A Guide to Getting Lost in Cairo

Back in the U.S.A.!

2010-07-28T23:46:00.000-07:00

Well, I've officially been home, as in Washburn, WI for a month now. Things here are...the SAME. It is really great to be back in my little town on the lake, but I tend to miss Cairo once in awhile. Especially when things like public transportation don't exist...but, I truly see this town in a new light. I appreciate the trees, fresh air, and the cleanliness of everything. Recently, during my town's Homecoming, which only happens every five years, a local theater did a piece on the history of Washburn. I was amazed and shocked, as I didn't know most of it. I'm pretty sure I've seen that show before, but I guess it was with a very different perspective than I have now!

Those first two weeks were tough; living with my family again, speaking English, and seeing old friends. One of the hardest parts is hearing friends talk about all the things that went on in the past year and being totally lost. But, you get over that too. When I see people for the first time they ALWAYS ask "So, How was Egypt?" as if I could answer that question in a word, or even a sentence. I usually end up just smiling and saying something along the lines of "It was awesome!" but we all know that's a lame excuse for an answer. The other great question is, "Can you speak some Arabic for me?" with this question I don't really know what you want me to say in Arabic so I tend to talk about the weirdest things like people's shoes or the dream I had last night, it's good practice if I come up with creative things to say...and it's not like people can tell!

My last week in Cairo was quite bittersweet, I went around to see things for the last time and had to say goodbye to my family, but I also knew I was going to come home and have a fun summer. Our orientation in D.C was really helpful. There were almost 25 of us that had been in five different countries for the past year, meeting up for the first time since our departures in August 2009. Deb and Darin, our program facilitators (for lack of the exact titles), told us what going through reverse culture shock is like, and what to expect, though I never really believed it until it was actually happening! I would say that coming back is harder than going abroad in the short term. In D.C. we met with Senator Lugar to talk about our experiences, some of us interviewed for a TV station from the Middle East and I attempted to speak some Arabic, and we met with other senators to try to inform them about how important it is for our program to receive funding in the future. Overall, I would say it was a productive orientation!

A couple days after I got home I started working at my job from last summer, the bakery, to keep myself busy. I went camping with my family in lower Michigan, went to a Brad Paisley concert with my best friend in Chicago, and am learning to drive so I can get my full license before the school year starts. In early August Elle and I are going to give a presentation about our experiences and give people some knowledge about Egyptian and Thai culture. (August 11 at 7:00 pm in the downstairs of the Washburn Public Library). There will be Thai and Egyptian food to try!!! We recently helped out with the Pre-Departure Orientation for the kids from our area that are going abroad in the next year. There were three alumni members there and it was fun to bounce experiences off each other and to compare. I'm excited for the students coming to my high school this next year from all around the world!!!

I'd really like to say thank you for all the people that have made my exchange year possible, from both sets of parents to Deb and Darin/AFS-USA to the State Department who provided the funding. My friends and teachers as well, as without their support I would not be where or who I am today! Thanks everybody!

Oh, really weird: while in Egypt I dreamed in Arabic only a few times and it was never me speaking the Arabic, now back in the U.S. I have dreams in Arabic much more frequently and even weirder, it's my friends and family from Washburn having conversations with me in Arabic like it's nothing! Kinda cool though...

Wa7ashtini ya Masr!!!

My friends and I after they picked me up from the airport! My family greated me as I came out of the terminal and my friends just popped up, and it took me a really long time to notice. Haha!

My brother, sister, and I on Lake Michigan on our camping trip.

My family and our exchange student, Esmat from Kenya, on his last day.

Siwa

2010-05-12T13:32:00.000-07:00

Siwa

Min: Bria Abeles-Allison

Siwa kenit helwa owie! E7na kona mobsouteen min al owel illa al wa2t e7na nizzlet al autobees. El sefara bed2it emta e7na rakibna al autobees illa Eskandraia wa b3dane illa Siwa. Kenit taweela giddan bes kenit helwa bardo, kolena m3bad! El awel yom fi Siwa bada2et m3 netla3 al gabal wara al funduq bata3na ashen 3zeen shof al 3'oroob il shems. Shoufna al sa7ara asfar gemb alwa7a a5dar wa kamain kol al midinat sareer. Fel har e7na rakibna fi wara al 3rabeya illa maya sa2a wa 3mna mabsoteen. Fel ayem il ba3dieeha e7na nadafna al bala3a wa zorna amakan adema zay al makan zaro Alekzander Akbar wa Cleobatra bes al 7wet al aham lema kona ben3oom! Al ekla kenit to7fa owie wal as7ab moto3em keno min Siwa wa homa kano al beyershedoona. Homa edamolna ekla Siwi. Kamain fel moto3em kono otat gamila keter. Meshena keter wa sa7ena bedri owie wa kona o3tshoneen. Maya kenit muhima owie wa e7na at3lmna na7baha maya keteer! Min al masna3 maya gibtna maya sa2a min 3'er faloose!

Al taree5 min Siwa gamile owie. Ro7na "Siwa Odeema." Henek fi hetat fadla bat3 amarat odeem 3la gabal min al owel 1900's. Fel 1900's bedri kenit fi motar tekil wa hoa wa2a3 al amarat wal gabal kamain. Al morshed etkalem englizi, fransawi, wa 3rabi bat2 Masr wa Siwa. Al 3rabi bat2 Siwa mo5talefa min al 3rabi al 3adi.

El a5er yom ra7na illa al wal nabeit. Kenit fi 5ema kabeer ma3 segaggeed gamil wa coverta ashen anem ta7tihoom. Abla ama nenam a shofna te3ban mosamam wa e7na kona shweya 5eyfa minha, fa nemna gemb al nar ow fil wast al s7ara ta7t al negoom. El negoom kenit bitlema owie wa ana la7ezt enohom wa7ashoomi! Kenit fi besine maya so5na kamain.

Ana sa7it saba7 da mabsouta owie bil al safari! Bes kamain ana 5efa shewa bada lema 3rift en al ramla kanit 3'arza leta7t. Al safari bada2et 3la sharie3 bes besura nazilnaha bil al ramla. B3d nadifna bala3a tania wa nemna shweya e7na ekelna gemb al bo7aira sa2a owie m3 nes min Eroba. Feg2a getlina 3sifa wa itza7lana 3la ramla. Wal za7laha kenit gemda tinien! Bil al 3'ada homa elolna e7na "ta3li" wa shoft forn ta7t al ard. B3d al 3'da imshtna illa al 3rabeya illa al autobus. We bnifdal niftiker al wa2t al halw il 2adena henek! Ashkorik AFS!!

