Paris on the Nile

well well well - I believe my days of writing to you from Cairo are nearly just about over. I'm not sure if I'll have enough time to get online tomorrow - so I best bid my farewell today. I hope you've enjoyed reading this silly thing.

Went to a event hosted by my fellow brethren at the American Embassy last night, and it was quite lame. The French do better jobs of hosting a schin-dig than us Yanks. We did however stay out till the wee-early morning hours and had breakfast in Old Cairo. And if I may - let me paint the scene for you - for it'll be the one thing that might stand out most to me when remembering this crazy place. We're at the cafe/eatery at around 5 in the morning, the crowds are thin, numbering to about 25-30 folks. The table where we're eating is outdoors and is right along side the road, bordering parallel up against the fortress type walls that made up Old Cairo back in the day. Two old men sit on the other side of the street from us, drinking tea, and playing some sort of ancient game I've never seen. The sun is beginning to peak up from the desert, and the workers are starting to get their horse's and donkey's strapped in for the day. The food comes quick, and we have two Egyptians with us, whom are extremely nice. One of the guys worked on the translations for my chess table (which will be picked up tomorrow), and for that - I'm truly grateful. The picture up top is the best I could find - just add in some darkness, take away the people, and imagine a cool breeze sweeping through every few minutes or so. It was a nice way to wrap up a whirlwind that has become a few months.

Tomorrow - we'll be taking a Felucca (small boat) down the Nile, and I'll be collecting email addresses from my new buds. Then off to the Airport, for the loooooong flight back to Chicago. I should be flying through your slumber Saturday night, so my phone should be operational sometime late Sunday afternoon.

I can't wait till I come back to Egypt, and it's only a matter of time. I've met super nice people everywhere I've been - from the "Metalheads" that live below us, to a Yale graduate who makes me laugh everytime I see him. This place is excellent and I recommend it to everyone. It really is a different way of life over here, and opens your eyes to many-many things. The future of this country really is in the youth of Cairo, and expect it sooner than later. Cairo has defied odds consistently, and will continue to do so - with their sense of solidarity being one of the main factors of stability.

I'll always have a warm spot in my heart for Cairo.

xoxo -

see ya when i see ya... ;)

Frnndz 4 Evaa

(random picture)

out of all places to see gangsta slang written on money, Egypt wasn't the place I expected it from. You see - I was counting what I like to call "Big J's Stash of Cash" (rather small stash might I add) the other day, and noticed that "Frnndz 4 Evaa" was written on one of my Egyptian pounds. I'm still at odds over whether or not taking a picture of it was worth it? Anyways - I had to spend it the other day, and was sad to part ways with it.

Went to AUC bookstore and wasn't all that impressed. But's it was far better than my book collection, which consists of 2-5 books at any given time from the Centerville Public Library.

It's n-n-n-nice today so, I will head home, put on a clean t-shirt, and think about all the things I'll never do.

Random fact:
There is more real lemon juice in Lemon Pledge furniture polish than in Country Time Lemonade.

taken from hookedonfacts.com

Since yester-evening I've been feeling a bit ill, so I'm going to keep this somewhat short. And to think I was days away about bragging how I never become ill since I've been here, while everyone around me was getting a virus here and a bug there.

One quick story and off I go. Last night in an attempt to stomach something, I stopped by this pizza parlor kinda place. The guys working there were complete pricks, and began to make fun of poor me in their native tongue of Egyptian Arabic. So I fugured two can place this game, and asked anyone in the place (in Arabic)whether or not they could speak English? No responses - I figured I was safe to begin talking really fast English to them as their heads spun in astonishment - saying things like "ohhh you don't know what I'm saying...how does it feel? how about you go brush your teeth? etc etc" All the time I have a smile on my face to hide my motive. After my verbal whip-lashing I felt redeemed and I went and sat outside and waited for my fatiyya (which is like a real shitty version of a pizza puff). A few minutes later - out comes one of the guys and begins to speak perfect English to me. He was actually nice about it, but for the rest of the time I just sat their and got all introspective on their asses. Pizza Parlor Guys-1 Me-0

Oh...the second prize will be the winners name written in Arabic from me. I'm just pulling out all the bells and whistles for this one - huh?

"until the 20th century - reality was everything humans could touch, smell, see, and hear. Since the initial publication of the electromagnetic spectrum humans learned that what they could touch, smell, see, and hear is less than one millionth of reality." (new skin)