St. Anthony’s and Ein Sokhna, Part 2

I began writing this during the trip, but never got around to finishing it.  Here it is, finally.

 

This morning I awoke from deep sleep at precisely 7:20, but tried to drift back to sleep.  Around 7:30 the

front desk gave the room a wake up call; but I wanted to go back to sleep and stay in bed all day.  I finally dragged myself out of bed and started getting ready to for breakfast.  My two roommates and I went down together and began digging into the pastries, fool, and fruit salad.  The food was so delicious!  I say this over and over…Arabs know how to cook!  I walked out to the patio next to the dinning room and ordered an omelet and watched the chef fry the eggs.  He flipped the egg up into the air and caught it again in the pan a few times before handing the steaming wonder to me on a plate.  Cooking omelets is an impressive feat.  We completed our hearty breakfast and prepared for the beach.  I got over the stares and sticking out like a sore thumb in my one-piece and swam for a bit. 

 

I waded in the water until the water finally lapped at my neck.  The beach was many yards away and the people lounging below the palm frond umbrellas seemed so small and unrecognizable.  As I walked through the water, my feet bumped against star fish and sand dollars.  I would grab the sand dollars with my feet and bring them to the surface to see if they might be skeletons.  I wanted to bring back one of the gigantic creatures’ skeletons.  The sand dollars in the Red Sea are about four times as large as those found in the United States and the larger ones cover my entire hand.

 

Surprisingly, I began to get cold and walked back to the shore to lay on a padded lounge chair.  I was there for no more than 10 minutes before I was completely dry and warm again.  I grabbed a nearby plastic lawn chair and hiked into the water until the seat of the chair was covered.  I pushed the chair into the sand in an attempt to anchor it against the waves and sat down to enjoy the cool water and hot sun.  This was my chance to finally get the tan I did not seem to acquire during the summer.  I enjoyed sitting and relaxing in the water and trying to balance myself against the waves.  It was almost a game.  The water and sunshine were so beautiful, I could have sat there all day!  Unfortunately, we were leaving at 3 PM and the girls needed to line up for the shower.  I left the beach around 1:30 so I could claim my spot in the shower line.

 

Soon we were piling in the bus on our way back to campus.  I was so tired and had a horrible sunburn.  I slept almost the entire way to campus.  I was glad to have finally made some new friends and get off campus! 

St. Anthony’s and Ein Sokhna

I have finally ventured farther than Cairo!

This weekend I travelled for a total of five or six hours to St. Anthony’s and then to Ein Sokhna during a Residential Life sponsored trip.  St. Anthony’s Monastery is the oldest known monastery in Egypt and contains a spring that comes from deep within a nearby mountain.  The trip began at 7 AM when all students going on the trip met at the Common Area in the dorms.  Everyone was punctual, but not our transportation. We waited for about half an hour before we were ready to begin our adventure.  We all walked together, en masse, to Pepsi Gate and almost stopped in our tracks when we saw what we would be ridding in:  the van was too small for our group.  However, there was a solution!  Fold-down seats were available in the aisle.  Two lucky members enjoyed the discomfort of poor back support and the occasional jolt of a knee from the person sitting behind them.  I was one of the lucky few to cramp into a normal seat, but had the discomfort of attempting to avoid being the knee which slammed in my comrade’s back.  Although they are paved, the roads are very bumpy and have speed bumps hidden intermittently down the road. 

After a little complaining and a bit of squishing and “oh, I’m sorry” we were ready and on our way.  Polite conversations took place with those who were not familiar with each other.  With only four hours of sleep, I felt I much rather sleep than make polite small talk.  I was unfortunately situated between two rather awkward, almost adolescent male students so I found it rather difficult to keep a conversation going.  It was good practice, though, for coming up with good conversation starters interesting to all parties.  By the end of the day I felt like the social, popular butterfly of the group and had made friends with the entire van, even if all the students did not associate themselves with each other.  This was a first in my life since in the past I have been on the outskirts of the action and timidly and tentively adding my two cents.  This weekend, I have been the star of the show!  At least that is how I feel when I compare the “old me” with this “new me.”

We drove on bumping and jumping in our seats, stuttering as the wind was knocked out of us while we were talking.  After a while we all gave up on being social and began taking naps and taking out our various MP3 players.  A college student does not go on a trip without their MP3 player!  I slept most of the time, but tried to keep myself conscious enough to avoid letting my jaw unhinge like a python about to engulf its prey.  After about two or three hours we stopped to get gas and take a short break.  Everyone took off to the toilets and the ladies discovered with dismay that their was no toilet paper.  I had known before-hand to travel with toilet paper, but was foolish enough to forget such an important item.  I swallowed my pride and marched to the gas station attendant standing at the cash register and tried to sign that I needed tissue.  Luckily, there was someone fluent in English and Arabic and translated.  I stood and waited while another attendant slowly pulled out a roll of toilet paper and carefully folded a few sheets into a nice, neat pile.  I felt embarrassed as I marched back to stand in line at the women’s WC.

