Sigh

~~~~ Moody

Well, it was worth a try.

Missed Opportunities

~~~~ Sleepy

What an amazing day!

A lot of the other AUC kids were planning to go to the Pyramids today but we decided to visit Islamic Cairo. We randomly met up with a girl we invited along and she told us it wasn't far to walk. So we did just that. It was about a 15 minute walk to get to the bazaar area and we did a little bit of shopping (I didn't get anything just yet) and then decided to move on to see the Citadel. We got kinda lost on the way but managed to stumble across this run-down mosque called the Blue Mosque that was an absolute treat. We got a guide who showed us around and even took us to the top of the minaret for views of Cairo! It was amazing! It was a hazy day so we couldn't see the pyramids but he claimed on clear days you could. I posted all my pictures to my photo album so you'll have to check them out. After that we went on to see the Citadel. It was nice there but kinda touristy. It cost 40 pounds to get in, but only 20 if you were a student. The only problem was we didn't have our AUC IDs yet and I left my Miami ID at home. So I showed them my Driver's Liscence instead hoping I could explain I was a student... because of my age. But I don't think the woman checking my ID could read English very well and she just assumed it was a college ID and let me through! Oh well, I really am a student! The Mosque of Mohamed Ali was really pretty and the views from the top of the Citadel were amazing. We think we almost found AUC in the distance! Afterward we stopped by a local restaurant for Fuul... it was kinda spicier then most fuul I've had but it was still good... and at only one pound for a full meal you can't really complain! After that we decided to walk home. It was a longer walk then the orignal because we walked straight home instead of meandering and, of course, we got lost some more! But Egyptians are really friendly... especially when it comes to giving directions so we managed to get back just fine.

After a little rest we went out for coffee. The first night here our housing manager showed us around the area of Cairo we're living and he took us to this wonderful open-air cafe were you can sit at tables right on the street or in a little garden. So we managed to find the place again and just sat back and people watched for a while. I really like the coffee here and it'll be quite the adjustment when I try to drink coffee back home!

After our busy day today we're planning a more easy-going day for tomorrow. We might do some laundry, go shopping for groceries, and go explore a little of Zamalek. Apparently the better restaurants are over there. But we're five minutes walking distance from AUC, the Egyptology Museum, and the heart of Cairo, so I guess it evens out.

is THIS where I belong?

~~~~ Happy

It's funny to think how things change so quickly in your mind from one day to the next. I was so scared coming here and being a part of a new culture and everything that I wasn't sure if I could handle it. Boy, was I wrong! This place is amazing!!! I mean, I know I've only been here for four days and culture shock and homesickness really haven't set in yet but I just feel so confident here. I've met amazing people that I already feel so close to and they all want to do the same things I want! Like visit every single pyramid!!! Ahhhh! I love my flat, I love my roommate, I love walking to the campus, I love the food, I love the juice (I am officially addicted to Mango Juice), and I just love all the interesting people. I even had my first real harassment experience today and it hasn't really changed how I feel. I was walking from one building of AUC to another and a guy came up and tried to get my name and wrap his arm around my waist. I yelled "LA" (arabic for no) and slapped his hand away. I wanted to continue but, honestly, I was late for my class scheduling and that was more important. Luckily I did run into Josh from my survival arabic class though and we did walk the rest of the way together. It's kinda weird though, as soon as you point out their shame to themselves, they stop whatever it is they were doing. Other then that one man, I haven't had any other notable experiences. And I've run into more then enough wonderful experiences to make up for it. Like the fruit vendor my arabic instructor took us to to buy fruit from today. He was this wonderful old man who would give us extra fruit as our "baksheesh" (tip). I asked for a kilo of oranges and he gave me an extra one. He is just so adorable. Or the taxi driver who took us to Zamalek. We wanted to ask him if you had to take a driving test to drive a car in Cairo (if you've ever heard about the traffic in Cairo you'd know why this is a valid question). He didn't know any English and our use of the arabic language is VERY limited and I don't think we got our point across but he was laughing and we were laughing and at the end he gave us his card because he thought we were fun and he wanted to drive us around more! I just feel so... comfortable. Tonight we had "fadreasrouge" for dinner. They were kinda like a pizza and a quesedilla together. It was pretty good and at 5 pounds (aka one dollar) for something I'm gonna get two meals out of you can't beat that price! Afterwards we just hung out in our apartment with Ben, a guy in Emily's survival arabic class. Just sitting and talking. Making plans to go bowling (hahaha) and having chocolate shots for Katie's birthday. It was pretty much beyond words. That's one of the things I really like here compared to Miami. You can just walk up to someone and start a conversation and not expect it to be weird. Everyone is so much nicer and you are actually given a chance to know someone before you can pass judgement. I mean, yeah, there are people here who my personality clashes with but I gave and still do give them the time of day. I don't have to worry about plans. I know I'll always have something to do and someone to see. This is so worth it.

Oh, and the best part... I have managed to avoid the Pharoah's curse and I haven't gotten sick from the food yet! *knocks on wood* I hope THAT trend stays!
~~~~ Happy

