Meeting of a Lifetime in Egypt

A group of very lucky Semester at Sea students got the unexpected honor of meeting Egypt’s renowned antiquities expert, Dr. Zahi Hawass, and getting a private tour by him of the Step Pyramid in Saqqara (pronounced “Sakkara”), which currently is closed to the public.

“The feeling of privilege to have a special tour of these places made me feel very special,” said Jinyi (Jenny) Chen, a student at Univ. of Virginia. “There was not much inside, but I am excited for when they finish their work there.”

The students were part of a Semester at Sea three-day tour of Cairo. During part of their tour they visited Saqqara and were standing outside of the Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser (pronounced “Zoser”), which was built by the architect/engineer Imhotep almost 5,000 years ago. The pyramid is still closed to the public and is undergoing some excavations.

The group’s tour guide was a doctoral student of Hawass. Both she and SAS student Nexus Cook recognized Hawass immediately and were quite excited. For Nexus, meeting Hawass was a dream come true.

“I have loved ancient Egypt history since I was a kid and have watched lots of movies about it and read so many books,” says Nexus. “So, for me, seeing Dr. Hawass was like seeing a huge celebrity.”

Hawass has more than four decades studying, inspecting and overseeing the antiquities in Egypt. He is currently Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. In this role, he controls all of the antiquities of Egypt and serves as the chief advocate for preserving and protecting Egypt’s ancient monuments. A 2006 profile article in Time magazine dubbed Hawass “The Man”, noting that “he determines who will excavate in Egypt and when and where.” Hawass was President Barack Obama’s guide during the President’s late July visit to Egypt and the pyramids.

In her blog, Nexus Cook, a student at Temple University, wrote the following about the experience and special tour. (It is a bit long, but well worth the read):

Aug. 2—In all sincerity, today was the best day of my life. …Not many people know this, but I am obsessed with ancient Egyptian art, history and culture. I used to, and still, watch every single documentary [about Egypt] on the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, the National Geographic Channel—pretty much any channel that is showing something about ancient Egypt. I have read countless books about all the Gods and hieroglyphics and I seriously used to want to—and still do—be an archeologist and Egyptologist. The Indiana Jones movies are my favorite movies of all time!

When I was younger I used to collect rocks and pretend that I was finding some ancient, lost Egyptian treasure. Basically, I have been looking forward to going to Egypt since I was about 4 years old.

Anyway, today we went to Memphis, which was the first capital of Egypt and the first established city in the entire world. I saw the most amazing statue of King Ramses the Second. Then we went to Sakkara. We get off the bus and are headed towards the first step pyramid and first stone building ever made all over the world and I see all these men yelling and I see a couple camera guys. Then all of a sudden I see my idol—Dr. Zahi Hawass. Dr. Zahi Hawass is the world-renowned archeologist and the most famous Egyptologist in the world.

I have read three of his books and I watch every single documentary that I see on TV with him in it. When I saw him I was literally star struck. I have met celebrities before, quite a few actually, and I have never been star struck, but Dr. Zahi Hawass—a guy that most people don't even know, but should—and I am speechless.

I got over being speechless very quickly and walked over and introduced myself to him. He asked me where I go to school and when I told him Temple University he got excited because he used to live in Philly. I told him how excited I was to meet him; I felt like I was skipping through air. My tour guide was the only other person who was just as happy as I was.

Dr. Hawass was at the step pyramids doing a show with one of Egypt’s most famous movies stars, Ramez Galal. So, Grace [Obando, my roommate] and I took a bunch of pictures with him and then were recorded for the show. Galal told us to repeat a phrase in English and Arabic, something like “Traveling the world with Ramez and Egypt’s Indiana Jones, Dr. Zahi Hawass!” I was completely embarrassed/ecstatic because I was standing next to Dr. Hawass!

After all the hype with the cameras, Dr. Hawass quiets everyone down in our group and says “As a special treat for all of you, I will allow you all to go inside the Step Pyramid of Imhotep!” I ALMOST PASSED OUT!! NO ONE IS ALLOWED INSIDE THE STEP PYRAMID. My tour guide, who has been doing her job for 35 years, had never been inside the Step Pyramid of Imhotep. It was like a scene form a movie; I could not believe it! We had our own escort inside the oldest man made building on the planet!!

I watched a man unlock the bolted door that leads inside the pyramid. It was so exclusive that the lights weren’t even on. He had to turn the lights on inside the part we were allowed to walk through. It was truly amazing. I seriously feel so blessed. My group got to go inside an ancient pyramid that very few people are allowed to go in. It was so cool.

Needless to say, I love Egypt. I knew I would, but my time here has surpassed all expectations. I could not have asked for a better time. I am in love with this country, the people, the culture, the history, everything. I had the best time of my life. I don't think anything can top this. And if it does, I might not come back to America.