After our break we continue our journey (with much napping) and after a total of four hours made it to St. Anthony’s.  A wonderful Coptic Priest with broken English gave us a tour of the important parts of the monastery.  On any other day I would be putdown we did not see more of the grounds; however, I was tired and the day was so unusually hot even the locals commented on the temperature.  My favorite part of the tour was seeing the spring flowing from the mountain.  The priest explained they did not know where it came from or how it was possible.  “Perhaps it is from the rain flowing down the mountain,” he said, “but this is not possible because it never rains here! It is a miracle from God”).  He showed us a spickit nearby that channeled some of the spring water (the rest was stored in a cistern below the ground: about 1000 or 2000 liters per day) and asked us to drink it if we liked.  I drank it, but from the mannerisms of some of my comrades, I felt as if I was in line for a Catholic religious rite.  The priests bake their own bread and we shared a loaf with the priest and the members of the trip, including our Muslim chaperones. Later, we joked how our lunch was a piece of bread and a sip of water since we never had the opportunity for an actual meal. 

Our group seems to be camera-happy and were shooting so many pictures.  I tried to put my knew found camera knowledge to work by messing around with the settings on my camera.  I had not found any instructions on my brand new rechargeable batteries so I had not thought check if they were fully charged.  Halfway through the tour, my batteries died.  After that all I could do is watch as I saw picture opportunities pass me by.  I was so disappointed I would not use my camera for the best part of the trip: the beach!

We finished our tour at the gift shop.  Apparently, most of the kids on the tour are Catholic or some close branch because many of them bought Catholic paraphernalia.  I sat in the shade outside waiting to depart and chatted with one of the trip chaperones.  We boarded the bus and backtracked to Ein Sokhna, since we had passed it on our way to the monastery.  A lot of group members had signed up for the trip solely for the beach, myself included.  I saw the monastery as an intriguing added bonus.  The journey to the beach took a total of eight hours; including stops, St. Anthony’s, and travel time.  We were practically exhausted by the time we made it to the hotel.  I had commented on the van how travelling in large groups was always difficult and often annoying as there was a lot of waiting time involved.  While travelling in groups, most of the time is spent waiting or getting from Point A to Point B instead of spending more time at Point B.  I find this to be one reason I am compelled to be an independent traveler; however, I would not dare to attempt to do so at such a time.

After settling in and relaxing for a moment, we all decided it was high time to find something to eat!  We arrived at the hotel around 3PM, but were not going to be fed until 7PM.  We had been up before 7AM and had only eaten a few hunger enhancing snacks.  Travelling and heat puts a hold on my hunger alarm so I did not want to eat anything.  The girls I was sitting with chastised me me for not eating enough after they slyly drilled me about what I ate while living on campus.  To calm their fears for my health I told them I was trying to save money and I knew I would be fine for the next three hours while we waited for dinner.  I ordered a “cantaloupe juice” which turned out to be pureed honeydew melon mixed with frothed milk and sugar or syrup.  The juices here are so delicious and I often order mango juice—a mix of pure mango pulp and sugar—the best juice I have ever tasted.  “Mango nectar” is also easily purchased from practically anywhere in Cairo. 

I was eager to swim since it was such a scorching day, but the two girls I roomed with were self-proclaimed anti-beach enthusiasts.  They kindly joined me at the beach so I would not have to go alone.  Before we left we were told this was a very westernized resort and wearing bikinis would be acceptable.  However, when we arrived all the women were fully covered and wearing head coverings and “Burkinis”—a full body swimsuit which includes Hijab.  I had brought a one piece, but I knew I would be uncomfortable knowing every man would be staring at the scantily-clad western girls.  In the US, men would hardly notice a woman in a single piece bathing suit; but based on my experience and what I have heard, Western-styled swim suits are seen as unacceptable.

We walked to the receded shore line (it was 100s of feet away from the normal shore line) and poked around at the starfish and chased the small crabs as we walked along.  The Little Geologist in me found a pretty peach rock and held onto it tightly.  Something in me cannot visit a new place without finding a beautiful stone to pick up!  I could tell the two girls weren’t entirely enjoying their walk through the water so I suggested we go back and enjoy a bit of rest in our room before dinner.  The evening meal was delicious and served as a buffet.  We learned after we finished eating there was more food on the patio outside the dinning area and included a variety of pastas.  Most of the food seemed foreign and interesting, though, and my taste buds were thoroughly delighted.  Again, I was the “social butterfly” who attempted to keep the conversation going at the dinner table.  This is so foreign to me!  During dinner we decided we wanted to find a little store that sold fruits and juices.  At the reception, we were told the area was isolated and only had factories and resorts.  We were welcome to walk to the non-alcoholic bar on the beach and sample the overpriced juices sold by the resort.  I believe they were lying and there was something around the resort…I saw a coca-cola sign on a nearby building reminiscent of backroad KY/TN gas stations.  We caved and bought the overpriced juices (16 LE for a small glass disguised as a larger glass).  I chatted with one of the girls I seemed to connect very well with and we began to make other travel plans.  I knew if I spent a little money to go on a guided tour I would find friends to go on our own trips!  And now the adventure truly has begun; I finally feel as if I am doing as I should!

