Damien Rice
9 crimes
12 days, 5 finals, 1 big problem.
that is all.
12.11.2009
12.06.2009
Yay stalkers...really, rah freaking rah
I have gotten 25 calls from a man (I believe) I have never met. I answered the phone the 19th (or so) time, thinking it could possibly be a random egyptian buddy. I do pass my number out like candy...but only to truly awesome people. Anyway the conversation went like this.
guy: hello
-- an aside: I hate this, when you call you give your name and ask for the person you want if you are not sure they are there.
me: hello?
-- maybe you wont screw up again.
guy: hello?
---WRONG!
me: yes, what do you want?
guy: what is your name?
me: what do you mean 'whats my name'? you called me; you should be telling me your name!
guy: I am mohammed
me: do I know you mohammed?
guy: do you speak arabic?
me: dont call me anymore.
10 calls later I receive a text...and I quote:
if i could give you one thing in life, i would give you the ability to see yourself through my eyes to let you know how special you are to me.
......... have we met?
So, I saved this number as NO in my phone so I dont assume he's a friend (I forgot to save) and answer the phone.
guy: hello
-- an aside: I hate this, when you call you give your name and ask for the person you want if you are not sure they are there.
me: hello?
-- maybe you wont screw up again.
guy: hello?
---WRONG!
me: yes, what do you want?
guy: what is your name?
me: what do you mean 'whats my name'? you called me; you should be telling me your name!
guy: I am mohammed
me: do I know you mohammed?
guy: do you speak arabic?
me: dont call me anymore.
10 calls later I receive a text...and I quote:
if i could give you one thing in life, i would give you the ability to see yourself through my eyes to let you know how special you are to me.
......... have we met?
So, I saved this number as NO in my phone so I dont assume he's a friend (I forgot to save) and answer the phone.
12.01.2009
The last 3 days
I have seen the pyramids, mohandissen, a jazz club and a fabulous lebanese hair dresser.... that is all. :D
11.28.2009
Thanksgiving in the black and white desert!
Yes, this non-outdoorsy girl camped out in the desert, after traveling about 5 hours west of Cairo to the middle of no-freaking where, where a prematurely aged hotel owner insisted we lie about our nationality in order to avoid having to take police guards--they do indeed put a damper on things.
We visited the black desert, some crystal mountain thing (the above picture[we were told it was at this point that our driver started toking up...im really not surprised]) and then spent the night in the white desert. Pardon the bad pic, it was hard to take a decent one with such limited light.
with three Bedouins who prepared a bomb meal out of nothing. It was FREEZING!! I played footsy with multiple people to keep warm. As an aside, anyone who knows me knows I dont do feet.
Sunrise... yes, that is sheesha. There was lots of sheesha involved. Oh yes, and lots of tea and fuul...
and beautiful Bedouins who speak italian....
yup. It was awesome!
with three Bedouins who prepared a bomb meal out of nothing. It was FREEZING!! I played footsy with multiple people to keep warm. As an aside, anyone who knows me knows I dont do feet.
yup. It was awesome!
11.25.2009
هذا مش جزء من حياتي في مصر و لكن...
...من الضروري اشترك الاخبار مع كل الناس
!!!!اتمنهت مع بطاقتي الاولى يعني خلاص
Yay, one down one to go.
11.20.2009
When stupid people get together and feed off
one another's lies, crap like this happens.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8369983.stm
and this...
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/11/20091120132218441380.html
I spoke to an egyptian today who was very upset after I alleged that egyptians destroyed egyptian property. She insisted that they were, in fact, algerian........ That egyptians were being murdered left and right in Algeria... اي ده? SERIOUSLY? And people believe this GARBAGE!
I am nice and kind but I had to burst her bubble. Why would algerians be sticking around in Zamalek after such an emotionally charged debacle? Why would algerians be protesting against ALGERIA? Do you really think there is a conspiracy to make egyptians look bad?
You make yourself look bad...mobilizing around a game while your country is pretty much becoming a monarchy. Just give Gamal Mubarak his crown, already.
When my professors criticized the game as a diversion from the political fiasco(s in egypt AND algeria) I thought they were paranoid but it makes perfect sense! This game business has devolved into complete and utter absurdity.
I am disappointed, disappointed that diplomatic relations could possibly deteriorate over a soccer (football) game. Disappointed that officials, instead of calling for calm, are talking about taking a "tough stance". Disappointed that news outlets are fanning the flames of this ...this MESS. Disappointed that university students actually believe these conspiracy theories...apparently Intro to Logic is not a required course at AUC.
Zamalek is beautiful... I'd like to keep it that way. Respect your country; respect yourself.
هو ده...
and this...
I spoke to an egyptian today who was very upset after I alleged that egyptians destroyed egyptian property. She insisted that they were, in fact, algerian........ That egyptians were being murdered left and right in Algeria... اي ده? SERIOUSLY? And people believe this GARBAGE!
I am nice and kind but I had to burst her bubble. Why would algerians be sticking around in Zamalek after such an emotionally charged debacle? Why would algerians be protesting against ALGERIA? Do you really think there is a conspiracy to make egyptians look bad?
