It was really pretty spectacular. For all you Hoyas reading this, think: Georgetown when we got to the final four x20 million. Seriously, it was ridiculous.
The actual game was slightly anti-climactic for me since Egypt was only up 1 point and they won when time ran out. But see, the announcers were speaking Arabic so I didn't know that time was running out until all of the Egyptians in the cafe we were watching it in stood up and started hugging each other and screaming. That as exciting though. Oh, my adopted country.
What they cheer:
1. Misr! Misr!Misr! (Egypt!)
2. ole, ole, ole, ole (which is weird because it's definitely from Latin America)
3. Abu Traika!!! Zidan!!! (names of players)
4. honk honk honk honk honk honk-ety-honk honk (a car horn)
I now own an Egyptian flag.
The streets were so flooded cars couldn't move. Everyone was singing and setting off sparklers and fireworks and waving flags and dressed in the Egyptian colors (red, white, black).
Sabrina and I were in the back of a car driving over a bridge waving our flags when our car was descended on my jubilant Egyptian youths who held a large flag for us to drive under. it was pretty f-ing sweet. We were with our friends the Mostafas. (I call them this because one's name is Mostafa and the other is Ahmed Mostafa). I am including 2 videos to give you a better idea of the excitement. The second one is me. Both were taken by Sabrina (thank you Sabrina) because my camera died and hers is better anyway.
Disclaimer: Mom, this was very safe, I am taking good care of myself, please don't be worried when you see me hanging out of a car waving a flag through a celebratory mob of Egyptians
