Just finished this on the day I was sick. John bought this book in India while we were in a cab and a guy came to the window to sell it to us. The books that he had were obviously copied from a copy machine. When you buy books like that, you never know what you're gonna get. Sometimes they are missing pages or some pages are blank. This one is complete so we were lucky. We had heard that this book IS India. It's a really interesting story about a taxi driver in India and it reminds me a lot of the lives of our boyabs. These are the old couple that we sometimes refer to as our pirates because that what they look like and sound like. It's just so interesting to know that there are people who live in your building who are living in utter poverty and you see it everyday. What do you do? What do you say to them? How different our lives must be. If you've ever travelled to India or plan on it, you should read this book. It's a great insight to how the structure of the country works.Saturday, April 24, 2010
I read a lot.
Just finished this on the day I was sick. John bought this book in India while we were in a cab and a guy came to the window to sell it to us. The books that he had were obviously copied from a copy machine. When you buy books like that, you never know what you're gonna get. Sometimes they are missing pages or some pages are blank. This one is complete so we were lucky. We had heard that this book IS India. It's a really interesting story about a taxi driver in India and it reminds me a lot of the lives of our boyabs. These are the old couple that we sometimes refer to as our pirates because that what they look like and sound like. It's just so interesting to know that there are people who live in your building who are living in utter poverty and you see it everyday. What do you do? What do you say to them? How different our lives must be. If you've ever travelled to India or plan on it, you should read this book. It's a great insight to how the structure of the country works.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
my favorite things
Oprah does it....Or she use to, I haven't seen an Oprah show in 2 years. I've been really negative about Cairo lately, but there are so many things that I love about living here.
Obviously, it's pretty cool when go out to the pyramids for the day... but it's always a big reminder when you catch a glimpse of them from a distance. On a clear day, I can look over my shoulder when running on the treadmill at the gym and see them in the distance. That's when I realize how spectacular they really are.
This card says:
I love how random everything is. I love that everyone walks around in the most ridiculous clothes from the 80s and broken English that you hear being yelled at you. IOWA?!? STRAWBERRIES?? Very very good. Sometimes you just have to laugh aloud at it all. Also, I've recently decided to carry my recess whistle, as John so lovingly refers to my "rape whistle" and blow it loudly at any man/boy who approaches me with any remarks on my beautiful eyes or unwanted touching. Love it.
Obviously, it's pretty cool when go out to the pyramids for the day... but it's always a big reminder when you catch a glimpse of them from a distance. On a clear day, I can look over my shoulder when running on the treadmill at the gym and see them in the distance. That's when I realize how spectacular they really are. This card says:
"Jast for your love
You are laugh make me fly
You are voice takes me high
And saying good bye make
me wont 2 die
you know why
because you are asweet
romantic angel from the sky"
I love how random everything is. I love that everyone walks around in the most ridiculous clothes from the 80s and broken English that you hear being yelled at you. IOWA?!? STRAWBERRIES?? Very very good. Sometimes you just have to laugh aloud at it all. Also, I've recently decided to carry my recess whistle, as John so lovingly refers to my "rape whistle" and blow it loudly at any man/boy who approaches me with any remarks on my beautiful eyes or unwanted touching. Love it.This website might be completely to blame for gaining 15lbs since moving here. But it sure does make it convienent to get the best food from the best restaurants delivered to my door for 20cents delivery charge. 
I am so lucky to have such great friends who love to travel and are very adventurous and always up for a good time. 
I am so lucky to have such great friends who love to travel and are very adventurous and always up for a good time. I love going on Felucca rides on the Nile. I am only a 5 minute walk from the Nile this year so it's great to walk over through the madness to escape all the noise and relax on a sail boat ride with some wine and hummus as the sun sets. This is a super old pic of a felucca ride, but I always forget to take pics when we do this. 
Ok, this will have the be the first post of my favorite things. It's just taking too long to find pics and put them up- I'll finish this later....
