So I want sleep in a big big way right now. This'll be a fairly short blog, I'm writing it mostly cause I haven't written anything in what? like...two weeks. oh snaaaap.
I'm happy here still, but I've had some like..."cultural exchanges," I suppose, that have opened my eyes to the fact that while I really like people here, we differ in some fundamental ways. I'm too tired to write about them now, but like, I tend to just take in the good things about people, so it's not really too much of a problem, but like, yeah. another lesson learned. btw, in the beginning of my time here, I was writing a journal entry every day and in it I would write like, all the lessons I learned...a little like, pedantic, I guess, but it shows what I'm gradually realizing more and more the longer I'm here -- that it's about learning a whole lot more than the language.
speaking of learning arabic, my women's rights teacher asked me today how I had gotten so good at arabic so quickly. SCORE.
um, what else? I visited my friend in the countryside for three days this past weekend. It was really fun, we didn't do much, but like, I know her entire family and entire extended family, so it was more about socializing and relaxing. I taught them how to play american card games. I have never seen any group of people more excited about "Go Fish."
This weekend, I'm planning to just stay here since I went to cairo and then my friend's village for the past two weekends, and I'm missing Alexandria a lot. I'm hoping to go to a big souk here and then to the planetarium near the library. I'm like, super excited, because I've wanted to do both these things since coming here. everything will work out, in sha allah.
Also, on a more serious note, I don't know if any of you have seen in the news, but there was a bombing in a big market district in Cairo yesterday. Four people, two Egyptians and two foreigners, were killed, and ten others were wounded. It still is not known who executed the attack or why. We should remember them and their families.
Other stuff...lent begins on Wednesday. I still haven't decided whether to give up all desserts or just the ones in the center that we have class in. I'm sort of leaning toward the center only since I don't really buy dessert snacky type stuff much outside the center anyway. woo religion.
yeah. pretty much everything is fine. I've got to get on internship apps, but other than that, life is pretty chill. time is flying. I can't believe I'm coming home in two and a half months...we've got our spring break in a week and a half. WTF?!?!
so yes. I am doing really well. keep in touch.
love,
e.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Good Times
Ok, so I am about to write about what has probably been my favorite day in Egypt so far. I just hope I can do it justice.
So, about a week ago, I called this girl who I had met while I was eating lunch by myself next to the Library of Alexandria. She's Egyptian, born and raised in Alexandria, so she had given me her number and offered to take me around Egypt. This may sound sketchy, but in the context of Egypt, not so much -- people here are really friendly and open. So when I called her, she didn't really understand me and I didn't really understand her. For some reason, phone conversations are much more difficult than face to face. But I had thought we were going to go to Manshia, the part of Alexandria where she lives, and walk around a bit.
So I met her by the library, and she was with her little cousin, who's 11 years old. She had to go to a meeting at the college (all the Egyptian students are on vacation, though), so I hung out with her cuz and these random Egyptian guys who worked in the administration, one of whom, in all serious, no joking at all, actual truth, wanted to marry me. Needless to say, I skipped out of there as quickly as I could. It was funny though, the guy never talked to me about marrying him, he just sort of talked over me to the other people in the office, so when I left with Nourhan (my friend)'s cousin, I was like, Was he talking about marrying me? And she was like, Uh-huh. Blurgh.
But the day only got better after that. Nourhan had told me we were going to go watch some fellaheen (kind of hard to translate -- basically, people who live in the countryside, are involved with agriculture, and are generally more traditional, which does not mean more conservative or reserved, but like, their dress and homes are generally more old style) make bread. And I was like, ok, cool. She neglected to mention that said fellaheen were her family and that they owned a farm and lived in the countryside. SO COOL.
So we took about forty five minutes' worth of mini buses out of the city, and finally exited into a little village named Turih. We first went to her uncle's farm (which had been her grandfather's) and walked around there. It was a guava farm, so we walked through the trees. It's winter now, so obviously there were no guavas. And then we did in fact watch her grandmother and aunt make bread in an outdoor oven. People here, by the way, are so nice. Like, there's stuff they just say like it's nothing, that would be a huge compliment in America. And they mean it too. Like, Nourhan's aunt had a baby who was maybe 1 and a half or so, and she said she hoped her baby would grow up to be like me. Her baby was a boy, so there could be a few problems there, but eh, not the point.
Then I went to Nourhan's family's second apartment (which they keep for vacations and stuff, like now) and ate eggs and french fries and hung out with her and her little cousin, and her other older cousin. Nourhan's mom and dad were so nice. Then we went back to the farm for a bit, and drank tea and hung out with her uncle's family. Then we all went to her grandmother's apartment, and ate a very traditional dinner together -- like pillows on the floor, a little low table in the middle of the room, and one bowl we all ate from, using bread, not forks and knives. And I was just welcomed by the family, like it was no big deal, even though I couldn't really say much at all just because I didn't know enough arabic. And everyone from Nourhan's aunt to her grandmother invited me to sleep over in the village, and like, I really did want to, but I had to come back and study. Poo. But point being, people here are so generous. It really blows my mind. And then we went back to Nourhan's family's apartment for a bit and I got to know her two brothers, and then I had to go back. But like. I can't describe how nice and fun and amazing people are here. Like, her two brothers were so funny -- when I said bye I had to do the whole shake everyone's hand, kiss the women on each cheek thing, and like when I shook nourhan's younger brother's hand his mouth was full of food and his hand was covered in flour and he just made this face like, oh geez, sorry.
