School, Food, and Exercise feat. A Mini Rant

As you know, I have started school. Also I didn't know if anyone would like my last post. But it's done better on Facebook than any of my other posts which makes me really happy.

Anyway, I can't keep track of what I say on here and what I say on my social media platforms. But if I already said it, I don't care. This summer was 13 weeks long. Three months and a week. I don't know of any summer that has lasted that long. Saturday was the first time I got up early since June. (Not including my 4 AM wake up call for my flight to New York but I slept on the plane). So this week has been so tiring. I do not give a flying fudge where I fall asleep. (i.e. class, the couch, the bus, the floor, the bathroom, literally anywhere else). I don't know if it's an exchange student thing or a Corie thing but I can and will fall asleep anywhere. 

Here is my schedule:

The only classes I will actually take are the ones labeled "English" and then French if I can. Everything is kind of self explanitory. Religion is separated into Islamic and Christian. It's kind of like Sunday school. I only get it because a girl translates for me. I'm not sure how to explain it. It's nice how school ends an hour earlier on Monday and Thursday. Um... Comp. last periods on Thursday is different projects on a computer. Again I don't know how to explain it. The teacher explained it in Arabic so I didn't get it. 

First two periods on Thursday is "activities" which is basically electives. You pick one and you do that for the whole year. The choices were a little disappointing to be honest: Music (only for singing, drums, guitar, piano), home ec (I was advised not to take it), library (how to use the library without asking for help and research papers), art, and maintainence. I cannot draw to save my life. Nor can I do anything artistic really. Maintainence is basically woodshop (tech ed if you've ever attended A G Wright). I was pretty good at tech ed in sixth grade and handled myself pretty well building stairs at SSP so I thought hey, why not. Here's why not: girls don't take it. This of course made me want to take it more. This is basically what my friends told me: There are only 15-18 spots for this class. They only take the boys. And then I heard this: boys take maintainence and girls take home ec. Home Ec teaches us the stuff we need for when we're older. 

Wait... What?!

I've been here for a few weeks, I know girls and women do all the cooking and cleaning and the men barely do anything. Actually I don't think they do anything. For someone raised with a working mom and a stay at home dad (and the memory of my mother making pasta so bad we had ice cream for dinner) this is really weird. I mean, that's the reason I'm here to learn about their culture. And that's part of their culture. 

However, this pissed me off. The girls I'm friends with wanted to take maintainence until they were told it was for boys. Also, someone told me that they had a plan to travel and then settle down after. But, she then told me she wasn't going to it because that's not how it's done. Girls don't go galavanting around the world by themselves. She also told me her mother said she wasn't allowed to. Due to the whole it's-not-how-it's-done thing.* 

Now, I know, I know, "every culture's different." "Not good, not bad, just different." "American values and ideals aren't shared by everyone." And I agree. This just rubs me the wrong way, that's all. 

Note: I apologize if this rant sounded rude or mean or hurtful to anyone in anyway. This just came as a shock for me and seems unfair. 

Anyway, I just took art since all my friends did and maybe my sister rubbed off on me a little. The first thing we did was "draw a simple flower" so I did. And the girl next to me told me it was nice. And the art teacher said "hilwa" (beautiful) and "very good". Yup. An art teacher said something I drew was beautiful. *holds for applause* If I'm not asked to draw a realistic human I'll be fine. 

Other than school, my life has been sleeping, eating, and watching movies. I am watching Ratatouille in Arabic as I type this. I haven't exercised in a long time... I would exercise except it's really hot. All the effing time. So when it gets cold I'll exercise. 

Egyptians don't have junk food lying around. So if I'm hungry but don't want to make anything my options are fruits or vegetables so yeah. Also my eating schedule is all out of whack. They don't really have an eating schedule, they don't even sell food at school. 

I don't know how this went from school to me talking about food and exercise so I'm just gonna go now. 

The view last night from the balcony as I hung laundry on the clothes lines. Because I am helpful. 

A snapchat of my face while watching a movie in Arabic. And while sitting in a clas taught in Arabic. And every time I'm mistaken for an Egyptian.

I really really love hearing from you guys. Your comments are so encouraging and they make me smile. Thank you so so much. Keep them coming!

Tell someone you appreciate them today. Because I appreciate all of you. 

*Edit: 28/10/2014 After reading my blog my friend told me she wasn't not allowed to go to America, her mother gave her a good reason why she shouldn't and she is choosing to stay in Egypt. I took the wrong impression from the situation. My bad. I'm sorry. 

Byeeeeee

Corie.