Coming To America

I have been home for a couple weeks now and it is... not as weird as I thought it would be. As much as I love and miss Egypt, there are lots of things about America I missed. Things happen on exchange and things happen when you get back.

People may get sick of you talking

It’s not just when I talk about my exchange, but also just in general. By dinner my first night home, my sister was already sick of hearing the words “In Egypt”. 

Also, while I was gone, apparently it was a lot quieter in the house. So me talking about everything and anything probably gets annoying.

Crosswalks are everywhere

I live in Smalltown, USA. There is barely any traffic except during county fair season. Why are there so many crosswalks?

Also, if you don’t use crosswalks, or cross when it’s red, it’s illegal. This leads to standing on the sidewalk on an empty street corner forever waiting for the walking signs.

Missing things more than you thought

Driving gives me so much joy. I love it. It’s scary and complicated (I drive a stick) but it’s amazing.

In school in Egypt, I never did a lot of work. Since this year I’m taking AP US History, I have a lot of summer homework. I’m not actually mad about it. I’m also kind of excited for school to start.

I have a lot of hair. Therefore, I use a lot of shampoo and conditioner. I can finally buy huge bottles of hair products now.

I missed a year of life

If I could go back and do my year abroad over again, I would. I gained so much from it, but I still missed out on an entire year of things. 

My sister has had my parents basically to herself for a year (not counting the Costa Rican exchange student). Sometimes it feels weird because there are stories, jokes, and memories that I wasn’t a part of. 

Egypt feels like a dream

Once you get into a routine, everything in your home country feels normal. Sometimes I think about Egypt and it feels like it didn’t even happen. It went by so quickly, it doesn’t feel real. So little has changed in everything around me, I might not have even left home at all.

Leaving my life in Egypt was the hardest thing I’ve had to do, but I’m glad I’m back. I missed my family and friends so much. I also miss my other friends and family so much.

I promised to post on Sundays and I didn’t last week. I’m sorry, but I’ll be back on track now and next week. 

Thanks for reading.

Learn something today.

Byeeee

Corie.

No Place Like Home

Hey guys, I'm home.

It took about 43 hours to get from my one in Cairo to my home in California

After staying up all night, driving up to the airport, and tearfully saying goodbye to my family and friends I got onto my plane from Cairo to Istanbul. Nothing much happened. The food was good the entertainment was good. 

Plane to Istanbul

I felt like I was going to Hogwarts

I landed in Istanbul and apparently I had charged $300 worth of data charges to my phone. My mom fixed it and it was only $30. I slept and ate in Istanbul until it was time to fly again. 

Gate monitors

Before going into the gate for my flight to New York, you have to go through a mini security. They checked my boarding pass and passport. Then they asked who packed my bags, if I packed anything for anyone else, if I've left my bags unattended, and stuff like that. 

Istanbul was Constantinople. Now it's Istanbul was Constantinople.

The best kinds of pictures.

On the plane from Istanbul to New York City, many things happened. I sat next to a man who was very polite and looked like a buff John Green. Marriage equality was legalized in the US. A couple on  the plane sitting near me got engaged. 

The food I ate on the plane on the way from New York to Istanbul was alright. It was the same as the food on the way back, but I guess on the way back I was used to Middle Eastern food. It was really good.

The first meal was chicken, potatoes, cucumber, beans.

The second meal was meat, rice, cherry yogurt. 

In New York, I was picked up by my grandparents. The plane landed at 9:40 pm. We got to a gate over half an hour later. It took another two hours to get through customs, to get my bags, to get through security part two, get to my grandparents and the hotel.

What happens when your grandparents are tall

This is how we do

Customs

I slept and went back to the airport. I ate Dunkin' Donuts and flew to California. By the time I landed, I was so hungry. My parents met me at the meeting point. Surprisingly, no one cried.

If America runs on Dunkin', why is there no Dunkin' Donuts in Cali?

Welcome to America

Momy

No matter how many times I asked, my mom wouldn't stop to get me food. Turns out, at home there was chips, fruit and veggie platters, cookies, and a cheese plate. My friends also happened to be there. They all surprised me. I was so excited to see them and the food.

The new house

Casey will never escaped my hug

Youth Council's Welcome Home sign

My babe Catharine

Since, I've been going to the doctor's and the orthodontists. Yesterday, we had family game night. All in all, life is pretty good. Turns out, I was scared of nothing.