Siwa

By: Bria Abeles-Allison

Siwa was an amazing adventure! We enjoyed ourselves from the minute we energetically stepped onto the bus, until the crowd of zombie-like students spilled off the bus very eager for a shower! Day one began with a climb up the mountain behind our hotel to watch the sunrise. You could see for miles in every direction with the very apparent contrast between the green oasis and the sands of the Sahara. Little communities, each with their own lake or spring, melded together in the surrounding area. In the heat we piled into pickup trucks to see an oracle visited by Alexander the Great and Cleopatra and then onto what became our salvation: natural springs. We all dived in and were pleasantly shocked to find the water quite cold. Happily exhausted we all turned in early that night. Over the next couple days we visited quite a few wells and springs, we cleaned up the trash, and swam a lot. The restaurants we ate at were owned by local Siwans and we were served traditional food. Water was a commodity we couldn’t live without, and so we based our days on when and where we could get more water! We even visited a water factory to see how bottled water that is shipped all over Egypt and even worldwide is packaged, though we all admit that the best part of the tour was that they gave us free water!

The history of Siwa is very interesting. We were taken to a part of Siwa coined “Old Siwa”. It is the last remnants of buildings from before the 1900’s. In the early part of the century there was heavy rainfall, causing the mud and straw buildings to deteriorate, leaving a mountain-like rock full of nooks and crannies. We were told this history at sunset on the top of this very mountain by our native Siwan guide. He spoke English, French, Egyptian Arabic, and of course the Siwan dialect. Curious, a couple of us asked him to teach us their dialect, and soon found out that it is barely similar to Egyptian Arabic. After further questions we also discovered that there is a written language as well, though it is fading out because the youth don’t speak it. Listening to the Siwan language really made us realize just how much Arabic we normally understand!

On the last night we were taken out to the desert to camp. There was a big tent with gorgeous woven rungs and blankets for us to sleep under. Before bedtime a poisonous snake was seen so we moved all of our bedding near the fire, or spread it out under the stars. The stars were bright, maybe somewhat brighter in our minds, as it was the first time we had seen the vast starry sky since being in Egypt! There was also a geyser to bathe in a ways away from the fire, so you almost could forget that humanity existed and just focus on the beauty of the stars and the desert around you.

I woke up that morning thrilled for our safari, though somewhat hesitant after being told about a forty-meter drop off that we were going to surf. We started off on a road, but soon left it behind and sped quickly up and down the dunes of the desert. After some cleaning, and a nap we stopped off at another lake for lunch and were joined by a large crowd of Europeans. Out of nowhere a sandstorm blew up, so we packed up our lunch and took off. The Siwans didn’t look too alarmed, and to our surprise we were just heading to another dune for some intense sand boarding. The hike up the dune was hard, but definitely worth it for the adrenaline high you felt flying down the wall of sand! For our dinner that night they told us to come gather round this hill of sand. We were all quite confused, but it soon dawned on us what was happening when they scrapped away the sand to reveal a metal platter covering a pit, with an appetizing aroma floating up. In the pit was a large leg of lamb that had been cooking all day over the heat of a fire. After that hearty dinner we packed up our stuff and left on our last pickup truck ride to the bus station. We continue to remember what a great time we had in Siwa and the memories will be with us for life! Thank you AFS Egypt and the U.S. State Department for making this happen!

Note: The first one is in Arabic written with the Latin Alphabet. The numbers represent different sounds that we don't have in English.

6 weeks left....SCARY!!!!

How To Act Like An Egyptian

2010-04-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

The more time I spend in Egypt the less I notice the things that make Egyptians Egyptians. The mannerisms of a culture that we forget we have. You see a friend you know(of the same sex) either you a) jump up immediately to greet them giving them a kiss on each cheek and a warm hug or b) wait for them to come to you and do the same. If you happen to be eating it is necessary to offer the person a portion of it, or else you are considered rude. Instead of saying no, use your tongue to click a couple times and shake your head a little bit or, if you agree don't say "iwa" (yes) say "oh" a sort of combination between "ah" and "oh". When talking to a friend and another one interrupts just keep on talking, or to be polite; look at them for a brief second while making the "wait" gesture. To do this bring all 5 fingers together and and bring your hand down slightly. While in conversation if someone dares to mention the future, say inshallah a couple times just to be safe, and if something good happens say Alhomduallah a couple more. When someone compliments another make sure that Mashallah is said to ward off the evil eye. To make a point raise your voice, and gesture by banging on the table or something of the sort (contrary to my initial observations, this does not necessarily mean anger.) Now, let's say you are driving a car and someone is in your path, kindly honk to let them know you're behind them. (In the beginning this had me pretty paranoid, wondering why everyone was honking at me!!) When going out, all ways dress your best, appearances, or reputations are everything! If someone enters a room full of people and wants to greet them all at once he will say "salaam alekoom" and you will hear the in sync response of "alekoom asalam"

Well, I hope this is an accurate description of some common behavior and that it helps you to become one with your Egyptian side :D

Two weeks ago there was a holiday, and it just happened to coincide with Easter. It is called Shem al Nesiem (the smell of spring) and is celebrating just that; the arrival of spring. It is celebrated by both Muslims and Christians by spending time in the outdoors. My family also uses the occasion to eat various types of fish that they get just this once every year.

On my recent trip to Port Said I explored one of the fish markets the town is famous for and had a lengthy discussion with a fisherman and his wife about fishing practices. Here is a picture of them and some of their ware:

This weekend I will be heading to the middle of the desert for a brief vacation to Siwa (an oasis) before my exams. It will also be a community service project and we will be helping to clean wells.

Happy

2010-03-05T09:51:00.000-08:00

I am back in a routine, comfortably trying to break out of it as usual, but this time I really think it is a good one. I enjoy school more and more everyday, and this is a huge improvement in comparison to how miserable it was in the begining. My newest discoveries/adventures are teaching me new things all the time. I found out that there are buses near my house that will take me to the main street in Zamalek and also to Tahrir. Also near Tahrir Michelle and I explored the market "Wakalat Al Bala7" (The Date Agencies) It is a HUGE used clothing market with things from 5LE to about 60LE for fancy clothing and there are no dates....
In Maadi Kariko, Anne, Madeline, and I found this amazing book store with used and new books. The used books are fairly well priced and you can return them for half of your money back. There is also a bargain section with books 3 for 10LE. On this adventure I also got my first map of Cairo (something I thought didn't exist) at Cinabon. During this excursion all hell broke loose in Cairo. Guess what happend?! There was a thunderstorm! That may not sound too crazy, but when you are in a city that is not designed to deal with any rain much less 3 or 4 inches plus HAIL it gets pretty wild. We ran into a McDonalds to escape the rain only to see that the roof leaked. Moments later we heard this pounding and looked out the window to see hail. We danced and sang and skipped in the rain in joy while most people ran for their lives to get out of it. On the way back in the metro there were problems with the power so we stopped at each station for a couple minutes each. A long trip back. Today, we went back to the book store to return some books and get some new ones. Then I dragged Madeline and Anne to Attaba where we got more books. We went in search of some good foul and t3meya (beans and fallafal) but ended up in a very large shoe market. When we found our way back to the metro and tahrir we decided to go for icecream at Al 3bd. That was some pretty good icecream!
In school this week I convinced a couple kids to teach me the national anthem of Egypt and in return I attemped to teach them the U.S. anthem and the Pledge of Alligance. It took me awhile to remember them...kinda sad! At least I remember them now!
I've come so far and learned so much, I can't wait for the next four months!

