September 2, 2010

Another day to sleep in. The culture here goes like this: Get up in the morning, work all day, afternoon nap, stay up really late at night; (children are still playing outside our window at midnight) , go to bed, repeat. I am sleeping in, exploring all day, maybe an afternoon nap, staying up really late and then repeat! This cycle is going to HAVE to change when school starts!

I got to go up to my school again today and meet the superintendent that hired me. My roommate and I walked all the way up there! It took a while but I think I can make my school within walking distance, at least walking home after school to start out. I have blisters on my feet from how much walking I have been doing lately! But they will go away.

We took a cab to road nine after to meet a co-worker, who then took me a place to buy my bus ticket for our trip. I am going to get to go to Sharm el-Sheikh for a holiday that we have before school starts. It is a place to stay by the red sea! It is a 6 hour bus trip but it will so be worth it! I am surprised to have a holiday before school starts but it is right after Ramadan and everyone takes off and goes somewhere. I am hoping to go snorkeling. A

Anyway we also crossed the metro bridge today, which brought us into another part of Maadi. It was definitely a different place compared to the area I live.  None of the stores are in English/Arabic. They are all in Arabic and you just have to know what you are looking for. We went to the best outdoor produce stand though. I got to get plums, apples, and potatoes, all really cheap. I enjoyed seeing another part of Egypt that has less foreigners in it. I definitely want to go there more often. It had a good feel.

I went into a used book store today and bought a "tourist" book on Egypt. I want to study and see all the history and culture that Egypt has to offer while I am here. I am not sure when I would have this chance again. It is amazing, when you look around, how much there is to learn and see. I have a couple years to do it in!

Funny of the night: So last night on my way to Heliopolis, I saw some ladies carrying huge bags of supplies on their head. And a teacher also told me that when our textbooks our delivered they deliver them this way and stack about 10 high. And I thought hmmmm this gives a whole new meaning to being hard headed!