19 November

I wrote a whole post about cool things that happened on November 19 making it the best day of the year... But the whole thing got deleted and now... I'm just... :(

Anyway, November 19 is actually a really important day. Larry King was born, Sweden, Iceland and Afghanistan joined the United Nations, it's international men's day and world toilet day, Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address, and Bill Clinton's impeachment case began. 

Not to mention it's your favorite blogger's birthday. 

Yesterday was my sweet sixteen. Without a car, a license, or my family I didn't really know how the day would go. But yesterday 19 November 2014 was easily the best day of my entire life. 

So all my friends had been saying things like "3 days left", "2 days left", "tomorrow". Then on the actual day... no one said anything.  I'm not dumb, I knew something was going to happen. During breakfast some friends and I went out into the corridor. When we went back to the classroom one of them covered my eyes and started forcing me into the classroom. (I was so scared she was going to push me into something). When she let me see, the lights were out and the whole class and my friends from other classes were standing and singing. There was a circle of cupcakes and juice boxes with a candle. I made a wish and blew out the candle. I got some amazing gifts from my amazing friends and all was well. 

Then I got home. I was just chilling in my lazy clothes. Nothing was going on. Then my friends came over and they picked out clothes for me and we took pictures and hung out and ate cake. But not just any cake... Rainbow cake. (FYI it tastes better than regular cake). I got more presents including a necklace with my name in Arabic (something I've wanted forever). 

It was a day where I felt loved. And it feels really good to feel loved. It's one of those beautiful moments when all the exhaustion and confusion that comes with being an exchange student proves to be worth it. Because no matter what happens the rest of the year, no matter how tired and confused I am 99% of the time, these moments and these people are amazing and wonderful and just aaaah I can't even explain. 

Thank you to everyone for everything. I'm so happy. :D

I love you all. Stay beautiful. 

Byeeeeeee

Corie. 

My Neighborhood and Stuff

This is a photoset of my neighborhood. Part of it anyway. This is the City Stars side. 

This is a mosque that is next to the buildings. 

That is City Stars (only a very small part of it)

These are stairs that lead to the buildings. 

This is from the top of the stairs. 

Then we walk a little bit more. 

This is a stand that sells stuff like fruits and veggies. It's just down the street. It reminds me of the stands at the beginning of the Burn Notice opening sequence. 

This is my "street". I don't know if it's a real street but that's what I call it. 

This is my building

This the thing that you push if the door is locked so that they can buzz you in. 

This is the ground floor. 

These are the elevators. 

The inside of the elevator. Hi. 👋 <-that's the hand waving emoji if it turns into a rectangle. 

Those are the buttons. The ground floor is 0 the top floor is 9

This is my floor. It's kind of hard to see. There are four apartments. 

The brown one with the doormat is mine. 

I will try to take more pictures when I can. 

Today I had orientation at the AFS office. A lady and I sat and talked. It was nice. I took a long taxi ride there and an even longer bus ride back. (Traffic sucks). 

Mockingjay comes out in the US this week which means it'll come out in Egypt in like a week and a half or two weeks or so. But I'm still really excited for that. When I went to see the Maze Runner. The trailer for Mockingjay came out and I flipped. I was fangirling so hard almost in tears (not really) and it was great because my fiend didn't judge me, in fact, she joined me. That's a real friendship right there. 

I hope you all had/have a fabulous weekend. I'm still not used to this whole split weekend thing. It's killing me. I hate it. I think it causes a lot of unwanted exhaustion. But at least tomorrow's a short day. 

I love Sundays because I talk to my family. And my mom sends me pictures of my dogs. 

OH! And it rained today. Well not rained... Drizzled. Okay not drizzled... More like misted ... Slightly... For like five minutes. BUT STILL. 

I'm gonna go drink my tea now. Stay beautiful. 

Byeeeeee

Corie.  

 

I Live in a Lava Field

I have never lived in a big city. I've lived around them, I've visited them, I've never lived in one. While it doesn't have giant steel skyscrapers, Cairo is a big city. There are 7.772 million people in 453 sq. km. I really like the idea of a big city. I really love the noise and all the cars on the street at all hours of the night. I like the way that while we were landing, Cairo looked like a lava field. If you don't know what a lava field looks like...

Source

Okay, no imagine the orange is yellow lights. That's all I saw from the sky.
This is what I found when I tried to find what I was looking for a picture of it, but yeah.

