Friday, being the holy day and the start of the weekend in Egypt, had naturally been the day for the largest gatherings in Tahrir Square. The Friday that I was in Egypt, March 4th, was especially significant because Ahmed Shafiq had stepped down as Prime Minister the night before. He was very closely tied to the Mubarak-NDP regime and his removal was a key demand of the protesters and of the revolution itself following the resignation of Mubarak. Furthermore, that Friday the new Prime Minister Essam Sharaf was appointed and it was being reported that he was going to visit Tahrir and speak to the revolutionaries.
That morning I was invited to a delectable home-cooked authentic Egyptian brunch with Sarah at her boyfriend Hassan's family home in Maadi. Absolutely wonderful people, delicious food. It was such a beautiful sunny day and a warm breeze came in through the open windows as we gathered around the TV to listen to the live coverage from Tahrir Square. We watched as thousands gathered in Tahrir, waving Egyptian flags and waiting excitedly for their new Prime Minister. Hassan's father discussed the revolution with me as we waited, speaking with an infectious passion about his country. Essam Sharaf came to the square and the room was quieted by Hassan's mother, an amazingly intelligent woman who was part of the Kefaya movement. She kneeled next to the TV, ear glued to the speaker to try and catch every word.
I wish I had taken a video of this moment. Even in that room, away from downtown Cairo and Tahrir Square, the air felt electric. This was truly a special moment, for Essam Sharaf was held as "one of them." Hassan's family members repeated, he is "one of us." Sharaf had been in Tahrir during the revolution. He was a technocrat that revolutionary leaders had suggested as a possible leader to replace Ahmed Shafiq. Previously he was Minister of Transportation during Mubarak's reign, but he resigned after some public transportation tragedies occurred and what he called the administration's unwillingness to take these problems seriously. It was particularly moving to witness this event in the home of such a kind and welcoming family who had been so personally involved in the revolution in many different ways. I was humbled to be sharing this moment, witnessing this history with them. After Sharaf finished speaking, Hassan's father said "This revolution is a fairytale." He had the biggest smile on his face.
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