No More Sitting Still!

Last night I came to the decision I would no longer allow myself to sit in my room and watch Youtube videos and stare at Facebook.  If I am not doing homework I must be at Pepsi Gate waiting to attach myself to the next unsuspecting group going out.  I have decided if I do not have plans of excitement with people I already know (which, as of now, are very few!), then I must join others on their random excursions downtown and abroad.  I can no longer wait for people to invite me, I need to stop being polite and start inviting myself!  So now I hope to keep this page flowing with exciting posts of my grand adventures.  It is difficult for one to have adventure when they are so isolated from the city!  Did I mention we are literally in the desert!?  Even when we tell the taxi driver where to go we will say “al gama Amrikee – fee sahrah” (in the desert). 

 

I have not been learning as much Arabic as I would like so I am going to start studying on my own.  In my Arabic class we are still learning the alphabet with very little vocabulary.  My goal is to be able to have simple conversations in Arabic by the end of the semester.  The following is my current to-do list for my autodidactism:

 

1. Practice reading and writing (especially how to connect letters)

2. Memorize 10+ vocabulary every week and know how to read and write them.

3. Read something in Arabic every day and learn 5+ extra vocabulary words from material read.

4. Practice and study with friends who are native speakers or have an advanced level of Arabic.

 

My semester seems like it will be fairly relaxed, so this extra studying is possible.  However, I will not allow the extra studying to get in the way of exploration and travel as these are my priorities while I am in Egypt.

 

I no longer allowed to whine “I still have to get out to the souks!  I need to see the streets of Cairo!”  It’s my own fault and I cannot make any more excuses for my own lack of adventure.  I’m a sad, sorry sap who’s wasted too much time sitting and sulking! Yallabina!!

Onions – a Love/Hate Relationship

I can’t seem to escape the smell of onions anymore.  Last week I went to a friend’s apartment and we cooked a delicious dinner of “Butter Chicken” and some form of Indian rice.  I was given the duty of chopping up the onions which seem to be very strong here.  The skin is a little more tough and the juices will kill your eyes!  My hands smelled of onion for a week after.  I have finally rid myself of the lingering smell of old onion!  But it came back—I had a sandwich from Subway today with…onion.  I am stuck with onion for the rest of the week!

 

Today, I signed up for a trip to "St. Anthony and Ein Sokhna" which cost 325 LE (which is about $65).  The trip is the weekend after this coming weekend, but I want to do something this weekend...even if it's only exploring "downtown" especially Zamalek and Islamic Cairo...they seem to have interesting destinations and things to see.  There are 5 other trips I'm thinking about going on that the school is hosting.  The next trip is to St. Catherine and Nuweiba, then Wadi El Rayan, next Isma 'ilia, and another is a trip to the Black and White Desert which I will definitely go on (to celebrate my birthday).  The last trip is to Fayoum.  The most expensive trip, I think, will be the one I just signed up for.  However, there are a couple that did not list a price.

 

We have cleaning service (housekeeping, maids, whatever you want to call it) and we're required to let them clean our rooms once a week.  Today a lady tried to figure out when would be a good time to come and clean my room...she spoke very little English and I speak very little Arabic so it was difficult!  If only I knew the word for "clean" and "tomorrow"  Although, I should know the word for tomorrow!

I almost know the entire Arabic alphabet...with a little help from my notes every once in a while.

 

I am loving all my classes and it seems my semester is going to be very easy compared to any other semester during my college years.  Perhaps it is the great contrast between last Spring Semester which makes me feel this semester is going to be so easy.  Last semester I had many all-nighters, little sleep and more homework than two people could handle.

 

My favorite class is “Understanding Arabic Music” wherein we are learning to sing a few Arabic songs.  Right now we are learning El 3ataba Gazaz, which seems to be a love song of sorts.  A girl thinks she is in love, but her cousin is telling her “you’re not getting married, be patient!”  The chorus is translated to “the front step is glass, ad the stairs are nylon in nylon.”  I am befuddled.

 

I finally have a local phone number as well as a mailing address.  It took me two weeks to try to get an operating phone, but it was Ramadan.  I found it difficult to find the right time to go to a store that fit my schedule as well as the Ramadan schedule.  I am so glad we are back to the normal time and normal schedules!  This will definitely make life a little easier.

Wonderful World

I’m finally starting to feel like myself again.  I’m not close to being completely healed from my illness I've had for the past couple weeks; but now I can walk across campus without feeling like collapsing.  I’m happy about life again whereas I was ornery when I was sick.  I reread some of my earlier posts and realized they were full of so much complaining!  “Sick Kate” was being an ornery brat.  I’m still coughing (powerful coughs that rock my entire body).  The other night I coughed so much I concerned one of the Egyptian Freshman who lives in one of the rooms near mine. 