It's funny to think how things change so quickly in your mind from one day to the next. I was so scared coming here and being a part of a new culture and everything that I wasn't sure if I could handle it. Boy, was I wrong! This place is amazing!!! I mean, I know I've only been here for four days and culture shock and homesickness really haven't set in yet but I just feel so confident here. I've met amazing people that I already feel so close to and they all want to do the same things I want! Like visit every single pyramid!!! Ahhhh! I love my flat, I love my roommate, I love walking to the campus, I love the food, I love the juice (I am officially addicted to Mango Juice), and I just love all the interesting people. I even had my first real harassment experience today and it hasn't really changed how I feel. I was walking from one building of AUC to another and a guy came up and tried to get my name and wrap his arm around my waist. I yelled "LA" (arabic for no) and slapped his hand away. I wanted to continue but, honestly, I was late for my class scheduling and that was more important. Luckily I did run into Josh from my survival arabic class though and we did walk the rest of the way together. It's kinda weird though, as soon as you point out their shame to themselves, they stop whatever it is they were doing. Other then that one man, I haven't had any other notable experiences. And I've run into more then enough wonderful experiences to make up for it. Like the fruit vendor my arabic instructor took us to to buy fruit from today. He was this wonderful old man who would give us extra fruit as our "baksheesh" (tip). I asked for a kilo of oranges and he gave me an extra one. He is just so adorable. Or the taxi driver who took us to Zamalek. We wanted to ask him if you had to take a driving test to drive a car in Cairo (if you've ever heard about the traffic in Cairo you'd know why this is a valid question). He didn't know any English and our use of the arabic language is VERY limited and I don't think we got our point across but he was laughing and we were laughing and at the end he gave us his card because he thought we were fun and he wanted to drive us around more! I just feel so... comfortable. Tonight we had "fadreasrouge" for dinner. They were kinda like a pizza and a quesedilla together. It was pretty good and at 5 pounds (aka one dollar) for something I'm gonna get two meals out of you can't beat that price! Afterwards we just hung out in our apartment with Ben, a guy in Emily's survival arabic class. Just sitting and talking. Making plans to go bowling (hahaha) and having chocolate shots for Katie's birthday. It was pretty much beyond words. That's one of the things I really like here compared to Miami. You can just walk up to someone and start a conversation and not expect it to be weird. Everyone is so much nicer and you are actually given a chance to know someone before you can pass judgement. I mean, yeah, there are people here who my personality clashes with but I gave and still do give them the time of day. I don't have to worry about plans. I know I'll always have something to do and someone to see. This is so worth it.

Oh, and the best part... I have managed to avoid the Pharoah's curse and I haven't gotten sick from the food yet! *knocks on wood* I hope THAT trend stays!

From car to train to waiting plane

~~~~ Scared

I leave tomorrow. In 24 hours I'll be sitting at the JFK airport anxiously awaiting to board the plane that will take me to Cairo. My mom told me I could stay home if I wanted. I laughed. She gave me the chance to stay home if I felt scared. She doesn't want me to go. My parents are wonderful people. But I have learned that staying too long equals disaster here. Even if I was so scared I couldn't breathe I'm pretty sure I would still go. My parents, especially my mother, are just unliveable for that long. My bags are packed. Everything is ready. I hope I meet kids going to AUC on the plane. Maybe even Chanda's friend. I really want to meet him. But he'll probably be in Zamalek. Oh well. I just hope the shuttle takes me to Garden City. Not Zamalek. They said they'd do everything they could to change my plans but since this is an extended Islamic holiday they might not be able to. On the plane I plan to work out a couple schedules for classes. The university is closed Sunday but I'll register a scheduling time after the orientation meeting Monday morning. I can't wait to meet my roommates. I'm hoping for the best! Well... the next time I post I'll be in Cairo... that's Egypt! Ahhhh! See you across the ocean! :D

Remember Why You're Going

