Music Festivals & A Haunted House

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Nosimat Salami

<i>Pronouns:</i> She/her/hers <i>Home Institution:</i> Gettysburg College <i>Expected Graduation:</i> 2024 <i>Major / Minor:</i> Health Science and Public Policy / Educational Studies <i>Study Abroad Location:</i> Cairo, Egypt <i>"Hello" in your host country's language:</i> As-salamu alaykum <i>Program Provider:</i> The American University in Cairo <i>Identity:</i> African American/Black, First-Generation College Student <i>Future Career Goals:</i> My ultimate career goal is to start a nonprofit organization whose primary aim is to enhance access to and awareness of wellness options available to Latinx and African populations worldwide. Areas I want to concentrate on are preventive healthcare and education, which includes having access to better food options and health education. Lastly, an essential component of my organization would be to change or create new health policies that would allow underdeveloped communities access to housing, education, and employment. <i>Top 3 Goals for your time abroad:</i> 1. My first goal is to be more open-minded; this includes trying local food, being proficient in Arabic and engaging with the community. 2. My second goal is to go to the Bayn al-Qasrayn, this is one of many monumental buildings I want to go to. But I am really excited to see and learn about the history of Egyptian architecture. 3. Lastly, my third goal is to find research opportunities within the Global Public Health programs offered at AUC

Cairo Bites Food Festival is one of the biggest festivals that features a wide range of local, regional and international food businesses. Every year visitors come and taste-test food, while vibing to music and other fun activities. This year’s theme was “A Foodie’s Dream”, and I was so excited to get tickets to go with my friends because I had not been to ZED Park, which is about one hour away from campus, but most importantly the Egyptian food is amazing.

When we first got to the festival, we watched celebrity chefs, Mofida Shiha & Chef Mohamed Salah, which was so fun. Then we walked through the park and there were so many other food vendors, we ended up getting food to eat. I had Chicken N Ribs and my friend had tacos from Hola Tacos! After eating, Mahmoud Esseily, a very popular artist performed his hit songs.

We would eventually end the night going to the amusement park, right next to where the festival was being held, my friends and I went Go-Kart Racing, ate Basbousa (Egyptian dessert) for the first time and went through a haunted house!