Two story book store

It's called addiction

I will continue to blog. I have lots of homework and stuff for school and catching up to do, but I will still blog. Sundays are the days. I might blog other times in the week but there will always be a post on Sunday unless told otherwise. 

I hope you'll stick around, even though I'm not in Egypt anymore. 

Learn something today.

Byeeeee

Corie.

Alexandria feat. Fairouz

Hello hello. Welcome back to my blog. I'm taking a break to tell you guys about my trip to Alexandria. After Fai got back from the States, we went to Alexandria with our parents. 

The view from the balcony. 

Sunday

We drove to Alexandria. Once we got there we drove around and found an apartment to rent for the two nights we stayed there. 

The sky was pretty. 

We broke fast at a restaurant called Balbaa. I finally ate pigeon. It was stuffed with "freek" aka grits. It was delicious. 

Pigeon, rice, goulash, mahshy. 

Then we went to the Stanley bridge. It's really famous and I couldn't figure out why. As far as bridges go I gave it a Sea plus (C+). Just kidding, it was a nice bridge. 

I checked another thing off my to do list which was eat corn from the street. It was... fine. I guess. 

Corn grilled on the side of the road. 

Monday

We explored the things. First we went to the Alexandria Library. It was really big. We watched a science movie called "Oasis in Space". It was kinda lame. 

The Alexandria Library

What heaven looks like. 

"You were in the perfect spot"

Then we went to Qaitbay Castle. It's a Citadel military castle building. It was build on the sea to protect Egypt from intruders. 

I've been fasting during Ramadan, but after walking around in the sun a lot, I got very dehydrated. I couldn't walk anymore so I drank. 

After, we went to an aquarium. The fish were really pretty. 

We broke fast that day with rice and fish. Before Egypt, I didn't like fish. But now, I really like it and the fish from Alexandria was really good. 

We also went out for ice cream and bought a kite. 

Tuesday 

After we woke up, we pack our things to leave. Before heading back to Cairo, we went to Qasr Montaza. Montaza Palace is the king's "summer home". We hung out by the sea and flew the kite we bought the day before. 

After we went home. 

It was a really quick trip but I'm really glad I finally got to go to Alexandria. 

I'm also really glad I get to spend time with my sister, Fairouz (aka Roza aka Fai aka Pepsi aka Fairoyz). 

Thanks for reading. I have to get back to packing now.

Learn something today. 

Byeeeeee

Corie. 

Celebrating Change And One Year Of Blogging

Guess what today is. Saturday? Yes, but no. 20 June? Yes, but no. It's the 1st anniversary of my blog! Woo! 

From thoughtsandpavement.com

One year ago on 20 June 2014, I uploaded my first ever post entitled "The Beginning". Now, I have people I've never met reading my blog. More importantly, I still love it. 

To celebrate I'd like to take a walk down memory lane. Shall we? 

8 September 2014, I went to City Stars for the first time. I took this picture. 

20 June 2014, I went to City Stars not for the last time. I took this picture.

There are several obvious differences. I'm a lot thinner, the lighting is brighter, my hair is longer, there are Ramadan decorations up. 

The difference between the girl in the first picture and the girl in the second picture is far deeper than physical things. 

While the girl in the first picture was smart and adventurous and brave and open-minded, she was also quiet and self-conscious and scared and kind of naive. The girl in the second picture is still smart, adventurous, and brave but she's more open-minded, confident, more outgoing, and less naive. 

This year, no doubt, has changed me. I've grown up a bit, I've gained more perspective and had more experiences. But it's important remember that I'm still Corie. I still like books and chocolate. I'm still goofy and have my dumb moments. 

You can change and change but there will always be constants. Things that can't change; things that won't change.

Change is scary, but inevitable. Sometimes business shut down, buildings go up, people are born, people die, and sometimes your family moves houses while you're living in Egypt. 

No one loves change, but we all deal with it. It's no secret that I'm scared of going back to the states. It'll be a change. 

I was talking to my friend the other day and she asked if I was excited to come back and I said "kinda". She was confused, then I told her that I thought everything had changed. I can't remember her exact response but it was something along the lines of: yes, a lot has changed, but you'll grow from it the way you grew from going to Egypt. You're strong and you'll get through it. 

The first time I read this, it intimidated me. Someone telling me I would need strength to get through going back home isn't exactly what you want to hear. But I needed to hear it. 

Change isn't always fun, but it's good for us. Living the same way your whole life would be boring. You wouldn't develop. Good stories involve good character development. Characters can't develop without conflict and change. 

