Words to Live by and J's visit...

What other people say about you is none of your business
                                                          --- Anon
...because having haters probably means you're a baller and didn't know it.

---

In other news, J drove 6.5 hours from Atlanta to hang out with yours truly --I still gots it ;).   Last time we had serious hang time, we went hiking in N. Georgia so I figured another hike would be a good way to start our first day.  We rode out to Lake Wheeler, Warsteiners and chicken wings --yes, chicken wings-- in tow.   As soon as we got out of the car I realized the hike wasnt gonna happen.  NC summer = hot + humid.  We walked for five, plopped down beside the lake and destroyed lunch instead.

We hung out for a bit, come back, cleaned up and left for fayetteville street --the only part of NC that meets J's seal of approval.  As J and I are both sushi freaks, I chose Sono.  There was a lot of this ...

and a bit of this

Now that I think about it, it wouldve been perfect had the waiter not spent the night trying to pick up my dinner companion.  He kept insisting J let him know if he could 'be of service', made zero eye-contact with me and offered J a free drink, despite the fact that J was the DD.  Take note, I'd ordered a $10 cocktail.  Did the waiter offer to comp it?  No, Sir! Then he had the gall to look disappointed when J left the table and reluctantly took the dessert order from me.

How did this dude know I wasnt his girlfriend? 

THE GALL!!!

It did comfort me to know ol dude was totally barking up the wrong tree.  He deserve to get worked, acting funny.  

Day 2 was the Museum of Art --a surprisingly nice museum-- and general chill time.  The museum was better than I expected, architecturally breathtaking, relaxing and a welcome reprieve.  We even pulled out our screwdriver Doctor Who style and examined the collection...the nerdom never stops.    

There was also a good deal of ....

and the requisite amount of shouting, jumping up and down and trash-talking that inevitably comes with it.  Oh, oh, yes, yes and J was also introduced to the bounty and wonder of Bojangles.  All-in-all the last two days were a serious win.  Same time next month?

Having no job post-graduation kinda feels like...

Dear Sinatra,
Why are we so in sync?

I'm going to have to cosign on all those sentiments. I have scattered my good name all over town in the hopes of a callback...okay, I've been kinda selective about it but still.

Okay, fine, I dont really want a 'job'; I just want to network and I want it to mean something. The things I want are exclusively for first year law students.... :(

The good news is I have (LSAT/arabic/spanish) study time and I think I'm going to start teaching spanish classes on Saturdays at the church/mentoring young girls. Yes, someone thought it was a good idea for me to warp their little kids! MUAHAHAHA!!

I remember something quite similar, ;)

Black Hiker with Blair Underwood from Blair Underwood

Will keep this short and sweet....

Graduation. done.

Governor Schwarzenegger was entertaining --definitely more than a little in love with himself-- and inspiring.  He even cracked an Arizona joke which I'm sure many people laughed at out of a sense of obligation and NOT because they actually have any idea what is going on down there--shocker.

Emory. done...for now.

Besos queridos!  thanks for the spiritual cleansing.

Summer.  Middlebury?Work?Independent study?

....this program is so friggin expensive....and still, Arabic is my BABY--my one true love.  

Next fall. MADRID!! 

I guess I'll jump back on the blogging wagon for more overseas adventures. Rebecca, Christina and Jason have promised to visit...and I will break them if they renege.  So stoked about getting the job guys! btw, spanish yellow pages (http://www.paginasamarillas.es/) = the greatest thing ever!  I found 3 hair salons!  Don't get it twisted, I am not obsessed but I am not a sloppy sis.

Kudos to grandma (my norwegian) for landing the job in Abu Dhabi!  Crossing my fingers for the rest of you guys.

Good people deserve good ish but that does not mean it will come easy or free. 

هو ده!!!ا

Please date that Indian girl/expat itch/Emory Love!!!

