Sunday, 3:08 pm. Begin-

I had a special story for my Sunday Edition Blog, which involved me staring directly into the sun too long, melting retinas, thus causing a freakish Northern Lights effect overhead in the sky - but a friend of mine emailed me some questions just now, so I think I'll answer them here, so everyone can benefit. How's that sound, huh...(hope you don't mind Lucy).

1 - big one... how's the safety factor? how do you feel in terms of being an American in an uncertain part of the world?
The safety factor doesn't really seem to be a factor, however, with that said - my safety gauge is always on high (I had said gauge installed before I left, right between my Femur, and Patella(take that Dr. Beth!). Then again, take my perception with this in mind. I live in Medinah Nas (which translates quite literally into Nasr City), which is in the North-East side, and is a upper middle class area (Egypt standards...think Cabrini Green-Chicago without the crime). I'm totally secluded from tourist life that downtown Cairo, and the Western influences that other - more 'trendy' areas offer. I am for certain the only white guy walking around town here. So I haven't noticed anything to be concerned about, mostly because there's no need for it...all the embassies/gov buildings are in Central Cairo, and that's were your sure to run into problems - if such arise.

2 - what's your plan of action? are you there mostly to learn the language and travel, or are you thinking of getting a job and staying longer?
The first two - yes. I talked myself out of the third. I'm here until March 5...I'm trying to be convinced into staying longer, but I feel as if I'm getting what I wanted out of this duration. Plus, the pollution is just horrible, and I haven't been that impressed with the food either (my falafel god is excluded...obviously).

3- how difficult do you find the language to be? I know immersion is the hands-down best way to learn, but it's very overwhelming initially
Arabic is one of the most difficult languages to learn, and it's super tricky when attempting to speak it...you have to train your voice to perform sounds that it's not accustomed too, and while with the English language you can have 10 different ways to pronounce a word, and people will understand you...Whilst with Arabic...forget about it...it's pronounced today, the way it was when it first began. The slightest slip, and the word is all discombobulated (big word of the day). I often find myself speaking in cave-man Arabic to get my point across more quickly when out on the street. "Me...want...food...I...hungry", and I usually pound my chest/itch head for good measure.

4 - have you had any sort of political conversations with the locals (provided they speak English)? maybe it's a redundant question, but what are the current sentiments towards the States? and do they differentiate between the politicians and the civil folks? (which are ******(censored for Grandma) up in their own right, but not as dangerous as Dick & Bush, Inc. )
Only a select few know that I'm American...I'm under the cover of being a Canadian (from Saskatoon...Saskatoon?? I like the way it sounds) citizen to specifically avoid any hostility. When my roommate and I hung out for the first time, he mentioned to a vendor that I was American, and in return, I got the whole finger across the throat gesture, so yeh, that's why I don't broadcast my nationality. I have had though political conversation with a few Egyptians here, and it's very clear they don't care much at all for our current administration, however they do differentiate between politics and citizenry. They find us weak because religion lacks from our government. I'd love to get into it more, but I won't right now.

Tastiest Dish: Anything from Galaal...

Tomorrow: Transportation, and more about my neighborhood.

Thanks for the questions Lucifer, and I will provide documentation of any sources sited.

Climate: 65/sunny/all around...good
Listening: At The Drive-In
Watching: nothing
Wishing: for some mint chocolate chip ice cream
Thinking: With so much drama in the LBC, it's kinda hard being snoop d-o-double-g.

end Sunday 3:09 pm