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!