Change broadens your horizons. It changes your outlook. And you know me I'm a big fan of a broad outlook. 

Thank you all for a great first year. Whether you've been here for a year or a day, thanks for sticking with me. 

I can't wait for another year of blogging and seeing what changes occur in the years to come. 

Thank you for reading and as always, learn something today. 

Byeeee 

Corie. 

Ramadan Kareem

Happy Ramadan. كل سنة و انتم طيبين. رمضان كريم. 

The first day of Ramadan is tomorrow. Ramadan is a month in the Islamic calendar. This is the month where Muslims fast for 30 days. It's also believed that the Quran was revealed in the last 10 days of Ramadan. 

I will try to fast for a week. I will be here for 8 days of Ramadan (day eight I leave at like 10 am). It will be hard, but it's one of those things that it will be good to experience, especially in a Muslim country. 

Rules (from what I understand):

1. From dawn until sunset no food or drink. 

2. If you are sick, work physical labor, have heat stroke/dehydration, and/or are on your period you don't have to fast. 

3. If, for whatever reason, you don't fast certain days in Ramadan, you should fast throughout the year to "make it up". 

4. Be nice. Don't gossip, think bad things, or otherwise be a jerk. 

5. Help the poor. Volunteer your time. Be generous. 

6. Don't freak out if you mess up. Everyone is human. 

Since I am in a Muslim country, Ramadan is kind of a big deal. Companies start selling Ramadan themed products, stores deck out in Ramadan style decor, even fashion designers start making Ramadan clothing lines. 

Ramadan decorations in the Lebanese restaurant I ate at today. 

Ramadan Kareem is the greeting you give during Ramadan (along with the standard "kol sana wentom tayibeen"). It literally translates to "Ramadan is generous", but you say it as "happy Ramadan". 

Ramadan is the time when Muslims try and put themselves in poor people's shoes. By not eating and drinking, they will know what it's like to be poor and hungry. Also during this time, Muslims help the poor. They give the poor food, volunteer with charities, etc. By saying "Ramadan is generous" it's kind of reminding them of why they do it. (I think). 

Small Fanoos and other decorations. 

My favorite part, so far, is the decorations. They are really colorful and very... Ramadan-y. They also put out lanterns that are specifically for Ramadan, called fanoos. Some of them play music and they play during the sunset letting everyone know it's time to break the fast. 

My friend's Fanoos. (Thanks, Farrah for the pictures). 

That's a quick background of Ramadan. I'm sure once I actually experience it I'll have much more to say. 

That's all I have today. Thank you for reading. 

Learn something today. 

Byeeee

Corie. 

Miscellaneous Pictures Of Life Abroad

As most exchange students do, I take a lot of pictures. I decided to post a blog post containing just a bunch of random pictures I've taken over the past couple weeks of just chilling in Egypt. These are pictures that didn't need a whole blog post but I wanted to share them so here we go. 

This is a picture of donuts. Donuts aren't super common here and my friends and I went to a really nice bakery and we ate these beauties. 

Karim, a very good friend of mine, and me in the bakery. 

(L to R) Monica, Maria, me, Maria at the bakery. 

Maria left on 10 June to travel so this was the last time I saw her. I absolutely adore her and already miss her very much. 

This is Roanoke a stuffed animal (kind of) my friend gave me. 

A movie channel played a different Harry Potter movie everyday for a week and I LOVED it. 

I got ice cream with friends. So in Egypt the portion sizes for ice cream are super small and the same as American prices which sucks. But this place makes big portions for like $2. They do vanilla ice cream with ANY adding you want. This is M&Ms. 

Amira and me trying on hats at H&M. 

Boosy made me a shirt at the T-Shirt Factory. This is the machine. 

This is the shirt. 

This is a lot in Tahrir. Under this is an underground parking garage. 

This is from the top of Cairo Tower. You can see all of Cairo from here. 

The pose. 

The selfie

The top. 

The pyramids (if you can see them). The tower was awesome. One of my favorite places. I definitely recommend it. You can see the Citadel then walk to the other side of the tower and see the pyramids. It was so great. Plus it's windy which makes it great if you're trying to beat the heat. 

The Auntie Anne's Pretzel and me at the mall yesterday. 

This picture came from the Goodreads email newsletter. It's now the wallpaper on my phone; it makes me really happy. 

That's all I have for today. My sister was promoted from middle school to high school. Fairouz is coming in a few days. I am in the process of wrapping everything up. 

Thank you for reading. 

Learn something today. 

Byeeeee

Corie.