Yesterday, I went with my friend, Candy, to the City Stars mall.  The mall has SEVEN or eight stories!  I’ve never been in such a large mall!  I was lost almost the entire time.  One would have to spend an entire day, possibly two, to just see every store.  While we were there I bought a cup and bowl at an Egyptian equivalent of Walmart.  I also finally found a cheap phone ($30), but I could not activate it (SIM card) because I had forgotten my passport.  We also checked out a bookstore and an entertainment store.  Newly released CDs sold in Egypt are about four dollars!  I plan to go back at some point and buy a bunch to take home to share with everyone.  Most of the stores were closed while we were there (again, for Ramadan), but reopened around 8:30.  When Iftar began the loudspeakers throughout the entire mail began playing the evening prayer. Everyone was already rushing toward the food court and the closest restaurants.  By the time we made it anywhere near food, it was crowded.  Candy and I ended up sitting on the floor and eating our meal of "Chinese Food."  When we were halfway finished, a kind Egyptian man walked over with chairs from his kiosk.  I was content to sit on the floor with the rest of the Egyptians breaking their fast!

I experienced more of the Egypt I imagined—a little less westernized.  Rehab City is an entirely “rich” area.  They even have a guarded gate for entering and exiting that part of the city.  The area where City Stars was built, however, is busier, dirtier, more poverty, etc.  There is a different mix surrounding City Stars: a range from rich people going in the mall to shop, but on the other end small children running around begging for guinea (the term for the money, like our “dollar”).  I saw a kid chase down another kid about the same age walking out of the mall. Kid One chased Kid Two to try to take the bag out of his hand.  Kid One finally caught Kid Two after chasing him around a car in the busy street.  He held on tightly while the other kid walked awkwardly laughing a little.  A policeman became involved and chased Kid One away.  Not long after, I saw Kid One and his sidekick (another kid who had been running around begging as well) run into the road without looking.  They both were almost hit but dodged the heavy traffic in the four-lane highway. 

Today was another day of classes.  I am really starting to get excited about this semester.  I’m loving all my classes, even the one I wasn’t too keen about taking:  Communication Research.  The professor seems interesting, so at least I will not fall asleep in class!  Not that I would ever do something like that anyway… ha.  In Understanding Arab Music, we played Tabla and were introduced to a few rhythms we will work with during the semester.  We also were given a song we will sing in the final performance.  I’m so excited to sing Arabic music!!!  Whenever I listen to my Arabic music, I always want to sing along, but I’ve afraid I would butcher the beautiful language if I tried.  Now is my chance to know I’ve got the words right! 

I only have one complaint for my classes: my Arabic class seems too simple and not fast-paced enough.  I was hoping to have simple conversations in Arabic by the time I finished the semester; but at this rate we will only know some vocabulary and how to read.  However, this is better than nothing, so I will be happy with it.

And now begins the Eid el Fitr holiday!  Ramadan Kareem!  Happy Eid el Fitr!

Last note: I will be creating a Picasa account for my photography class and I will include a link on the side.   I may create another account for my “for fun” photos.  That is, whatever I don’t include in my portfolio for the class.

Classes Begin!

Yesterday, I finally went out for the second time—to Rehab City.  I bought groceries and a few items of clothing.  My wardrobe is very limited and I need to find inexpensive clothing as soon as possible.  My groceries totaled 100 LE, a lot of money for Egyptians.  However, the same amount of money would seem insignificant in US Dollars: $17.50.  One of the girls with me (a fellow American) told me I shop expensively because I seemed to get relatively little for so much.  I don’t think she understands shopping quantity and not by price.  That is a larger, more expensive item will be cheaper in the long run than a smaller item for a cheaper price.

Today was the first day of classes and I attended my first Elementary Arabic class first thing this morning.  We had the wrong professor, but she taught us a few things about the alphabet.  The professor in our room was supposed to be teaching an advanced Arabic class.  Our class is learning from the very beginning of the beginning.  I wonder where our proper professor was today?

My next class for today was Understanding Arabic Music.  I am very excited about this class more than the others.  Arabic music was the spark which ignited my passion for the Middle East.  We will be singing Egyptian folk songs as well as pop music.  We will play a little bit on the Tabla—a type of percussion instrument and end the semester with a concert open to the entire university!  It seems there will be 17 people in our class, but there were only seven of us today.  The first day of class, Ramadan, no one goes to work or class…it’s party time! 

Later on today…
The class schedule is set up differently for Ramadan.  All of our classes begin earlier and end earlier, but this is only temporary.  This weekend is Eid el Fitr—the celebration of the end of Ramadan.

I was encouraged to join the AUC Chamber Singers, so I went to the first rehearsal to check it out.  I feel a little obligated to join since I have sung with the group.  At the same time, I enjoy my evenings and would rather have time to relax.  We only rehearse twice a week in the evening.  With the Ramadan Schedule, we met 8 PM to 10 PM and rehearsed STANDING the entire time.  The music is Western, not Arabic as I hoped.  This single rehearsal has helped me to truly cherish the Berea College Choir.  We sing like angels.

