Oh god, it's started!

Travel preparations are officially underway. I now possess polarized sunglasses (which I will attempt not to sit upon), baggier pants (for the reduction of curves), and a sneaky, under-the-blouse passport carrier.

As cool as some of my new gadgets are, I can not help wondering if we are going overboard with the preparations, especially in terms of clothing. I definitely want to dress appropriately, to portray myself as a respectable woman according to Egyptian custom. In this vein, I have bought several pairs of loose pants and more modest blouses. But is this really helpful or necessary? Let's face it, a blond-haired, blue-eyed girl is going to receive more than her fair share of attention. Unless I decide to wear a full hijab (which I'm actually curious to try), I am going to stand out in a crowd. It seems almost like a waste of time and money to try to blend in with the locals, if I will be perceived as just another tourist anyway. I might as well just wear the tight jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers. Besides, how can I be sure that Egyptians will agree with my conception of modest clothing? I might get the idea all wrong, giving off an out-dated or slightly crazy vibe instead of the conservative one I was aiming for...

Oh well, can't worry about it too much. After all, I am only trying to be thoughtful, and I hope that sentiment comes across.

There is just one problem that continues to bother me. The handy-dandy AUC International Student Handbook provides a list of appropriate clothing items to bring for each season, and it includes a swimsuit. My mom suggested that I purchase a one-piece swimsuit, because my bikinis clearly do not qualify as modest. Really, though, aren't swimsuits skimpy by nature? Once you are wearing a skin tight leotard, what does it matter if your tummy shows? A one-piece leaves almost as little to the imagination as a bikini...

Well, at least the belly-button ring won't show. I guess that counts for something :)