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This might not be directly related to grad school, but...

Posted by Alyanumbers, 24 January 2011 · 59 views

Tomorrow, January 25, officially a holiday called Police Day, there's a huge demonstration going on. Thousands of people are going to be in the street protesting against the government, the police, corruption, inflation, unemployment--you name it. Unfortunately, I can't go.

I have a final on Wednesday. It's an Arabic exam, and I'm crap at Arabic, and if I get arrested during the protest, they might keep me overnight and make me miss it, or I might not be able to study enough to pass anyway. Then I wouldn't be able to graduate this summer, I'd have to retake it in September, and I'd lose any honours or distinction on my degree. Which means, no grad school next year, or probably ever (failing a subject in your final year doesn't look good, I'm told)!

I hate this. I hate missing out on something so important to me, because of practical concerns. I want to go, I want to protest, I'm so excited about it!

newms

Jan 24 2011 06:54 PM

I see your predicament. Perhaps there is some other way you could show your support of the protest without risking arrest tomorrow? Is there an online presence you could participate in - maybe by reporting on Twitter? In either case, it definitely would not be wise to risk arrest tomorrow.

Alyanumbers

Jan 24 2011 07:03 PM

Yeah, I try to participate online as much as I can, but I probably won't have anything useful to tweet if I'm not on the street! Right now, I'm checking which of my friends are going, so I can stay online and keep them abreast of any change of plans or sudden security crackdowns, and help them in any way I can tomorrow.

newms

Jan 27 2011 06:02 AM

I hope you're doing ok during the protests. Let us know how things turned out with your exam and with the ongoing protests.

Alyanumbers

Jan 27 2011 05:03 PM

The exam went surprisingly well! Protests, not as well; the police have been very violent since yesterday. Tear gas grenades are their new favourite toys. We hope it'll be over soon.

newms

Jan 28 2011 09:55 PM

I'm glad to know that the exam went well. I dunno if you have internet now but do you think the government will fall?

sarandipidy

Jan 29 2011 01:48 AM

Are you okay?

Bukharan

Jan 30 2011 01:13 PM

I hope you are well. Please, let us know everything is alright! xx

beanbagchairs

Feb 01 2011 04:10 PM

Are you alright? I saw that there is a pretty well-spread riot over in egypt.

Alyanumbers

Feb 03 2011 10:43 AM

Thanks everyone! My family, my friends and I are all safe, with minor injuries, if any. Things are turning real ugly after 5 beautiful days of peaceful protests with no police. Internet only came back yesterday. Over 400 people were killed, and thousands injured, but by God, we are seizing our freedom! Some people have given up, but mostly we're keeping up the fight until our demands are met!

newms

Feb 03 2011 06:09 PM

Glad you're safe! I'm hoping that a peaceful, democratic government will come to power soon and the violence will end.