A Mosaic of Color and Contrast

By Lauren Lovelace,Deneyse Kirkpatrickand Maha Armush

Cairo

COUNTRY>>> Egypt

CAPITAL>>> Cairo

TOTAL AREA>>> 1,001,450 square kilometers

APPROXIMATE SIZE>>> More than three times thesize of New Mexico

GOVERNMENT>>> Republic

INDEPENDENCE>>> February 28, 1922 (from theUnited Kingdom)

POPULATION>>> 80.3 million

LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH>>> 72 years

RELIGIONS>>> Muslim (mostly Sunni), Copticand Christian

LANGUAGES>>> Arabic (official), English andFrench

CURRENCY>>> Egyptian pound (EGP)

PER CAPITA INCOME>>> $4,200

IMPORT PARTNERS>>> United States (11.3 percent),China (8.2 percent) andGermany (6.3 percent)

EXPORT PARTNERS>>> Italy (12.1 percent), UnitedStates (11.3 percent) andSpain (8.5 percent)

INTERNET COUNTRY CODE>>> .eg

POST OF THE MONTH>>>

Cairo, Egypt

DECEMBER 2007 | STATE MAGAZINE

A nighttime view of central Cairo,where 17 million Egyptians live.

STATE MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2007

A young man zoomsby on a bicycle, a six-

foot tray loaded withflat bread balanced on

his head. He is focusedon the veering traffic,but as he passes he

offers a welcome.This is Cairo.

On the other side ofthe street, a donkey

cart pulls up in front ofa bookstore café where

young women in headcoverings and jeans

order iced lattesand read Noam

Chomsky essays.

Like the mosaic tilework in Al Azhar, the

oldest institution ofIslamic learning in the

world, Cairo and its17 million people are

studies in color andcontrast united by a

common theme—hospitality.

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DECEMBER 2007 | STATE MAGAZINE

MISSION PRIORITIESThe U.S. Mission to Egypt reaches out

to the Egyptian people to advance peace,democracy and prosperity. These priori-ties guide the work of the 1,800 peopleand 48 U.S. agencies at the embassy inhistoric Garden City. They include oneof the largest U.S. Agency forInternational Development missions inthe world, the Naval Assistance MedicalResearch Unit-III, the Library ofCongress and the Drug EnforcementAdministration. The mission’s work isalso advanced by the American Center inAlexandria.

Members of the mission communityoften reflect on the vitality and spirit ofone of the world's most ancient andbeautiful cities.

“Every morning, as I walk into thesunny courtyard of the U.S. Embassy, asmiling Egyptian colleague wishes me aday full of jasmine flowers,” saidNatasha Greer, who returned to Cairo toserve as an office management specialistafter a decade away. “Whether you arean extrovert with a passion forexploration or an introvert looking for apeaceful spot to read a book, you will beable to find your perfect place in Cairo.The noise, pollution and crazy traffic

will dissipate in the smiles of peoplewho welcome you everywhere.”

Egypt is the most populous countryin the Middle East and the second mostpopulous in Africa. The Arabic word forEgypt, Misr, means metropolis. Cairo isthe cultural capital of the Arab world,and contains Saladin's Citadel, world-famous bazaars, medieval palaces anddozens of museums and cultural centersfeaturing art exhibits, concerts, plays,dance troupes and film screenings.

“When I was first assigned to Cairo, Iremembered my days as a student at theAmerican University here,” says ViceConsul Maha Armush. “I recalled myexperience teaching salsa dancing at alocal dance studio and the excitementand intensity of the city's night life.Cairo is a cultural center where you canbe mesmerized by the architecture andfeel the local flavor in the streets aspeople hustle by. While the intensity canbe overwhelming, I feel safe andwelcomed here. Even the children extendtheir arms to greet you.”

RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURECairo is home to an impressive collec-

tion of Islamic architecture. About 90percent of Egyptians are Muslims, but

several million are Coptic Christians,one of the oldest sects of Christianityand another important source ofreligious art and architecture.

Of the seven wonders of the ancientworld only the Great Pyramids of Gizaremain. Egyptian tourism sites atKarnak, Luxor and Abu Simbel span5,000 years of history and continue toawe visitors.

Popular sporting and social activitiesinclude horse and camel riding on theoutskirts of the desert, golfing next tothe pyramids, fishing and diving in theRed Sea and Egypt's beloved nationalsport, soccer. These activities may beenjoyed despite Cairo's notorious trafficand air pollution.

