This is Alexandria – the second largest city in Egypt. The “pearl of the Mediterranean” has given a warm welcome to the the participants of the EuroArab case study trip from the 10th to 18th November, 2011.
This time, due to the EuroArab project, European and Egyptian participants gathered to take part in the Media and Culture Program organised by SHIFT Network’s main coordinators Rana Hassan and Karim Gaber, in cooperation with Diana Lesko from AEGEE-Debrecen and Agnija Kazusa from AEGEE-Ogre with support of the world’s heritage Biblioteque Alexandrina. The event and its sessions and social program were inspiring. On the arrival day, after welcoming European participants and cutting a delicious chocolate-fruit cake, the event was officially opened.
Starting from the first sunny day of the event, getting to know the city and having sessions were completing each
other.
Interactive sessions, group assignments about social media, personal contact with brave revolutioners, and interesting discussions offered all necessary facilities for Europeans to get more information about Egypt’s social life. On the other hand, the participants had a great chance to discover Egypt by visiting museums in Alexandria and also through a trip to the Pyramids and Cairo, seeing Tahrir (which means Liberty) Square where the revolution has began, taking part in a Nile tour, and of course an unforgettable Egyptian Culture Night. There were lots of traditional Egyptian meals and live Arabic Music, but no alcohol (as people expect at Culture Night). The Europeans confessed that it had been something unique…
As participants were staying with host families, they had a chance to experience an Egyptian way of life. Some of them were trying to say few words in Arabic and were enjoying hospitality while others felt a real culture shock about sweet meals, the disastrous traffic, and dirty streets. In one word, this event let participants experience real diversity. One week full of studies and discovering the country from cultural, historical, and religious aspects ended up in the Center of Arts in Alexandria. At the 
closing ceremony, all participants got their certificates from SHIFT network board members. As for the Shift team, it was the first event that they had ever organised and their work as organisers for the first time was very good. They took advice to use the European experience. After evaluation process and receiving feedback, this motivated team is looking forward to taking part in the second part of the case study trip that will take place in Kraków, Poland. At the same time, AEGEE-Kraków has already begun preparing the content of the event and they are very enthusiastic about it. It is interesting that Europeans from all AEGEE locals will have a chance to participate in the second part of the CST. So watch the Event-L mailing list closely as the open call will soon be announced…
Written by Durdana Boyukkishiyeva, AEGEE Baki & participant of CST Alexandria 2011