You make yourself look bad...mobilizing around a game while your country is pretty much becoming a monarchy. Just give Gamal Mubarak his crown, already.
When my professors criticized the game as a diversion from the political fiasco(s in egypt AND algeria) I thought they were paranoid but it makes perfect sense! This game business has devolved into complete and utter absurdity.
I am disappointed, disappointed that diplomatic relations could possibly deteriorate over a soccer (football) game. Disappointed that officials, instead of calling for calm, are talking about taking a "tough stance". Disappointed that news outlets are fanning the flames of this ...this MESS. Disappointed that university students actually believe these conspiracy theories...apparently Intro to Logic is not a required course at AUC.
Zamalek is beautiful... I'd like to keep it that way. Respect your country; respect yourself.
هو ده...
Reasons I LOVE Khan el-Khalili
Last night I made my first (but not last) trip to Khan El-Khalili with Rivkah #2 around 6ish. I went with every intention of getting christmas gifts and ended up getting a galabiyya and two scarves for moi. no pictures to post as my camera still has no batteries but soon, I promise.
Anywho, Khan is this huge, open and bustling marketplace where you can get EVERYTHING! Deep breath.
You get out of your extra stinky taxi after struggling to understand your taxi driver's amea (colloq arabic) for anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes, hand him 10 L.E. and make your way into chaos. There are people everywhere, pressing up against you, some smelling like jasmine others like old cheese, some insensitive, some considerate, more curious, all willing to help you try out your heinous arabic, some insisting you can speak english despite the fact that you really want to keep butchering their language. You hear the occasional vendor shout something in french...english...
---"no, no esta bien. puedo bajar el precio. ¿que quieres?"
You turn, squint, shake your head twice. He's masree, a vendor clearly trying to sell his fake papyrus to two europeans. Was that...? Couldnt be...
---"mira, mira eso"
Yes, indeed, that's spanish, if not perfect then (at the very least) conversational. You smile...move aside as some short guy pushes past, his brow furrowed slightly, a cart in tow.
You walk a little more, coming to a narrower street. After getting over the initial hesitation you take it. There are dusty lamps like something out of aladdin (seriously), glass pyramids, nefertiti busts, galabiyya's and scarves.
A young egyptian approaches trying to sell your equally foreign looking companion his scarves, 40 L.E. Really? $7.40 isnt bad but she KNOWs she can get it cheaper. She presses him for 10 L.E.;he refuses; she walks away. You come to another vendor who insists he knows your friends heritage; she is from turkey, right? She blushes and you gag. Turkey?
She says something in french and he insists she is french. She explains that speaking french doesnt necessarily mean she is french...He asks if she has a boyfriend.
The scarf guy appears again. 15 L.E. and no less, he insists. You really want that orange scarf and she really wants the pink one.
-- "Do you have boyfriend?"
Someone pushes past you. You REALLY just want that orange scarf. 15 L.E. kuwayiss. You get the scarves, the vendor still wants to know if your friend has a boyfriend; you quickly walk away.
--- "Brown sugar!"
--- "Hey, sista good price!"
--- "Hey, sista 1 pound shirt!"
--- You from kenya, africa? Where you from girl?
You look at your friend, she looks at you and you laugh. "I look Kenyan!"
She smiles. "And I'm a turk."
You hook arms and walk faster. It's not so much about the buying as it is simple being...being there, being in it, just being.
---"Good price here...good price"
---"Madam, I help you please?"
---"Brown sugar!"
That's got to be the 20th brown sugar you've gotten. You shrug it off but your friend is not as forgiving. She snaps.
--- "ده مش كويس" (that is not okay!)
--- "I'm very sorry."
He holds up his hands, backing away, very clearly apologetic and not expecting the fiery response. She continues to glare.
You keep walking (buy a SUPERFLY GALABIYYA) and circling around you come to the same guy. He's going to do it... he's going to say it and your friend, who is all of 5'2", is probably going to gut him. You cringe as his lips part, everything goes slowly... and then there it is.
--- "White sugar?"
You can't help but laugh; its HILARIOUS. Your friend laughs too but not before telling him that white sugar is also unaccetable.
--- "no sugar? You don't like sugar?"
---"no sugar..." She confirms, unable to hide the smile.
Anywho, Khan is this huge, open and bustling marketplace where you can get EVERYTHING! Deep breath.
You get out of your extra stinky taxi after struggling to understand your taxi driver's amea (colloq arabic) for anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes, hand him 10 L.E. and make your way into chaos. There are people everywhere, pressing up against you, some smelling like jasmine others like old cheese, some insensitive, some considerate, more curious, all willing to help you try out your heinous arabic, some insisting you can speak english despite the fact that you really want to keep butchering their language. You hear the occasional vendor shout something in french...english...
---"no, no esta bien. puedo bajar el precio. ¿que quieres?"
You turn, squint, shake your head twice. He's masree, a vendor clearly trying to sell his fake papyrus to two europeans. Was that...? Couldnt be...
