I never thought I'd consider it

[sumayasaahir]

studying bellydance in Egypt, but I actually am. Maybe not for a while, but there it is, lurking in the back of my mind....

Who woulda thunk it?



EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! I just discovered Dimas smilies are here!

[bul_bul_ksa]

Why didn't you ever consider it Sumaya? are you not into travelling in general ? I love to travel...will jet off at the drop of a hat...curiously enough though, even though i've been to Egypt a couple of times it is one of the places I've been to that I saw the least of...how shameful is that?! Anyway, always gives me a good reason to return.

[sumayasaahir]

No Im a traveller. Been to Europe several times (Ireland, France, Belgum, Germany, Italy, and Israel). I dont enjoy the flight or the jet lag.

I just never thought Id travel anywhere for the express purpose of *bellydance*!!!

There it is! :)

[leylalanty]

Pssssssst! Sumaya! It's O.K, really O.K., to go to Egypt for the sole purpose of studying dance! And while you're there, you'll have opportunities to do the standard historical and cultural sightseeing that you probably think you *should* do! So GO! ENJOY! - but it's a LOT different from the European countries and Israel, where you've been before - been there, done that (some of the European countries and Israel) and been impressed over and over with that difference!

Originally Posted by sumayasaahir

No Im a traveller. Been to Europe several times (Ireland, France, Belgum, Germany, Italy, and Israel). I dont enjoy the flight or the jet lag.

I just never thought Id travel anywhere for the express purpose of *bellydance*!!!

There it is! :)

[Adishakti]

Good for you, Sumaya. Take the leap! Just don't forget to tell us every little detail when you return! :-)

[danidance]

Sumaya,

I'm vaguely recalling your travelogue after your trip to Europe, and it didn't seem like you enjoyed the experience much. Europe is a garden party compared to Cairo - just be prepared - have you been to Mexico City? Imagine that with a lot more people, dust, and more poverty. (as I recall, it's been a really really long time since I was in Mexico City).

It is totally not a comfort zone place! I loved it all the same, but it was definitely not simple to move about (editing to clarify that it requires more effort and patience than Euro cities).

[sumayasaahir]

Lol, Im not saying Im going at all...just that Id consider it, when I wouldnt have before. But I'd definitly not go alone or even just with my hubby. I'd take a tour with Morocco or something like that :)

Im going to content myself with studing from dancers 'over there' when they are 'over here'.

Yeah, Im not an easy traveller as you recalled correctly :)

Id go back to Ireland and thats about it. Unless I won like a million dollars or something and then Id drag my habibi Laura with me everywhere ;)

[mekyria]

It was strange for me too to consider going to Egypt so I can study belly dance. I went with the belly dance -trip with the main purpose of studiyng dance and learning more about the Egyptian cultural context, but also ended uup seeing some of the great monuments in Egypt. Even if you don't have much time off, you can always go to the pyramids of Gizeh (very close to Caïro) and the sfinx.

Caïro itself is a place you either love or hate. Dusty, dirty, filled with people who see you as a walking bag of money. Learn arabic and cover up, it really helps reduce the nuisance of being asked to buy stuff all the time.

[Sashy]

Egypt has nothing to do with any country one has ever been to.It surely is not for the faint of heart It has sooo much to see that to travel there for the first time on a bellydance related trip won`t do it justice.To saviour the real Egypt one has to visit several times and try to inmerse as much as possible into the local culture and people. Even without bellydance is totally worth a visit

[bul_bul_ksa]

Ah, I hear you Sumaya...plenty of people don't really enjoy travelling for those very reasons you have.

I admit, Egypt can be 'challenging' if you are coming from a 'western' country. I've backpacked around India and similar places for months on end so Egypt was an extension of those types of journeys for me.

[danidance]

Well, a 2 week or 1 week trip where you take a few lessons is different to me than going to Egypt to study bellydance. To do that in my mind is living there for several months at least and really studying with someone.

A brief trip is completely tolerable for those who don't like traveling or "untidiness" in the places they visit.

I was in Egypt for 14 days - stayed in a posh apartment with a driver and housekeeper as well as family to take us everywhere including to the Red Sea. I was totally "protected" and guided. And even then, it was not for the faint of heart. (or is that feint of heart?...hmmm.)

[tahiradancer]

I think that the first time you go anywhere it's probably a good idea to go with a tour or with a group who has been there before. This way you can avoid soem of the pitfalls which can await the unwary.

Personally, I would like to go and spend time in Egypt after my son starts Uni in a year or so. Probably start with a festival and then stay for a few weeks after. We'll see how that works with having to fly back to the US monthly for Grad school.

{{{HUGS}}}

[Sashy]

Originally Posted by danidance

Well, a 2 week or 1 week trip where you take a few lessons is different to me than going to Egypt to study bellydance. To do that in my mind is living there for several months at least and really studying with someone.

A brief trip is completely tolerable for those who don't like traveling or "untidiness" in the places they visit.

I was in Egypt for 14 days - stayed in a posh apartment with a driver and housekeeper as well as family to take us everywhere including to the Red Sea. I was totally "protected" and guided. And even then, it was not for the faint of heart. (or is that feint of heart?...hmmm.)

Same as Dani says.I would say for example that Outi besides performing in Cairo,is studying there.Clarify this for me,Outi,please. Anyone can survive on just a tourist trip far different than actually living there with all the good and less good things
Another example of really studying/living in Egypt is Andreya of Cairo.If i remember well she is actually writing a blog or something longer about her time living in Cairo.I will be looking very much to read it.