Ok, this will have the be the first post of my favorite things. It's just taking too long to find pics and put them up- I'll finish this later....
another good book
Just finished this book, and it's really good. It's a fictional story about 3 of the 18 wives of John D. Lee who was a mormon back in the 1800s. He was a part of the Mountain Meadow Massacre which I knew nothing about until reading this novel. The author did such a good job of writing from the perspective of the different wives. I think it's important as an American to be informed of the Mormon movement. This is a religion that was completely created in America by Americans and is how the world views us. It's important to realize how corrupt and evil some of the founders of Mormonism were. This is how the rest of the world views "Christian" America.karma
Last week, I took a sick day when I was just really tired and not so sick. So what happens this week....you got it, I actually got sick. It's a kind of really weird sickness. My lymphnodes on my neck are really swollen, my throat is sore, slight fever, and a very runny nose. Sounds like a cold, right? Well, I've been taking every cold medicine offered here- Egyptian and foreign- for 5 days and nothing is helping. In fact, I feel worse. So it must be Swine Flu, right? No no, much more likely to be caused by the pollution. Yes, the pollution has been terrible lately. The kind where you can't see your hand in front of you. Ok, not that bad. It's very hazy outside and the air is hard to breathe. Can't believe my parents are coming in town this weekend. I warned them not to come. It's weird how I've been travelling a lot the past few years and it just seems very natural to look information about a country before I visit it. Obviously, they have not done an ounce of research and they don't listen to anything I've told them. So I'm still getting questions like "Should I bring an umbrella?" We are in the Sahara Desert. "You said to pay the taxi driver 15 pounds?" No, I said 80 pounds. "Can I wear jeans?" Why the hell would you wear jeans? It's 90 degrees here. We are in the Sahara Desert. "Should I bring sunscreen?" We are in the the Sahara Desert. "Can I bring a laptop?" What? "Do you have internet?" How do you think skype is working? "Well, I just really really don't want to get Mummy Tummy..." You will. Sorry, but if you are in Cairo for more than 3 days, you will get sick. Everyone does. That's why I said to stay only 3 days. Oh well, last time to do touristy stuff in Cairo. I hate toursity stuff here. It's the worst part of Egypt. Everyone harrasses you. They over charge you. They grab at you. The pyramids are the worst. You would think this would be my favorite part of being here, but not at all. I hate going there. There are a million tourists who are paying 100 times what they should be paying to ride a camel or have a guy take their picture while they put their finger on the pyramid. It's embarrassing. If they only knew that it should cost $10 to ride a camel and not $100. Poor shmucks. My favorite touristy place is the Khan. I love it. It's crazy, people are in your face, men are making cat-calls, people get in your face and grab at your arm to get you to come in their shop. What I love is to take visitors there and just watch their reactions. Nothing about it shocks me anymore. And I know how much things should be and I know how to say enough Arabic words to make them lower the prices a lot. And then I just walk away because I can get all of that stuff on Road 9 with no hassle. It's just fun to mess with them and make them think they are going to have an overpriced-sale. There was a bombing there last year, and it gets bombed a lot because it's such a touristy spot. I can't wait to take my parents there, I think they will crap their pants.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Book Reviews
Maybe because I took the day off (sick- cough cough) and I'm bored or maybe because I just inhaled 2 boxes of Nerds, Sudafed and 3 cups of coffee- I'm going to write another post. I've been reading a lot of books since I've been in Cairo for several reasons. The most obvious is because I don't have a tv, but also because I travel a lot. Travelling requires waiting around for a plane, train, bus, boat, taxi, etc. so it's good to have something to do to pass the time. I've also read a lot because most of my friends are avid readers here too- for the same reasons I mentioned. They are able to recommend good books since there's nothing worse than wasting your time reading a terrible book. So here are a few books I've read in the last couple months and would recommend. Don't worry, I won't ruin the ending or plot too much.