---"mira, mira eso"
Yes, indeed, that's spanish, if not perfect then (at the very least) conversational. You smile...move aside as some short guy pushes past, his brow furrowed slightly, a cart in tow.
You walk a little more, coming to a narrower street. After getting over the initial hesitation you take it. There are dusty lamps like something out of aladdin (seriously), glass pyramids, nefertiti busts, galabiyya's and scarves.
A young egyptian approaches trying to sell your equally foreign looking companion his scarves, 40 L.E. Really? $7.40 isnt bad but she KNOWs she can get it cheaper. She presses him for 10 L.E.;he refuses; she walks away. You come to another vendor who insists he knows your friends heritage; she is from turkey, right? She blushes and you gag. Turkey?
She says something in french and he insists she is french. She explains that speaking french doesnt necessarily mean she is french...He asks if she has a boyfriend.
The scarf guy appears again. 15 L.E. and no less, he insists. You really want that orange scarf and she really wants the pink one.
-- "Do you have boyfriend?"
Someone pushes past you. You REALLY just want that orange scarf. 15 L.E. kuwayiss. You get the scarves, the vendor still wants to know if your friend has a boyfriend; you quickly walk away.
--- "Brown sugar!"
--- "Hey, sista good price!"
--- "Hey, sista 1 pound shirt!"
--- You from kenya, africa? Where you from girl?
You look at your friend, she looks at you and you laugh. "I look Kenyan!"
She smiles. "And I'm a turk."
You hook arms and walk faster. It's not so much about the buying as it is simple being...being there, being in it, just being.
---"Good price here...good price"
---"Madam, I help you please?"
---"Brown sugar!"
That's got to be the 20th brown sugar you've gotten. You shrug it off but your friend is not as forgiving. She snaps.
--- "ده مش كويس" (that is not okay!)
--- "I'm very sorry."
He holds up his hands, backing away, very clearly apologetic and not expecting the fiery response. She continues to glare.
You keep walking (buy a SUPERFLY GALABIYYA) and circling around you come to the same guy. He's going to do it... he's going to say it and your friend, who is all of 5'2", is probably going to gut him. You cringe as his lips part, everything goes slowly... and then there it is.
--- "White sugar?"
You can't help but laugh; its HILARIOUS. Your friend laughs too but not before telling him that white sugar is also unaccetable.
--- "no sugar? You don't like sugar?"
---"no sugar..." She confirms, unable to hide the smile.
هو ده
11.18.2009
Me di cuento del hecho que....
I only blog when Egypt ticks me off, which is why I blog so little. Well, that and (to be quite honest) work ya'll ;) Anywho last week we did Marsa Alam. We took the bus but missed our stop (because you just kinda tell the driver where to stop) and ending up trekking maybe a kilometer through the desert. :) it was awesome!
Alex went snorkeling and it was AWESOME! No really, the most fun I've had in a while. I've decided to learn to swim...tired of missing out. The amenities were awesome...the service, meh. An egyptian was yelled at and the problem was solved :). But yeah, Marsa Alam = awesomeness.
The Egypt/Algerie game is tonight and I'll be officially done with midterms in 15 min! I'm totes going to get caught up in some mob of egyptian madness tonight.
On a more random note, I have the worst luck EVER! Things fall into place just as the trip starts to end. Life in egypt rocks and is cheap and AWESOME. I havent always appreciated it but I do now...& the countdown begins. I have exactly 1 month and 5 days before my great Egyptian adventure is over and another begins... STOP THE TAPE! no sadness here! I'm still in FRIGGIN EGYPT! HOLLA!
Alex went snorkeling and it was AWESOME! No really, the most fun I've had in a while. I've decided to learn to swim...tired of missing out. The amenities were awesome...the service, meh. An egyptian was yelled at and the problem was solved :). But yeah, Marsa Alam = awesomeness.
The Egypt/Algerie game is tonight and I'll be officially done with midterms in 15 min! I'm totes going to get caught up in some mob of egyptian madness tonight.
On a more random note, I have the worst luck EVER! Things fall into place just as the trip starts to end. Life in egypt rocks and is cheap and AWESOME. I havent always appreciated it but I do now...& the countdown begins. I have exactly 1 month and 5 days before my great Egyptian adventure is over and another begins... STOP THE TAPE! no sadness here! I'm still in FRIGGIN EGYPT! HOLLA!
11.05.2009
Marsa Alam Hathahi el-leela!
I'm taking the midnight bus....to Marsa Alam. Where I will be staying somewhere with heated pools and cable to see BEYONCE tomorrow night! I'm so excited/need a serious break from the city, see previous entry for details.
I aced my arabic midtern...okay so I missed one question, whatever...I'll take it! my Comp pols midterm was a bit shaky...because I didnt study israel at all (dont jew read too much into that)....okay that was lame/an inside joke. Work wise I'm okay, case endings in arabic are killing me and I have two papers around the corner. *yawn*
in other news silly troubles are no more. sometimes, you just have to cut it off.
