Video

KYHOI

In our quest to answer questions about the revolutions happening in the Arab world, we strive to find where it all started. I’ve heard many accounts beginning with, “It all started last summer when…” To find the origins of these events is not an easy task. Yet, a good question to ask ourselves is, has the government changed over the years or simply the people? Prior to the general public’s knowledge of American and European lifestyles, were the people as dissatisfied with their government? It’s possible they simply knew nothing different and managed to be content out of their ignorance. Sure, Egypt experienced a high volume of tourists, but it’s fair to say that they really knew little about freedom and alternative lifestyles until the internet and social media came about.

However, the revolution was not going to just happen; someone had to pave the way. That someone was Mohamed Bouazizi, who was a fruit vendor that was arrested for not having a permit to sell such goods. After being humiliated by the police and desperate for work, Bouazizi set himself on fire as a way to demonstrate to the people not to live in fear. Tunisia was in uproar and overthrew their dictator, Bin Ali. Encouraged by this, Egyptians fled to the streets in a similar manner only treated more brutally by authorities. They were also successful in overthrowing their dictator, Muareck who fled the country. Now, Libya has the same goal in mind only their dictator, Gaddafi hasn’t gone anywhere and does not plan on it.

Throughout history we can compare Revolutions and say that many would not have happened without the others. The French Revolution, for instance, took place after the success of the Americans over Britain. The only thing that has changed since then is the connectivity to everyone in the world. New ideas are being spread, people feel they have choice in how they want to live, and everyone who has the internet knows what’s going on everywhere. This is only the beginning.

KYHOI

Searching for my KYHOI has strongly consisted of watching Youtube videos and news articles due to the fact that the events that have taken place in Northern Africa are so recent.

As of now I have several contacts in Tunisia and Egypt. As of now I am setting up interviews with these individuals.

Because we are so far away from the situation, it is important that I use multiple news media sources, articles, and interviews to ensure that my research is valid.

Here are some links to news media I am currently using in my research:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2045328,00.html

http://www.channel4.com/news/arab-uprisings-what-happens-next-in-egypt-tunisia-libya

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12611726

http://abcnews.go.com/International/page?id=12949492

http://www.zimbio.com/Libya/articles/pDN5jHdTZa1/Latest+Updates+Libya+Revolt+Mideast+Protests

I have come across some scholarly sources for history of rebellious acts in Libya and Egypt :

http://www.jstor.org.er.lib.k-state.edu/stable/3011335?&Search=yes&searchText=Egypt%2C&searchText=Rebellions&searchText=Libya&searchText=Tunisia%2C&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DRebellions%2Bin%2BTunisia%252C%2BEgypt%252C%2BLibya%26acc%3Don%26wc%3Don&prevSearch=&item=1&ttl=74&returnArticleService=showFullText


http://www.jstor.org.er.lib.k-state.edu/stable/163658?&Search=yes&searchText=Egypt%2C&searchText=Rebellions&searchText=Libya&searchText=Tunisia%2C&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DRebellions%2Bin%2BTunisia%252C%2BEgypt%252C%2BLibya%26acc%3Don%26wc%3Don&prevSearch=&item=2&ttl=74&returnArticleService=showFullText

The interviews that will be conducted will prove to be likely more useful than the current information available at this time.

Tunisia

Tunisia----Egypt

Beyond Borders

I have been all over the place for this research project.  Mostly influenced by topics that were popular in the class, I went with South America and from there to Egypt.  I like the idea of freedom and if media has made us more or less free. Looking at the Egyptians one might argue that the revolutions (born of social media) have caused more problems than prior to the outbursts.  However, I have moved my focus another direction.

After much thought, I have decided to focus on the spread of Revolution from Tunisia to Egypt.  In my lab on campus, we just hosted a woman from Tunisia, and it was interesting to hear her perspective even as an upper class member of society.  She told me "we will fight for our freedom."  I found information of the people of Tunisia writing about freedom and revolution on facebook, triggering a revolution in Egypt shortly after.

I got to thinking, how interesting that two neighboring countries would start revolutions simultaneously.  I then became curious about how little of a coincidence it could be!  This website got me going in the right direction.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/31/opinion/31eldin.html

Traveling Ideas!

My biggest passion in life is traveling!  In my spare time I look up new places I want to see around the world.  I am not the white picket fence type of girl.  I would not survive working a 9-5 job! This is what I want out of life...to live out of a suitcase.

 I recently came across a website with ESL teaching jobs http://eslcafe.com/.  My husband and I are looking at the possibility of teaching in Taiwan for at least a year and then moving on into mainland China. From there who knows where we'll go!  

CIEE has some attractive programs, but I am in search of other programs around the world to check out! Any suggestions, be sure and let me know!