When William “Will” Richards of Kalispell left Cairo on Jan. 23, he expected to return a week later to his job at an aquatic center on the outskirts of the huge Egyptian city. He had no inkling the city was about to explode in violent protests.

“Everyone was talking about Tunisia and what would happen if that happened in Egypt,” he said. “We didn’t think it would turn into this.”

Tunisia successfully ousted its prime minister in January after years of corrupt and heavy-handed rule. The act inspired Egyptians who view their President Hosni Mubarak in the same light.

“Mubarak has had emergency powers, like martial law, his entire rule. Everyone is afraid of Mubarak” and his police, Richards said. “He’s a dictator. America supports him for stability.”

Richards, who considers Kalispell his home, was speaking from Tel Aviv, Israel, where he had traveled on a sightseeing tour with his cousin visiting from America. His cousin flew home from Israel but Richards was uncertain what to do now that he lives in Maadi, an expatriate community in Cairo.

All of his friends and his employer told him to wait until things calmed down before returning. He heeded their advice, deciding to visit friends in Geneva for a few days.

“I’m really in shock,” he said. “I’ve lived there two and half years and never felt unsafe. I felt as confident walking in Cairo as in Kalispell until the last week. It’s crazy.”

Richards left Kalispell in May 2008. He was working at The Summit as the aquatic coordinator of the Swim America program when, out of the blue, he received an invitation to apply for the Cairo position.

“I applied out of fun and they offered me the job,” he said.

Richards, 39, the son of Susan Perry of Kalispell, decided to dive into a new life, working at the large, modern aquatic center where his employees are all educated Egyptians. He speaks French and English and now has picked up conversational Arabic although he said he isn’t fluent.

The center serves middle- to upper-class people. It has two branches and has expansion plans.

“It’s very successful,” Richards said.

He had no idea what to expect as an American in Cairo. Richards said his worry that he wouldn’t be welcome in a majority Muslim country proved unfounded.

“They treat me fine. They love Americans. I was so surprised,” he said. “It’s a misconception about Muslims. The people are just like us.”

Richards also initially wondered if any Egyptians would want to take part in a program called Swim America. He said he found out that the name was a huge drawing card.

“To Egyptians, America represents organization, fairness and freedom. There’s a system,” he said. “Egypt is just not organized. There are too many people and not enough organization.”

Yet, in spite of the crowds and crazy traffic, Richards loves Cairo. He said he likes the people, calling them like us except they view things from a Muslim perspective.

“They don’t understand why we support Israel,” he said. “They hate Israel.”

It may surprise Americans to learn that Facebook is huge in Cairo. The city has Internet cafes everywhere.

Richards said Facebook helped protesters organize and the Internet may have fueled some discontent as Egyptians see how well other people live.

“I see people living in the streets,” he said. “Even people doing well are poor by our standards. This generation is more savvy about the world.”

As Richards waited for a flight to Switzerland, he watched the violence unfolding on television. When the Internet and cell phones were working, he kept in touch with his friends and neighbors.

“They’re people I care about and love,” he said.

According to Richards, most of them were not protesters. They were just trying to protect themselves and their homes as the demonstrations began to spin out of control.

“There’s no order or security,” he said.

Richards said looting was commonplace since criminals escaped from two prisons. His friends have set up checkpoints in their neighborhood, arming themselves with knives, bats and guns to keep the looters at bay.

 Some other friends, who live on the 10th floor of an apartment building, disabled the elevator and stand guard outside.

“They’re just exhausted,” he said.  “They’re taking 12-hour shifts protecting their homes.”

With no one going to school or working, shops and banks closed, Richards wondered what would happen when the people run out of food in their homes. His employer told him to plan not to return at least until after today.

“We’re hoping Sunday that things start opening up again,” he said.

He cited the last parliamentary election in November as an example of discontent.

“No one I know voted,” he said. “The people I asked said it was just a joke.”

Richards said the last presidential election was also viewed as a sham. The candidate who opposed Mubarak ended up in prison.

But some, like Richards himself, question the wisdom of Mubarak leaving before his term ends in September. The resulting power vacuum might allow the Muslim Brotherhood to take over, ending the peace treaty with Israel.

“Most people are worried about that,” he said. “The thing they want is freedom like we have in the U.S. and they want security.”

Richards doesn’t expect Egypt to resemble Iran once the dust from the upheaval settles. He doesn’t believe Egyptians will stand for government control of information flow over the Internet, cell phones and other media.

“I don’t see it from these people,” he said.

 Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.