I used to fancy myself as one able to be eloquent when the situation called for it, but this boast is becoming less and less accurate daily. The problem is two-fold; Arabic and the crazy amount of English that my classmates and I speak to each other. I have been better about being Arabic only … Continue reading »
What People Think of America
It’s been a while since I posted, and that is basically because I haven’t quite finished the fall semester. At any rate, I want to put down in words some of my feelings about the way Americans are perceived, or rather how people voice their perceptions of America. On the one hand I get it, … Continue reading »
Driving in Egypt: Proceed with Caution
I knew that drivers here were going to be a lot less, um… respectful of traffic rules before coming. I saw the this infamous photo of what I thought was a very disorganized parking lot, but turned out to be an actually city street in Cairo! Alexandria is not as congested, but it’s still pretty … Continue reading »
كل سنة وانتوا طيبيين: Happy new year!
It’s 2012 and I am back in Egypt after ten wonderful days in the U.K. I must admit I did not appreciate England when I spent a semester there. But, after 3,5 months in Egypt I saw the light! Clean streets, indoor heating, people obeying traffic signals, grocery stores with plantains, Jamaican beef patties, more … Continue reading »
On the Downside of Being Abroad Putting One’s Life on Hold
My life right now, is like this post, random. I have more or less put my life on hold to come here, and I knew that. But somehow, the ramifications of this choice, which is supposedly somehow is going to ease me into my other life plans, is just hitting me now. Maybe it’s just … Continue reading »
Writer’s block and Mid-life Crisis and oh yeah I’m in Egypt!
There are so many things to write about,and yet I have been having trouble finding my استلهام (inspiration). It’s sad really. I guess it’s because there are so many things going on, but nothing is going on. Case in point, I had dinner with someone I met a few months ago, but with whom there … Continue reading »
On Thanksgiving, the cross-cultural slump and oh yes, the Egyptian elections
Needless to say the last week was eventful. While the chaotic events transpsired out in the streets, we (the people in my program) are teetering between conversations about where we would go should we get evacuated and being able to enjoy Thanksgiving… which was a pretty sweet celebration. We even had a “Thanksgiving Day parade” … Continue reading »
On Being a Part of History: Tense Feelings in Alexandria
Well the inevitable has happened. The grits have hit the fans. Well, kind of. As I type protestors are Marching Down Port Said street, one the main roads in Alexandria and the street in which my home runs perpendicular to. I am not scared. Not for myself anyway. The protests can get rough, but I … Continue reading »
In Egypt: Tatoos for Babies?
For the first time I am in an Arab country with a indigenous Christian population that does not live in secrecy. I am still trying to make sense of the nature of Christian-Muslim relations, but today I wan to talk about a phenomenon among the Copts. Relations between the two groups are not always the … Continue reading »
Street Harassment: On taking my Power back
Being black in Egypt has been weird. On the one hand, I know that I don’t face the kind of street harassment that my white and Asian classmates have. People either seem to think I am Egyptian/Sudanese or they just are used to black Africans so I’m not the interesting oddity that a blond or … Continue reading »