I aced my arabic midtern...okay so I missed one question, whatever...I'll take it! my Comp pols midterm was a bit shaky...because I didnt study israel at all (dont jew read too much into that)....okay that was lame/an inside joke. Work wise I'm okay, case endings in arabic are killing me and I have two papers around the corner. *yawn*
in other news silly troubles are no more. sometimes, you just have to cut it off.
11.02.2009
اليوم و اليوم فقط لا احب مصر
A series of bad experiences (people cheating me, being generally uncooperative, demanding I speak arabic when the only non-amea words in my sentence are part of a name, brushes with IGNORANT international students) have made me hate egypt...just for today, I promise. Actually, the last bit about international students cant even be attributed to egypt...these kids are american or from the EU. Still, it makes me want to strangle someone. It's not even that I want to go home...I'd gladly fly to the EU and finish out the semester there...but thats a pansy move.
Everyone studies abroad in the EU, myself included. I just have to keep going over why I came here...its different, I need/love to study arabic, its FRIGGIN egypt! But i'm no longer loving arabic...perhaps because the professors here (while good) cannot compete with Emory Professors in the Arabic department. Asifa but it's true...and pretty darn sad.
I'm tired of the egyptian obsession with whiteness... Everybody has color issues but when it means I walk into an establishment and they fall all over themselves helping my (white) companion and treat me like they're paying me for a service.....we have issues. It's kinda pathetic. Whatever happened to egyptian pride? to history and culture? whatever.
I'm tired of RUDE people...people who smoke RIGHT outside of a classroom, run into you like they dont see you standing there, pee facing traffic (the peeing in public is bad ENOUGH) and refuse to do their jobs, you know, the one they are getting PAID FOR. Excuse me, I know this is Cairo and everyone smokes but your smoke gives me a headache and the girl beside me is asthmatic...move your habit elsewhere. // the next girl that acts like I'm supposed to move outta her way when she is coming down the stairs beside her friend is getting stabbed...or at least cursed out...or tripped or shoved // nasty old (and young) men who AEYZ.... really old man, really? you want? you WANT WHAT? I'm so disgusted by most of the men I encounter here....there isnt enough liquor in all of egypt for me to talk to you. Cause for real, you are sitting on the corner...do you have a job? when is the last time you showered? you are NASTY and I'd rather ROT than let you within five feet of me...yes even black girls have standards...SURPRISE!
Tomorrow, I will love Egypt insha'allah but now...I'm tired of dirty [insert expletive here] streets, people constantly littering, being unable to breath, vendors who dont give change, smokers and people who act like they are doing me a favor by letting me live in this (another expletive[just for today]) country.
Everyone studies abroad in the EU, myself included. I just have to keep going over why I came here...its different, I need/love to study arabic, its FRIGGIN egypt! But i'm no longer loving arabic...perhaps because the professors here (while good) cannot compete with Emory Professors in the Arabic department. Asifa but it's true...and pretty darn sad.
I'm tired of the egyptian obsession with whiteness... Everybody has color issues but when it means I walk into an establishment and they fall all over themselves helping my (white) companion and treat me like they're paying me for a service.....we have issues. It's kinda pathetic. Whatever happened to egyptian pride? to history and culture? whatever.
I'm tired of RUDE people...people who smoke RIGHT outside of a classroom, run into you like they dont see you standing there, pee facing traffic (the peeing in public is bad ENOUGH) and refuse to do their jobs, you know, the one they are getting PAID FOR. Excuse me, I know this is Cairo and everyone smokes but your smoke gives me a headache and the girl beside me is asthmatic...move your habit elsewhere. // the next girl that acts like I'm supposed to move outta her way when she is coming down the stairs beside her friend is getting stabbed...or at least cursed out...or tripped or shoved // nasty old (and young) men who AEYZ.... really old man, really? you want? you WANT WHAT? I'm so disgusted by most of the men I encounter here....there isnt enough liquor in all of egypt for me to talk to you. Cause for real, you are sitting on the corner...do you have a job? when is the last time you showered? you are NASTY and I'd rather ROT than let you within five feet of me...yes even black girls have standards...SURPRISE!
Tomorrow, I will love Egypt insha'allah but now...I'm tired of dirty [insert expletive here] streets, people constantly littering, being unable to breath, vendors who dont give change, smokers and people who act like they are doing me a favor by letting me live in this (another expletive[just for today]) country.
10.13.2009
هذا اليوم يومي, it's my birthday ya'll
im pretty sure thats NOT how you say "its my birthday" in arabic but who CARES? I didnt get drunk last night...and tonight im going to bed at 11:00. I am a 21 year old...old woman! no really i have to get up at six tomorrow for class so....im saving my celebration for thursday, HOLLA!
today i ended up taking a taxi to main campus (13 L.E.) because there is no ten o'clock bus. I sat in a horrible lecture...then proceeded to sit in the library for 3 hours, which was just about all i could take.
