Hello readers!
I decided to start a blog while I'm away for the semester abroad to record my thoughts, feelings, actions, pictures, etc. I'm kinda new to this--very new to this. First, I had to get a clear definition of a Blog, then I had to have someone (thank you, person :P) to give me step-by-step instructions.
I can't promise I'll to be too good about posting, but at least I will try to record my highlights. It will be a generally public blog, so my apologies for being too PC, or not PC enough, whichever the case (my apologies to any who might find this post or others to be redundant, I did steal from some emails and messages to save myself some time. I assure you all one-on-one exchanges are personal)
As to my title, well, Egypt is not exactly what I expected it to be...yet.
I am going thru the many stages of culture shock: honeymoon phase, frusteration, homesickness, depression, apathy, acceptance, love, contentment. Right now I'm somewhere between acceptance and contentment. There's a lot of sexism here. Not a shocker, I know. But honestly, it really does extend to we American women as well. It's actually not safe to walk without a guy in most places, and never safe without one at night. I am severely disadvantaged in regards to language aquisition, because I cannot speak and roam freely on the streets, whereas my male companions can chat up really anyone without risking danger or even just a bad attitude.
However, it is really beautiful to be in a muslim country during ramadan. Strike that, to be in a muslim country in general. Everyone seems a little more at peace here, and to watch a country fasting is fascinating and beautiful. I like hearing the call-to-prayer once in a while, though for some reason I actually have only heard it around 3 times in my week or so of being here.
My roommates nice. She's 23, graduated from NYU and is a lil bit more low-key, but basically a great fit for me. She has travelled all over the world (has studied abroad around 4 times), and is generally more mature than most of the other students. We get along well and have a lot in common. For instance, we have the EXACT same beliefs about god and the afterlife and whatnot. We both are both in a similar place in life, and I guess process and socialize simliarly. We are the same kinda messy, tired, and irresponsible, and we both are addicted to caffeine.
We are doing a lot of sight-seeing in our first week of registration/orientation. So far we have been on the Nile for a traditional boatride, called a Falucca, with Arabic desserts and drinks. We also took a cruise on the nile and watched a traditional dance being done, much like the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey, and feasted on delicious Egyptian food. More recently I took a horseback ride to the pyramids, and visited Islamic Cairo, and got a private tour of the markets and a few beautiful mosques, one of which we were let into after hours, and allowed to go onto the roof and overlook all of Cairo. It was absolutely breathtaking and beautiful, and honestly looked like something out of a painting (and/or Aladdin...). We also went into the actual city of Cairo and saw so much! Zamalek, our city, is sorta lame, but we went into Cairo for the first time and it's beautiful and like huge. And at like 11 pm it turns crazy and energized, kinda like a boardwalk. Over Eid El-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, for which we get a 4-day break, we will be going on a 4-day cruise to Luxor and Aswan (modern-day Thebes). Very exciting. A few friends, my roommate, and I also plan to go to Dubai for a break we have in October, which actually includes my birthday (Oct. 5)!
Outside of the big break, AUC, the American University in Cairo, my study abroad university here in Cairo, offers us many trips, most of which are free!
The living is actually quite cheap here in Cairo. The Egyptian pound is 5 to 1 to the dollar. So many things are priced "appropriately" for an American amount, but in fact is 5 times cheaper than the actual price. For example, Shishah, or Hookah, is usually 10 LE(Egyptian Pounds), which is the equivalent of $2.00. Cabs are haggle-able, and usually cost 15 LE to most places, the equivalent of roughly $3.00, with no tip necessary. Cheap!
I am making a lot of new friends, but I hope soon to be in classes with and more closely connected with Egyptians or Arabic-speaking people. I have not yet started classes, so I'm giving myself time to adjust before I throw myself into the language. But we got our schedules today, and hard studying will be required, as well as time spent emersed in the country to boost our speaking skills.
I switched out of my normal study abroad program into the school's intensive program. Good decision. Now I'm taking 20 hrs of arabic with 5 hrs of HW. Could be worse. But no other courses but arabic, which should be fun and good for me. Whoop me into shape.
There are many students from the philadelphia area, or go to school nearby, and it's nice to have people who can relate to where I call home. Also, I met a swat alum who teaches at AUC and who also taught at villanova for a while! There are also a handful of Bryn Mawr women, which at first frustrated me, but now it seems like more of a plus. I can get a lil home and a break from new everything once in a while, but because none of them is particularly close to me, I can have my space from my home school.
Anyway, I'm feeling good now, but with big change comes homesickness. It's not too bad, it's more fear that I picked the wrong study abroad location. But I think with my change into the intensive it'll all seem worth it.
I miss you all, and I hope that life back at home is good.
Lots of love,
Halima
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