Sunday, August 10, 2014

My Host Family

Over the past couple of months I have been in contact with my host family. I got the email when I was at camp. When I opened up the information, the only way to contact the family was either a) email the host sister or b) call them. Never having to call anyone over seas I didn't know my international calling allowances, if I even had any. With a couple weeks left in camp, my only option was to email my host sister. So on my phone I set up an email to her. Not knowing whether or not anyone knew English, I spent the next couple of days using google translate and my friend from Saudi Arabia to translate a little passage into Arabic. I sent that along with what it meant in English to my host sister. A few days later I received a response. My host sister, Fairouz, had responded to my three sentence email with a three paragraph email in English. She even included words like btw and yay (with many ys "yayyyy"). I was relieved I didn't have to translate, but disappointed I spent all that time poorly translating for nothing.

When my dad received the alert that I had gotten placed. He saw the lack of "family email" and said something along the lines of "looks like you'll be unplugging for a year". I agreed with him. In her first email, however, Fairouz managed to ask if we could skype or FaceTime and if I had a Facebook with in like ten words of each other. Sounds like you were wrong then, Dad.

After that I didn't email Fairouz again. Pourquoi? Because from then on we messages each other on Facebook. All. The. Time. For hours. And days. It was crazy. It was good though. I learned that Fairouz, too, will be an exchange student. So while I am having my adventure in Egypt. She will be having her own adventure in Missouri. Kinda funny right? I also learned I will be living three minutes walking distance from City Stars the biggest mall in Cairo (or something). I'm really freaking excited about that. I mean, look at it: 


It's beautiful... at least until I'm broke.

When I got home from camp, Fairouz and I finally set up a time for her family and me to Skype. I was so excited. The night before I barely slept. (which in no way had anything to do with a sleepover) Barely slept so much that when I logged onto Skype I fell asleep waiting for them. After about an hour I woke up. They still hadn't been online. Later, I received a message from Fairouz saying she had overslept and her mom went to bed and asked if we could Skype another day. At that point I knew I had the right family when I realized we all fell asleep simultaneously. 

Eventually, we all were awake enough to Skype. I got a chance to meet my host mom, dad, cousin, and sister. Online at least. They were super nice and sweet. Saying things close to the following:

  • "You are going to have so much fun here"
  • "I'm can't wait to teach you Arabic"
  • "I'll give you lessons when we cook together"
  • "The kitchen is open to you whenever you are hungry"
The last one really makes me happy. :')

They also asked things like
  • What kind of food do you like?
  • What kind of music do you like?
  • What kind of things do you like to do?
  • What do you like to watch on TV?
To which I had nothing to say. In my mind I said, "I don't know... American things?" But out loud I said, "Basically anything."

So yeah. I leave for New York in 23 days and 12 hours, but who's counting. I'm so excited.

Byeeeee :)

Corie.

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