Egypt is famous for such leaders asCleopatra, King Tutankhamun andSaladin. Modern chiefs of state likeGamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar Sadatalso left their mark on world history.President Hosni Mubarak has ruled thecountry since 1981.

The U.S. Mission actively supportsdemocratic reform through a variety ofprograms with the government of Egyptand Egypt’s growing civil society.

The Egyptian-American relationship,bolstered by the historic Camp David

Opposite page: Morning in Cairo means bicyclists bearing trays of bread. Above: Participants in the Bureau of Information Resource Management’sMission Day learn about other sections and offices.

STATE MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2007

AmbassadorFrancis

Ricciardonevisits aUSAID-

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project inQena.

An Egyptianboy clowns

around with asaxophone

player in theAmerican band

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Peace Agreement between Egypt andIsrael in 1979, is one of the world’s mostvital partnerships for peace in a regionof historic conflict. Egypt and the UnitedStates also have a common bond infighting terrorism and cooperate on avariety of fronts.

The embassy's Office of Military Coop-eration administers more than $1.3 billionin annual U.S. military assistance toEgypt. A steady flow of U.S. cabinet-levelguests often includes Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice, as well as other distin-guished government and private expertsand many congressional delegations.

USAID has operated in Egypt since1975 and has been critical to thecountry's infrastructure developmentand economic prosperity. Millions ofEgyptians enjoy a higher quality of lifebecause of American support. Since2000, USAID has encouraged Egypt'stransition from “aid to trade,” togetherwith the embassy's Foreign CommercialService, Foreign Agricultural Service andeconomic section.

FAMILY LIFEIn addition to its commitment to

advance the U.S.-Egyptian relationship,the embassy supports the well-being ofthe official American and Egyptiancommunity by providing educationaland family employment opportunitiesand social and cultural activities.

“The embassy community and thelocal community make this an excellentfamily post,” said Will Lanzet, an infor-mation programs specialist. “Whateverour children's strengths and interests, theeducational and social opportunitiesthey receive in Cairo are outstanding.The K-12 Cairo American College ratesas of the best international schools in theworld. In addition to exceptionalacademic departments, the performingarts and athletic departments arenoteworthy. Our oldest, who graduatedfrom CAC in 2003, found he was verywell-prepared for continuing his educa-tion at the university level.”

Assistant Human Resources OfficerDeneyse Kirkpatrick said, “During thefirst quarter of 2007, the StrategicNetwork Assistance Program identified

more than 352 jobs in the localeconomy. The opportunities for familymembers abound, and there is reallysomething for everyone.”

A day at Embassy Cairo can involveprofessional development training, avisit to Arab League headquarters, adiscussion with students in Arabicabout the Middle East, a sampling ofsugarcane juice produced by a recipientof a USAID micro-loan or even a nightdancing to an embassy-sponsoredmusical group like the Latin hip-hopband Ozomatli.

“Ozomatli's tour of Egypt is thebiggest program the public affairssection has done in years and had a hugeimpact,” said Public Affairs CounselorHaynes Mahoney, citing the band’sperformances in Qait Bey, Alexandria,the Cairo Citadel and in neighborhoods,jamming with local musicians.

Through daily activities such asconsular assistance, political andeconomic dialogue and culturaloutreach, individuals from all sections ofthe mission advance the goals of peace,democracy and prosperity whilecontributing to the fascinating mosaicthat is modern Egypt. ■

Lauren Lovelace was assistant informationofficer at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo andnow serves as an International Visitorsprogram assistant in New York. DeneyseKirkpatrick is the assistant humanresources officer at the embassy, andMaha Armush is a vice consul in theconsular section.

READING MATERIAL

Want to read more about Egypt? Management Officer and bibliophileRaymond Maxwell suggests:

Cairo, City of Sand by Maria Golia, AUC Press Cairo, A City Victorious by Max RodenbeckPalace Walk by Naguib MahfouzAlexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durell The Blue Nile and The White Nile by Alan Moorehead...and of course http://egypt.usembassy.gov

DECEMBER 2007 | STATE MAGAZINE

The Ibn Toulon mosque is famous for its minaretwith an outside spiral ladder.

Cairo American College graduates toss their capsin the air at the pyramids of Giza.