And Life Begins Again

2010-02-13T13:16:00.000-08:00

A really cool tailor on the street that I saw in Luxor Me in traditional galabeya for a party aboard the ship.

Me getting married along with three other girls to the same man :D ahahh traditional wedding, I think not...

At the Edfu temple I think, though I may be wrong. Anyway you can see the heiroglypics on the pilar behind us.

The perfect AFS picture...just watch and it will show up there! Though it's kinda bad quality here. Marufsh le?

Well, though my title is "and life begins again" it doesn't really for another week. I am still on mid-year break Al7. I spent the day in So5na with my parents and my aunt and her mother. It was very peaceful and relaxing. Gibt some sand and nice sea shells kamain.

Over all the trip to Luxor/Aswan/Hurgada was amazing and I have a lot of good memories from it! Most of them were from wandering outside of the tourist market areas into the local parts of town. There we saw some cabbages being sold that were as big as me curled into a ball, a street tailor (first one I've ever seen contrary to my Dad's belief), a konafa topping maker, and some really nice people! Ah, I love Egypt. I had another adventure with public buses, it was interesting to say the least. The greatest thing in my opinion is that if I were put into situations where I dont know how to get home and end up on a bus that you don't have any idea where it is heading in the U.S. I would freak out. But here, I just kinda go with the flow, and realize that I will make it home somehow and in the mean time I should enjoy the adventure and talk to people. So thats what I did. I heard a couple life stories and got a taxi ride from Sher3a Sala7 Salem to Attaba metro for 1Le!!! AMAZING! That was also when I decided that I am still overpaying for taxis! Though I also think that that was less than it should have been. THanks to the unnecessary generosity of Egyptians I got home on 3 Le that night.

I still need to:

take a Tok Tok

explore Midan Al Lubnan

take a micro to 6-0

check out Midan KitKat fi Imbaba

eat camel

see the camel market

and many other things I am too tired to think of and too lazy to go get my list of...

Mu3'marat B'lil (Adventures at Night)

2010-02-02T02:28:00.000-08:00

Hannah and I decided to go on an adventure yesterday. I wanted to explore and Hannah needed a book so, we decided to go to the Cairo International Book Fair. We really had no idea where it was besides the fact that it is somewhere in Nasr City. We had planned to leave around 4, but Egypt being Egypt we left around 5. We had two alternatives, to take an expensive taxi ride, around 25 LE each way, or take a taxi to the metro, the metro to Tahrir and the microbus station, a microbus to Madinat Nasr, and walk to the book fair from there for a total of six LE each. Us being cheap and ready for adventure we chose the second one. We got to the microbus station with no problem, but from there we weren’t sure which microbus to Nasr City to get on. We asked for M3rd al Ketab (book fair) and some guy took us under his wing. He led us to a bus going to Nasr City and talked to the driver to let him know where to let us off because it was not on his normal route. The driver sat us in the front, the best seat, and took us to where we needed to go. That ride was pretty awesome, because we were going kind of fast and we even got to sit in the front seat (kind of a treat). When he let us off he pointed us in the right direction. We walked and followed the trail of people with bags of books. Upon getting there we got into line only to find that the person in front of us had got the last ticket. We were disappointed and tried to convince the police officers to let us in by using our impressive Arabic skills. Even then we did not succeed. It was around 6:45 and we had come ALL the way to Nasr City and we didn’t want to go home so we decided to go to city stars. We asked a lady and she said it was really close, we asked another and she said it was far, we ended up walking and taking a taxi there. We just wandered around for awhile before it was time to head out. We knew we didn’t want to pay for a taxi home, but we also didn’t know where to catch a microbus, we ended up asking multiple people and we eventually got to the right place. We asked and nobody knew of one going to Tahrir, finally a police officer put us on a bus to Ramses Station. I have never been on a bus in Egypt before, so that was interesting. We got out a Ramses, also a place I’ve never been. Finding the metro wasn’t hard, but finding a way in was, so eventually we got fed up and just jumped the fence which got us a standing ovation from the men in the area. . We made our way home from there. What was really the best part of the trip was the fact that we can get anywhere we want to, and that people in Egypt are ALWAYS willing to help you.

Egypt won the African Cup the other night!! It was amazing!!! Mabrouk ya Masr!!!

Pictures...

2010-01-19T11:41:00.000-08:00

The lastthree are the place we had our Mid-Stay orientation. The rugs were facinating. The first picture is of my sisters gymnastics competition...it was super cool!

Half Way...eek!

2010-01-19T10:38:00.000-08:00

I'm almost half way through my year in Egypt, and this is not a good thing! I got here on my sixteenth birthday, August 28th, and will leave June 25th I think. I don't know where the time has gone...it seems like just yesterday when I was trapped in an elevator with two HUGE suitcases because I didn't know that you had to manually open the door...
The night I met my family and the rest of the first two weeks that I barly remember because I slept every chance I got...
My first day of school and the realization that for the past month we had been driving up and down the same exact street and I was still lost...
Eating mangoes for every meal untill I could't eat any more...

I now feel a slight sense of rushing and urgency to learn and see all that I can. In some ways this is useful, but also inner caous. I could live in Om al Dunya for years and still not know everything, someday inshallah I will come back and live here. But also with this realization is the thought that I have 5 more months to live here and if you count the days and the hours it is a lot of time! My goal is to make it the best 5 months of my life yet!

This past week I moved to the eleventh grade. I can only wish that I had done it sooner. School will be much better from now on, though school is still school, something nobody likes ;P
We have a mid-year break coming up that is a good two weeks, so that should be nice. I am leaving two days early to go on the Luxor/Aswan/Hurgada cruise.

One of the greatest things I have learned in Egypt so far is patience. The words Malish, Bookra, and Inshallah have been my teachers. When decisions are made last minute, events are delayed, or someone is just too lazy to act upon something I think to myself "malish" whatever. What difference is one hour or two days going to make in the long run? Not much. For this, I thank Egypt.

I am freezing still. I never expected to be cold in Egypt, much less freezing. It rained today and yesterday and as much as I miss it I still wish it to go away because being wet+cold is even worse! I have decided that my body temperature is out to get me and will make me uncomforably hot or cold wherever I go!

Our mid-year orientation went quite well, even though my hope of going out of Cairo (and by that I mean out of greater Cairo) was disapointed. I was quite inspired by the large amout of opportunies that were mentioned and by others stories. We all froze there as well, though I was better off then most because my brillant mother convinced me to bring 6 sweatshirts/jackets for 2 and a half days! There was this room that worked just like an amputheater and was AMAZING!

