A semester in Cairo

David Faugno-Fusci is a biology major at Boston College who is spending a semester of his junior year studying at the American University in Cairo (www.aucegypt.edu).

DAILY DEVOTION: "Five times a day, the call to prayer is aired over the loudspeakers from each of the hundreds of mosques," Faugno-Fusci said. "Muslims are expected to bow in the direction of Mecca and pray each time the call goes out. It is interesting to see how people will stop their daily lives and get down on their knees as soon as they hear the call."

TOUGHEST MAJORS: "Egyptian students are often studying business, economics, communications, or petroleum engineering. Oftentimes, the jobs that they may receive in these fields are an opportunity to move out of Egypt, or establish themselves within the country. Because of this, these majors are extremely competitive."

WHEN IN EGYPT: "In order to uphold the institution's reputation among the Muslim-Arab community, the university policies - including segregation of the sexes and prohibition of alcohol - are strictly enforced within the dorms."

GETTING FUL: "The Egyptian mainstay is ful, a dish made of mashed, slow-cooked fava beans with olive oil, lemon, and parsley. It is usually served in a pita-type bread with tomatoes and lettuce and is eaten at any meal. It is commonly mixed with french fries or ta'ammiya (Arabic for falafel) to make it more filling."

THE BEST PART: "While I greatly enjoyed it, one of the more interesting meals I had was during a trip to Jordan, where the national dish is mansaf. Mansaf is lamb seasoned with herbs and cooked in a creamy yogurt. It is served on a bed of rice and pine nuts. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you get the whole lamb's head, wide-mouthed, tongue wagging, and eyeballs and brains still inside. Of course we were not allowed to leave anything uneaten except the bones."

A BARTERING TIP: "Baksheesh, or tipping, is expected for everything. Many people are happy to help you find your way through the city or help you find a reputable business to buy from, but they expect a tip after doing so. Also, you must expect to barter for every transaction besides the purchase of food."

AL-AHLY NATION: "The city of Cairo is home to two professional soccer teams. Al-Ahly seems to be the most popular. No matter where you go, you'll see a flag encouraging you to 'follow me to Ahly' or the red No. 22 jersey of Abu Treka, one of Egypt's most famous players."

JENNIFER EHRLICH