Anne Elias- Blog Abroad

Blog #1

August 2026

Turn Up the Volume

Hello UNM friends!!

Ahlan from Cairo, Egypt! :) My name is Anne Elias. I am a senior studying biochemistry at UNM. This semester, though, I am studying abroad in Egypt. There were many different factors that went into my decision to study abroad at the American University of Cairo. At the forefront of these reasons was the hope of better understanding where my family comes from.

My family immigrated to the US from Egypt when I was four years old. My memories of Egypt are blurry and disconnected, if not nonexistent. In coming here to Cairo, Egypt, I hope to better understand the culture that my family comes from and hopefully incorporate the good I find into my life in America.

I arrived a few weeks before school starts to visit family, and in this time, I have visited Hurghada, Alexandria, and Cairo. My first impression of Egypt is that life here is turned up to the highest volume. Whether it is the laughter, the streets, the driving (oh my goodness, the driving!!!), or the bargaining, life here makes sure it's heard. For my introverted, quiet personality, it sometimes feels overwhelming. There is no such thing as a personal bubble or quiet time. As much as it can sometimes be uncomfortable for me, I find myself learning to lean in and engage with all the senses that have been activated. To turn the music up and dance with the noise instead of covering my ears and escaping to my bubble!

Some of my favorite moments that I have gotten to lean into have been having grilled meat close to midnight, watching a light show in Alexandria, playing bumper cars with my cousins, and swimming in the Red Sea. Culture in Egypt is very communal, and it speeds up relationship building, as I have found out. Sometime in these two weeks, between all the cousins sleeping in the same room, walking the streets at midnight, and playing Spicy Uno in the one room with AC, I have found dear, lifelong friends in my cousins. It's crazy that I barely knew them for 21 years. I was definitely missing out on knowing some awesome people.

They have patiently put up with my broken Arabic and encouraged my every effort to speak in Arabic. They are talented musicians and chess players and have a wonderful sense of humor. I love them and have loved watching them dance to the music of Egyptian life with so much grace and vibrance. I can't wait to get to know them more over these months and see what else I can learn from them. 

Blog #2

September 2026

Setting the Standard High for Generosity

Selam UNM!

It’s been a wild few weeks since I last wrote! My family has gone back to their own cities. They dropped me off August 30th, and with a tearful goodbye, they left me at the doorstep of my new adventure. I live in the college housing right outside of the New Cairo Campus. It is a spacious apartment, and I have a very sweet roommate from Jordan. I did though accidentally wake her up on moving day. It was 11 a.m., but over here in Egypt, people stay up until 3 a.m. and often sleep in until 1 p.m. She was very gracious, though!

It is very funny because I live close enough to campus to probably walk there (it’s around a mile), but my parents and almost everyone I meet tell me not to walk across the street. It’s very common for people to get run over, and motorcyclists like to drive on the wrong side of the street. So, after the trauma of the Egyptian traffic, I can say with confidence that New Mexicans are NOT bad drivers. Though, to be honest, the awareness skills that you need as a driver here are unreal and worthy of respect.

Ok, moving on from the driving (I know I can’t stop talking about it). I have started orientation now, and it’s amazing how many people from all over the world are here. I have met people from Sudan, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Nigeria, Kosovo, Germany, Scotland, Denmark, Canada, Turkey, and Norway! Every day I meet someone from a different country. Today I was talking to a girl from Canada, and she was sharing how much she loved Egypt. Although being a well-traveled person, she said that Egypt is the friendliest place she has ever been. The rest of the day, I saw the evidence for that statement. People don’t hide their emotions and are so warm.

There is also a high standard for generosity. Egyptians love to be generous with their time, money, and especially their food to friends. Food is prepared to make sure everyone has enough and often more than enough. Don’t ever expect to go to a home, even for just a quick visit, without having a drink and a snack, and know you will be offered at least three times. Mango juice, teas, and local pastries are often served. Generosity has been a good thing for me to learn from this culture that puts relationships first.

Speaking of Egyptian culture, I got to see the new Grand Egyptian Museum here in Cairo! It is an absolute must! It’s crazy how detailed the ancient Egyptians were. On Tutankhamen’s mummy enclosure, there were instructions painted in hieroglyphics so that the workers could assemble the box. The workers also made all these tiny replicas of day-to-day scenes to put with the mummy. Some of my favorite things I got to see in the museum were alabaster jars, Tutankhamen, and wooden replicas of food. It was so cool to see history come alive through the museum and the richness and variety of history that there is there!

