A qualitative study across class and gender of the transient mini-verse of Ramadan in Egypt. by Amanda Tapp “Ramadan is an example of how humans differentiate themselves as different from any other type of being - the spiritual value you get from fasting, from understanding what it means to fast. Understanding that your mind is … Continue reading A Qualitative Study of Ramadan in Egypt
Author: AmandaTapp
British-Chinese journalist, writer and researcher based in Cairo. Interested in Sufism, mysticism, Arabic, and the Middle East. Eager to write, and to spread justice and truth.
The Nausea: Seeking Refuge
I knew I was looking for something, but I didn't know what. I had decided to hike Gabal Mousa (Mount Moses aka Mount Sinai) alone, with a Bedouin mountain guide, several months before I finally went in the beginning of November, 2020. In October 2020 I had to first renew my tourist visa in order … Continue reading The Nausea: Seeking Refuge
An Ode to Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own”
The Poor Poet Virginia Woolf had written about women needing space and the means to think and create. This means the time and resources, in order not to have to work – nor be obliged to be a housewife, and be able to have the time needed to create. For a man, it is different, … Continue reading An Ode to Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own”
Will you?
Will you? Will you grow, evolve, and transgress past the endless societal obligations like the boundless waves of a sea and transgress, into eternity? past what our mothers and fathers have drilled into our heads our heads that were once filled with play-things, toys and pacifiers we replaced these with books, games and school then … Continue reading Will you?
Deciding to stay in Egypt during COVID-19 as a Chinese-British Woman
COVID-19: The unasked for mirror of humanity and the individual. On Monday March 16th, Egypt announced it would close all the airports for two weeks. As a 24-year-old British-Chinese UK citizen, I decided to stay in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic is a testament to humanity and the unasked-for mirror of ourselves. When … Continue reading Deciding to stay in Egypt during COVID-19 as a Chinese-British Woman
Egypt is, to me…
Egypt is, to me, a blind man standing calmly on the side of the street waiting for someone to help him cross over. Within 10 seconds, a boy ran over and held his arm to help him across the busy street. Egypt is, to me, when I was stuck in an elevator and before long … Continue reading Egypt is, to me…
The Greener Grass
The wealthy little boy sat Uncomfortable in his blazer and tie He stared miserably out of the schoolbus window His outlet into what he thought was freedom The poor boy sat In his tattered and dirtied clothes On the back of a truck He stared miserably back At the wealthy little boy Wishing to have … Continue reading The Greener Grass
Sinai
Drifted into a dream The sea gurgling next to me like A newborn baby The dome peppered with stars, witnessed Shooting stars flirting- A rip in the canvas And another one... and another I could not help but ask To the sky: What are you? ----------------------------------------------- August 8, 2019 Nuweibaa, South Sinai, Egypt … Continue reading Sinai
A Call for Pedagogical Reform
"There is a fundamental crisis in our global education system. Today's global education systems are primarily designed in the form of disciplinary learning. This method of disciplinary learning constrains the learner into a number of commandment that must be the underlying basis and start towards analysing and examining the subject matter."
My Experience as a Non-Muslim of Ramadan in Egypt
Every Muslim I've talked to that is fasting is happily doing it for ربنا ("rabana", our Lord), and doesn't complain. After having studied and read about Ramadan so much, it is infinitely more rich and beautiful when witnessing it all around you, for miles and miles. About 24% of the world is Muslim, which means that a large portion of almost a fourth of the world is currently fasting. That's something to think about.
Amanda Tapp 