Day one out of Cairo

Day one in Alex (actually Agomy) and now I know why people want to come to Egypt. Today was a day that was straight up amazing. Last night I slept maybe a totally of two hours, I was just all worked up I guess and couldn’t relax enough to let my mind rest. Today was the day we traveled to Alex from Cairo. The trip took about six hours (usually a three hour drive) because we stopped off in Wadi to get Jeff at this camp he was staying at. The camp was a crazy nut, an oasis in the middle of nowhere, both spiritually and physically. Once we got Jeff we were off to Alex and man were we in for a surprise. I honestly had no idea what we were driving into. I knew that we would be near the beach, for this is a big part of our surf ministry. I feel as if I say this a lot but how can I describe this place, it’s impossible. We got to our apartment and unloaded the boards. Charris was here ( a girl we met in Cairo… which is from Kauai and knows part of the team) with some of her friends and they were leaving that same night, so it worked out perfect with the transition of us coming in. The first person we met was Maluka - he showed us our place. He was super nice and we sat and talked to him for a good while. He has a little baby that is one and has been married for two years. Sounds like his whole family lives together in a large housing situation just a few blocks away. He is a mechanic on a farm and works on really big machinery. This little chit chat got me stoked to see the relations we were going to deepen or create on this trip. The apartment is pretty legit and it only took a few minutes before we all realized it was time to beach it. We started our trek down to the beach and for sure it was a fun adventure. The buildings here are so awesome, orange, old, and the architecture way better than anything I saw in Cairo. It’s for sure a beach town and a beach town found just a few hours from the city of all cities in Egypt. This town in a tad more liberal so us girls can get away with wearing long shorts and a loose shirt. On the beach you see a few tourists wearing less than that but in respect to the culture (since we know better). So anyways we were headed down to the beach and it was so cool to see the impact Sam had already made on these boys. The second we turned the corner they were at the gate ready to see us all. They were so stoked to see us and everyone was saying (in a broken Arabic accent) Sam - Sam - Sam, Welcome Surfing The Nations - Welcome! Faris and Ahamad are the little boys that roll with this crew and they are apparently super good surfers (no surf yet to see this truth or not). They are so cute and adorable, we all want to make sure they make it to Hawaii some day. They are stoked (especially Faris) on everything that has to do with surfing - Everything. Faris always looks at me and goes… you goofy.. yes goofy good (because I’m goofy foot like him and not regular). Leo was there too, another grommet but he is from France and is here because his parents moved for a some job his Dad has. These boys literally just cruise on the beach everyday. Some of them have jobs but most of them just cruise. So we met the crew and cruised on the beach for a few hours, just getting to know them. The beach - umm only images can describe. The water is so green, the air blue (never thought that could happen in Egypt), the sun piercing, the sand like white and fine like flour (with garbage everywhere), the surf flat, and the scenery more than you cane take in. It was a good time talking with all the boys and getting to figure out who is who. I started to get super chilly and Gano saw this and literally ran home to get a jacket for me. They are so hospitable and nice. The sun set into the Mediterranean and my heart was swelling with excitement to see a sight I’ve only dreamed of. Everyone started to get hungry and too cold to sit with boardies on the beach and with the movement of our team the boys decided to was time to BBQ.  We weren’t sure what this meant to them but we were game for what ever happened. We all changed and got ready to cruise. We walked a few blocks over to Mika’s house (I can’t really type in English how they saw this in Arabic but say it how ever you want). They wouldn’t let us help or lift a leg, sit - sit - sit, they always say. We sat around for about an hour as they prepared the meal, well Mika’s sister came to prepare it. Maluka and Kahalad were playing video games and we joined in once we settled down. Kahalad is sort of the ringleader of the crew in a way, we call him GQ because he is always so dressed up, gelled and shirtless. Dinner was starting to come in a finish and the Omar was outside flipping the meat. This meat looked so good, I knew the rest of the meal was going to rock our socks off. We were all super tired of eating foul, Kosheri, and Falafel that the sight of meat meant a whole new world. Catarina and Gabriel are two Germans that have lived here for a bit teaching in a German school. They are super fun and totally a kick to hang around. I was kicking myself in the face this night for not bringing my camera. There were so many fun things that happened, fun isn’t even the word to use. So many once in a lifetime things that happened. We were all sitting on the top of the roof of Mika’s house and sitting around this tiny two foot high table. Dinner was served and we were all so hungry and amazed by the feast set before us. The rice was honestly the best rice I’ve ever had, something was different about it and I can’t put my finger on why. The meat was so good and the tahina sauce was the best yet. Everything was amazing and they just whipped up this feast as a Welcome Surfing The Nations event. All of the surf boys were there and this totally kicked off this week here. After dinner we sat around and drank tea and sang songs. Some how Omar had the great idea, no Maluka - yah Maluka had the great idea that I sing while Muhamad sings and Robert plays the guitar. So well I was roped into it and even though I was super apprehensive I figured what ever it’s English they have no idea how I really sound. So the song they wanted was “I never told you”, they head us girls singing it earlier on in the night so yup the song has hit another trip and another country. Oh my was it so fun. I have no idea what Muhamad was singing but as I sang Colbie he sang something in Arabic at the same time and Robert just kept on jamming. I wish I had this on tape and one of the guys does but who knows if that will ever show up, let’s hope. Oh man that moment was a once in a lifetime experience. Sitting rooftop in Egypt, drinking tea and singing a duet with a man in Arabic. After our dinner adventure it was time to head home and this ride home was crazy. They drive so nutty over here and we were all piled into one car - Muhamad’s jeep. Robert and a few of the boys hanging on to the back and Gano on the hood of the car. We were laughing so hard the entire time but laughter was the result in shere fear we would all die. Not really but yes sort of. Again with wishing I had this on video. I’m sure though this won’t be the last time we all jump in Muhamad’s epic ride and almost crash around every corner as his make shift police siren goes off. Oh what an epic first night in Agomy.