was asked about the traditional Egyptian dishes, to which he replied that in their dishes they usually eat rice, grains, falafel, baba (aubergine puree), kebab (which consists of Moorish skewers of roast lamb meat charcoal served with lots of parsley), and also outlined that multiple seasonings are used to complement as well as add flavors.
Have you ever tried any Argentinian cuisine dish?
“No, I have never eaten Argentine food,” he said. The problem is that Argentine tourists never come with their typical meals. Maybe one day I will come to Argentina and there try your food.”
What is your favorite Egyptian dish?
His favorite food is falafel, which is a chickpea or bean croquette, seasoned with vegetables and spices. He also told us that he likes a dish which is basically lentils with rice. Afterwards he told us that he also likes Kuft (meatballs of minced lamb meat in an elongated shape, seasoned with spices that are grilled, next to a kebab, usually accompanied with pilau, which is rice with vegetables.)
HIS SUPPORT AND HELP IN OUR FUTURE
What advice would you give to those who still don't know what to study or what to do with their future life?
“You should always study hard, you should work hard. Okay, I will not say that life is not easy, but it actually is easy, good, and nice, but in order to succeed you should study hard and then you can work. When you have your work you must work hard. Enjoy your life as you want but you have to work.”
As a tour guide, would you recommend us to study to study that?
“Those that will start that profession will be happy, they will meet people from all different lyfestyles. Right now, you’re talking with an Egyptian person and you can know how I think and how I see the world. It will open your mind and broaden your horizons. It is a job that will make you happy all your life.”
This article has been written by BAUTISTA Luka, GONZÁLEZ Matías, PAREDES Iván, LÓPEZ Candela, RODRÍGUEZ Karibay, CASULA Lucía, LA ROCA Martina, MULLER Valentina, PEZZOLO Candelaria, SMARIO Carola, FLORES Marina, HANRIQUEZ Luciano, LEDEZMA Candela and NANO Javier.