And then her dad gave me a ride back into the city. She's staying out in the countryside for the next week or so, and I'm like, going to Cairo and stuff, so I won't be around either. But I think we agreed to have lunch on saturday. If I understood the Arabic correctly.
But yeah. The people here are so cool. Like, there's a lot of things I could dislike about being here, but I'm not in America, and if I expect America, I just won't be happy. Plus there's so much cool stuff here. Like for example, I am now drinking strawberry "juice," which is actually much more like a smoothie, made by my host mom. um. YUM. Strawberries are so common here. And cheap. Apples are expensive (and gross) and strawberries cost less than a US dollar per kilo. So basically, opposite of the US.
But yes, all summed up, I am really happy and doing very well here now.
bye. much love to all.
<3 e.
So, about a week ago, I called this girl who I had met while I was eating lunch by myself next to the Library of Alexandria. She's Egyptian, born and raised in Alexandria, so she had given me her number and offered to take me around Egypt. This may sound sketchy, but in the context of Egypt, not so much -- people here are really friendly and open. So when I called her, she didn't really understand me and I didn't really understand her. For some reason, phone conversations are much more difficult than face to face. But I had thought we were going to go to Manshia, the part of Alexandria where she lives, and walk around a bit.
So I met her by the library, and she was with her little cousin, who's 11 years old. She had to go to a meeting at the college (all the Egyptian students are on vacation, though), so I hung out with her cuz and these random Egyptian guys who worked in the administration, one of whom, in all serious, no joking at all, actual truth, wanted to marry me. Needless to say, I skipped out of there as quickly as I could. It was funny though, the guy never talked to me about marrying him, he just sort of talked over me to the other people in the office, so when I left with Nourhan (my friend)'s cousin, I was like, Was he talking about marrying me? And she was like, Uh-huh. Blurgh.
But the day only got better after that. Nourhan had told me we were going to go watch some fellaheen (kind of hard to translate -- basically, people who live in the countryside, are involved with agriculture, and are generally more traditional, which does not mean more conservative or reserved, but like, their dress and homes are generally more old style) make bread. And I was like, ok, cool. She neglected to mention that said fellaheen were her family and that they owned a farm and lived in the countryside. SO COOL.
So we took about forty five minutes' worth of mini buses out of the city, and finally exited into a little village named Turih. We first went to her uncle's farm (which had been her grandfather's) and walked around there. It was a guava farm, so we walked through the trees. It's winter now, so obviously there were no guavas. And then we did in fact watch her grandmother and aunt make bread in an outdoor oven. People here, by the way, are so nice. Like, there's stuff they just say like it's nothing, that would be a huge compliment in America. And they mean it too. Like, Nourhan's aunt had a baby who was maybe 1 and a half or so, and she said she hoped her baby would grow up to be like me. Her baby was a boy, so there could be a few problems there, but eh, not the point.
Then I went to Nourhan's family's second apartment (which they keep for vacations and stuff, like now) and ate eggs and french fries and hung out with her and her little cousin, and her other older cousin. Nourhan's mom and dad were so nice. Then we went back to the farm for a bit, and drank tea and hung out with her uncle's family. Then we all went to her grandmother's apartment, and ate a very traditional dinner together -- like pillows on the floor, a little low table in the middle of the room, and one bowl we all ate from, using bread, not forks and knives. And I was just welcomed by the family, like it was no big deal, even though I couldn't really say much at all just because I didn't know enough arabic. And everyone from Nourhan's aunt to her grandmother invited me to sleep over in the village, and like, I really did want to, but I had to come back and study. Poo. But point being, people here are so generous. It really blows my mind. And then we went back to Nourhan's family's apartment for a bit and I got to know her two brothers, and then I had to go back. But like. I can't describe how nice and fun and amazing people are here. Like, her two brothers were so funny -- when I said bye I had to do the whole shake everyone's hand, kiss the women on each cheek thing, and like when I shook nourhan's younger brother's hand his mouth was full of food and his hand was covered in flour and he just made this face like, oh geez, sorry.
And then her dad gave me a ride back into the city. She's staying out in the countryside for the next week or so, and I'm like, going to Cairo and stuff, so I won't be around either. But I think we agreed to have lunch on saturday. If I understood the Arabic correctly.
But yeah. The people here are so cool. Like, there's a lot of things I could dislike about being here, but I'm not in America, and if I expect America, I just won't be happy. Plus there's so much cool stuff here. Like for example, I am now drinking strawberry "juice," which is actually much more like a smoothie, made by my host mom. um. YUM. Strawberries are so common here. And cheap. Apples are expensive (and gross) and strawberries cost less than a US dollar per kilo. So basically, opposite of the US.
But yes, all summed up, I am really happy and doing very well here now.
bye. much love to all.