And so ends my first day of classes; finally finished after 10 PM.  I’m ready to sleep!  But the night owl in me is dying to fly!

My First Week

It’s amazing to think I have already been here for more than a week.  Sadly, I haven’t done much, but I’d like to share what I have done in the time I have been here.  I’ve been sick for a while now so I haven’t felt compelled to explore much.  The first night I was here I almost immediately went to bed.  The second day I went to Rehab City (pronounced reh-hab), a part of downtown.  I quickly learned it was an expensive area after quickly spending 100 LE on relatively few items.  I was with four other girls, two of which had spent the previous year studying at AUC.  Our first mode of business was finding something to eat.  The two girls took the newbies to a place that had “the best pancakes in the world.”  It was a cute international restaurant down a dirty, smelly street.  The restaurant and street did not seem to belong together.  An “international” restaurant in Egypt is almost synonymous with “American food.”  I cringed a little thinking my first meal in Egypt was going to be the same thing I’ve eaten all my life.  However, I found “Egyptian Breakfast” was on the menu, so I ordered that.  Falafel, tahini, hummus, salad, a hard boiled egg, and a bowl of cooked beans.  The food was sooo delicious!

After we finished eating we walked to a mall nearby.  Almost everything was closed since everyone was preparing for Iftar—the time Muslims break fast during Ramadan.  We wandered the mall for what seemed like forever before we finally left to find cell phones.  The cell phone store was also closed because it was now Iftar.  The newbies were planning to go on the “Nile Cruise” the Residential Life Office had advertised.  So we caught a taxi and returned to the campus just in time.  We had some time to get ready before it was time to meet with RL.  The RL did not anticipate such a large crowd so they had to order another bus.  We waited for an extra half hour or so before we were all ready to go.  I was in the first van to leave and consequently on the first cruise.  I had bought a large 1.5 liter bottle of water before we left and downed half of it before I realized it was gone.  We took about an hour to travel to the Nile, traffic of course is insane.

A side note about traffic:  Before coming to Egypt a number of people warned me about the traffic.  Never cross the street alone, they warned.  They’re so right!  There are traffic laws, the locals say, but no one pays attention to them.  People will even go the wrong way on a road!  Two lane highways will turn into five or six lane highways.  Horns here are not used to yell “up yours!” like they do in America.  Instead they are used to say, “Hey, I’m here, look out, etc”  as well as “up yours.”  in Egypt, there seems to be more politeness with the horn use than in America even though the horn is used much more.  One can see such sights as three or four people piled on a motorcycle, one of which would be a pregnant woman holding her toddler.  I saw a small girl darting in and out of the lanes of traffic at night trying to sell flowers to tourists.  Children hang out of car windows and pickup trucks are full of people.  The scariest thing I saw was the backend of a car had been completely smashed almost to the front seat of the car.  If anyone had been sitting in the back, they surely would have been seriously injured or killed.  The driver was still sitting in the car when we passed, but the person who rear-ended him seemed to have disappeared.

We arrived at the Nile and began our lovely cruise.  We were served sticky Baklava—a Middle Eastern sweet (pastry) as the breeze cooled us after a long, hot day.  I was content to sit silently and look at all the beautiful lights of the city lining the river.  I looked up at the moon and the bright planet next to it.  It took a few moments before I realized the stars were missing in the sky.  There is so much pollution and dust from Cairo that it blocks out the night sky!  This is the first time I will look into the night sky and not see a star. 

When we returned to campus I took off for the bathroom.  Remember I have about a liter of water in my system!  I was exhausted and practically fell in bed.

Orientation began and I ran around checking things off the to do list.  The most important part was getting my AUC ID.  The line was horribly long.  We were given numbers and waited about an hour or two until ours was called.  It seems it is impossible for me to have a decent picture on an identification.  The man told me to smile, but I found it was physically impossible for me to do so.  I was feeling so miserable by the time I got my ID.

I went to a few worthless, time-wasting orientation events.  I thought the information would be useful, but they only told me things I already knew or it was a bunch of baloney buttered up to look like something wonderful.  One event was “MANDATORY” on the schedule, so I went thinking they might scan our IDs.  Of course they didn’t and I wasted an hour of my time listening to people give a lengthy welcome.  It’s amazing how you can turn “welcome to AUC” into an hour-long speech!

The rest of the week was spent going to my Survival Arabic class.  We learned a lot of vocabulary and a bit of cultural awareness.  We learned words for food, money, time, direction, etc.  Basically, the words one would need to get around Egypt with minimum vocabulary.  I will be taking Modern Standard Arabic during the semester and will learn different words for the words I have just learned.  I’m excited to take my new vocabulary to the market and try to barter!  Wish me luck!

Faeries and Dandelion Kings

I thought this while I was flying from Philadelphia to Frankfurt, but never wrote it down.  Here it is now, better late than never!