I got back to the dorms at 5...no net. Went to the sudanese culture night...totally felt like a western prick pimping out a culture that had little (nothing) to do with the people parading around in fake leopard skin. The girls bought me a WONDERFUL CAKE and sang to me....BESOS ladies, I appreciate it.
I ate some sudanese food, meh....and am now going to bed. I wish the fam could be here. love you much. tomorrow, insha'allah I will find wonderful shoes.... Oh....and do some learning?
today i ended up taking a taxi to main campus (13 L.E.) because there is no ten o'clock bus. I sat in a horrible lecture...then proceeded to sit in the library for 3 hours, which was just about all i could take.
I got back to the dorms at 5...no net. Went to the sudanese culture night...totally felt like a western prick pimping out a culture that had little (nothing) to do with the people parading around in fake leopard skin. The girls bought me a WONDERFUL CAKE and sang to me....BESOS ladies, I appreciate it.
I ate some sudanese food, meh....and am now going to bed. I wish the fam could be here. love you much. tomorrow, insha'allah I will find wonderful shoes.... Oh....and do some learning?
10.12.2009
Beyonce in Luxor for 250 L.E./$45 ?!
Oh, heck yes! I do love myself some beyonce and I DO need to go to luxor. Nov. 6th, get excited!
In other news...I really need to remember names. A certain individual called and for the life of me I couldnt remember the name. Sorry. Said individual seems pretty straight up and insha'allah we will hang out more.
I may have lost a friend and complicated another situation but maalesh, poop happens. If it's meant to be...you know the rest.
I'm thinking of maybe taking the GRE and applying to a dual jd/ma program but this could change....depending on how lazy I am feeling. Masalama ya asdakauee
In other news...I really need to remember names. A certain individual called and for the life of me I couldnt remember the name. Sorry. Said individual seems pretty straight up and insha'allah we will hang out more.
I may have lost a friend and complicated another situation but maalesh, poop happens. If it's meant to be...you know the rest.
I'm thinking of maybe taking the GRE and applying to a dual jd/ma program but this could change....depending on how lazy I am feeling. Masalama ya asdakauee
10.05.2009
في الاوتوبيس
I have a sore throat and a short fuse...I need mouthwash and drugs. I'm a patient person but for some reason people take this as weakness/an invitation to play games.
I dont want to snap and curse anyone out...totally out of character but a Cairo cold can make you do crazy things...+ im going to be on this bus for the next hour and 15 minutes to get back to the dorms. I'm just waiting.
besos, yall...
I dont want to snap and curse anyone out...totally out of character but a Cairo cold can make you do crazy things...+ im going to be on this bus for the next hour and 15 minutes to get back to the dorms. I'm just waiting.
besos, yall...
10.04.2009
انا الان في مصر
I'm back "home" after a week long trip to Greece and a few if it's cycladic islands. I traveled with three other americans and we had a ball! We flew from Cairo to Larnaca (cyprus) and had an obscene layover from like 10 - 8 am. We decided to find a bar and chill but ended up just looking at the stars and avoiding random sketchies. btw, I have never seen the stars so clear.
We landed in athens with NO plan...no hostel no nothing! yes, double negatives. Anywho the people were super friendly and we ended up taking a bus to syntagama (city center in athens) then we kind of meandered our way through the streets till we got to hotel zeus. 14 euro a night per person. :)
Over a period of two days we visited
The Acropolis
The Parthenon
The Archeological Museum
The Acropolis museum
The market
The temple of Zeus
We left athens for Paros (cycladic island) on a blue star ferry. I hate ferries...except i totally forgot i hated them until i got on the one for paros. We watched the sunset but it was hella cold (tee jee) and the ferry was bobbing everywhere/we didnt have legit seats.
After a brief stop in syros we got to Paros at like 11pm and preceeded to walk along the water till we found our hostel. Beaucause i am the luckiest person in the world, the hostel we wanted was closed...so we chose to walk around a bit....on empty streets.
We found this place called hotel john and I became "that girl". You know, the stupid one that goes into the basement to see what the knocking was in the middle of the night. That was me. There was no one at the desk but there was a sign that said...go upstairs to the left....and I did. Except, upstairs to the left there was some insanely dark door.....
So, I crept back down the stairs and whispered to the girls, 'theres a door'. I have NO idea what they think I said but they turned around and hightailed it outta there. I assumed someone was behind me....so i ran too, straight into the lady that owned the hotel where we would end up staying the night.
Yeah, that lady thinks we're crazy.
The next morning we hiked to see the old sanctuary of Apollo and stole some shells. Poor angela is still certain the wind was apollo's wrath. We've got a working title for the horror movie already.... Apollocalypse....GET IT? tee hee.
We grabbed breakfast and jumped on another ferry to Santorini, supposedly one of the locations of Atlantis. I dont know about all that...but whatevskies.
I actually preferred Paros to Santorini but...maalesh. can we talk about the awesomeness that is BLACK SAND??!! It's AWESOME! and...i totally rolled around in it. We also hiked a mountain...in FLIP FLOPS, to see the ruins of the ancient city of Thira.
I hiked up a mountain....