<3 e.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
And it's been a while...since I last blogged (or listened to nickleback)
Is that song Nickleback? I don't know. Not important.
Ok, so it's been about a week since I last blogged. In that time, I went to an oasis, and a big church in Alexandria for this super fancy service, and...the cinema. yeah, that was about it. Lots of random gossipy stuff happened, but I don't think it's important for me to write that stuff here. Suffice to say, I've been learning a lot about myself and other people too. Particularly what I like and don't like about other people. And what is definitely true and definitely not true about myself. Life sure is a journey.
Um. Also, I've suddenly had somewhat of a breakthrough in my conversational arabic. As in, I can hold a conversation (albeit a light one without any really interesting vocabulary) and not stumble over most of my words or talk at the rate of one word per minute. shwaya shwaya (means little by little, in reference to how foreigners learn english). Also, I've had somewhat of a breakthrough in dealing with heckling. I generally just ignore it, particularly when I'm by myself. When I'm with somebody else, maybe I'll say something like aeb aeb (shame on you, roughly), but basically, I'm just not letting it bother me. khalas. (i can't translate that word -- it sort of means, "at all" and at the same time, "I'm done with that.")
The oasis. Yeah. really really badass. Well, mostly the desert. The oasis was cool, but it was sort of just like a palm forest with water. I guess that's exactly what an oasis is, right? But the desert. Truly truly truly badass. Sure, it's just a bunch of sand, but it's really a lot a lot a lot of sand. All in one place. That was a bad description. I've got pics, and I'll put them up, but I still don't think they capture the true grandeur of the desert.
Um. Other news. I'm happy here now. I was anti social all through the trip to the oasis, just cause like, I don't know. I like everyone in the program, but I was sorta out of the loop because all the other kids live in the dorms and they've got their cliques. and also, I didn't feel much like trying to make conversation. but aside from my anti social tendencies, i didn't have any problems. and I liked everything I saw.
Church was really cool. It was a nice little ego boost that I could understand the service in Arabic and help these other foreigners find their place in the english program, while I was reading the arabic and singing in arabic. oh yeah. that's right. truth.
The cinema was actually very very cool. I know the director/owner because she's a friend of my host mom, so I hung out with her and kate for almost an hour before the film. And then she took us into a movie, and gave us popcorn and green tea. I f'in love Egypt. And popcorn and green tea.
Um. That's all in my life, I guess. If I'm sort of hard to get in touch with, it's probably because I want to practice arabic and not speak english and because I'm trying not to stay in the apartment and feel miserable. but if i'm not on skype, email or facebook. i miss you all terribly.
love,
e.
Ok, so it's been about a week since I last blogged. In that time, I went to an oasis, and a big church in Alexandria for this super fancy service, and...the cinema. yeah, that was about it. Lots of random gossipy stuff happened, but I don't think it's important for me to write that stuff here. Suffice to say, I've been learning a lot about myself and other people too. Particularly what I like and don't like about other people. And what is definitely true and definitely not true about myself. Life sure is a journey.
Um. Also, I've suddenly had somewhat of a breakthrough in my conversational arabic. As in, I can hold a conversation (albeit a light one without any really interesting vocabulary) and not stumble over most of my words or talk at the rate of one word per minute. shwaya shwaya (means little by little, in reference to how foreigners learn english). Also, I've had somewhat of a breakthrough in dealing with heckling. I generally just ignore it, particularly when I'm by myself. When I'm with somebody else, maybe I'll say something like aeb aeb (shame on you, roughly), but basically, I'm just not letting it bother me. khalas. (i can't translate that word -- it sort of means, "at all" and at the same time, "I'm done with that.")
The oasis. Yeah. really really badass. Well, mostly the desert. The oasis was cool, but it was sort of just like a palm forest with water. I guess that's exactly what an oasis is, right? But the desert. Truly truly truly badass. Sure, it's just a bunch of sand, but it's really a lot a lot a lot of sand. All in one place. That was a bad description. I've got pics, and I'll put them up, but I still don't think they capture the true grandeur of the desert.
Um. Other news. I'm happy here now. I was anti social all through the trip to the oasis, just cause like, I don't know. I like everyone in the program, but I was sorta out of the loop because all the other kids live in the dorms and they've got their cliques. and also, I didn't feel much like trying to make conversation. but aside from my anti social tendencies, i didn't have any problems. and I liked everything I saw.
Church was really cool. It was a nice little ego boost that I could understand the service in Arabic and help these other foreigners find their place in the english program, while I was reading the arabic and singing in arabic. oh yeah. that's right. truth.
The cinema was actually very very cool. I know the director/owner because she's a friend of my host mom, so I hung out with her and kate for almost an hour before the film. And then she took us into a movie, and gave us popcorn and green tea. I f'in love Egypt. And popcorn and green tea.
Um. That's all in my life, I guess. If I'm sort of hard to get in touch with, it's probably because I want to practice arabic and not speak english and because I'm trying not to stay in the apartment and feel miserable. but if i'm not on skype, email or facebook. i miss you all terribly.
love,
e.
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