Old Falaki gone

It might symbolize everything or nothing, but my initial office building in Cairo is now completely gone. They’ve been tearing it down slowly since mid-December. I haven’t been by the site since early February, so it may already have been gone for a month or more for all I know. But today was my first sight of a relatively rubble-free vacant lot where Old Falaki used to be.

Lest I sound sentimental, I hated that hunk of junk. I was fortunate to spend only my first semester in there before Philosophy moved next door to New Falaki in February 2001. Afterward I had a number of classes back in Old Falaki, including some of my best ones, but the acoustics were always hideous in there, and the stunning view of the Citadel of Saladin from the top floors was not enough to compensate. New arrivals to our Department would always get stuck in that depressing building for the first year or two before getting an office in the main quarters, and it inspired pity.

Many of our old campus buildings will be sold once the property market improves, but not New Falaki, which will house the massive School of Continuing Education with its 40,000 students spread throughout Cairo and elsewhere. New Falaki’s a fine building, especially when contrasted with its hideous predecessor, and we all have many good memories associated with it.