Egypt

So as most of you know I'm studying abroad this semester in Egypt. However I'm still a member of the Brom at heart, so I'll continue posting on this blog. I didn't really know what to expect coming here. I had it in my head since before I entered college that I wanted to study abroad, and one day last spring while looking over my options in the spanish-speaking world, and not really getting excited over any of them, I thought maybe I should try somewhere new. The idea of Egypt just sort of popped into my head, and so I bought a guidebook and it looked cool, and then I took Arabic classes last summer, but the reality of where I was going never really hit me.
Originally my plan was to enroll in the AUC (American University of Cairo) as an exchange student, but then last fall hit and I realized that I really just needed a break from classes in general. Also it turned out I had enough AP/Summer Arabic credits to graduate in 7 semesters. So I changed my plan to studying at an all language institute called Kalimat, and staying abroad only 3 months, instead of the original 4 or 5. Anyways I went with that, and somehow managed to find an apartment and book a plane ticket and I was off.
My first feeling when I was on my own in the airport was panic. The Egypt Air area was filled with veiled women and large and to my eyes "somewhat scary-looking" Egyptian men. I mean, I like to think I'm not prejudiced, but at that counter all I could think was "and it's possible this guy wants to see my dead." I was so nervous my hand was trembling when I handed the guy at the desk my passport, which I think is the main reason he assigned me for a "random" search. Once I was actually on the plane I was much less nervous, and the Egyptians sitting near me started making conversation with me, and the one next to me (who taught Chemistry at Cleveland State,) taught me the "correct" way to fly on Egypt Air (evidently you wait till the last 1/4 of people are coming onto the plane and then claim an empty row for yourself and hope that none of the remaining people are coming into your row.
The flight was uneventful (though the movie choice was atrocious: Mr. Bean's Holiday and High School Musical 2 twice in a row.) At the airport I was met by this guy my dad vaguely knows named Adel. He had studied with my Dad's old boss in America for 2 years. It turns out that he is by far the most hospitable person I've ever met (though I think a lot of this is cultural.) Adel drove me to the apartment he had found for me (the beginning of his hospitableness.) The apartment is enormous. It has 5 rooms, 2 balconies and is at the intersection of 2 main streets in Monhandessin (a part of Cairo like 30 minutes outside downtown-it's sort of like Brooklyn I think.) It's way more than I needed but my Mom insisted I live in a "nice place." It costs 800 dollars a month, which is pretty expensive for Cairo, but considering school will only cost 1200 dollars total for the semester, it's not bad. Also these are the restaurants I can see from my balcony, Baskin-Robbins, Hardees, Pizza Hut and House of Donuts (which are advertised as "America's Finest Pastries.)
Anyway, I feel like this is starting to get really long and I'm only on the first day (not that I'm going to give a day by day recap,) but I'll just say some of the interesting stuff:

1)I watched the Super Bowl in Cairo at a "sports cafe." It was one of the few places in Cairo showing the game so it was packed with Americans. Unfortunately they did not serve alcohol (a lot of places here don't since Muslims are technically not allowed to drink it.) I watched the game with 2 other Pats fans I met there. One who was sort of tool and gave me awkward hugs after big Pats plays and another one who looked and sounded exactly like Seth Rogen to the extent that I wikipedied him the next day to see if he was from New England. Needless to say, the night ended in disappointment.

2)I love international CNN. It's the only English channel I get and its excellent. The announcers all have reassuring British accents, plus they do features on the most random stuff.

3)My morning class has only 5 people and all of them are girls. There is one especially attractive British-Dutch girl, whose British accent only makes her more attractive. There's also a girl in the program who I thought looked a lot like OB, except she's British.

4)More women wore the hijab here than I realized. I'd say 90-95% of Egyptians. Adel's daughter who is 22, and seems pretty progressive wears one, as do most of her friends. Plus even those who don't wear it dress really conservatively. It's a pretty big culture change. Though I heard it's really different in the bars and clubs, but I haven't been out yet so I don't know. Maybe I'll see tonight.

5)Egyptian food is really cheap. At the excellent Lebanese restaurant below me I can get a huge sandwich and a drink for 3 bucks. It's amazing. I also think I'm losing weight. Ironically.

6)I still don't have internet access in my apartment, but my cell phone here is nicer than my cell phone at home. I guess it's a trade off.

7)I fight to make it up past 11 o clock here, but I still get 10 hours of sleep a night. At first I blamed it on jet-lag, but if this keeps up I might start thinking mono.

8)Last night I went to Khan-Al-Khaleli, which is the giant bazaar in Cairo. There are hundreds of alleys, all with these small stalls selling everything imaginable. There are souvenier stalls next to spice stalls, next to shoe stalls next to stalls selling expensive jewelry. And it just keeps getting deeper and narrower until you feel like you'll never find a way out. We had tea at this famous coffee-shop in the middle that has been open continuously (like 7 days a week 24 hours a day) for more than 200 years. It was pretty cool.

Ok, that about sums everything up. Hope the Brom/Tufts is holding together. You guys should update frequently.

Sam