Egyptians are Magical

Today in English we were practicing grammar. We were practicing the use and difference between "use to" and "would". So my example was "I use to live in America. I would eat burgers." I was just trying to think of American stereotypes. Then everybody was saying "we have burgers here etc." I told them that I knew that I just hadn't had an opportunity to eat one yet. Then this kid asks if I like ketchup and I'm like "yeah". Then HE PULLS A BURGER OUT OF HIS BACKPACK AND GIVES IT TO ME. I was laughing so hard. I was at the point where I wasn't even making noise anymore. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. Here we go. My first Egyptian burger:

Also, in my post "School, Food, and Exercise feat. A Mini Rant" I misinterpreted something so check out my edit at the bottom.

Again, if you have any questions or requests let me know. Have a good day you guys.

Stay beautiful.

Byeeeeeee

Corie.

The Weekend

Thursday night:

My host dad and I went to Rose Mary's (the uniform store) to get a jacket. They finally got the jacket order in. So the jacket is the same color as the uniform, beige and gross "blue". The first size they pulled was a large. It's too big for me, but that's how I like my sweatshirts, the bigger the better. So I got it... It's 219 pounds. That's like $31 dollars. Why the heck is it so expensive, my goodness. 

Friday: 

I would say I slept in, because I kind of did. But recently I've been limiting myself to 8 hours of sleep. So I went to bed at 1 so I woke up at 9 which is kind of not really sleeping in. Anyway, after breakfast, I went to the cinema with my friend Merna. We saw the Maze Runner which was really awesome. Oh my gosh. Like I was suffering from withdrawal when it was over it was so good. I'm currently on chapter three of the book now. 

After the movie we shopped. Or at least I shopped and Merna made sure I didn't get lost. I bought a ton of stuff. This includes a kids book called "أريد فيلا" which means I want an elephant. 

I'm on page four...

This was in one of the dressing rooms and I think every dressing room should have it. 

Then I got home after we were out for hours. We didn't even know how much time had passed. 

I changed into a new outfit and went to celebrate Boosy's birthday. We boated the Nile and ate cake. I fell asleep in the taxi on the way back. It was a long day. 

Saturday: 

I didn't do much. We didn't have school because it was the Islamic New Year, but my family didn't do anything to celebrate. So I mostly relaxed and hung out with my family. 

Sunday: 

According to my rule I only get eight hours of sleep. But when I woke up, no one else was awake, so I just chilled. And then I ate. And I chilled with my family. I studied for my math exam tomorrow and that's really all I did. 

Now the past two days may sound boring, and maybe even a waste of time. But the thing is, I don't think it is. I help Nadia cook lunch, I cook for myself when no one's awake, I take sometime to rest and be by myself because if I don't, by the end of the week I'll be in a really awful mood, I study my Arabic flash cards, I sit on the balcony and just take in Cairo, and I help Nadia with chores and stuff. 

Doing nothing in Cairo beats the heck out of anything in the United States. 

Okay, so I decided on Thursday, I'm gonna keep track of what happens throughout the week and then upload on Sunday nights (Egypt time). But I want to know what you guys want to hear about. There are probably things you guys want to know, that I haven't talked about. So seriously comment ideas and questions and everything and I will try and answer them and talk about them and yeah. So do that or else I'm gonna run out of things to write about, and that won't be fun. 

Seriously though, the Maze Runner was a-MAZE-ing. Seriously so so so good. And I bought over $100 worth of clothes and stuff, but now I won't be wearing the same shirt all the time. 

Stay beautiful. 

Byeeee

Corie. 

What even is Egypt?

Hello, everyone! It's been a while? Maybe not. Life's been pretty average. And by average I mean completely amazing and wonderful and exhausting and just unbelievable.

The first thing I want to talk about is public transportation. Now, Egypt has many modes of public transportation. I don't know my way around really yet so I haven't taken anything on my own. And honestly, I don't plan to... yet. Anyway, So I have taken taxi with my host family and some friends. One day we went to this place that was like a market, or something, I don't know but they sold everything and it was hecka cheap, we took the metro there and it is so clean. Like I don't know how many of you have taken metro/subway/BART in the U.S. but it's not exactly the cleanest mode of transportation.

Then, today I took a microbus to this government building. Microbuses are just like normal sized vans. Like, in Giza most of them are VW buses. :) So, yeah that happened. Public transportation is interesting, kinda. I mean, it's really easy to figure out, but it's chaotic and weird.

Speaking of, today I went with a volunteer to go get my visa ish figured out so I can stay here... legally (yay). I do have to go again tomorrow to get the actual papers. Which means, I can sleep in again. (Are any of you the kind of people who just can't really sleep in? Idk I mean I used to be able to sleep all day, but now I just gotta do stuff even if I'm exhausted.) I also get to miss school and my first monthly exam. (It's just English, no big whoop). So yeah, in honor of me being almost officially legal to live here, I will present a list of weird/different things about Egypt.

1. There is trash everywhere. EVERYwhere. And not just like a piece or two, but like piles. It's not good, obviously, it makes me kind of sad sometimes. People just throw trash places, but it's not like there are trash cans either, so my purse and backpack and pockets are filled with my garbage from throughout the day. I just can't throw stuff on the ground.