I'm a big fan of Jon Krauker(spelling?). I would recommend all of his books that I've read- "Under the Banner of Heaven" and "Into thin air". He does a great job with investigating the story and giving the facts while also writing an intriguing story. You've probably heard of this book and/or the movie which I later watched and also loved. It's the story of a guy who gives all of his things away, burns his money and goes to the Alaskan wilderness. It's not ruining the story by letting you know that he dies- it says it on the back cover. When I first heard about this guy I thought what an idiot he must have been, but the book gives more detail into his life and why he did what he did. 
These next 2 books are really long books. Both are about how "religion" ruins 2 families. I was surprised to find out that the author of "The Brothers K" is a christian because it is written as if the author is trying to make a point that organized religion is harmful. Really interesting. I liked the "Poisonwood Bible" more just because the plot went a little faster. I don't know anything about that author, but it does bring up important points to remember when people are missionaries to a foreign land. It's about a family from Georgia who goes to the Congo in Africa during the 60s as missionaries. I would assume the author hates missionaries, but maybe not. Definitely an interesting perspective on how people come into another culture and try to change it.
I'm a big fan of Jon Krauker(spelling?). I would recommend all of his books that I've read- "Under the Banner of Heaven" and "Into thin air". He does a great job with investigating the story and giving the facts while also writing an intriguing story. You've probably heard of this book and/or the movie which I later watched and also loved. It's the story of a guy who gives all of his things away, burns his money and goes to the Alaskan wilderness. It's not ruining the story by letting you know that he dies- it says it on the back cover. When I first heard about this guy I thought what an idiot he must have been, but the book gives more detail into his life and why he did what he did. 
Coming back from India, I was interested in their history. This book gives a good look at the modern history of India. I had no idea about any of it. Before you read this book, you should read "A Fine Balance". It is the "Kite Runner" of India. Amazing book but not a light read. Read that book and then read "In spite of the gods" which is a nonfiction account explaining the events that happen in "A Fine Balance".
These next 2 books are really long books. Both are about how "religion" ruins 2 families. I was surprised to find out that the author of "The Brothers K" is a christian because it is written as if the author is trying to make a point that organized religion is harmful. Really interesting. I liked the "Poisonwood Bible" more just because the plot went a little faster. I don't know anything about that author, but it does bring up important points to remember when people are missionaries to a foreign land. It's about a family from Georgia who goes to the Congo in Africa during the 60s as missionaries. I would assume the author hates missionaries, but maybe not. Definitely an interesting perspective on how people come into another culture and try to change it. I just finished this book. I really liked it. It's competely shocking and hard to read while sitting on the beach eating ice cream. It's unbelievable what some people have gone through and difficult to imagine living in a war.
Stalking 101
"His debilitating disease validates how wonderful I am."
Forgot to mention my stalker. Everyone has had one. Maybe even more than one. For some odd reason, Egyptian men will randomly dial numbers until they hear a Western woman's voice. At which point they will continue to call every 5 minutes. The goal? No clue. So I had this guy calling every 5 minutes from 10pm to 2am or until I turned my phone off. He would just sit there and breath when I answered and screamed at him. Owen screamed at him. Then each of my guy friends would call him every 15 minutes starting at 7am and keep waking him up. Then he started texting me in Arabic. I had a friend translate these for me. The texts would say things about how beautiful my voice it- (I've only screamed profanities at him) and how he wants to see my eyes. Yeah, totally creepster. Every female that I know has had this happen at one point or another. The solution? Change your phone number. No, I'm going to be stubborn. I have less than 3 months left and I'm not changing my number. Turns out that a man from my work knows the highest ranking official with the police department. Apparently, this is a major problem that the police have to deal with. Their way of dealing with this, is to bring bring the stalker in for
"questioning". (AKA beating the hell outta the guy)
Also, I was followed home the other night, AGAIN. Conversation went like this:
creepy egyptian guy: Don't worry. (as I am shining my flashlight in his eyes)
me: too late
weirdo: Can I talk with you?
me: no
weirdo: Can I walk you home?
me: no
weirdo: what do you do? do you live here? (still following me)
me: ugh. (be nice, be nice) yes, i'm a teacher.
weirdo: are you married?
me: YES!! VERY MARRIED!!
weirdo: do you have kids?
me: (realizing this guy is probably about 17) No, I hate kids.
weirdo: I'm a student. (obviously wanting to practice his English)
me: okay, that's nice.
weirdo: I want to see you again.
me: NO!
weirdo: Is this your street?
me: er- maybe
weirdo: Can I walk you to your door?
me: NO!
