AUBURN - At the Khan Khalili market in Cairo, Egypt, sandwiched between exotic carpets and clothing with the aroma of traditional Egyptian foods, such as tahini and kebab, filling the air, Auburn native Heather Graney shared in a true Egyptian experience: bargaining with the local shopkeepers.
Photo provided
Heather Graney has had the chance to tour Egypt while studying psychology and political science. Her friend, Rasha Hamid, of Yemen, joins Graney on one of her trips to Alexandria.
Heather Graney has had the chance to tour Egypt while studying psychology and political science. Her friend, Rasha Hamid, of Yemen, joins Graney on one of her trips to Alexandria.
“They really love bargaining,” said the 23-year-old. “It's like a pastime for them. If you get someone really cool, it can be a lot of fun.”
While bargaining for clothes and trinkets, she's been welcomed to the country, told to “be careful” in English -it's one of the only phrases they know - and even asked if she wants an Egyptian husband.
And Graney loves every second of her time abroad.
A junior at the American University in Cairo studying psychology and political science, Graney is soaking up the traditions, culture and, most importantly, the Arabic language as she pursues her goal to serve as an interpreter for the United States government.
“There's a big need for translators,” she said. “It's an up and coming thing, especially now with terrorism and the war, they need a lot of interpreters. I've always been interested in languages.”
For Graney, it all began in the seventh grade. While taking her first Spanish class at East Middle School, she fell in love with the idea that she was learning a new way to communicate with people. During a parent-teacher conference that year, her teacher mentioned to her parents that Graney would be successful as an interpreter.
The idea has stuck with Graney over the years and has become her working goal.
“I've always liked learning,” she said. “It's always been something that's been there. I've always been interested in other cultures, so I've decided to give it a try. Knowing other languages opens other doors up, other ways of living, walks of life, points of view. I have learned other ways of life since some of the places I've been have not exactly been like here.”
After studying Spanish, Latin, Chinese and Italian in the classroom, Graney participated in the Council for International Educational Exchange's study abroad program in India where she studied the Urdu language.
“I think the only way to learn languages and other cultures is to visit the place,” she said. “It's good to learn a little from a book, but if you really want to learn, you've got to there, to the country.”
That thought resonated with Graney when it came to learning Arabic. Starting as a freshman at Marlboro College in Vermont, she decided to transfer to an Arabic nation to fully immerse herself in the language and culture.
“I wanted to learn Arabic and Egypt is one of the safest places over there to go,” she said.
Ultimately her plan is to become an interpreter, but she has other personal goals she also wants to achieve.
“I just want to understand other people more,” she said. “It's a really misunderstood area there and seeing it for yourself, it's your own experience and not an experience from other people or reading about it or seeing it on TV.”
“I want to learn how other people live,” she added, “and how to deal with different kinds of people.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at alyssa.sunkin@lee.net or 253-5311 ext. 239.
While bargaining for clothes and trinkets, she's been welcomed to the country, told to “be careful” in English -it's one of the only phrases they know - and even asked if she wants an Egyptian husband.
And Graney loves every second of her time abroad.
A junior at the American University in Cairo studying psychology and political science, Graney is soaking up the traditions, culture and, most importantly, the Arabic language as she pursues her goal to serve as an interpreter for the United States government.
“There's a big need for translators,” she said. “It's an up and coming thing, especially now with terrorism and the war, they need a lot of interpreters. I've always been interested in languages.”
For Graney, it all began in the seventh grade. While taking her first Spanish class at East Middle School, she fell in love with the idea that she was learning a new way to communicate with people. During a parent-teacher conference that year, her teacher mentioned to her parents that Graney would be successful as an interpreter.
The idea has stuck with Graney over the years and has become her working goal.
“I've always liked learning,” she said. “It's always been something that's been there. I've always been interested in other cultures, so I've decided to give it a try. Knowing other languages opens other doors up, other ways of living, walks of life, points of view. I have learned other ways of life since some of the places I've been have not exactly been like here.”
After studying Spanish, Latin, Chinese and Italian in the classroom, Graney participated in the Council for International Educational Exchange's study abroad program in India where she studied the Urdu language.
“I think the only way to learn languages and other cultures is to visit the place,” she said. “It's good to learn a little from a book, but if you really want to learn, you've got to there, to the country.”
That thought resonated with Graney when it came to learning Arabic. Starting as a freshman at Marlboro College in Vermont, she decided to transfer to an Arabic nation to fully immerse herself in the language and culture.
“I wanted to learn Arabic and Egypt is one of the safest places over there to go,” she said.
Ultimately her plan is to become an interpreter, but she has other personal goals she also wants to achieve.
“I just want to understand other people more,” she said. “It's a really misunderstood area there and seeing it for yourself, it's your own experience and not an experience from other people or reading about it or seeing it on TV.”
“I want to learn how other people live,” she added, “and how to deal with different kinds of people.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at alyssa.sunkin@lee.net or 253-5311 ext. 239.
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