Everybody should check out Elle's blog at: http://ellea-ajasminekeeper.blogspot.com/2010/01/coffee-joy.html

It's 2010!

2010-01-01T11:38:00.000-08:00

Well, the new year is here and started off with a bang - always a good sign! Last minute I was invited to a folk dance concert. There were dances from all around Egypt and maybe all around the Middle East. The costumes were fabulous and the music was live! It made me want to learn how to dance even more. When the concert was over I went to Cassidy's house for a party that her family was throwing, it was a blast! We lit sparkelers for the New Year and celebrated by screaming "Happy New Year" for about five minutes. We convinced Cassidy's sister to give us belly dancing lessons as well and stayed up untill the wee hours of the morning. Over all it was a memorable New Year!

I have been out of school for the past week and have another week off as well. In the past week I have gone adventuring as much as possible. My biggest adventure was to the other side of the city. I went to Nasr City by microbus. They are these really skinny buses that cost about 30 cents that will take you all over Cairo. I had never been in one before so it was a nic

e expirence. With some friends from Nasr City I went iceskating in a mall. It was pretty fun and made me realize how much I have missed it! That night I went to my first Self Defense class at the Cultural Wheel. It was really fun, but I am also kinda sore! I did learn how to break someones wrist though....

This week I have to give a presentation in Arabic about why I like Egypt. I hope it goes smoothly!

We just got the details of our Luxor/Aswan/Hurgada cruise! We are going in the begining of February and are spending two days at each place. It will be a ton of fun and the semester kids last week :(. I'm really going to miss them!

Well, Happy New Year to you all, or Kol Sana wa ento tayibeen as we would say here!

The picture I am going to post with this is one I took at Al Azhar Park of the Egyptian sunset!

Alternate Demension

2009-12-09T06:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Carrie and I were walking in Zamalek in pursuit of her sense of heaven: Subway. Though we knew the way we decided to take a short cut. We turned off on to a new street and immediately entered into a different world. We left the Westernized Zamalek behind to a find a true piece of the pure heart of Egypt. The street was narrow and cheerfully decorated with streamers for the recently passed 3id, people peacefully meandered aground the many shops. I would have considered these junk shops in the U.S., but here they were shown in a different light. You enter and are amazed to find tiny shops filled to the bursting brim with random household supplies, toys, gifts, food and about anything else you can imagine. The older woman or man genuinely greets you and welcomes you into their store. If you stay for a few minutes you get a look into their life, a snapshot of an ongoing movie. Walking a little further we reached our destination of mini -America and had our Egyptian style Subway sandwiches; just a few hundred meters from our starting point, but yet in a unique blend of cultures. There ended a brief adventure in my home of Egypt.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T06:56:00.000-08:00

This past Thursday night (one week before Thanksgiving) my friends and I were discussing when we were going to have our Thanksgiving Dinner and we realized that we were busy for the next two weeks! That only left the coming Saturday. So, on Friday Cassidy and Hannah went to Carrefour (Walmart of the Middle East), Courtney and Carrie went to the vegetable market, and Sara and I went to Metro. We got everything we needed, including a 20 lb turkey! That night we preped the turkey by sticking herbs under its skin. The next morning we got up early and put the turkey in the oven. Then came the real work...we made sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, two types of stuffing, apple crisp, pecan pie, sweet tea, gravy, and we had pomegranates (instead of cranberry's...that is a new tradition) ice cream, and sparkling cider. All in all it was a lot of work, but super fun and very gratifying. At about 4:30 we sat down for dinner with my parents and all the american girls. We ate a very hardy meal and had desert as well. After that we skyped with a couple peoples parents then did our Thank-Yous. This is where we go around the table and say what we are thankful for. In the past I have never really taken this seriously, just saying what ever comes to mind, but this time I really thought about it. Each one of us really have things to be thankful for, and we all started crying at one point. It was touching to know how much we all care about each other!When we started to calm down we decided to do a Secret Santa, and we had to draw many times as we kept drawing our own names! It was a great and joyful night!

This week is the last week of school before a ten day vacation for the Eid. We have had one exam everyday for the past two weeks. Today we took ours and skedaddled. The whole 12th grade all (20 of us) went to Fuddruckers for an early Lunch. We had a nice time and bonded with our friends. After that we went with some friends to a Starbucks and hung out for awhile...making friends!

This weekend for the vacation we are going to So5na again, I am looking forward to no school!!!!

Check out Thanksgiving pictures at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=139481&id=564185968&l=feb9643586

Still in Egypt, and I'm still loving it!

2009-11-14T03:09:00.000-08:00

The week after Halloween, Carrie and I made a presentation for Maura Pally (Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State) on our life in Cairo so far. She came to our school which was very nicely fixed up, with new paint, and soccer goals to boot. During our one on one conversation we discussed how great the YES (and NSLI-Y) programs were and how they should be continued, unfortunatly the YES Abroad program will not happen nest year, but the year after that it should, Inshallah. Over all I think it went very well.

I have been working on essays as well, fortunatly not for school though. I am re-applying for UWC, United World Colleges, a two year International Baccalouriate High School program with 12 campuses around the world. I applied last year and didn't get in, but I was just reading the essays I wrote and they were really bad, no wonder I didn't get in! About 1000 kids from the U.S. apply and 50 are chosen. They are given a full scholarship, with 25 going to the school in New Mexico, and the other 25 spread around the world. Hopefully I will get in and be able to make the decision on if I would like to spend the next two years away from home...and if my parents will let me!

On the other hand if I do graduate from high school next year and move on to university, I will need to apply to a couple. I have just barely begun my search, making my self think what I want to study and possible career choices. Right now, I am still thinking that I want to study Chem, mumkin Bio-Chem, and possibly a career in Stem Cell Research. Though, I also think that I might want to do something involving Arabic. I guess I have time. So mainly, I am looking at Science Schools though I am going to have to visit them all this summer...ROAD TRIP!

Today of all days is crazier than normal in Egypt! There is a world cup soccer match between Algeria and Egypt. It is literally almost not safe to go in the streets! My school is right across the street from the Algerian Embassy, where they have been rallying every day. The traffic is crazy, with flags hanging out car windows and special taxi's painted red, white, and black just for the occasion. I really wanted to go to the game, but was told that no women will be there. I also got an email from the U.S. embassy warning us not to go.

School is going really well, I am starting to make better friends and really like my teachers! This coming week is quarter exams...but I'm not too nervous. We have been discussing our senior trip, and it sounds like we are looking at Paris, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, though we could end up going anywhere! I am really pushing for Thailand as it would be pretty cool to see the country, and my SISTER! We were also discussing graduation and found that is scheduled for after I leave, so I talked to the principal and they are going to have it in the middle of June...you are all invited! :D

The week after next my sister is headed off to Germany for a gymnastics competition...I wish I could go! Thanksgiving is also coming up, I am going to go to one of my teacher's houses (she is American). The next day is the big 3id so my family will go back to the Red Sea, Sokhna. There is a 10 break from school for that.We also just spent this last weekend in Sokhna. It was really pretty and calm, a nice vacation from Cairo. We swam in the Red Sea and found starfish, crabs, shells, and sea urchins to bring home. It was a real blast!