I am the most nonathletic person that ever existed and I hiked a mountain in my rainbows, which are now dead, I'd dearly appreciate another pair, parents of mine.
I'll post pics soon. All in all, loved greece.... LOVE EGYPT MORE!
We landed in athens with NO plan...no hostel no nothing! yes, double negatives. Anywho the people were super friendly and we ended up taking a bus to syntagama (city center in athens) then we kind of meandered our way through the streets till we got to hotel zeus. 14 euro a night per person. :)
Over a period of two days we visited
The Acropolis
The Parthenon
The Archeological Museum
The Acropolis museum
The market
The temple of Zeus
We left athens for Paros (cycladic island) on a blue star ferry. I hate ferries...except i totally forgot i hated them until i got on the one for paros. We watched the sunset but it was hella cold (tee jee) and the ferry was bobbing everywhere/we didnt have legit seats.
After a brief stop in syros we got to Paros at like 11pm and preceeded to walk along the water till we found our hostel. Beaucause i am the luckiest person in the world, the hostel we wanted was closed...so we chose to walk around a bit....on empty streets.
We found this place called hotel john and I became "that girl". You know, the stupid one that goes into the basement to see what the knocking was in the middle of the night. That was me. There was no one at the desk but there was a sign that said...go upstairs to the left....and I did. Except, upstairs to the left there was some insanely dark door.....
So, I crept back down the stairs and whispered to the girls, 'theres a door'. I have NO idea what they think I said but they turned around and hightailed it outta there. I assumed someone was behind me....so i ran too, straight into the lady that owned the hotel where we would end up staying the night.
Yeah, that lady thinks we're crazy.
The next morning we hiked to see the old sanctuary of Apollo and stole some shells. Poor angela is still certain the wind was apollo's wrath. We've got a working title for the horror movie already.... Apollocalypse....GET IT? tee hee.
We grabbed breakfast and jumped on another ferry to Santorini, supposedly one of the locations of Atlantis. I dont know about all that...but whatevskies.
I actually preferred Paros to Santorini but...maalesh. can we talk about the awesomeness that is BLACK SAND??!! It's AWESOME! and...i totally rolled around in it. We also hiked a mountain...in FLIP FLOPS, to see the ruins of the ancient city of Thira.
I hiked up a mountain....
I am the most nonathletic person that ever existed and I hiked a mountain in my rainbows, which are now dead, I'd dearly appreciate another pair, parents of mine.
I'll post pics soon. All in all, loved greece.... LOVE EGYPT MORE!
9.14.2009
UGH!
I dont feel like educating anyone today...... There is a lot of eye rolling going on and I am agitated. Non-american's just will not understand.
In other news, this is how I feel right now.
HappEness!
I love egypt and egyptians!
In other news, this is how I feel right now.
HappEness!
I love egypt and egyptians!
9.06.2009
Yom el oola filsof
It's the first day, officially, a sunday (the weekend is friday/saturday) though I have been in class the last week with survival arabic...which makes me...
except not really.
The American University in Cairo...much like the city in which is claims to be.... is CROWDED! 3 classes down, one more for today, five total.
my isatitha are all nice..but all men. Whaddup with that? One of them is particularly joven and gemeel but I think he fears not being taken seriously...and for this compensates by being extra strict. :( Another is this random egyptian who brings toys to class...the other german....
...
I dont know either :D.
oh well. at least they dont assign many books. Speaking of books...
CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW CHEAP MY BOOKS ARE??!! Average, $20.00. its going down!!!
In other news I have hunger. I left all my money and cannot eat... *sadness* Another picture of my campus... 1.5 hours away from my dorm :(.
Ok, so that's really like ONE corner of 1/20th the campus...sue me.
9.03.2009
Alex taubana wa aeyza move out of the dorm
Long long long day today. I finally got a bus pass, student visa form, id and receipt from the AUC. I'm glad most of the drama is over...this school is incredibly unorganized but I want to move out of the dorm and am afraid this will cause more drama.
Why would I want to leave my precious dorm, you ask? My dorm is in Zamalek which is essentially the little america of Cairo. The food is expensive (not expensive by american standards but by egyptian) with a sandwhich costing 25 egyptians pounds, roughly 5 dollars. I know, youre thinking 5 BUCKS? Get outta here, that's nothing. But in downtown cairo I can get a bigger sandwich for 4 pounds, thats LESS THAN 75 CENTS YALL!
Egyptians can stretch a pound for real!
Why spend more when you dont have to? Do I have an ATM sign on my forehead? Everything tastes better and is cheaper in the city. plus, Im not in the states. I refuse to spend more money on something just because I have.
That is just...
stupid.
Anywho, I rode a microbus yesterday...and knocked a couple years off.... AND IT WAS GREAT! the driver had to be doing 75 minimum in cairene traffice with the door flopping open and windows all open. I also went to nasr city (with tye and april) which is just....an experience, for real.
I'm bad at this blogging thing but hopefully I will get better. MASALAMA!
