Egpyt has made it to the final game of the African cup. Every day there are people wandering through the stopped traffic selling Egpytian flags and memorabilia. Soccer is HUGE here. When Egypt is playing in one of the games life sort of stops. Cabs are listening to it on the radio, when we are out at restaurants the game is playing on rolled out televisions and service is terrible because all the servers are watching the game. Then again, no one notices the service is terrible because the patrons are watching the game, too… It’s so much fun to go out and watch the games. I finally understand the importance of these world soccer tournaments and how intrinsically they are tied to national pride. 7 people died yesterday in a stampede of people trying to buy tickets to tomorrows game which is being held here in Cairo. People are fanatical. The American consulate here is sending out warnings about out of hand celebrations tomorrow if Egpyt wins, and out of hand civil unrest if they lose. Basically, we are planning on watching the game at a shisha and tea café just a few buildings down, and not straying far. Although I’d love to see egpyt celebrating after a win, even wathcing a game in a café is exciting with the yelling and cheering from all people present. The last semi final game we watched here in the dorm. They set out chairs in rows in the main room and there must have been at least a hundred students down there watching. When they won the entire dorm was filled with students waving egyptian flags and woohooing… Wish Egypt luck tonight! (February 10)