2. There are also stray animals everywhere. Outside my building there's this dog and when I'm waiting for the bus it like sniffs me and then follows me and it's so cute but I can't touch it because I didn't get a rabies shot.

3. They give vaccinations at school. Like a couple weeks ago, they sent out this notice that everyone needed to get a vaccination. And I was like whatever, and then threw it in my folder and forgot about it. Until Thursday when they all handed the signed forms in. I was like oops. So I went home and typed the disease in Arabic into google, then copy and pasted the wiki article to google translate and it turns out it's meningitis. Already got that shot, I'm good. !!!

4. When a teacher is absent in the U.S. the teacher normally leaves a plan, and we spend the whole period trying to convince them to let us do stuff our normal teacher "let's us do." But in Egypt, the school just brings in an adult to supervise us (make sure we don't like kill each other) and we can do whatever we want. Like whatever we want.

5. I change my sheets like once a week. I don't know how often your supposed to do it. I don't know when anybody does in Egypt or the U.S., but I rarely changed my sheets in the states, but I had a bunk bed so... But yeah basically I change them every weekend, and it's weird.

6. People here are crazy religious. I mean, duh. But like I haven't seen this many openly devoted Christians... like ever. Teenagers too. I mean, even in Virginia. It's... wow. I mean, religion is taught in school, not like philosophically, but almost factually. At least, that's the vibe I'm getting.

7. Egyptians are loud. Like I don't know why... they... they're just so loud. I feel like they're mad, but they aren't and yeah.

8. People just don't eat junk food. I've had like half a can of pringles, and like half a bag of chips since I've been here. Granted I've had some sweets, but dang Americans eat a lot of junk. Also, the eating schedule is weird, there isn't one. Like I eat at school, then I get home and eat lunch, and then if I'm hungry, I'll eat. But there isn't like a set breakfast, lunch and dinner.

9. People are so nice. Like genuinely nice. One day, my friend brought me a piece of goulash. The reason being that weeks ago I told her I loved it, then she told her mom, and then when her mom made it the other day, she saved me a piece and my friend brought it to me the next day. Also, when I first met some of my friends, they brought me candy. Just because. People kept telling me not to go because of violence and stuff, but these people are so nice. Nicer than probably 97% of Americans. So, there.

10. Finally, greetings. Girls greet girls with kisses on the cheek. This is fabulous. I love it so much. I think we should all do it. It makes me really happy. In America, however, I'm pretty affectionate, I guess, with my guy friends. Like I'll hug them and stuff. And that's how I am, but here, the greetings between males and females is high fives and hand shaking. It's weird, and I feel awkward shaking my friends hand.

Okay, I could probably think of a million more but we all have stuff to do.

Small random updates: I had a sense of holy crap I only have like eight months left so I can't waste time anymore. I'm currently looking for places to volunteer. If anyone knows any in Cairo, let me know.

Also, I am gonna ask my English teacher for Arabic classes if she has free periods during the classes I don't take.

I'm so scared of running out of time. I have a lot left, but it's really freaky to have a ticking clock.

Last thing, Hank Green said this great thing. He said, "...batman is a simplification of us, of all of us, who do the good that makes the world work." Watch this to understand. I'm kind of obsessed with it.

Byeeee

Corie.

The Power of Bacon

I don't know what it was. Maybe the fact that Friday was homecoming game and everyone was flocked out (in total school spirit). Maybe it was a camel withdrawal. Maybe it was knowing the next morning I would force myself to look at my friend's homecoming pictures. Either way yesterday, I was a hot mess, minus the hot triple the mess (source: tumblr). Homesickness sucks. But I wanted to share a lesson with you.

Until this point I had been avoiding skyping my family because I thought if I was homesick it would make it worse. All day I was trying to get myself out of this funk. When it was time to Skype my family I was fine. (Almost cried when I saw my puppies but didn't). Anyway the lesson I learned was that skyping my family took me out of my funk faster than ever. It made me less homesick. 

I even SKYPED with bacon (sorry the bacon is blurry)

Everyone deals with homesickness differently but if you ever need a pick me up. Skype with bacon. 

That's all I wanted to say. Super short but important to me. 

Hug your family. Hug yourself. Eat bacon (turkey bacon for my non pork eating friends). And you will always feel better. 

I will never underestimate the power of bacon. 

Have a good day. 

Byeeeeee

Corie. 

#tbt or #fbf

This is a throwback all the way... To Monday. It's now Thursday. (Obviously, tbt, if you don't know what that is it's throwback Thursday and if you don't know what that is... Google it?)*

Anyway I was supposed to write this days ago. But I didn't feel like it. Oops. So on Monday we went to the Mosque of Muhammed Ali. And I learned about it. I will now see if I can remember enough to teach you. 

P. S. Do not think any of this is fact. This is all from memory of like three* ish days ago so don't quote me on this. I DID NOT CHECK MY FACTS. 