 

When I woke up, I opened the window shade and was greeted by the sun shinning through pieces of crystals which looked like little faeries and dandelion seeds.  I watched the sea of rainbows below me dancing on the clouds, reflections of the morning light.  Flying is so magical!  As the sun rose quickly in the sky I watched as my Faerie Friends and Dandelion Kings disappeared by the request of the Sun. 

 

The most annoying part of flying by Lufthansa was the fact they put their entertainment displays on the back of every seat.  Every person who sat behind me did not understand touch screen technology and would jab at the back of my seat whenever they wanted to watch a movie.  At first I thought these people were disturbed by the angle of my seat.  I stubbornly felt it was my right as a paying passenger to sit with my seat back, especially since it was an obvious time to sleep.  I eventually realized they were trying to fulfill their entertainment needs and I tried to adjust accordingly.  Every Lufthansa flight I was on, there was someone jabbing at the back of my head; it was quite obnoxious!  Flying is so magical…

3…2…1…Liftoff!

Today, my journey begins.  I am sitting in Philadelphia Airport after a relatively uneventful plane ride from Albany airport.  The gentleman I sat next to was a jovial, rosy-checked, rotund man (think North Pole).  He had a deep hearty laugh and we chatted for most of the ride.  Victor was a kind man from Wisconsin on his way back home after working on some water treatment plants in Cobleskill, NY (the town I basically grew up in). 

 

There was one small issue before I boarded the plan:  I was never issued a ticket, only a boarding pass.  Luckily, everything was cleared up, a few people given coupons for free flights, and we were off in the tiniest, most crowded plane I’ve been on! 

 

Later…

I had a few hours to kill in Philadelphia airport, so I walked around the airport a bit.  Considered buying something to eat, but decided against it.  I wasn’t hungry anyway, and there would be food on the plane.  Time seemed to creep slowly by, but the flight was announced and I got in line to board.  I started tearing up a little, knowing this would be the last time I would be in the U.S. until I came back.  Adventure!  Let’s go!

 

The flight to Frankfort was about 7 hours, but I had longer rides than this in a car.  I watched the movie “Date Night.”  The lights remained on for about four hours as the flight attendants moved up and down the aisles first giving a snack, then a drink, then dinner, then a drink, and this and that.  They didn’t seem to stop until they had delivered all the promised goods.  I was thankful when they did stop.  I wanted to sleep!  I slept in fits for the remaining of the flight.  Thankfully, the plane was relatively empty and I had two seats to myself.

 

I arrived in Frankfurt at 9AM and the screen at the gate stated my next flight took of in 25 minutes.  I rushed to get to the correct concourse.  In the Philadelphia airport and the Frankfurt airport, people were transported between concourses on buses that ran along the tarmac.   I had never experienced this before.  So I arrived at the correct concourse to discover my plane did not leave until 10AM as it had stated on my ticket.  So I sat and waited a little bit before boarding. 

 

I sat next to a nice Egyptian man, but we did not talk at all.  I just wanted to sleep!  Before I knew it we were preparing to land in Cairo.  I looked out the window and saw the dessert below, jagged with buildings rising from the ground.  There was the Nile River, flowing and bending between buildings and sand.  There were patches of green, fields of crops, but so few.

 

I am here!  In Cairo!  I’m excited for a grand adventure. 

Class Schedule!

I had received my class schedule many weeks ago, but I have failed to share with everyone which classes I am taking. I am happy to say my earliest class is at 10 AM! I am a complete night owl, so it is necessary to have my morning beauty sleep.

The following is the list of the classes I am taking:

Elementary Arabic
Understanding Arab Music
Intro to Photography
Mass Communication Research (the class which will substitute for my senior capstone)

I have wanted to take a photography course for a very long time, but it had been one of my last choices for studying at AUC. Originally, I had signed up for a Middle Eastern Studies course, but they replaced that with the photography course. I suppose my studies will be less taxing by taking photography instead of another writing-intensive course. No matter what classes I take, I know I will be very busy!

All the courses which would substitute for my senior capstone had a prerequisite, so I am quite relieved to find I have been added to one of them. The class I am in was not the one I preferred, but at least it is something! My first choice was "Research for Journalists," but I will take what I can get.

I feel like a freshman again with all my classes being chosen for me; but I am happy to be studying in another country!

Bon Voyage! Soon.

Still working on preparation for Cairo...more or less. I'm also relaxing as much as possible. Returning home means the return of household responsibilities as a member of the family unit. Sometimes it's strange and hard to re-adapt to the lifestyle I once knew. Coming home has a familiar feeling, but there is a strange newness as well.

The other day my family had a picnic-- a kind of bon voyage party. Surprisingly, the state park where we held the picnic also had their own party, too. There was a DJ at the pool, ice cream, and a cute set up for drenching your friends and loved ones (for $1 you get three throws at a target which will release a spout of ice cold water). Of course I was the subject of the brutal torture! We all had a grand ol' time...quite fun!

My aunt had requested a song for me, which I have posted below for you to enjoy (see link). I've never had a song played for me before! I should travel more often.

