BlogblogblogBLOGblog Entry

Yep, this sure is a blog entry.
What's up with my life?
I'm still in Egypt, and I'm becoming increasingly attached to it. My friend who lives in the countryside is f'in rockin' and I've visited her pretty much every weekend. I really like visiting her a) because I'm tight with her and her family, and they're awesome people and b) because they're fellaheen and I get to see a side of Egyptian life I'm sure I wouldn't see otherwise. But yes. I really really like her whole family. It's like, a real connection for me here, I'm not sure if I can explain. But like, I tried to play cat's cradle with my friend's little cousin Mirna, and she didn't know how to. But my friend's grandmother did, and when my friend's mom asked where we'd learned how, we both said from our childhood. It just blows my mind that this like, seventy year old egyptian woman who lives in the countryside and I could like, I don't know how to put it, share? something like that in common. Also, I went to what my friend said would be a wedding but actually turned out to be a celebration of a groom (her uncle) buying furniture for the apartment he'll be moving into after he gets married in three weeks. Apparently that's a uniquely fellaheen thing, and like, it was really cool. They played these drums and sang all these songs that I didn't know any of the words to, so I got to be the awkward foreign girl. But I am really amazed by how they've just welcomed me into their lives like it's no big deal.
That said, I keep having these encounters/discussions with them that bring home just how different our lives are. Like first, this friend of their family had stopped by, and earlier one of my friend's cousins had said basically, I love you so much, let's get married! And I said sure, why not? and everyone laughed because this cousin was a girl. Anyway. So they were recounting this story, and this friend of the family said, you know that that doesn't happen here, right? I heard it does in America, what's the word? "Gay?" And then she made this disgusted face. And I just sort of let the topic die away, because it's one of those things where if I really expressed my opinion, it would wreck the friendship. It kind of kills me to do stuff like that, but at the same time, I know I couldn't change their attitude, and it's not like America where I've got some sort of cultural basis to state my opinion -- but I decided if it came up again, I would say that I'm not God, and it's not up to me to say what is wrong and what is right. And in my opinion, if there's more love in the world, that's a good thing. The God reference would turn the Islam argument right back on them -- Islam is very careful about respecting God and God's position above people. Other encounter, not really so uncomfortable, but -- my friend's mom said she felt like I was a little child, and I was scared to upset anyone. And that kind of made me angry, because I've done a lot with my life, and it's really not fair to call me a child. Though the not wanting to upset anyone thing may have been more accurate than I care to admit, which is why it upset me. So I explained that I had worked a lot, and didn't live with my family, and am (relatively, though definitely not even close to completely) financially independent. What I couldn't explain is the reason that I was afraid to upset anyone is that NO ONE, I repeat, NO ONE in America would ever ever ever ever be this generous to a foreign stranger. At the same time, that did make me feel like I could be more open about not wanting to do things if they asked me, and be open about things that do upset me. Still, for all that my friend's family/friends make assumptions about American culture (I've got stories that I won't put up here, ask me if you want them... ;) ), my friend is really sweet and unassuming. And also, she always tells me that she likes it when I get all quiet and whatnot. Which is nice, because in general, Egyptian society values outgoing/vocal behavior. So I like feeling like I can be quiet sometimes.
Ok. My excessive reflection aside, I'm going on spring break this week. We're going to the Sinai Region (though nowhere near the sketchy dangerous Israeli border area), and then I'm splitting off with a couple other kids to go to Petra in Jordan. Woo! Pics definitely to come. ps, Sinai includes snorkeling, chilling, hiking Mount Sinai (um. yeah. The place where Moses got the Ten Commandments from God. What?!?!), and going on a safari in the desert. The desert is pretty much my favorite place ever. I can't describe why. It really is just like, a sea of sand. It's mind blowing. Like, when you think of a desert, you probably just think of a lot of sand. And when you first thought of an ocean, you were probably like, sure, whatever, a lot of water. But remember the first time you actually went out into the ocean in a boat and couldn't see anything but the water around you (if you haven't done this, get on that!)? Analogous to the desert. like whoa.
Fun fact for the day -- I use massive amounts of slang and exaggeration in this blog because I can't do it in Arabic.
Other fun fact -- I'm getting damn good at colloquial arabic. Like, i don't have a vast vocabulary, but my accent is really good, and I know how to use the vocab I do have to really communicate. If I do say so myself. Let's see how I feel after my ten minute presentation for colloquial arabic in two days. >_<
All right. Keep in touch. I'll be gone for the next two weeks or so, but I might have patchy access in net cafes and stuff over break. But I'd love to hear from you.
love, e.