[outi]

Me studying in Cairo? Only working.

But it's true. Traveling and living in Cairo is TOTALLY different.

I traveled here before coming to actually live here. There is nothing really to prepare the real life. When you are in your world you know how things work. If there is problems, where to find help or information etc. Of course in strange country even in strange city getting to know your needs and places will take time, but at least you know where to look or how. In Cairo my knowledge about everyday life doesn't work. Things just are so different. For example if I were to move in new apartment in Finland first thing I would do is get locksmith and change the key. Here I'm supposed to go a shop (which shop? I don't know) and buy a new LOCK with the new keys. When I move I can take my lock with me and replace it with the old original one. And of course in my new home I just put my old lock into the door immediately. So how I'm supposed to know this, if there isn't any body to help me? Someone I can REALLY trust. It's my home and stuff in the line.

I would say that the tourists can take all the good things even in short time. Those are pretty obvious. But the problems just starts when you have to live in Cairo.

I have written some articles about dance and living in Cairo in Finnish dance magazine. I will get them translated and will out them in the net. I will let you know, when they are ready.

[danidance]

Outi,

Do you have a US distributor for your CD? I wouldn't mind buying several and selling them for you through bellydancela.com.

If someone stateside is selling for you can you point me in the direction so that I can buy one?

[outi]

I have a few people interested, and I'm looking the best way (posting, taxes etc.) to do that. Meaning cheapest to the customer. So there will be but not today. The looking part is not easy as I'm in Egypt and the CDs are in Finland. Any way I wouldn't trust Egyptian post office or taxes office or any other office. All this time (almost 2 years) I never got a one single mail. Even though I know my family or friends send me Christmas card etc. and I have a bank account, which should send me reports now and then.

All of this time because I'm new to this stuff.

[laura 2]

Originally Posted by sumayasaahir

Unless I won like a million dollars or something and then Id drag my habibi Laura with me everywhere ;)

And if you paid, I might possibly consider it! Good Lord, the trouble the two of us could get into, trolling around the world together...::eek:

[sumayasaahir]

Habibi! There you are! Strums fingers together maniacally.... And Id pay someone to keep the men and children happy at home too! Maybe we could send them somewhere...like Katie to your moms and Joe and Mike...like...somewhere manly or to band camp or welding school or something.

Hey guess what? Ever since that out of body experience with that Chinese pepper, I can eat almost anything spicey now! Sweeeeeet.

You know, if I won the super duper humongo lottery, Id take all the Chicago and Milwaukee Bhuzzers with us! Not that Id pay to see too!

[MariaAya]

If someone love egyptian style of dance i find it necessery to travel at least once to Egypt.
Not exactly or only to study, as today most egyptian teachers travel all around the world, but to feel the essence of the dance and how egyptians react to it.
This means, walk at the roads, go out to night clubs, listen the music in the cars, people singing in the road, everything is total different.
(does it show i'm in love with Egypt ? lol)

Maria Aya

[leylalanty]

Originally Posted by MariaAya

If someone love egyptian style of dance i find it necessery to travel at least once to Egypt.
Not exactly or only to study, as today most egyptian teachers travel all around the world, but to feel the essence of the dance and how egyptians react to it.
This means, walk at the roads, go out to night clubs, listen the music in the cars, people singing in the road, everything is total different.
(does it show i'm in love with Egypt ? lol)

Maria Aya

You are SO correct, Maria Aya!!!!!!!!!! That is my advice too! Even a short stay will help you get a sense of the essence of the culture which is in the essence of the dance - as long as you spend time out on the streets, in the shops, taxis, and really listening to and watching what is going on around you with an open mind. Then, make an effort to see as many performances by professional dancers as you can in the time and budget that you have. You will learn much more than you expect by doing these things in addition to taking lessons with Egyptian teachers.
(does it show that I'm in love with Egypt too? )

[chessurecat]

Ahhhhh....Sumaya...kiss the sphinx for me when yo see him, yeah??
Seeing that I'll never, in this lifetime, be able to afford to go to Egypt.

[naiyahayal]

Originally Posted by leylalanty

Pssssssst! Sumaya! It's O.K, really O.K., to go to Egypt for the sole purpose of studying dance! And while you're there, you'll have opportunities to do the standard historical and cultural sightseeing that you probably think you *should* do! So GO! ENJOY! - but it's a LOT different from the European countries and Israel, where you've been before - been there, done that (some of the European countries and Israel) and been impressed over and over with that difference!

Leyla! Hi! Tanya (Naiya) here! It was good to see ya at Rakkasah -- will you be at Carnival of Stars??

If I could go to Egypt now, I would be outta here in a "New York minute." I missed my chance when I was in the Middle East. It was too scary back then to do Israel & Egypt on the same trip -- The Israelis were crazy on security, broke things in my suitcase (made the mistake of admitting I had bought items in the Arab sections of Jerusalem). I had bought a beautiful Eastern Orthodox icon for my grandmother and they even opened that up. So I always thought "another time," and now I'm tied to my day job, running my medical transcription business.

Sumaya, if you are able to go to Egypt, my God, go, while there is still a chance!!! I have always regretted being so close & not visiting. (And let's not even get into the costume shopping possibilities....)