~~~~ Confused

Got my housing assignment tonight. I'm living in an apartment in Garden City... no Zamalek... no island on the Nile :( At first I was disappointed, then I was hopeful, then I was upset, and now I think I'm kinda excited. I know that's a lot of emotions to go through but aparently that's a big part of Cairo. I was just hoping I could live in the dorms... it would have been so much easier. I guess this trip just wasn't met to ever be easy. I have to face every single challenge in the world and I guess I'm suppose to deal with all of them. At my "bon voyage" dinner my relatives threw for me I got a fortune from the chinese restaurant we ate at and it said "You should be able to undertake and complete anything." I mean, beside the fact that we call AUC if anything breaks in the apartment we're completely on our own. No cafeteria to run down to if we want a snack... we have to cook our own meals. No house staff to clean our room or bathroom... we to do our own cleaning. No jumping across the hallway to visit people... this is an apartment where other people live all the time... people who pay rent every month and have nothing to do with AUC. This is so... grown up. Bright side: the apartment is in Garden City which where all the embassies are. This means it's another uber nice part of town and it's right across the street from the AUC buildings... no shuttle for me and a shorter walk time! There are other AUC girls living in this apartment complex... so I guess there could be some hall jumping! And number one best part: one of my friends lived in this apartment building last semester and she had 9 (yes NINE) roommates! I said I wanted as many friends as fast as possible and damnit, I got it! That's what makes this all worthwhile. Nine girls I will instantly bond with. That's just... beyond fantastic. Which is why I'm uber excited. It's gonna be hard... I'm gonna be stressed and upset at times. I'll probably rant lots here because my parents don't know about this blog and I refuse to tell them that I'm ever having anything but a FABULOUS time... all my pictures and wonferful gushing will be done here: My Spring Semester in Cairo. I know that's childish but I hate showing weakness to them. And to some of friends... which is also why some of my friends don't know about this blog :rolleyes: But through all that hard stuff it's gonna be so worth it. This is a dream. A dream I've had since before I can remember. Everyone who has gon to AUC has loved it and I will too. I'm scared right now but this is such a big step that's to be expected. This is so worth it. Remember why you're going...

Please?

~~~~ Aggravated

Can I go to Cairo now? I'm sick of this town. sick of this state. sick of this country. I'm so ready to go!

May it be Clear

~~~~ Blah

Some of my friends are leaving for Europe tomorrow. I'm jealous. I'm still here for 12 days. Some of my other friends have gone back to school. Miami's back, Garrett and Wally have been back for a week, Carolyn left today. It's basically me and Chanda and Chanda leaves next week. Suck! This weekend was beyond words. Saturday I went to the speech tournament. Honestly I loved judging. I love it much more then I liked competing. I judged a Duo round and an Extemp round. Extemp was weird and I wouldn't have liked doing it. Then I hung out with Chanda and Garrett until power rounds were announced. Preston and Charlie made it in (and consequently won the tournament)! So Chanda and I sprinted to the room to see them compete. But of course, with like three seconds before it started, in walks Ned: "Chanda or Megan! I need someone to judge a round where a judge hasn't shown up!" Thanks Ned. So I had to walk across the building into a packed room to judge Drama. Blast! It really wasn't that bad except for no one in the Duo room would let me through and I almost impalled like three people on my high heels. The awards ceremony was horrible. In the sense that Lady A's son came to speak and made everyone cry. It was so moving. She did some things in her life that I will never forgive her for but she certainly changed many lives. After the tournament Garrett and I hung out and got some movies. We had time to kill because our silly friends were tired and needed to take a nap before we could hang out :rolleyes: hahahaha. We watched Caddyshack (I got to see the gopher dance and I thought of Wally) and a Robin Williams stand up comedy dvd. Sooo funny! We ate too much ice cream and it felt so good to be with these fantastic friends. Having Garrett back in my life is one of the greatest things ever. So Garrett's back at school, so are Megan and Sean. I'm not sure about Skye. But Chanda and I will probably go into hiding with one another this week. This has been a fantastic break. I really feel ready to go to Cairo now. I promised Garrett I wouldn't get kidnapped and he promised me he wouldn't either :D Life, bring it on...

GO GATORS!

January 3rd, 2007

~~~~ Okay

Mrs. Althoff died. It's so surreal. I mean, she changed my life, that's for sure. Sometimes for the not so good, sometimes for the better. It just seems like nothing could stop that woman and it's sorta unsettleing that something actually did. I just hope she finds peace. Whether that means coming back as a future nationals debate champion or going to that big speech tournament in the sky. I just wish her comfort and happiness. Find peace Lady A, find peace.