Why would I want to leave my precious dorm, you ask? My dorm is in Zamalek which is essentially the little america of Cairo. The food is expensive (not expensive by american standards but by egyptian) with a sandwhich costing 25 egyptians pounds, roughly 5 dollars. I know, youre thinking 5 BUCKS? Get outta here, that's nothing. But in downtown cairo I can get a bigger sandwich for 4 pounds, thats LESS THAN 75 CENTS YALL!
Egyptians can stretch a pound for real!
Why spend more when you dont have to? Do I have an ATM sign on my forehead? Everything tastes better and is cheaper in the city. plus, Im not in the states. I refuse to spend more money on something just because I have.
That is just...
stupid.
Anywho, I rode a microbus yesterday...and knocked a couple years off.... AND IT WAS GREAT! the driver had to be doing 75 minimum in cairene traffice with the door flopping open and windows all open. I also went to nasr city (with tye and april) which is just....an experience, for real.
I'm bad at this blogging thing but hopefully I will get better. MASALAMA!
8.29.2009
First days in Al Qahira
Yesterday... I landed, finally, after a 10.5 hour flight from JFK! I met the SWEETEST egyptian woman at the gate. Apparently she's a dual citizen, canada. Anywho she was so nice, giving me all these tips and what not. I also met about 4 other AUC abroaders and they are all frickin awesome! We later wandered around Zamalek (pretty nice area) and found dinner...
...or that's what was left :)
I had shwerma (sp? transliteration) which can be chicken or beef w/tomatoes, pickles and this buttery garlicky..tastiness on pita or a roll. It was BOMB! I will be heading back to the stand today!
they took us for a felucca ride (which rocked, literally and figuratively) and I dabbled in the nile (an ill advised move)...about 3 times. After we got back I met my roomie, this chick from norway who ROCKS MY WORLD! We chatted for hours before hitting the sack about sex ed, amsterdam, alcohol, self control and family. She's like me...except norwegian!
Anywho today we visited old Cairo, the oldest church...
synagogue (couldnt take pics) and mosque ....
...in Cairo. See the green ^ blobs, the chicas had to cover up. I wasnt complaining, most of the girls needed to cover up anyway...tank/halter tops and miniskirts in CHURCHES???!! In Egypt?!?! ...europeans, smh.
all-in-all awesome. Am i overwhelmed? Do I miss home?
honestly, I'm overwhelmed everytime I leave the dorm but in a good way. The little bit of the city that I've seen is beautiful and distinct. I've never been anywhere like here. About home? I dont feel like I left. Maybe that says something about the city. I chat up the important people on skype...and I didnt leave any serious physical things behind, minus my newly acquired snazzy wardrobe :( . It feels good.
I love this plac, random friendly egyptians (no one has sought baksheesh) and shwerma!
...or that's what was left :)
I had shwerma (sp? transliteration) which can be chicken or beef w/tomatoes, pickles and this buttery garlicky..tastiness on pita or a roll. It was BOMB! I will be heading back to the stand today!
they took us for a felucca ride (which rocked, literally and figuratively) and I dabbled in the nile (an ill advised move)...about 3 times. After we got back I met my roomie, this chick from norway who ROCKS MY WORLD! We chatted for hours before hitting the sack about sex ed, amsterdam, alcohol, self control and family. She's like me...except norwegian!
Anywho today we visited old Cairo, the oldest church...
all-in-all awesome. Am i overwhelmed? Do I miss home?
honestly, I'm overwhelmed everytime I leave the dorm but in a good way. The little bit of the city that I've seen is beautiful and distinct. I've never been anywhere like here. About home? I dont feel like I left. Maybe that says something about the city. I chat up the important people on skype...and I didnt leave any serious physical things behind, minus my newly acquired snazzy wardrobe :( . It feels good.
I love this plac, random friendly egyptians (no one has sought baksheesh) and shwerma!
8.27.2009
I leave in a few...
before I go I have to acknowledge some things that have been left unsaid. I have issues with
foreign currency...as in, it's really hard for me to look at it with any appreciation for it's value. To me foreign currency is like monopoly money. Second, I'm really gonna miss ... these guys
<----------------- (yeah, I know yall. the pic is four years old{oh graduation}, bite me), all of them...every single one, even though they haven't subscribed to my blog *cough*.
Okay time to go... I have to beat the crap outta lil brother number 2... enough to last 4 months.
8.19.2009
The End of one Adventure and the beginning of another...
Wednesday I finished up with my internship. I had to run outta there in order to get my baby bro to football practice :( didnt get to bid my favorite judge farewell :( :(
I may go back next summer; everyone was awesome, really. I met so many people and adored every single one of them...even the attorneys on their crabby days are freakin awesome! It was all-in-all a great experience. There are no words.
God rocks! Yes, yes he does.
i have
until I get on that beautiful plane and make my way to the land of wonder and smog, Al-Qahira. I need to start packing/looking for luggage? I work well under pressure. I got my baby, she is lovely.
btw, just when I think I'm getting this arabic thing, I turn on Al-jazeera and realize (3 words out of 50 later) that I know jack squat, nada, nothing.
