Community Corner

Surviving Egypt

Senior Center Director Rachel Steinberg returns from a tumultuous visit to Egypt.

Going to Egypt and visiting the Cairo Museum had been a dream of Rachel Steinberg’s since she visited Israel years ago.

But during a recent visit to the country, that dream was cut short and what began as a once in a lifetime journey turned into three days of fear and anxiety.

“We were on a cruise on the Nile, and people just always protested on (Jan. 25). It was Police Day, a holiday, and there are always peaceful marches. We were watching it on CNN,” said Steinberg Tuesday, from the East Brunswick Senior Center where she serves as director.

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But things changed during a flight to Alexandria that night. When Steinberg and her fellow travelers landed, they learned that mass protests had erupted, with people taking to the streets to protest the leadership of President Hosni Mubarak. Steinberg said her group was close enough to the conflict that they could hear gunfire and smell smoke from a neighboring town, and even though their plane was on the runway and ready to take off, they couldn’t leave.

“They couldn’t find a crew,” she said. “We were in the airport and they were guarding us. We had to turn the lights off, close the drapes and not until 6 a.m. the next day could we get out and back to Cairo.”

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Steinberg remembers that time as a tense one, with everyone wondering what would happen next, and wondering if their lives were in danger.

“We were afraid people were going to start coming to our area, - we were at the airport – and take over the airport,” she said.

Once back in Cairo, the last thing on anyone’s mind was visiting the museum. Instead, Steinberg spent much of the next few days waiting to get out of the country, all the time wondering what would happened to them, what would happen to the region and what would happen to Israel if Egypt fell. Finally, with help from their tour company, Tauck Tours, they were able to leave for Athens, Greece.

“It would have been much worse if not for the support of the tour company, she said. Without their connections, I think we’d still be sitting there.”

Steinberg, her husband and another couple left for Egypt on Jan. 18 and spent their final days in Cairo before leaving for Athens on Feb. 1, and returning home on Feb. 6. During that time, Steinberg said she got a chance to speak with some of the people living there.

“They kept apologizing, saying ‘this isn’t Egypt.’ They said they were sorry we had to see it, but they did their best to protect us,” she said.

Others she spoke with seemed hesitant to share their thoughts on the protests, but seemed to imply that the economy and job market played a big role in the recent events.

“The area guides, I think they had to be careful, but they insinuated that it was ‘tough out there.’ The economy. It was very subtle,” she said.

Finally back in America, and back with friends, co-workers and a family that was beside themselves, Steinberg said she is thankful for the support she received once she got back.

“I just want to thank all the East Brunswick seniors and staff for their prayers and wishes. That’s what helped me get out.”


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