Source

Anyway, it was unbelievable. And very scary. My town in California is 1/100 the size in population and 1/7 in the area. There is just a lot of Cairo. Also, lots of people think it's really dangerous blah blah blah. 

One of my things on the Egypt Bucket List was being comfortable with the public transportation. I took a taxi by myself twice today. I even hailed the first one on my own too. 

So first, I flagged it down. Then I tried my best to say Ain Shams University in Arabic (gam3at ain shams). He nods and I get in. Then, he says good morning. Turns out his English is really good. This takes a little bit of the edge off, but I'm still alert. He was really nice, and continued to talk to me and welcomed me to Egypt and just continues to prove to me that Egyptians are the nicest people in the world. Anyway, I'm not nervous, uneasy, or any of the other words that mean the exact same thing I learned in English class. 

I kinda know my way around. I mean, enough to walk from the side the taxi drops me off at City Stars to the other side where I live because I can't direct them. That gives me more time to familiar myself, take a nice walk, and get some fresh air. I also know landmarks to make sure that the taxi is indeed taking me to Ain Shams or City Stars and not somewhere else. 

Fireworks and parties across the street don't even phase me anymore. I really feel like I have a grasp on the place I live. And I cannot even begin to explain how this makes me feel. I can even understand Arabic, not a lot, not every conversation, but enough to feel... I don't know... proud? Maybe?

More pictures from ASMUN (the main reason I feel so comfortable in my own city):

Life is really good. Stay beautiful.

Byeeeeeee

Corie.

I Actually Dropped Out of High School

Hey guys! So in order for me to come to Egypt I had to be dropped from the PUSD school system. I have to be completely re-enrolled when I get back as if I've never gone to a PUSD school. So I'm an actual high school dropout.

I have been attending New Ramses College for about two months now and I think I have figured out roughly how it works.

If you haven't seen my schedule. Here it is:

The bus comes at 6:30 in front of my building. I gat to school around 7. School starts around 7:45. On Saturday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we get out at 3. Monday and Thursday we get out at 2. It always takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get home. 

I take the classes taught in English: math, biology, chemistry, English, computers, and art. Also French but that's not taught in English. It's more of a French-Arabic hybrid. I also do PE but it's basically two free periods outside. 

Math (also known as Maths I don't know why there's an s) is algebra, geometry, trigonometry. While I will have to take what I was going to take this year (Pre-Calc) next year, I will get credit for taking a year of math. Basically, we sit in out lesson, we are taught stuff, we do problems, and we don't have homework. The only problem is, since we don't have it everyday it's hard to retain the information. 

Biology: I took biology last year. So I don't need this credit. It's different stuff than what I learned last year. Yhe teacher talks, we write, usually no homework. We did have a project once but it was easy and there were seven people in my group so. We've been to the labs twice. So far it's just been out teacher showing us stuff and us looking at cells. Unlike America, where we dissected stuff and played with snails. 

Chemistry: I would be taking chemistry this year so that is a credit I do need. However, I don't know if what I'm learning here is what I need to learn in America. Also, the teacher teaches in Arabic and it's hard to understand. Again, he talks, we write, I don't get any of it, no homework. 

English: I consider all my classmates to be fluent. They understand me, I understand them, we talk in English without any issues. They read English books, watch English movies and tv shows, and listen to English music. For this reason I am pretty sure I'll get credit for this as an English class. This is good because I need four years in order to graduate. In English we learn about grammar tiles I never knew existed, they learn intense vocabulary like "dubiety" and "conspiratorial" and "exasperation" and "categorically". We have been reading an easy translated version or Jane Eyre and Oliver Twist. We read Shakespeare poems and an excerpt from Lord of the Flies. This is probably the only class I ever have homework in and it's not very often. 

Computers: I really don't know how to explain this to you. It's basically coding or programming with a little something else. I don't know what credit I'll get for this. 

Art: It's two periods I get to draw and then if I need help, I ask for it and the teacher gives me tips. My favorite class. Again I don't know what credit I'll get but hopefully, ya know, art. 

Basically, we get quizes whenever the teachers feel like it. But for tests it's a bit complicated. End of October/early November we have monthly tests. Basically everything we've learned that month. We'll have them again late November/early December. Then around New Years we have midterms. Then a two week break. Then it starts all over again. End of March/early April and then end of April/early May. And then finals. This is how I understand it to work. 

