Good Morning!

It's Sunday, so it's the beginning of a new week for me here. Right now I'm sitting at my computer having a bit for breakfast, debating what time to head to campus. You see, I am finally giving in and heading to the clinic this morning. I have to face it, there is simply no way I'm going to kick this cold/sinus infection/whatever it is. It's time for an actual diagnosis and prescription, woo! Enough already with the stupid stubbornness.

Today marks the beginning of my last full week of school. Next week I only have classes Sun-Tues, then exams are supposed to begin. However, all of my final exams are happening during the last days of each class, so in reality I am all finished by May 27th. At that point, I have a full week to bum around, go to the beach, travel, pick up some souvenir gifts (get excited :), and pack to go home. I really can't believe it!

Before the end of term, I do have a couple little projects left. For instance, in my standard Arabic class, I have give a 15 minute presentation on the topic of my choice. I'm planning describing the current state of the zoo in Giza, the treatment of the animals, animal rights in Egypt, and the varying perspectives Egyptians hold toward them. Either today or tomorrow I'm planning to head over to the zoo to photo-document and gather my evidence first hand. I was told by a friend that I should bring lots of small change, because I'll need it to baksheesh my way into the animals cages, where I'll be able to pet and feed them. This includes lions and monkeys and such...As cool as it sounds, I think that overall the zoo will be a rather depressing experience. I've heard stories about animals being sedated for petting purposes and that some of them are clearly malnourished.

Yikes, got to get dressed for the shuttle and the clinic!

Spring Break Photos

I have returned safely from my spring break galavant through Jordan, Syria, and Israel. On the road, I attempted to keep a journal. Hopefully I will get the chance to share some of my experiences with you soon. Phil is arriving in Cairo today, so the next few days will be spent showing him around and showing off my amazing Arabic taxi navigation skills, instead of furiously blogging. To tide you over in the meantime, I managed to post an entire series of photo albums on Facebook. I only finished placing captions throughout the first album, so after that you may have to do some guesswork. I'll try to add further explanations ASAP.

The Rihla

The Rihla II

The Rihla III

IV

V

Hopefully I will make time in the near future to actually write a bit on the blog, but in the meantime, here are plenty of photos to entertain. The first album documents my visit to Florence, where I visited NYU friends and enjoyed a little respite from the bustle of Cairo. The second album includes photos from two weekend trips to the Red Sea Coast. During the first excursion, we simply bummed around the beach for a couple days, but the second included snorkeling and a climb up Mount Sinai.

Hurghada

Dahab/Mt. Sinai

While waiting for our Arabic professor this morning, my classmates and I had a good laugh about the following Times article on noise pollution in Cairo:

"A City Where You Can't Hear Yourself Scream"

Here's the latest selection of photos, including my escapades in the desert, Allison's 21st birthday dinner, and a trek through Islamic Cairo.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2287871&l=3d15b&id=825591

Wowza! Thank heavens it's the end of the week--we made it! I think everyone was feeling the pressure this week, what with midterms (although I was mercifully spared) and a gross lack of sleep. What better way to celebrate than to go out dancing and stay out all hours of the night?! Now that is Egypt style.

So what happened this week? Well, last Saturday evening I returned from the desert and gathered up a stockpile of sleep, 11 hrs, which I felt so grateful for later in the week.

I think Sunday and Monday passed without much excitement, just homework and spending time with friends.

But along came Tuesday, a grand extravaganza! I got the day started off write with some coffee and my 8 am Arabic class--2 hrs. Then I met a friend to grab falafel, smoke sheesha like an Egyptian (ie. at a surprisingly early hour of the day--sorry mom!), check out his amazing downtown apartment literally a block away from campus, and to watch an old Comedy Central show called Stella. I had classes from 2-4, and then I waited around for a bus for an hour, again in true Egyptian form. Nothing more Egyptian than waiting. The bus intended to take us to Sixth of October City to teach the refugees never came, so we grabbed mini-bus and went throttling down the dusty highway toward class. I have to admit that I was feeling terribly insecure about teaching as of last week, and I was considering resigning my position. I just felt incompetent, unsure of how to approach the teaching and frustrated. But as my partner Tom and my dad both guessed, after class on Tuesday I was glad that I stuck with it another week. This class went just a bit more smoothly, and I think we covered just a bit more ground. In shah Allah, we will actually arrive at class on time next week, and things will only continue to get better. After an hour long ride home, I got picked up for dinner and coffee, so that I ultimately rolled on home to the dorm at about 11:30. At point I smelled strongly of smoke, as seems to always happen here, due to the extreme addiction of the population as a whole, so I showered. Then there was a spot of homework done and a few hours of sleep before my 8 am Wednesday began. Let me tell you, it was a good day. I felt pretty proud of myself afterward.

Wednesday was my dear friend Allison's 21st, so of course, in between classes we had to get our hair done and go shopping for a birthday outfit for the lovely lady. In the evening, it was the Hard Rock Cafe for a huge group dinner and La Piste for salsa dancing afterward. In my case, there was more watching and talking than dancing, but I'm considering taking lessons starting next week.

Allison and I met again at 8 today, cause we have that delightfully early class together. Throughout the day, there was laundry, a cat nap, homework, a colloquial quiz, sugar cane juice, learning how to play backgammon, dinner with friends, a trip to the grocery for muesli and the atm, and now I sit preparing for the evening ahead. We're heading out to After Eight for a live music boogy night, and then don't worry, I can sleep in tomorrow morning. Woo! Although I did get an offer to get up at 8 to head to the Birqash camel market, which I'm so tempted to do. Somehow, though, I don't think I'll make it this time around.

What a whirlwind!

For Those Without Facebook

Despite the fact that I'm in Cairo, one of the strangest developments in my recent life happened back in the States: My dearest mother joined Facebook. Holy Cow, my universe has been realigned. However, Dad hasn't hopped on the bandwagon yet. So for his sake, and for all the rest of you who are far too cool for school, I shall continue posting links to my photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2284285&l=3ef46&id=825591

This album includes photos from my scuba trip to Dahab, from a raucous evening at the local dive, and from the Citadel (including the mosque of Muhammed Ali and the Military Museum).