Get a clue! If you want to practice your English, following me down the street at night is not the way to do so....Also a favorite pastime for Egyptian men- facebook. They seem to think it's some sort of dating website. So they will randomly write messages like "Wow! U look awesome! R U live in Cairo?" The best is when they tell you all their stats as if you are looking for a 38 Egyptian male who is 5'6'' and wanting to meet in person. This might seem flattering if there wasn't the 2 to 10 rule here. If you are a "2" in the states, then you are a "10" here. One of my guy friends came up with this theory, and it makes me laugh- but it's true! Sometimes it's like being a celebrity with the way people stare at you. Sometimes it's annoying, but most of the time I've gotten used to it and just walk with my head down and sunglasses on. No autographs, please.
Forgot to mention my stalker. Everyone has had one. Maybe even more than one. For some odd reason, Egyptian men will randomly dial numbers until they hear a Western woman's voice. At which point they will continue to call every 5 minutes. The goal? No clue. So I had this guy calling every 5 minutes from 10pm to 2am or until I turned my phone off. He would just sit there and breath when I answered and screamed at him. Owen screamed at him. Then each of my guy friends would call him every 15 minutes starting at 7am and keep waking him up. Then he started texting me in Arabic. I had a friend translate these for me. The texts would say things about how beautiful my voice it- (I've only screamed profanities at him) and how he wants to see my eyes. Yeah, totally creepster. Every female that I know has had this happen at one point or another. The solution? Change your phone number. No, I'm going to be stubborn. I have less than 3 months left and I'm not changing my number. Turns out that a man from my work knows the highest ranking official with the police department. Apparently, this is a major problem that the police have to deal with. Their way of dealing with this, is to bring bring the stalker in for
"questioning". (AKA beating the hell outta the guy)
Also, I was followed home the other night, AGAIN. Conversation went like this:
creepy egyptian guy: Don't worry. (as I am shining my flashlight in his eyes)
me: too late
weirdo: Can I talk with you?
me: no
weirdo: Can I walk you home?
me: no
weirdo: what do you do? do you live here? (still following me)
me: ugh. (be nice, be nice) yes, i'm a teacher.
weirdo: are you married?
me: YES!! VERY MARRIED!!
weirdo: do you have kids?
me: (realizing this guy is probably about 17) No, I hate kids.
weirdo: I'm a student. (obviously wanting to practice his English)
me: okay, that's nice.
weirdo: I want to see you again.
me: NO!
weirdo: Is this your street?
me: er- maybe
weirdo: Can I walk you to your door?
me: NO!
Get a clue! If you want to practice your English, following me down the street at night is not the way to do so....Also a favorite pastime for Egyptian men- facebook. They seem to think it's some sort of dating website. So they will randomly write messages like "Wow! U look awesome! R U live in Cairo?" The best is when they tell you all their stats as if you are looking for a 38 Egyptian male who is 5'6'' and wanting to meet in person. This might seem flattering if there wasn't the 2 to 10 rule here. If you are a "2" in the states, then you are a "10" here. One of my guy friends came up with this theory, and it makes me laugh- but it's true! Sometimes it's like being a celebrity with the way people stare at you. Sometimes it's annoying, but most of the time I've gotten used to it and just walk with my head down and sunglasses on. No autographs, please.
update
Guess it's been awhile since I've had an update. I've been pretty busy lately. Since February- was that really the last post??- we've had Spring Break in Spain and Easter Break in Dahab. Spain was really great. My favorite part was being in Granada and Jaen. After Suzanne and Steph left, we met up with Owen's friends who invited us to their home for lunch which was an incredible traditional Spanish lunch with the entire family. We also went out with some of his other friends who took us to their favorite tapas bars. Free tapas with any drink you purchase is pretty much the greatest promotion ever. It happened that the night we went out, there was some sort of competition among the univsersity students. The guys dress up in jester outfits(not sure, that's just what they looked like with tights and everything) and sang songs on weird looking guitars and accoridons for the ladies. Apparently, it is tradition to pay these guys to seranade the girl you like. We were with one of Owen's former professors and he said that's how he got his wife to like him! So there are all these groups of guys wondering the streets singing in and out of the bars. Very entertaining. I wonder how they determine which group of guys wins....