My word of the weekend is: عرقسوس said 3r'soos it means Licorice

Bria gets kicked out of school....WHAT?!

2009-10-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

So, as today is the last day of school before Halloween they told us that we could wear black and orange instead of our usual uniform, but yesterday I was talking to a few friends and they all said they were either going to skip or just wear normal clothing. So, me not being able to skip decided to wear normal clothes all the while sarcastically thinking the worst they can do is kick me out. So today when I go to school they FREAK and guess what they do? Kick me PLUS 25 OTHER STUDENTS (including the whole senior class) out of school. Saying "come back in black and orange, your uniform, or don't come back at all!" The hilarity of this situation was too much to control so I pretty much just giggled uncontrollably in the face of the loving women who yelled at us all! In the background you could see the other teachers trying to hold it in, by covering their mouths or sternly scouring at us, but you could still see the twinkle in their eye, and the wish to laugh out loud! I was just scared that because we are "American" that they were going to "let us stay in school" I was praying they wouldn't, and something must have worked because they let us out...RUNNING! So I didn't go back...spent the whole day cafe hopping and walking around town! What could be a better day? and who ever thought I would get KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL?!
After that I crammed into a car and headed to the 6th of October...on the outskirts of Cairo. It was a blast, and a beautiful site. I have passed through and even stopped once, but that was in the first two weeks I was here, meaning that I don't remember ANYTHING! It's a really nice place, with no traffic and real houses.... It was super fun!
Last Thursday I went to a concert sponsored by the U.S. Embassy. I was supposed to meet some AFS people at the main gate of Cairo College, but me not being Egyptian, and not knowing enough Arabic to ask the driver exactly where it was, I got dropped off somewhere near Cairo College with a dying phone battery (my only connection to the people I was meeting and my family.) So I called my friend and asked where I was supposed to be...they were stuck in traffic...3dy. I wandered aimlessly, hoping my phone wouldn't die, and trying to avoid the stares of too many men. I went and stood by a wall overlooking the street, only to be bugged by a beggar boy. Don't get me wrong, I do feel for them, but I can't help everyone. He kept bugging me until finally I had had enough saying "Bes ya Baba!" ( stop ya father)...so he finally imshied a la tool... After about 15-20 minutes waiting by that wall this lady motioned me over. She talked to me in a mixture of English in Arabic, offering to help me. I was so grateful, just to know that someone was there that cared! She helped me find my friends. So, we got in the concert hall just as the doors were closing, realizing that our fellow students were going to be locked out. They, being crafty Americans told the guards at the gate that they were "employees of the U.S. Embassy," showing them their U.S. drivers license! (I knew that would come in handy somewhere...!)
Anyway, to get to the main event...Wast el Belad was playing along with an American blues band that I had never heard of in my life... Wast el Belad was by far the better, but the blues was interesting. There were 7 or 8 of us exchange students and we danced the whole time! Something I didn't realize...Egyptians don't dance in public! So we were the only ones, we certainly got a lot of stares, but it was worth it for the fun we had! After, we left with the crowd of people but on the way out some lady came up to me and said "mumkin busik?" (can I kiss you?) I didn't really know what to say to that, so she went right along and did it, giving me a nice big kiss on the cheek and a cheery hug, thereafter repeating the same thing on the other side. I turned beat red =). So, after all this adrenaline was pumped through my veins I decided I wanted to skip, and who better to skip with than Kevin? So, we skipped, forward and backward, even practicing our turns, until we had a minor "accidental" collision with Izzy.
That about sums up my wonderful life ( for the time being), though I expect tomorrow's AFS Halloween Party to shake up my world a little more! Happy Halloween Everybody!

Lemon Sorbet!

2009-10-25T10:13:00.000-07:00

Some pictures from our recent trip to Alexandria...where we belly danced on the bus ride there and had 16 people sharing Lemon Sorbet with tea spoons during swine flu season :D

If you zoom in on the jumping picture I look like Medusa!

These are mini-sphinxes

and the citidel...right on the Mediterranean Sea

Life Continues

2009-10-17T02:46:00.001-07:00

A lot has happened since the last time I wrote: I started school, I went to the Pyramids (finally!), I made some friends, and even learned some Arabic :D
I'll start with school. I am a senior, with all the benifits of a different uniform, prom, and a senior trip! The senior trip this year will either be to LA, in which case I will not be able to go or to Paris, which is the one I am hoping for! School in Egypt is quite different that the U.S., even though I am going to a "American School" This just means that the classes are sometimes in English, the classes have the same names, and that they have four years of high school. My first major surprise was that the kids do not listen, my second was that the teachers do not care. These I have discovered are both wrong! The teachers do yell, scream, and act like they hate you, but they do it with a twinkle in their eyes, that says "I do this because I love you"...well most of the teachers anyway. It is still a quite different environment though, for example, I was sitting in class and randomly this kid chucks a chair off the balcony...I just looked around with my mouth gaping until someone saw and said "3ady" (normal) ever since I have just embraced the fact that you can have fun in school. I think that when I go back to the U.S. my teachers are going to be astounded, and ask what has happened to my manners!
So, I have made a couple friends at school now. The first couple days were REALLY awkward, especially at lunch! Kari (another American girl) just sat there, but now we go talk to people. Lunch time is kinda dangerous, the boys play soccer in the same area that everyone sits, I have seen multiple innocent standbys get hit in the face!
The other night I was shopping with my mom and dad and someone commented on how I looked like my dad...pretty amusing. They do say when you live with someone you start to look like them!
The Pyramids! My friends and I REALLY wanted to go so, I convinced my cousin to take us! It was so hot! We got there and went to buy tickets; the prices are posted on two signs, one in Arabic and one in English...the one in English said 50LE for admission to the general area, but the one in Arabic said 6LE! I could only wish that I could pass as an Egyptian! First, we went to see the great pyramid, we all wanted to climb it even though there are signs everywhere saying "no climbing" so we did. We decided that we would climb as high as we could before we got yelled at, we got pretty far too :D. Then, we got on some camels and rode around the pyramids from one side you can see all of Cairo before you, and on the other only desert. Did you know that camels regurgitate their food? That is how they survive in the desert without water or food. They just swallow it the first time around then regurgitate it (a very nice sound and sight I assure you...I got pictures...and a video I think), then chew it and send it to their stomachs. The others went inside the pyramid but, I chickened out because you have to go down this tiny tunnel and duck your head, and I am claustrophobic, so I didn't go...
My Arabic is improving, I understand a lot of what is being said, I almost always at least understand the general idea. My speaking is improving, but slower, I struggle to talk and get discouraged easily. But, I am working on that!
The weekend before school started we had our 6-week orientation in Fayid. It was gorgeous! It was on the Suez canal and I felt like we were isolated from the world, the orientation was also helpful!
The next couple weeks are going to be solid school except for next weekend when all the AFS people are going to Alexandria for the day.
In general I am happy if not the slightest bit stressed out about school, and am looking forward to spending the rest of the year here!