I have had so many conversations over the past couple of weeks with many different people (white/black girls/guys) on the issue of race and dating...enough to make me want to spill it out here...cause this is my journal and you dont have to read it :P

I understand that people operate within a comfort zone but it bothers me to NO END when they refuse to step outside of it.  Guys, there are beautiful, intelligent and ambitious people out there and they may not necessarily look like you.  It doesnt mean you sacrifice who you are culturally; it doesnt mean you are a sellout; it doesnt mean you need to make excuses.

I dont get it...I have met so many highly intelligent people who would NEVER consider dating the rainbow...welcome to judgement lane.  Aren't we past this?

I'm not pretending to be colorblind or that racism doesnt exist.  Hell, sometime I say racist stuff; however, there is a process of self-correction.  As an aside-- people who pretend to be colorblind are full of it.  We are not all the same.  No, I can't use white girl's hair products unless I want to go bald.  It's basic...we're different.  Learn differences and move on...

P.S. objectification is NEVER cool.  I would not... (repeat) NOT date an brown/white dude that only dated black chicks...or a black dude that only dated black chicks for that matter.  Because we have to be honest...even if your black you are objectifying me.  You are dating what I am instead of who I am.

Okay, I did it.

No more asking if I will date a ___ guy...

I'll just send you the link for this post

DONE.

----

Oh God... I must get out of this country.  I have been stateside for over a month and if I dont leave--say in the next six months or so--I may have to stab someone...in the eye, the left one.  

I'm making a list for my gap-year...of things/places to do/see.   Along the way I have found a few resources that have caught my  eye.

http://www.educacion.es/exterior/usa/en/programs/us_assistants/default.shtml

¿Hablas el español y quieres mejorarlo?  Si hablas un poquito del espanol puede suplicar este programa.  El ministerio de educacion esta buscando norteamericanos con experiencia (un titulo de la universidad es suficiente) para ensenar el inglés sobre espana. He entregado mi suplicacion y ahora estoy esperando una respuesta.

http://www.clscholarship.org/

If you're interested in languages in general this program seems pretty awesome.  Yes, I applied.  No,  I dont know if I will be going yet.  So there it is.

http://www.mesas.emory.edu/academic/arabic.studyabroad.htm

There are also intensive programs in Morocco (Al Akhwayn U) and CASA...which anyone with three years of arabic experience should look in to.   There is a long list here...emory does a much better job that I do.  

Speaking of Emory, I love my school--soon to be alma  mater--but I refuse to spend $400 on a class ring that I will probably stop wearing as soon as I go to grad school.  Can anyone explain the logic to me?  Do you know what you can DO with $400 or 2,187.05 LE?   Thats some ish.  

هو ده

huwa sahee

In my experience, those who do not like you fall into two categories: The stupid and the envious. The stupid will like you in five years time. The envious, never.

¡Feliz Navidad y Año Nuevo!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year all! 


As soon as I got off the plane I wanted to die.  It was cold, people, very cold.  Like virtually every other person who had the misfortune of leaving sunny Cairo for JFK I promptly got a cold.  I'm not sure if it happened during the 12 hour flight or during the 12 hour layover in JFK...not fun.


Anyway, the fam totally made it worth it.  They enjoyed their gift and whatnot...my mother even stole my red, black and white (yalla masr) gallibaya but I wont choke her or anything.  She's lucky I plan to go back otherwise there would be some definite choking going on...plus she was really passive-aggressive about getting it from me in a way that can only be compared to the stereotypical guilting that is the favored past time of stereotypical jewish moms.  


If she reads this I am screwed but she has managed to avoid this place like the plague during my time abroad...so I doubt I'm in any real danger.


:P


Anyway, this is post-Egypt Alex. I'll write again when I'm feeling more inspired.  Live long and prosper! yes, I totally went there--star wars is still better.  

Right now...en este momento, dilwatee

Damien Rice
9 crimes

12 days, 5 finals, 1 big problem.

that is all.

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.

The last 3 days

I have seen the pyramids, mohandissen, a jazz club and a fabulous lebanese hair dresser.... that is all. :D

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!

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.

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...

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.

هو ده

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!

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. 

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.

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?

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

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...