Shokran for reading this,

Anne Elias

Blog #3

September 2026

The Roller Coaster

Living abroad is a roller coaster. One minute you are at the height of exploring some new street or activity, and the next you are almost to tears trying to be understood with your broken Arabic. Sounds like I am talking from experience, right?

It’s been two weeks of school here in Cairo, Egypt. My classes are so different this semester, with a more humanities focus. I am enjoying the change and appreciate the perspective it is starting to give me. One such class is my Social Problems in the Middle East. It’s so different to take a class like that when you are actually in the region. It’s a hot topic with strong opinions, and it’s often difficult to hear a more neutral perspective. Thankfully, my class has been good about presenting different points of view in a holistic and fair manner.

I have also been taking a Food in World History class that has been so fun! For our final project, we are required to research and cook a historical meal for our class. Fortunately for me, the assignment is graded on presentation and not on how good the food tastes! One of my favorite things to learn in this class is how cooks in the Perso-Islamic Empire would paint individual rice kernels to look like pearls. The patience is amazing! Let’s just say my historic dish will NOT be pearl rice! On a weirder note, wheat was a pillar in the empire because, according to the Greek humoral theory, leavened wheat bread imitated the perfect human temperament. All this to say, if you are ever at AUC, take the Food in World History class!

The classes have been fun, but AUC has some cool activities outside the classroom too! Last week, I had the chance to go kayaking on the Nile. I had never really been kayaking before, but I think I am hooked! There was something surreal about being out on a river that has shaped civilizations for thousands of years. As I paddled along, I found myself imagining what life might have looked like here hundreds, or even thousands, of years ago. It was such a unique experience to see a place I have learned about throughout my life from such a different perspective.

Studying abroad can be so fun but is also a very humbling experience. I was actually close to tears while trying to explain to a lost food delivery guy how to get to my apartment. There is just something so frustrating and humbling about not being able to do something so simple. To not be able to communicate at an adult level and, if I am not careful, become self-conscious and lose my desire to be courageous. Those are the moments when I take a deep breath and choose to believe truth instead of debilitating lies. To let go of my pride and embrace a clean slate in learning all over again! It’s something I wouldn’t trade.

Thank you for reading this!

Anne Elias

Blog #4

October 2026

The Growth Course

Hello UNM friends,

I’m back! 😊 Today I got to talk about Dion’s 505 pizza in my food history class. We are learning about the history of pizza, and it’s honestly so interesting. Did you know that the first pizzas in Naples, Italy, were just a fast, cheap street food made of flatbread, olive oil, and salt? Yup, Dion’s has definitely taken some creative license! I’m not complaining, though—I think that’s the beauty of pizza. There’s a basic blueprint for what makes a pizza a pizza, and then you can get totally creative with the rest. It’s a brilliant design that has been marketed and embraced worldwide. Pizza is truly the ultimate laid-back social food.

Anyways, before you think I’m trying to sell you a slice, let me tell you about all the incredible historic places I’ve visited! I got to go to the Saint Sergius and Bacchus Church, the Hanging Church, the Ben Ezra Synagogue, and the Ibn El-Aas Mosque. The churches date back to the 3rd and 4th centuries, the synagogue to the 9th, and the mosque to the 7th. I am always awed when I enter historic places of worship. The architecture and art are so beautiful, and you can see the detail and dedication poured into every single square inch. They don't just reflect our human capability to create beautiful things; they reflect our deep, timeless search for purpose and meaning.

It’s definitely given me food for thought. Honestly, I’ve been thinking a lot this week. It’s been a heavy mix of philosophical questions, self-consciousness, and homesickness. I have a spider web of jumbled thoughts just whirling around in my head: What is beauty? Am I being brave enough? Should I try that? Am I doing okay? I'll admit, there are moments when I deeply miss my family and just want the comfort of home.

It can feel completely overwhelming in the moment. I am having an incredible time, but it also feels like I’m in an accelerated course of personal growth. And growth can be so painful and confusing. That said, I have never left a season of growth without being deeply grateful for everything I learned—for the ways it made me more patient, understanding, and wise. I know I want that version of myself, so I will gladly put up with the temporary discomfort for the greater gain!


Thank you for reading this,


Anne Elias