Very Random Picture

2009-10-02T05:46:00.000-07:00

This ^ is Sara with Manican hands and a wig...we had way too much fun in the mall...

Football Egypt Style

2009-10-02T03:48:00.000-07:00

Egypt VS. Italy!

So, about two weeks back someone in my Chapter mentioned some football game with Egypt playing someone. I wasn't too interested, but they seemed excited and asked if we could go. So our AFS people set out to get us tickets. They then told me that it was EGYPT VS. ITALY and that it was a FIFA game...that was when I got excited! They told us it was going to cost 5 LE (about 1 U.S.D.) we were all surprised at the low cost. So two days ago they tell us the tickets were sold out and that they had to buy tickets on the black market. Only, this time it was going to cost 25 LE and was for two games. The first game being Nigeria vs. Tahiti. Immediately we had a debate about which team we would cheer for in that game. We decided Nigeria because they were in Africa. We also decided we needed to go shopping for outfits to wear in support of Egypt! So, yesterday, we met at 4 o'clock thinking that we would be able to leave immediately and get there early. I guess we still don't understand the Egyptian concept of time....! We didn't leave the meeting place till 5:30. Then the traffic was CRAZY! We drove around for 2 hours getting there and trying to find a place to park. No wonder it was hard because more than 80,000 people were trying to get to the same place! Finally we found a place to park. We then did facepaint. My friend and I had the genius idea to put the Egyptian flag on our hands and stamp it on our faces so we did that, only problem was we had nowhere to wipe our hands, so now, her pants are super pretty with Egypt colors!!! We walked to the stadium with our 2nd class tickets and went through multiple searches. When we go to the 2nd to last gate we got held up because we didn't have are tickets anymore. We had given them to someone who we had bribed to give us 1st class tickets. We waited and waited and they finally let us through. Then, there was the last gate, we still had no tickets and we were at the 1st class gate! They would NOT let us through, well, they let some of us through, but I don't know how that worked! We must have looked like jail birds from the other side, clawing at the gate. By this time the Tahiti vs. Nigeria game was just ending so it was about 9:00. After waiting for awhile longer and trying everything from looking cute to begging we decided it was time to give in. We went to the third class gate. All through the waiting I was jumping up and down, dancing, twirling, and yelling with excitement, I just couldn't stand still! It was quite ironic that we ended up in the third class seats way at the top because we originally had 2nd class tickets, and we paid MORE to bribe someone...look where that gets you! The crowd was crazy...almost the whole 80,000 were cheering for Egypt though there were small crowds of Italy fans and a large military section wearing bright colored uniforms. I bought an Egyptian flag which is my prized possession now. Overall I had an AMAZING time and hope to go again! Oh, I forgot the most important part! EGYPT WON! We won 5-3! Gosh, how I love to be an Egyptian.
I even love Egypt in my dreams! Last night I had a nightmare that I was back in the U.S. and I was balling because I was going to miss the first day of school in Egypt and I wanted to go back...I LOVE EGYPT!!!

I LOVE EGYPT

2009-09-29T16:31:00.000-07:00

The small things count, everyday a couple little things trigger an " I LOVE EGYPT" notice in my head...thought I would make a list:
-crazy Egyptian music coming from the boats on the Nile at 2 AM when I am trying to sleep
-when traffic is so crazy and all of a sudden it disappears
-hearing people say the same word over and over and over again and somehow I finally get it
-the bustle in the streets at random times
-the call to prayer
-the adorable little kids
-the fresh fruit
-the fact that a school can look like it's going to be demolished, but is going to open in a week
-the toilets...it's true
-the smell of the air
-feeling as safe in Cairo as I do in my hometown of 2,000 people
-the amazing people!

was going to post pictures, but its going kinda slow...will try later!

Vacation!

2009-09-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I am going to start with recent events and move on to older ones. For the past couple of days my family and I have been in Sah7el, or the North Shore for the Eid. It is near Alexandria on the Mediterranean Sea. We have a small cottage there, that is near enough to the water to walk to the beach. The water is a brilliant turquoise that contrasts with the super white sand beautifully! Eid takes place at the end of Ramadan and is a huge festival time, people take vacations and spend time with friends and family. Young children receive new clothing and/or money. Everybody is cheerful and happy.
Today, we went for one last swim before we came home and we saw two jelly fish! I accidentally touched one, and that is when we decided to get out! The waves are huge and even though between waves you may only be standing in a foot of water, when the wave comes you are swamped! Aisha and I got washed into shore a couple times too. When I said family I meant family+extended family. My dad's two sister's, their husbands, and kids were there as well. It was a blast hanging out with them. We played board games, word games, and even played spray each other with the hose games :D. All this took place in a mixed gabble of English and Arabic.
On our third day there we headed to Alexandria so they could show me around. First, we went to Pompey's Pillar... this huge pillar in the air, it was pretty sweet! The whole family was amazed because as Egyptians they would never even think to go to tourist places, but decided that it was cool. Then we went to a cemetery. Only, it wasnt a normal cemetery, it was underground and from the Pharonic ages. You could see the burial places of the wealthy and the poor as well as the places where they had lowered the bodies into the ground and washed them. Quite fascinating!
Then we went to a famous foul (beans) and ta3mya (falafel) restaurant to stuff are faces...ice cream was next on our list so we went to a gelato place called Azza. Azza was my Arabic name at the camp I attended so I thought it would be fun to go.
The next day we went back to Alexandria to see the Library. Let me first say that I think this is one of the most fascinating places I have been a long time! The arcitecture alone is wondrous, but what is inside is the most important. They have hundreds of thousands of books on seven levels lit by natural light. They have computers for the public to use as well as conference centers. We went into the rare manuscripts room and old Korans, Bibles, and Torahs, as well as the only scroll left from the old (as in Pharonic times old) Alexandria Library. IN addition to all this they have amazing technology. They just got a machine that copies books. You put a book in and it will copy 200 pages in seconds, in a couple weeks this will be open to the public for the cost of the book alone. They are now working on an online library, working to scan all of the books on their shelves so that they would be available to people all over the world. Also they have been working to save snapshots of webpages before they expire. So that knowledge is not wasted. You can go on their website and check all this out at www.bibalex.org. Yea, I may sound like an advertisement, but it was super cool, and I got in for the price of about 85 cents. That was the cost for foreign students, for Egyptians it was about 15 cents.
Ok, now onto the past couple of weeks, I have been hanging out picking up more Arabic. I started Modern Standard classes which have been helping a little. I am now able to find my way around Zamalek and have been exploring. My friends and I now have a cafe that is "ours" and we are now regulars there. We found a library where you can actually take out books (not common here) but have yet to be there when they are open. I know my way well enough that I can get into a taxi anywhere in Cairo and direct them home. This is a huge plus because now I can explore on my own and always have a way home. I am learning to barter with taxi drivers and am pretty good at it, its also fun to try to talk to them. You get some pretty awesome conversations between my broken Arabic and their broken English.
My host mom took me to Carefour, which is like the Walmart of the Middle East....its has EVERYTHING! Its super fun! I also went to CityStars, which is the biggest mall in Egypt and most defiantly compares to the Mall of America! It has about 10 floors, its big enough that you could get lost! Two other American girls and I went on an adventure to Khen al Khalili, which is an outdoor market. We didn't buy very much, and didn't have the greatest experience, but we made it there and back, which added to our confidence. We all want to go again!
I am looking forward to school starting in 10 days!
Check out my photos on facebook, or if you don't have facebook check them out here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=119800&id=564185968&l=6af2ab56a9