Easter weekend was a very relaxing trip to Dahab. This was most likely the last trip ever to Dahab which is kinda sad. Great friends and good food. One night we went out for a Bedoin dinner. This is when you drive out in the middle of the desert and the Bedions (the people who live in the desert- kinda like the natives) cook you dinner and sing and dance. We also went to the best Thai restaurant in Egypt. Which makes me can't wait until next year when our "Dahab" will be somewhere in Thailand.
Back to Cairo for the last 12 weeks of school. Never a boring moment. One morning last week, we are heading to school and at the turn off for our school- which is in the middle of the desert- literally- the road is covered in water. Now remember that it only rains 3 days a year here and hasn't rained in the last 4 months. Why the road is flooded is anyone's guess. As we get through the flood waters, we pass 2 horse carts having a "chariots of fire" race down the road. The drivers are standing and screaming while whipping their horses to go as fast as possible. This is like a major road we are on...
The next day we are driving home from work. We are driving pretty slowly because there's lot of traffic and we notice a taxi driver behind us screaming at the driver in the car next to him. Next thing you know, he (taxi driver) has gotten out of his car and goes to the other car, opens the passenger door and starts punching the woman in the face! He starts choking her and punching her as the driver is screaming at him. We stop our car and Owen starts to get out as the taxi man gets back in his car. Both cars start driving away, and the taxi man pulls out a big stick (because we always carry this in our cars-right?) and drives after that car. We pull off onto another freeway so we didn't see the rest of the fight. It must have been some sort of domestic fight. Maybe that woman was his ex-wife or current wife or daughter- who knows? Crazy. Apparently, there are a lot of domestic fights that end in murder here. According to the papers, that seems to be how most murders occur. Like I said, never a dull moment.
Easter weekend was a very relaxing trip to Dahab. This was most likely the last trip ever to Dahab which is kinda sad. Great friends and good food. One night we went out for a Bedoin dinner. This is when you drive out in the middle of the desert and the Bedions (the people who live in the desert- kinda like the natives) cook you dinner and sing and dance. We also went to the best Thai restaurant in Egypt. Which makes me can't wait until next year when our "Dahab" will be somewhere in Thailand.
Back to Cairo for the last 12 weeks of school. Never a boring moment. One morning last week, we are heading to school and at the turn off for our school- which is in the middle of the desert- literally- the road is covered in water. Now remember that it only rains 3 days a year here and hasn't rained in the last 4 months. Why the road is flooded is anyone's guess. As we get through the flood waters, we pass 2 horse carts having a "chariots of fire" race down the road. The drivers are standing and screaming while whipping their horses to go as fast as possible. This is like a major road we are on...
The next day we are driving home from work. We are driving pretty slowly because there's lot of traffic and we notice a taxi driver behind us screaming at the driver in the car next to him. Next thing you know, he (taxi driver) has gotten out of his car and goes to the other car, opens the passenger door and starts punching the woman in the face! He starts choking her and punching her as the driver is screaming at him. We stop our car and Owen starts to get out as the taxi man gets back in his car. Both cars start driving away, and the taxi man pulls out a big stick (because we always carry this in our cars-right?) and drives after that car. We pull off onto another freeway so we didn't see the rest of the fight. It must have been some sort of domestic fight. Maybe that woman was his ex-wife or current wife or daughter- who knows? Crazy. Apparently, there are a lot of domestic fights that end in murder here. According to the papers, that seems to be how most murders occur. Like I said, never a dull moment.
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