who knew being oriented could be this fun?
Orientation week:
Unbelievable. I’m in Cairo.
It is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Well, obviously…but really, I live in this neighborhood called L’Agouza, and when I step out on to the street, I’m greeted by my neighbors in Arabic…and that’s about as far as I understand so far. Beyond my name, I can pretty much tell people that I’m either “good” or “very good.” My Arabic is getting better though even in this short time—and I must say that it helps that I took the beginning class last semester. Not everything transfers over because most of the language that I learned in the class is very formal. I tried to string a sentence together with those words and said something like, “Certainly, my dear elderly gentleman, alas, I shall now retire to the powder room.” I’ve since picked up an Egyptian common phrase book.
I couldn’t even begin to write about everything that we’ve been…well, oriented to this week. I’ll go over some of the basics. There are 25 of us in the study program hailing from all over the country, but all excited to leave it for the Middle East. I’m living in a 3-bedroom apartment with the 7 other guys for the semester. Its very Egyptian looking… I think. And its got an amazing 4th floor view of the street from our outside porch.
Aside from many meetings discussing the cultural things that I will have to quickly learn and adapt to, I’ve been able to actually get around the city pretty well. I’ve woven my way through crowded markets, taken many taxi rides, boated down the Nile, rode the metro, sat in on prayer in a mosque, explored both rich and poor areas, drove by the pyramids, accepted an invitation for tea and sandwiches in a Muslim home, stopped by local fruit stands, walked in on a Coptic Church wedding, and stumbled through conversations with locals. And I love it. Every single minute of it.
I wish I could write about everything separately… maybe more later, especially since I finally had time to get this started.
Classes start soon. Right now I’m taking Arabic and Islamic Thought and Practice… and with those classes comes a lot more personal free time… intended for us to study I’m sure. But I’ll also definitely step up some of my exploring and maybe just bring my books on my adventures.
I have fairly good internet access here. So post on here, IM me or Skype me… both at vikes829. My email is the same. And lastly, for you truly dedicated and dear friends, I’ll post my address…
hmm, later…when I find it.
Oh, and Daaftari Massr means “my Egyptian notebook.”
Unbelievable. I’m in Cairo.
It is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Well, obviously…but really, I live in this neighborhood called L’Agouza, and when I step out on to the street, I’m greeted by my neighbors in Arabic…and that’s about as far as I understand so far. Beyond my name, I can pretty much tell people that I’m either “good” or “very good.” My Arabic is getting better though even in this short time—and I must say that it helps that I took the beginning class last semester. Not everything transfers over because most of the language that I learned in the class is very formal. I tried to string a sentence together with those words and said something like, “Certainly, my dear elderly gentleman, alas, I shall now retire to the powder room.” I’ve since picked up an Egyptian common phrase book.
I couldn’t even begin to write about everything that we’ve been…well, oriented to this week. I’ll go over some of the basics. There are 25 of us in the study program hailing from all over the country, but all excited to leave it for the Middle East. I’m living in a 3-bedroom apartment with the 7 other guys for the semester. Its very Egyptian looking… I think. And its got an amazing 4th floor view of the street from our outside porch.
Aside from many meetings discussing the cultural things that I will have to quickly learn and adapt to, I’ve been able to actually get around the city pretty well. I’ve woven my way through crowded markets, taken many taxi rides, boated down the Nile, rode the metro, sat in on prayer in a mosque, explored both rich and poor areas, drove by the pyramids, accepted an invitation for tea and sandwiches in a Muslim home, stopped by local fruit stands, walked in on a Coptic Church wedding, and stumbled through conversations with locals. And I love it. Every single minute of it.
I wish I could write about everything separately… maybe more later, especially since I finally had time to get this started.
Classes start soon. Right now I’m taking Arabic and Islamic Thought and Practice… and with those classes comes a lot more personal free time… intended for us to study I’m sure. But I’ll also definitely step up some of my exploring and maybe just bring my books on my adventures.
I have fairly good internet access here. So post on here, IM me or Skype me… both at vikes829. My email is the same. And lastly, for you truly dedicated and dear friends, I’ll post my address…
hmm, later…when I find it.
Oh, and Daaftari Massr means “my Egyptian notebook.”
posted by matt at 1:34 PM
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