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=123668&id=564185968&l=9f238fd9b8

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=126414&id=564185968&l=1e4f51de3b

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=126452&id=564185968&l=616e2f6825

Pictures!

2009-09-09T06:54:00.000-07:00

This picture is take on the 6th floor of a building in Cairo. Our AFS chapter went there to do community service. We sorted a bunch of bags of clothing for the needy and homeless. This was just a small portion of the bags that needed to be sorted, there was literally a mountain!
This was taken at the Cairo Tower, from the top you can see all of Cairo and Giza plus the pyramids too. This is my sister Aisha and I.
My sister made this for me, and gave me the family name, making me part of the family! :D
The whole family delved into my favorite activity of eating fresh mangoes by the dozen
This is a kitten that I saw scavenging for food in a market in Nasr City. They are common everywhere, and it breaks my heart!

Some questions/ answers

2009-09-08T19:09:00.001-07:00

Where are you and how long have you been there?
I am in Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt and I have been here a little over a week now. Zamalek is a district of Cairo and is actually on an island. It it connected to the rest of Cairo by multiple bridges. The island is small enough for everything to be within walking distance and big enough that you can find anything you want. The streets here are wider than most in Cairo but they are still narrow and very CROWDED compared to the streets in the U.S. A lot of the streets could be four or five lanes, but the cars park two in on either side leaving some roads to be one lane. The cars parked furthest from the curb have to leave their can in neutral so that the cars that they parked in can get out by rolling the car in front of them away. There is much poverty and anytime the cars stop for traffic kids come up to your window and try to sell you flowers, fruit, or tissues etc. The noise is also nonstop, cars are honking all the time. It can mean "hey, there's my third cousin" or "Get out of my way!"

What is your family like?
In my family I have a little sister, Aisha (we call her Oushi), who is 13 and going into eighth grade. She does rythmic gymnastics and trains 3 hours a day 6 days a week. She and her group are going to the Junior Olympics 2010. My mom, Nihad, teaches pre-k at the elementary branch of my school and is amazing. My dad, Hani, works at a bank in another part of Cairo. I also have a brother,Ismail, but he is in the U.S. as a YES student just like me. He is almost sixteen and living in Ohio.

How does the weather compare to Wisconsin's?
The weather is really hot. Its not very humid, but you still sweat when sitting down. It rains about once a year here and gets down to about 35 degrees F at night in the middle of winter. They say that the nicest month to be here is October. Most houses are not insulated so they are hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Public buildings such as book stores and government buildings are air conditioned. There are no heaters so in the winter everybody will pile on clothes.

Do you like the food? Describe your favorite dish.
The food is amazing. I have only experienced meals during Ramadan though so I don't know what lunch or breakfast is really like. We eat an early breakfast called Soheur at about 3 AM but you mostly eat leftovers from dinner, fool (beans), or noodles. When we have Iftar (the breaking of the fast which happens at about 6:30 pm) we always drink sweet juice then have assorted sweets such as dried dates. When the meal begins we start with soup then move on to meat and vegetables. Often the vegetables are stuffed with rice or pickled. My favorite food here is the tomato soup. Its not like the tomato soup at home; you peel the tomatoes, cook them down and add cream, salt, pepper, olive oil, and a little bit of water. Machshee (rice stuffed mini eggplant) is also really good!

What was your first impression of the country?
My first impression was of the traffic and the buildings all so close together. When I first got here they took us to a youth hostile for our orientation. We all had tons of luggage so we took the elevators upstairs. The only problem was that the elevator only held 2 people! They were tiny. So we crammed in there with our luggage and pressed the button to go up,as we went up you could see the wall between the floors pass in front of your face. When we got to our floor, the door didn't open, so we just rode it back down and told someone what had happened. They laughed and said that you have to push open the door...we felt so stupid that the thought of manually opening the door was not in our heads!

What do you miss the most?
I don't really miss much yet, the only thing is that I wish that I could understand what is going on around me. I don't understand enough of the language yet to figure that out.

What is school like?
I have not started school yet (I start on the 27 of September) but I went and toured the school yesterday. I am attending a private school as the public schools in Egypt are not the greatest. I will be in 11th grade and will stay in the same room all day long. The teachers move around. I am really excited to make friends and see what the teaching style is like. Everything will be taught in English, except the Arabic class of course. The Arabic class will be Modern Standard and not the colloquial dialect, which is what everybody speaks. The media is in Modern Standard and when you write a paper it has to be written in Modern Standard. The colloquial dialect is considered slang.

Are you celebrating Ramadan?
I have been fasting for Ramadan and am enjoying it. After awhile you cease to be hungry, though I still get thirsty. In the streets there are tables and chairs that the local restaurants put out. The restaurants give out free food every night for the poor because you are supposed to be very generous during Ramadan. My mother says that people are dressing more conservatively too. Since the day is so hot and you are fasting, people tend to sleep during the day. All the stores open at around 10 am and don't close until midnight or later. People wake up in the early afternoon about 2 or 3 (PM), wait until they can eat, then go party. They may not go to bed until after early breakfast around 4 or 5 (AM). This way of living is common among teenagers, but the elderly disapprove slightly as it is defeating the point of Ramadan.

Is learning the language hard?
When I came I knew a little bit of Modern Standard, but that really doesn't help. So, I am picking up phrases and words, but I am not really understanding conversation yet. People speak so fast so even if I do know the words I don't necessarily understand them. I am looking forward to starting language classes! The other problem is that a large percentage of the people speak English and they want to practice it. Some of the teenagers speak English more than they speak Arabic. People also look at me in shock when I use the little Arabic that I know.

