What was it about my childhood that made The Sphinx, The Great Pyramid, and The Pyramids of Giza, capture my imagination and become part of my reality?

The Sphinx was as real as a baby doll, a shiny red fire truck, or a gleaming black train engine. The Great Pyramid and Three Pyramids of Giza as evident as autumn leaves. That is how I grew up. These were the icons, toys, images, of my earliest days.

People all over the world – and across time – have a lot in common. My childhood had to be similar to the early socialization of many people, of many nationalities, speaking many languages, going way back into antiquity.

It had to be, because all through history, we find people who love and admire Egypt so much that they feel connected to it. This is evident by the variety of entities and organizations who have been immersed in Egypt throughout time. Even so, there are clearly those who don’t feel the pull.

Allow me to create a simplistic dichotomy to make a point. Egypt is more real to me and billions of other people than it is to—the people who don’t feel this way.

Egypt of the past or present must be unreal to some people. This can be confirmed by meeting the ones who don’t know anything about Ancient Egypt or who don’t care about the present day people and politics of a country half a world away. They don’t think of Egyptians as family.

Then there are the undeniable hoards of us who just can’t help but feel that WE are Egypt, too. Are you one of us?

Do not feel alone. This deep bond is continuously happening to people from all parts of the world. I do not think this is silly, wrong, childish, selfish, delusional, or embarrassing. I think it is beautiful.

Egypt is beautiful. Egypt is Mother. Egypt is home.

Those of us who feel this must embrace this affinity. How? By being the favorite people at the Family Reunion that is Egypt. When we visit, we take responsibility for our own behavior. We contribute to harmony through our interactions. We are very respectful and grateful to our Egyptian family who put up with us, their crazy cousins, so to speak.

It was clear traveling through Egypt in November 2022, that family hospitality is everywhere. We were greeted and treated like royalty, elder statesmen, eminent scholars, and cherished friends. Our family historians were omnipresent, gently wise, and humorously enthusiastic about Egypt and Egyptology. Clearly, Egyptology by Egyptians is vigorous and leading the way. At the same time, the contributions of our global extended family are praised and highlighted. It was so gratifying to see so many ways our global brethren have been and are busy at being good members of the family.

Here are just a few examples.

In Alexandria, at the catacombs, there is a sign out front that credits UNESCO and a long list of countries that contributed to the preservation of this ancient setting. This is one of numerous historic sites in Egypt for which USAID has provided funds.

Djeser-Djeseru, the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, is a most magnificent monument coming to life thanks to the decades of labor of Polish archaeologists.

When the famous temples of Rameses II and Nefertari were in danger – a multi-national team came together to rescue these temples at Abu Simbel from the rising waters of Lake Nasser at the High Aswan Dam. Check out this Ministry of Antiquities website. It has loads of pictures of Abu Simbel, and a fun 3-D tour of the Rameses II temple. Yes, it looks just like this, a bit less well lit, but it is very much like being there. Another traveler could be just around the corner.

https://egymonuments.gov.eg/archaeological-sites/abu-simbel/

These historic masterpieces are just a few examples of our family cherishing the Egypt of the past, present, and future. We may not always agree on what is best, but when we harmonize our efforts, home welcomes us and Mother smiles.