In a few words, my bon voyage picnic turned into an event to remember.

Walk Like an Egyptian

In New York

I am back home in New York State. It feels good to be reunited with family, but I dearly miss my friends back in Kentucky!

It seems my weekends are going to be busy as each one has some event planned:
The weekend of the 7th: camping in the Adirondacks and hiking Mount Marcy-- tallest mountain in New York.

August 14: a big party and picnic at a childhood hangout to celebrate my trip and to reconnect friends and family for a day.

August 21: Surprisingly, nothing is planned at the home-front, but I may have plans of my own depending on a dear friend of mine.

There are other plans mixed in throughout the month including shopping for appropriate clothing to wear in Cairo markets. We are also planning a trip to NYC to see the body exhibit and perhaps for a hair appointment at Bumble and Bumble (a highly sought hair salon and academy).

I am working on learning a little Arabic by using flashcards I have found online called Quizlet. Use the links on the left side of the page to find Arabic or any other subject to study. I am also using an interactive learning tool I found called Byki 4 Express. I also ordered a set of CDs to listen to and learn some extra vocabulary.

You would think I wouldn't need the Arabic course I am taking this fall! But I am far from prepared. One can have all the tools to learn a language, but dedication and perseverance are the keys to learning.

In the Middle

I wrote this while I was still in Kentucky, but I never had a chance to post it.

So life has become a little more difficult now that I do not have internet at home. Nor am I allowed to go on the internet for personal reasons while I’m at work. I have so much to do that requires internet access! I still need to find a storage shed and I’d like to do more research about Egypt.

I “started” packing today…meaning I started to pack up the clothes I haven’t been using this summer. But then I realized I was planning on taking all my clothes home and going through them carefully and deciding what to bring. I think it would be easier this way. I remember Austria was awful because I had packed my bag thinking I was completely prepared, but then I realized “it would be nice to bring this, and to have that, too.” I made a mess of my neatly packed storage bins and my suitcase before I was completely ready. Sooo…I’m keeping everything open until D-day. I’m beginning to realize this is the last week that I will be able to see anyone I know for about ½ a year. Ok, 5 months, but it isn’t much different. During the spring semester this sounded like an excellent idea because I really needed a break from everything and everyone. I just wanted to get away and hide for a while. What better way to do so than to take off for a semester! Well, it is actually the last motive for going, but it seemed like an extra perk to the trip.

Now that I have had a chance to relax and enjoy just sitting around doing practically nothing for hours on end, I’m not so sure taking off is such a great idea anymore. But I think my fears are getting the best of me. This happened a couple years ago when I went to Austria, but I also had friends who were going along. Now, I’m going solo. Scary! Luckily, I have a couple friends who are familiar with Egypt and the Arab world.

The other day I met a Syrian man who helped me realize I had formed at least one fallacy, even though I thought I was conducting legitimate research. I had watched a few clips online about the increase of head coverings in Egypt. It seemed young, Muslim Egyptian women were returning to wearing scarves. I also saw in the same clips crowded streets in Cairo where the majority of women were wearing head coverings. However, the Syrian I spoke with told me most Egyptian women do not wear Hijab. I had planned on wearing a head covering every time I went out to avoid unwanted attention. Long, curly blonde hair generally isn’t the norm in Egypt. The Syrian advised I should dress normally and that if I was going to be attending the American University, I would already be more conservative than the majority of students there. I was wearing a long shirt that buttoned high on the chest and was loose fitting…generally not my normal choice of costume. I still plan to dress conservatively whenever I am going outside of the university. I want to blend as much as possible.

Travel Websites

There are a few fascinating websites I have stumbled upon about travel. I continue to find more so the more interesting websites will be posted on this part of the blog. So come back to this particular post often to see what's new! I hope you enjoy!

Information About Egypt
Country Specific Information from U.S. Department of State

Almost Fearless "Work Wirelessly. Travel the World. Do Anything."
Vagabondish "The Travelzine for Today's Vagabond"
The 50 Most Inspiring Travel Quotes Of All Time
Overseas Digest "The adventure of living and working abroad."
Frugal Traveler "Seeing the World on a Budget."
Adventure Divas "A New Brand of Pilgrimage"

Preparation Continues

I have just purchased my round trip ticket for Cairo! Now that I have my ticket, I feel like I cannot change my mind anymore. Not that the idea had ever crossed my mind! I am becoming more nervous as my departure date draws closer. I still need to learn a few basic Arabic words and I would like to study the culture a little more before I leave. I have an application for a crash course in “Survival Egyptian Colloquial Arabic” which I plan to send to the AUC New York office tomorrow. I have yet to apply for a visa and must do so soon. Today I received my Arabic phrasebook and dictionary in the mail which I had ordered a few days ago. I’ve already read a few pages and I am beginning to feel the excitement of learning a new language.