What is your favorite thing to do?
My favorite thing to do would be just hanging out. I have a membership at a club so that's where we hang out. The clubs here are not like the clubs in the U.S. They are social clubs. The club I go to has two gymnatics halls (one for men one for women), work out rooms, multiple soccer fields, tennis courts, swimming pools, golf, horseback riding, and lots of little restaurants and stands for food. It is HUGE and is all enclosed behind a wall. Some people hang out there all day, but I mostly go after dinner and stay till around midnight. It is not just teenagers that hang out there either, you can find people of all ages.

What is the most different from your home town?
Well coming from a town with 2000 people I would say that is the biggest difference. Cairo has about 17 million people and is still growing. I have already talked about the traffic and the people, but also the diversity. Especially in the area I am living because most of the embassys are in Zamalek. I see people of all races and religions. It is common to see women wearing hijab, burkas, or nothing covering their head. There is no public pressure here to wear hijab.

Home Sweet Home

2009-09-07T05:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm home. In D.C. we talked all about the Culture Shock wheel and how first you go on the honeymoon stage- everything is wonderful and new, this can last anywhere from one day to 2 months, then comes hostility- realizing that you are going to be gone for a YEAR and wanting to go home, after that comes Humor and Home Sweet Home- being able to laugh at your mistakes and move on, also fitting in and having fun, making friends, and learning. I think I am there. I know it has only been a little over a week, but I love it here! During my "hostility phase" I lost all patience with not being able to understand people and this crazy (now wonderful) Egyptian culture so, I slept. I slept any time I could. I didn't realize it then, but that was my coping method. It probably wasn't the best way to do things, but it allowed me to think about things and calm down...I was also suffering from overload and jet lag, so it helped that to.
Our flights from D.C. to Cairo went smoothly, as my uncle says "any flight that takes off and lands is a good flight." We got to the airport, went through customs and immigration, and were met by Egyptian AFS Volunteers. They then took us to a youth hostile type place and kept us up. They started orientation right away, meaning that 90% of us don't remember it as we were half asleep. After they gave us time to nap we were much more attentive. Though that night I woke up at 3 AM and could not sleep any more. The next day we met our host families, got home, and went to sleep! The next couple days are sort of a blur, which is kinda funny because this was less than a week ago.
I have been spending time at the local club hanging out with my new friends and my sister. I have been eating lots of fruit and learning to cook Egyptian food as well as teaching my family how to make brownies and key lime pie. Yesterday was what I would call my first normal day here. I slept at the normal hours of a teenager (3 AM- 12 PM), fasted, hung out with friends, went to school (only a tour, but still), did "homework" (practiced some new phrases), and ate good food. I am looking forward to a year filled with days like this!

ALIENS!

2009-08-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

I am now in D.C for my orientation before I leave. Yesterday I was able to spend time with my great uncle and aunt, thier daughter and her baby Hazel. I was the first in the family to see her and she is SUPER cute! After that they dropped my off at the Hilton where the orientation is. We talked about the meaning of ambassador, qualities they possess and which of those qualities we need to work on the most. Then they gave us a half hour to come up with a country presentation...that was crazy stressful, but we all did a great job and learned a lot of tips! They we talked about what it means to be an ALIEN...and how thats what we were. There are a bunch of AFS/NSLI/peace corp returnies here that we can talk to and I have been practicing my Arabic! It has made me sooo excited and I just want to start being fluent NOW (I do realize that I am dreaming). Today we visited the State Department in their new building. It was amazing, talking to the people who planned the YES program and/or supported it. They really helped us to understand more of what we were doing and what they wanted us to acomplish. Then we went to the Egyptian Embassy which was very interesting because we got the opinion of somebody who was Egyptian but had lived in the U.S. for a long time. After we went to a Turkish resturant for lunch where they had AMAZING bread! We then went to the Islamic center. All the girls took out scarves and somebody taught us how to tie a hijab...with much giggling and admiring involved! It was my first time in a mosque and it was facinating. The tile was from Turkey and was like nothing I had ever seen, it was gorgeous. We sat in there for awhile taking pictures, but I sorta felt bad because there were people praying and I felt disrespectful. IT IS HOT. I can't even imagine yet just how hot it will be... Darin keeps asking "is it real yet" and it is getting more real by the hour, it just such a complex thought...I am flying to EGYPT in less than 24 HOURS!!!!!

Masalama... 8)

So soon...

2009-08-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

I leave for Minneapolis in 3 days! The next morning I fly to D.C. for a two day orientation from there I fly to Cairo for a 1 day orientation then I get to meet my host family! I have a brother and a sister but my brother is a YES student in the U.S. this year, so I will never get to meet him. My little sister is going into 8th grade and is a gymnastics star, she seems really cool. I am going to be living in Zamalek, which is on an island in the Nile! It can be compared to Manhattan in New York. It is an island, but is not at all isolated. I am really excited to meet them!
I wish that I could be all packed, but I didn't have enough clothes to put away and still have clothes to wear last week so tomorrow is my packing day. Wednesday was my last day of work and since then Ive just been wandering around aimlessly... I am going to try and detach myself from facebook, but I keep putting it off. Part of the reason for this blog is so that I dont need facebook. I also downloaded the Arabic keyboard so someday when I learn how to type in Arabic I will be able to do that. My family wants to spend all thier time with me, its not driving me crazy yet, and I think I will be able to handle it untill I leave. I guess I understand it.
I am just ready to leave, I have a couple phone calls to make and a lot of goodbyes to do, but other than that I am READY!
I get to Egypt on my 16th birthday, the best sweet 16 if you ask me. My mom's birthday is today, and Tianses is the 24th, so many birthdays! I am giving Tianse my cell phone for his birthday present, I am sure he will enjoy that as he has been begging for it for months.
Well gotta go try my key at the Toyota dealer to see if I won a car!

Wonder

2009-06-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

Everybody is amazing...for everything you have done, for me, yourself, or anybody else. Today, I was thinking about my group of friends, all the people I know, all the people I wish I knew, and together as a group we are a goofy bunch! But, when you seperate the group and look at each individual person, its exilerating. We are all so different, living our lives in totally different ways, yet all of them are right and wonderful. Some of us are fighting hard to get through high school or college, some of us are going abroad, some of us are at a point in life where we dont know what we are doing, or maybe we are doing multiple things...it doesnt change the fact that we are all beautiful and wonderous in our own way. I look at other people and ask myself "why can't I do that?" or "how do they do what they do?" It just amazes me! I love all of you, and wish the best luck possible for you guys in the coming years!

Summer!

2009-06-09T14:30:00.000-07:00

I just got out of school...I am done with sophomore year! Only two years to go...but luckily one will be in Egypt! I can finally feel free! AFS sent a handbook today, one for me and one for my parents. Mines about 200 pages long...I dont see how they expect teenagers to have the patience to read something like that. My summer is going to be busier than I would like, with Drivers Ed, working, camping, orientations, saying goodbye, packing, ect. It should be fun though. I am attending a leadership camp this weekend, not sure how that will turn out, but I'll hope for the best! I am super nervous, for what I'm not quite sure, maybe just everything in general...