Sunday, November 2, 2014

Progress

In three days I will have lived in Egypt for two months and in 17 days I will have lived on Earth for 16 years, so I think it's time to reflect on change so far. So I'm sitting here on a bed in the TV room waiting for my video to load in the other post so I can post that I've got my journal and my phone (with entries from before I bought the journal) and let's see how far I've come.

So in New York, I was a little reserved, absolutely terrified. I didn't keep to myself but I talked to the other people who looked reserved and terrified. I think I am a little bit better at handling situations where I know no one. I think it takes less time for me to kind of adjust and come out of my shell. This is obviously a good thing.

When I first got to Egypt, I was so unprepared. I didn't have a pen to fill out the customs papers which was not good, I had to borrow one from the bank. So now I carry a pen everywhere. I was so used to my mom literally having a pencil case in her purse.

When I got out of customs I met up with my family and we went out to the car and drove home. My first thing to experience in Egypt was the driving. So the airport parking lot, there was about 1.5 million cars in a very small lot. There was no real like aisle, I guess that's what it's called. There were cars parked perpendicular to those parked in spots. There were cars parked on and off sidewalks it was crazy. It was also crazy hot. The driving was crazy. All of these things are now normal. I don't do a double take when I see a car on a sidewalk. Also, seat belts aren't really used in Egypt all the time, so yeah...

The next day I had to go out and I was told by AFS that I shouldn't wear anything above the knees and elbows, so I wore a long skirt and long sleeves. I still wear this outfit, but I now wear short sleeves more often than anything. Now that it's cooler I wear sweaters and stuff but yeah.

There are some people that cover their whole body, including their face. The only hole is where the eyes are. I had seen some in America but it wasn't really common... at all. In the airport at Turkey I saw many. And the first time I saw them I internally freaked out because I thought they were ninjas... That sounds really bad, but I was so disoriented from the flight and lack of sleep. But it's not something you see very often in the US but now I see it everywhere and it's normal. So there's that.

I am not a tidy person, not even a little bit, but here, I share a room so it's clean. Also I find it easier to function when stuff isn't everywhere. It may have to do with the fact I don't have many belongings, but I'm more organized.

I have created a spreadsheet for my finances. It is no longer up to date, but I do keep track of what I spend, and how much I have left.

Towards the beginning, it was difficult to talk about my family and the States without getting homesick, but now I'm barely homesick. I had a little funk on Halloween, but then I went to a party and I was fine. But I honestly am totally fine. This is really good because it took a while, but I'm fine now.

I have a lot of wonderful friends at school and in my neighborhood. Compared to my initial total of 0 this is major progress. Also, at the beginning boys would just not talk to me, I don't know why but I feel like I scared them. I handed out candy yesterday, and I'm friends with a bunch of them (at least on Facebook) so yeah... progress.

The call to prayers don't even phase me anymore. Neither do fireworks, dogs barking, yelling, laughing, horn honking, etc at all hours of the night. This is great.

Now most importantly, Arabic. I didn't realize how far my Arabic had come until yesterday. One of my friends on the bus, I don't know I hadn't talked to her in a while. But I said "amla ay?" which is like "how's it going?" and she gasps and says, "Tarifee tatakalam arabee?" which means "You know how to speak Arabic?" (or something along those lines) and I understood her and I was like "dang, Corie". It takes me a little time to process what people are saying, but I can understand a little bit sometimes. I don't understand a lot, or often, but I can some which is unbelievable. I just asked my English teacher if she would help teach me and we're working something out but I am so incredibly proud of myself. And there are some phrases like "amla ay?" (how's it going?) or "shoukran" (thank you) or "ay?" (what?) things like this are now a habit for me to say which is also awesome.

So in two months, I think I have grown and learned so much. I have about eight months left and the amount of knowledge, experience, and Arabic I'll have is crazy to think about.

I think it has finally resonated that I'm an exchange student after two months. I feel so normal, so comfortable. And it is because everyone my friends, family, everyone is so nice and caring and supportive. It's so encouraging and uplifting I love it.

Also, people of all nations have been telling me how much they love my blog and how great a writer they think I am and how interesting everything is and it makes me so so so happy to hear that. You are all sweet, supportive and wonderful I love you all so much. Thank you for everything.

I hope you all had a great weekend and Halloween.

Stay beautiful.

Byeeeee

Corie.

No comments:

Post a Comment