2011 Revolution

The graffiti here dates back to the 2011 Revolution. The images are of people either injured or mortally wounded (the child eating the sandwich) at the time of the Revolution. The skulls had an image of a policeman on top originally.

I had dinner with one of my former students tonight and he explained the images to me. He was in his late teens at the time of the Revolution, and took time off school to protest. He tells me his parents were unaware of this. He's been interested in politics since then and he's always interesting to talk to. Educated, intelligent, has travelled a bit and understands more than his local context; something not too common here. And I think he can cook too (rare!).

Dinner was take away koshary (pasta, chickpeas and fried onions with vinegar and spicy tomato sauce) eaten at one of the very local coffee shops that are all over the country (think plastic chairs and tables, tea, coffee, water, and sometimes juice or soft drinks). You couldn't get more basic if you tried. But they're fun, simple and often partly outdoors. He wanted me to have a local experience, which is what I enjoy.

Lucky to be able to hang out with my students and see more than what a typical expat would.