October monthly exam results:

Math: Full Mark, 20/20

O.L. English (easy level): Full Mark, 25/25

A.L. English (hard level): Full Mark, 25/25

O.L. French: 13.5/15, 90%

A.L. French: 14.5/20, 72.5%

Biology: 23.5/30, 78.333%

Chemistry: 7.5/10, 75%

Computers: 9.5/10, 95%

Not that I know anyone any explanations:

French: I've only taken one year with the world's WORST French teacher. 

Bio: I just, like, didn't study. Also I didn't write exact scientific terms in my justifications. 

Chemistry: I legit do not understand squat in that class I'm thankful for my C

So that's how school works. I am kind of taking the year off. I don't have a ton of classes, they aren't very hard, I get 8 hours of sleep, I'm not stressed it's great. And I don't have to repeat a year, the California school system is very flexible. 

Advice from a real high school dropout (me): Stay in school. 

Stay beautiful.

Byeeeeee

Corie. 

Al-Maktaba

So I was literally on the verge of falling asleep when I realized I haven't posted anything. And I decided I really needed to post something. So here it is. 

I am addicted to books. The worst thing you could possibly do to me is take me to a bookstore when I'm broke. Or I just didn't bring my money. Or I already bought food. Or the books are expensive. Taking me to a bookstore when I cannot buy a book makes me very sad. 

I brought one book with me and that was for my seven hour layover in Turkey. (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants btw). Books here are expensive. Plus I don't want to buy a bunch of books because when I'm done they're just gonna be a waste of space. I didn't know if there was a library and if they had English books so I just downloaded books on my phone and read on there. 

In class, or should I say in school, I am not allowed to use my phone. Therefore I cannot read when I am sitting in an Arabic taught class. Also I really missed the book as a whole. The pages, seeing the majority of pages shift from your right hand to your left, the feeling when you hold it and turn the page. I mean I love books. Almost more than reading if I'm going to be honest. 

Well it turns out... My school has a library. (Omg duh Corie). I know, I know. What school doesn't have a library. Now, I will admit, the library wasn't massive. There were like ten shelves, if that. And the selection wasn't incredible. But they have like ten different Stephen King novels and the Harry Potter series, so my life is good. I checked out my first book and now I feel complete once again. 

Which do you like better, ebooks or book books? I prefer book books as you can tell but as I once heard someone say "it doesn't matter as long as you're reading." 

Also Arabic books are backwards and it's weird. 

Stay beautiful. 

Byeeeeeeee

Corie. 

The Corie Is Awesome World Fact Book

Let's see how long this whole daily post thing lasts...

Okay, so I rarely have homework. And when I do, it's usually really easy. So I decided that I would take more time with my posts. And do some research and find some facts and stuff to go along with my experience. Here are a couple reasons:

1. People like to ask which is better the US or Egypt. I don't know if you've been to or lived in both of these countries, but it's really freaking difficult to compare the two.

2. There is half a bullet point on the AFS pledge that I signed in New York says "...and teaching those who are interested about my culture..." This is really hard when you don't really know what American culture is. American culture is basically commercializing holidays and half naked celebrities. So I need to learn more about the US.

3. I am in one of those super motivated to climb a mountain and write a novel moods.

4. YOLO

In my brain I am preparing a list of things to compare between the US and Egypt. Don't worry, I'll still post my epiphanies and experiences and trips and pictures and everything. I'm just really curious about how different Egypt and the US really are, or how different they aren't.

This post is just going to be basic things. I have a pretty decent audience of international people. I was looking at my stats and there could be between 40 and 200 people reading this right now. Some Egyptian, some American, some both, some neither. Nevertheless, here is an introduction to the US and Egypt.

Population:
US: 318,892,103
Egypt: 86,895,099

Ethnic groups:
US: white 79.96%, black 12.85%, Asian 4.43%, Amerindian and Alaska native 0.97%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.18%, two or more races 1.61%
Egypt: Egyptian 99.6%, other 0.4%

Religion:

US: Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other or unspecified 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4%

Egypt: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 90%, Christian (majority Coptic Orthodox, other Christians include Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Maronite, Orthodox, and Anglican) 10%

Life expectancy at birth:

US: 79.56

Egypt: 73.45

Literacy:

US: 99%

Egypt:73.9%

Obesity (adult prevalence rate):

US: 33% 

Egypt: 33.1%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary):

US: 17 years

Egypt: 13 years

Manpower available for military:

US: 145,212,012 male and female age 16-49

Egypt: 41,157,220 male and female age 16-49

You essentially could have logged on to the CIA (Corie Is Awesome) world fact book, but I brought it to you. There's a million more numbers on there if you want to find out more. I did this out of sheer curiosity, but now I know more things and so do you. And who knows, maybe we're one step closer to better world understanding.

