| Chung-Kyeong Kim |
Junior, Dept. of Civil Engineering

  

 

To begin with, I would like to say that I really appreciated the opportunity to participate in the 'Window to the World' program through the Center of International Programs and I'm glad to write about my experiences in The Yeungnam Observer.

Actually, I was looking for one more chance to go abroad after my 'working-holiday' program in Australia last year. During that time, I recognized that there were many things to do in this world and I was very eager to accomplish any project which was related to my major.

Egypt is well-known for its mysterious pyramids (one of the Seven Wonders), the Aswan high dam, and its ancient culture and construction-style. Our team (Kim Kiyeong and me) tried to acquire basic knowledge of Egypt's construction methods and building skills.

Have you ever heard about the pyramids? Have you ever seen their magnificence? When we saw the enormous pyramids for the first time, we were lost for words. How could I possibly express all that I felt? One of the stunning things about the construction of the pyramids is that the ancient Egyptians never used horses or wagons to haul the huge stones. They used only manpower. From where did they derive their power? The answer lies in their belief in their king. They did their utmost in every task. It took approximately 20 years to complete the construction.

After transporting the stones from the eastern to the western side of Egypt, they carefully placed them in the slanting pyramid-shape. There were no gaps between the stones - not even for a piece of paper to pass through.

We attempted to acquire information about the building of the pyramids but the facilities for getting information and looking around Egypt were very poor. We could hardly find a notice board or any data at the site. We got all our information from tour guides or from books.

On the way to Aswan, we were able to see a brick house that had been left uncompleted. We were very curious so, we inquired why the building had not been finished. We were told that if they had placed a roof on the house, the government authority would have charged a heavy tax.

On the way to the Aswan high dam, we couldn't take our eyes off the beautiful scenery. It was just 'awesome'. The dam was built to prevent the Nile River from overflowing. At one time, the Nile used to overflow during every rainy season when it carried 16-times more water than usual. An Aswan-representative told us that the dam had brought both advantages and disadvantages. Above all, using the dam had given more control of the flow of water. What's more, they could avail of more land near the river for agriculture. It is now possible to plant several times a year. On the other hand, historic relics, valued at over 40 million dollars were ruined in the reservoir area and some new diseases infected both people and animals.

During the short time I stayed in Egypt I learned lots of things. Firstly, Egyptian construction is still undeveloped. This means that, in a few years, Korean construction companies can extend their branches beyond Korea to Egypt and other underdeveloped countries. The more widely we spread our presence, the more influential we will become in the world. Secondly, we should understand how to deal with Egyptian employees as the high temperatures tend to make them negligent and lazy. It's essential to overcome the extremely deteriorated conditions in Egypt and to improve morale so as to work more professionally.

I felt that the past, present, and future coexist in Egypt. Although we only visited Egypt during this program, there are lots of other countries waiting for you. Don't hesitate; try to catch as much as you can.

Once more, I sincerely thank the CIP-representatives. I wish I could fly around the whole world one day. I expect to be better every day.