I may go back next summer; everyone was awesome, really. I met so many people and adored every single one of them...even the attorneys on their crabby days are freakin awesome! It was all-in-all a great experience. There are no words.
God rocks! Yes, yes he does.
i have
| 5 | days | |
| 125 | hours | |
| 7505 | minutes |
until I get on that beautiful plane and make my way to the land of wonder and smog, Al-Qahira. I need to start packing/looking for luggage? I work well under pressure. I got my baby, she is lovely.
btw, just when I think I'm getting this arabic thing, I turn on Al-jazeera and realize (3 words out of 50 later) that I know jack squat, nada, nothing.
8.05.2009
Words to Live by
"Real accomplishment is something rarely glamorous or ecstasy-filled: It comes from steady, reliable effort over time; a never-ending fight against ignorance and laziness; the cultivation of productive habits . . .; and the building up of skill and experience by constant effort."
-- Steve Salerno, "Pumped for Nothing: Motivational speakers are everywhere. What are they really saying?" Wall Street Journal, May 8, 1998, p. W11
7.30.2009
In less than a month Cairo and ..other news
Next week I'll order my baby, my pride and joy.
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/
I think I'll call her keira. I spend a good portion of my day staring at her...and going over her specs.
I'll be taking her with me to Cairo. CAIRO! Less than a month! I'm in the process of getting shots, visas and money! So excited and kinda intimidated. I speak very little arabic, and even less colloquial. This isnt like the trip to spain. That was only a month and a half...and I could speak the language. Insha allah, everything will work out.
I love my internship. It's a DA's office in a small town but the people are super sweet and really on top of their ish. I mostly do secretary stuff because...well I'm an undergrad but it's still pretty great.
Kinda related, I have acquired an incredibly inappropriate crush on a completely inappropriate individual. I mean, he's not inappropriate but that whole thing....is just...wrong. I can't help it :) Rivkah and her older guy thing may be contagious, yes babe I just called you out !! I mean he is REALLY too old. I will endeavor to keep my inappropriate feelings to my inappropriate self.
I'm so optimistic about the future. Definitely going to law school, hopefully in NC. Being a trial lawyer doesnt seem so bad. I mean, they dont make a lot of money but it's not about the money, right?
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/
I think I'll call her keira. I spend a good portion of my day staring at her...and going over her specs.
I'll be taking her with me to Cairo. CAIRO! Less than a month! I'm in the process of getting shots, visas and money! So excited and kinda intimidated. I speak very little arabic, and even less colloquial. This isnt like the trip to spain. That was only a month and a half...and I could speak the language. Insha allah, everything will work out.
I love my internship. It's a DA's office in a small town but the people are super sweet and really on top of their ish. I mostly do secretary stuff because...well I'm an undergrad but it's still pretty great.
Kinda related, I have acquired an incredibly inappropriate crush on a completely inappropriate individual. I mean, he's not inappropriate but that whole thing....is just...wrong. I can't help it :) Rivkah and her older guy thing may be contagious, yes babe I just called you out !! I mean he is REALLY too old. I will endeavor to keep my inappropriate feelings to my inappropriate self.
I'm so optimistic about the future. Definitely going to law school, hopefully in NC. Being a trial lawyer doesnt seem so bad. I mean, they dont make a lot of money but it's not about the money, right?
6.15.2009
Family Vacay, Class registration and the wait
Am currently in FL...it's hot...
I took the arabic placement test and thought about taking it a second time (they take the highest score) but I didnt. Instead, I chilled with the girls (for nellie's birthday) had a sippy sip and let all that crap from the lsat, gillman and the placement test roll off.
Speaking of which, I get news about the lsat and gillman (scholarship I got waitlisted for) the 26th. The good news is I placed into arabic 103 which friggin rocks because that test was A.BEAST. That plus the fact that (per ipos request) I didnt try to guess when I didnt understand made me pretty insecure about the whole thing. Whatever, I'm a baller. Yes, LSAC no matter the score...I am a baller.
Class for fall 2009 if I'm lucky
Comparative politics of the middle east
Government and Politics of Egypt
Muslim Political Thought
The Making of the Modern Arab World
Arabic 103 (done)
YAY!
I took the arabic placement test and thought about taking it a second time (they take the highest score) but I didnt. Instead, I chilled with the girls (for nellie's birthday) had a sippy sip and let all that crap from the lsat, gillman and the placement test roll off.
Speaking of which, I get news about the lsat and gillman (scholarship I got waitlisted for) the 26th. The good news is I placed into arabic 103 which friggin rocks because that test was A.BEAST. That plus the fact that (per ipos request) I didnt try to guess when I didnt understand made me pretty insecure about the whole thing. Whatever, I'm a baller. Yes, LSAC no matter the score...I am a baller.
Class for fall 2009 if I'm lucky
Comparative politics of the middle east
Government and Politics of Egypt
Muslim Political Thought
The Making of the Modern Arab World
Arabic 103 (done)
YAY!