I feel like there’s still so much for me to do before I’m ready to go. Actually, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to entirely prepare for whatever awaits me in Cairo. No matter how many books and websites I read about the culture and what to expect while in the city, it will not compare to the actual experience. But this is the exciting part: experiencing a culture first hand. It’s like taking a trip on white rapids and falling in the water…the water rushing everywhere around you and you don’t know which way is up or down at first. Soon you find your head above water once again and… a refreshing breath of air. It’s good to be alive.

Preparation

After my acceptance to study abroad and my acceptance at AUC, I have gone through a whirlwind of paperwork and preparation. All the students at my school who were accepted to study abroad for a semester or a year were required to attend orientation meetings at the study abroad office. The orientation could be considered a class since we met once a week for two hours and had homework. I already had an overwhelming schedule and adding another class made life very hectic. I would have had a hectic semester even if I decided NOT to apply to study abroad, so preparing to study abroad definitely made things worse. It has been, by far, the worse semester of my college existence (academically). Luckily, I had a few friends who also decided to study abroad (purely coincidental) which helped ease the pain of sitting through a two hour "class."

Here is my "To Do" list since I was accepted:

For Home University
- attend weekly orientation meetings
- meet with financial aid adviser (mandatory, at least twice)
- meet with academic adviser and finalize curriculum plan for rest of college career
- schedule health appointment, take tests for disease, receive shots.
- forwarding address
- ensure housing for return to school
- ensure labor position for return to school
- curriculum plan to student services
- transfer of credit form
- airfare!
- International Student Insurance Card
- other insurance
- application for loan
- beg family and friends for funds
- obtain signatures from various individuals from around campus who are apparently important. 


For AUC
- submit recognition of acceptance to university
- submit curriculum plan
- health appointment
- VISA! (first, tourist...will receive student VISA upon arrival)
- Housing application and deposit
- register for classes
- arrange for airport pickup
- apply for intensive Arabic class (taken upon arrival to Cairo to help acclimate).

(Feels like something is missing somewhere).

My list doesn't look so bad on paper, but it really has been a bit of a headache to deal with on top of all my classes and my labor.

Soon, everything will be completed and I will be ready to step off the plane in bustling Cairo.

Applying

I've had the traveler's itch since I got off the plane when I returned from Austria almost two years ago. There have been, of course, the random road trips around the States, but felt like I needed to get back on a plane and once again be bored out of my mind for at least nine hours. I had been considering traveling abroad, but thought I had missed the application deadlines at my school. I also thought I might not be able to graduate on time if I decided to study abroad. Apparently, I am an overachiever and could graduate early if I chose to do so. So, instead of terminating my "undergraduate student" status prematurely, I decided to find a study abroad program which fit my needs.

I didn't want to be too picky, but I definitely wanted to study somewhere in the Middle East. I already tried to wiggle my way into going to Israel/Palestine, but that did not work since it has a high travel advisory. I also needed to find a program or university which offered a class (in English) which could fulfill my senior capstone for my major (Communication). Luckily, my adviser was also the Department Chair and she allowed me to make my dream a reality. (Now, I just need to ensure a spot in one of the two or three courses we determined could fulfill the requirement). Needless to say, it was a headache to find a university in the Middle East which taught this particular class in English. I finally found such a class on my own after I had asked for help from the study abroad office more than once. My dreams seemed they might become a reality when I discovered American University in Cairo.

Most students who study abroad will apply to a program of some sort which will help you transition into life at a university or is its own "university" of sorts. However, I applied directly to AUC which has definitely been a greater headache than if I had found a program. Ah, me! But I believe it will be VERY worth the trouble.

I filled out all the necessary paperwork and applications for my school which were required just to apply to even be considered for the opportunity to study abroad. I had, again, thought the deadline might have passed so I had forgotten about such dreams until the last minute. I scrambled together everything I needed and made a screeching slide to the deadline. I waited with anticipation for a week or two and received an email congratulating me on my acceptance to study abroad. While I had been waiting I wasted no time applying to AUC, but their answer took a little longer. Luckily, with a little tweaking, a lot of the essays I wrote for my essays in the application to study abroad also could be used for the essays I needed to apply to AUC.

One of my professors (Pre-Modern Middle Eastern History) asked if I would like him to write a recommendation for me since he had studied Arabic at AUC after he had received his masters in the States. He will be leading a summer course in Egypt this year so he had offered a hidden course to help prepare those attending the trip. The class had already met for a month before I learned about the course, but my professor invited me to join anyway. The class would learn survival Arabic as well as Egyptian history and customs. Unfortunately, I had a conflicting schedule and was only able to attend two or three of the sessions.

So, I waited with bated breath in anticipation of the acceptance letter from AUC. One morning my professor had asked if I had received an answer from Cairo yet. I told him no, but was expecting one soon. I went to the library, opened my laptop, and loaded my email. The very first thing which caught my eye out of the long list of morning emails said "study abroad acceptance." I was elated and knew even before I opened the email. I read part of the first line, "Congratulations! We are delighted to admit you as a full-time..." I didn't finish the email and immediately emailed my history professor, "I've been accepted! Thank you for your help!"

I'm not sure if I ever finished reading that letter...