<p>Does anyone have a student on Study Abroad in Egypt right now? How are they coping? </p>
<p>My son studied in Spain last spring, and he had a friend who studied in Egypt. I would be beside myself if he was in Cairo right now. (He's at his home campus in the USA at the moment).</p>
<p>We have a friend’s daughter there now. She just arrived 10 days ago for a semester abroad. She is safe and away from the rioting/protests but is scared. The college is looking to fly the kids in the program home ASAP, but it’s not easy to do. It sounds like they’re handling it well.</p>
<p>Assuming they are at AUC, they should be pretty well tied into the US Embassy - so that should help.</p>
<p>Close friend’s D is in Cairo - they are besides themselves with worry. They have only been able to talk to her once - basically the students are staying put in the dorms. It’s pretty scary even if they are all fairly safe. This is a parent’s nightmare but the students may well be thrilled to be part of history! She is at AUC - I do not think there are plans to fly them home yet, though I know some college programs are doing that.</p>
<p>Going to be hard to do – quite a few of the airlines have canceled flights. Staying in-place at the moment is the recommendation of the State Department. Staying together would be a good idea.</p>
<p>They students should be fine. Staying put right now is the best thing to do. I am hoping things will calm down tomorrow when everyone returns to work/school/normal life.</p>
<p>Almost all of the other camp counselors my daughter worked with last summer were college-age Egyptian kids, students from Alexandria and Cairo. One became such a close friend; D took her on a road trip to my mom’s house on their weekend off. (First time rural Grandma ever met anyone who wears a hijab; Grandma loved her! 
)</p>
<p>No contact from any of the Egyptian kids for days now, of course. Hope they are all okay. Augh.</p>
<p><a href=“Arabic%20language%20camp.”>i</a>*</p>
<p>Grcxx3–you don’t understand. The protesters won’t return to work/school/normal unless and until Mubarak resigns. </p>
<p>After that, who knows? I hope a new government can be formed without bloodshed or a new tyranny–the Moslem Brotherhood.</p>
<p>mommusic - I do understand. I lived in Egypt for many years. This is a scary time for all - tourists, expats, and the Egyptian people. Banks and schools were ordered closed today, but other businesses are open and many people - out of necessity - have to work. I know that most of the markets/shops/businesses in my old area are open today, but I am sure that most of the businesses in the downtown area (especially near the main square) are closed.</p>
<p>I just hope there is a positive outcome to all of this - and soon. I have many friends (Egyptian and American) being impacted by this and my thoughts are with them all.</p>
<p>Son was in Cairo all last summer and arranging to return to Egypt for semester/year next fall. But for a wrinkle of time he would be there now. No question it would be exhilarating - ten days that shook the world comes to mind. Odds are that the students will all be fine, but that’s easy to say when it’s not your own child who faces those odds. If my son were there I would be really torn - wanting to assure safety but at the same time appreciating for him the chance to experience history being made. One of my many concerns is wondering whether the Egyptian people will turn anti-American because our government is waiting to decide what to do. This is not a criticism of our response, just an observation that the Egyptian people in the streets are apparently unhappy that we are not endorsing the uprising against Pres. Mubarak. From schools that have students there, my understanding is that many of the students don’t want to leave…of course if the school recalls them they really have little choice.</p>
<p>laxtaxi - if were there - safe in my flat, with plenty of food and water - I wouldn’t want to leave right now either. The airport is not necessarily pleasant under the best of circumstances, but it’s going to be a zoo now!</p>
<p>I was an exchange student at AUC in the mid-80s. While there, the US downed a Libyan jet, and there was a storm of protests. Things got pretty tense, but nothing, nothing, nothing like what’s happening now. My parents panicked watching the nightly news. I can’t imagine how the exchange students and their families feel.</p>
<p>I’ve lost touch, but my understanding is that AUC moved its campus a while back. It used to be right near Tahrir Square. Does anyone know if this is accurate? If so, where did they move the campus to?</p>
<p>skrlvr - yes the campus has moved, but there are still programs taking place at the main/old campus. I am not sure, however, how many students are really still located at that campus, but the residence halls are not there. I think they are in Zamalek, which is a bit north of the main square.</p>
<p>The new location is in an area called New Cairo, well away from the main trouble spots. </p>
<p>This shows the relative location of the new campus -
<a href=“http://www.aucegypt.edu/newcairocampus/location/Pages/default.aspx[/url]”>http://www.aucegypt.edu/newcairocampus/location/Pages/default.aspx</a></p>
<p>This shows a more detailed, close in view -
<a href=“http://www.aucegypt.edu/offices/ocm/Documents/Directional%20Map%20to%20AUC_1.pdf[/url]”>http://www.aucegypt.edu/offices/ocm/Documents/Directional%20Map%20to%20AUC_1.pdf</a></p>
<p>Thanks, Grcxx3. The women’s hostel/dorm used to be right near the main campus, and the men’s hostel/dorm where I stayed was in Zamalek (right across from the Russian embassy, if I remember right).</p>
<p>I imagine New Cairo to be pretty upper/upper middle class so I figure that there’s not a lot of activity going on there, but who knows.</p>
<p>It’s definitely an upscale area, and far removed from the main city - but even small Maadi has had it’s share of trouble the past few days - so you never know!</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, Grcxx3…I would have the US Embassy on speed dial these days!</p>
<p>mommusic - DH and I always had the US Embassy and the company security office numbers saved on our cell phones. </p>
<p>After 9/11, we also kept 1 suitcase packed (with 1 change of clothes for everyone, toilet paper, snacks, and key meds for the kids), all critical documents in one easy to carry folder, and enough cash (in USD, British Pounds, and Euros) to take us anywhere!</p>
<p>S1 was supposed to go to Sharm-al-Sheik next month for a competition; suspect the organizers are looking at alternative venues at this stage.</p>
<p>This is the most comprehensive article I’ve come across concerning the study abroad students in Egypt - [News:</a> Getting Out of Egypt - Inside Higher Ed](<a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/01/31/turmoil_in_egypt_leaves_colleges_scrambling_to_protect_students]News:”>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/01/31/turmoil_in_egypt_leaves_colleges_scrambling_to_protect_students).</p>
<p>[Georgetown[/url</a>] and [url=<a href=“http://www.gwhatchet.com/]George”>http://www.gwhatchet.com/]George</a> Washington](<a href=“http://www.thehoya.com/news/gu-to-evacuate-all-15-students-studying-in-egypt-1.1948907]Georgetown[/url”>http://www.thehoya.com/news/gu-to-evacuate-all-15-students-studying-in-egypt-1.1948907) just evacuated their students studying at AUC.</p>
<p>The pastor of a local church group sent out this email:
</p>