Okay so basically this guy Mihammed Ali was born a long time ago. In like Algeria or something. Then, I think, he moved to Turkey. He, like, joined the army or something. Whatever happened he ended up in Egypt to help the Egyptians fight the French... I think. And then he was crowned a hero. So they built this mosque. And it's very old and pretty cool.

That is the dome of the mosque and it's made of lead** to try and keep it relatively cool inside.

This is the tower it contains some 280-something steps to the top. The guy would climb it five times everyday for the call to prayer. (and I was upset I had to walk down nine flights of stairs yesterday morning.)

This is the outer part of a dome thing and it's made of wood and gold. And the rest is marble.

This is the back side of the mosque. It's lovely.

This is the dome thing from a couple pictures above.

This is a clock given as a gift by the French. Much cheaper than the gift to France from Egypt. 

The dome in the middle had little spickets. Here is where they wash before prayer. (Looks like my pants could use some washing. Dust is just somethng you get used to here.)

Tomb of Muhammed Ali. Wood and Gold on the outside. Marble on the inside. Inside closed for renovtions.

The place the gut who reads the Qurran sits. Wood and brass.**

The ceiling.

There s a panoramic view of Cairo from the outside of the mosque. (repping the Maguigad pose since '09**)

More of the view.

This is the smaller dome outside where they wash. Made of marble.

365 lights for 365 days.

 

Last post I talked about juice in a bag. Here it is.

That concludes my adventures for now. Tuesday I just rested before school on Wednesday. Now I'm back to my normal routine of school, food, and not doing my homework. Yesterday I started this post and I was reallllly bored. Then I went to City Stars with Boosy and we met her friends. I had this like frappichino/milkshake thing and it was so. good. I also had my first slices of pizza since the friday before I left (August 29th) and it was so good. It was from Auntie Anne's so the crust was pretzel dough. And I need to get supplies for school because I bought four pens at the beginning of the year. I already lost one, and broke another. Plus I need a sketch book for art. Which is weird because I don't art. 

Also if you don't know who Taylor Hatala is then you need to google her. She got famous for dancing to Anaconda but she did other songs as well. My favorite is her dancing on Ellen. Oh yeah, she's also 11 years old. Check her out she'll make you smile.

If anyone is sad, remember I'm happy you exist and there are millions of cells in your body who only care about you. 

Sending infinite virtual hugs.

Byeeeee

Corie.

*This post was started on Thursday that's why it was originally #tbt for throwback thursday. But since I finished it on Friday it's also #fbf flashback friday.

** I think... 

Cheesy Tourist Photos Forever

I went to the pyramids.

YES

I

DID

I don't know if you know this but they are effing ginormous. These giant triangular shaped geometric figures were built by people thousands of years before construction equipment was even dreamed of. And we complain about slow wifi. (guilty) Also, I really love the last picture. 

I also rode a camel.

Camels are my favorite mode of transportation.

And then I Sphinxed it. (I don't even know what that is supposed to mean)

The sphinx looks directly at a Pizza Hut and KFC. #tmyn

We took a boat on the Nile and I drank juice out of a plastic bag. 

I've been in Egypt for a month and it is fabulous. I think I may have finally had that "Wow, I'm in Egypt moment." But that's probably because of the pyramids.

Me and my camel love you and thank you for reading this post. 

Stay hydrated and stay motivated. If the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids you can do that thing you're procrastinating right now.

And........ BREAK!

Byeeeeeee

Corie.

Eid Sa3eed

October 4th is an eid for Muslims. It is a holiday that celebrates the fact that Abraham almost sacrificed his son or something. People do henna, trade gifts, pray, and most importantly, sacrifice animals.

People arrange for sheep or cows or other livestock to be bought to their home, where they slaughter them. Graphic details: skip to next paragraph if you don't like animal slaughtering. They begin by holding the sheep down, then they slit their throat. There's a lot of blood. And it's not that bad... until you realize it's still alive and moving around like it's having a seizure. Once it's dead, they cut a hole in its body and blow it up like a balloon. I don't remember why. Then they beat it, like a pinata. Again, I don't remember why. When they're done they cut the skin or fur or whatever off. Then they hang it, and cut open the stomach allowing the organs to fall out. It's pretty cool, honestly. I stopped watching after that.

The main thing to remember was that it was for God. So yeah that happened.

That morning I woke up at 5:30 in the morning, even though I didn't have school to go to eid prayer. While I was getting ready, I had to keep telling myself "Do it for the cultural experience. Cultural experience. Cultural experience." It was really early. I put on my nice conservative clothes and walked to the prayer. Never have I ever seen so many people do the same motions synchronized in my life. It was pretty cool and I'm glad I went.

Nadia and Corie after Eid prayer

After I went out with my friends. I haven't seen the streets empty like that, ever. It was really weird. We walked to a cheap restaurant and had sandwiches. I had tameah, basically fried beans, and batatas, potatoes. I had a sandwich that was french fries and ketchup in bread, why this concept hasn't reached America yet, I don't know but it was delicious.

Then we all sat around being tired until we decided to go home.

Then I went to the pyramids.


Byeeeeee

Corie.