Stay beautiful.

Byeeeeeee

Corie.

Oh, I'm an Iguana. You?

If you never read any posts please read this one. 

In the time of my existence, I have learned a few things about life and people. One thing I've learned is that often religion has a negative connotation. Lots of people don't like to talk about it. But I'm gonna talk about it. 

WARNING: All of this is based on experience. I have done no research. If you find anything factually incorrect about anything I say, please let me know so I can correct it. 

Alright, let's begin. Egyptians are religious. Not just Muslims, but the majority of people here are very religious. 

I lived in Virginia until 2012, there I was a member of FCA. Most, if not all, of my friends belonged to a religion and practiced it regularly and openly. When I moved to California, I noticed lots of people didn't. In fact, I don't really know any religious people outside of my church. The US also had the whole separation of church and state thing. As far as I know, Egypt doesn't. 

In school, teachers and students alike are openly religious. The religion class is taught in Arabic so I don't know what they talk about, but I feel like it is taught in a factual manner as opposed to belief. By this I mean they don't say "Christians believe there is one god." Rather, they say "There is one god." There is nothing wrong with this way of teaching, if it is how they teach. I'm just not used to it. Every Saturday, during the religion period we go to the in-school chapel. There they sing praise songs and listen to some sort of sermon thing (again it's in Arabic do I don't know exactly). 

My friends do not miss church. Period. They don't miss church because they don't want to miss church. No one (as far as I know makes them go). It's weird because I think that they are very religious, but now that I think about it, I think I am just as religious. I just don't think I'm as forward about it. Or at least I try not to be. 

The next part of this is about atheism. Is that a word? I don't know. Anyway, atheists are not accepted in Egypt. My orientation coordinator made sure to tell me that. Again, I'm Christian so there wasn't really a problem. No one assumes you don't belong to a religion here. On the visa application on the part where it has name, birthdate, passport number, etc. it has religion on it. The German exchange student in my class doesn't belong to a religion. My friends were talking about it and how they wanted to help home find Jesus or something. I had to explain that culturally most western-ish countries don't put a lot of emphasis on religion, and how there are many non religious people. Atheism is as foreign a concept to them as the whole very open religiousness concept is to me, and maybe you. 

On my first day when we were going to the chapel, I didn't know what was going on. They said "are you Muslim or Christian?" The bluntness of the question had shocked me because in America we ask "so... What are you?" I mean when people hear I'm going to Egypt, they ask if I'm Muslim. When I say no, that's what they ask "what are you?" I'm guilty of this too. Americans are so careful with religion we ask that question like different religions are different species. "So... What are you?" "Oh, I'm an iguana. You?" "I'm a beaver." Like is it so offensive to ask "What is your religion or lack there of?" 

This last part I'm gonna be quick with. If you want to read or hear more of this, there's like a million and one debates in the comments section of any positive Muslim post on any website on the internet. 

First things first. Not all Egyptians are Muslims. In fact according to the CIA world factbook. 10% of the people are not Muslim. With a population of  86,895,099 people that's a lot of non-Muslims, in this case Christians. The whole 10% are Christian. So there's that myth busted. 

Next, if you think Muslims = terrorists. You are wrong. So wrong, I'm not gonna explain how wrong you are. Google can help with that. 

Next, if a woman is wearing a hijab by choice, it is just that. Her. Choice. So back off. 

Finally, apparently every time I meet someone new there's a 9/10 chance they're Muslim. My host family is a Muslim family. They are literally the nicest people I know. They took me in and feed me and buy me toothpaste and make sure I'm happy and they are incredible. Same goes with everyone I've met so far. The thing about Egyptians, Muslim or Christian, is that they are all so nice. So nice. I get offered food all day. All day. People are always making sure others are happy. There are arguments and fights and stuff, I mean it's not the most peaceful country in the world. It's no Canada, but I cannot stress the generosity and kindness and welcoming....ness that this country and the people have shown me. There are not enough words in the 3 languages I take in school to explain how grateful I am for all of it. 

If you are Egyptian and you've extended kindness to me or anyone, thank you. I am now hugging you. 

If you do not qualify for the last virtual hug. Here's another one because you are awesome. 

As I was writing this I remembered there were like so many religious events that happened in Egypt. Like Moses, "Let my people go!" I mean the Red Sea that was parted by Moses is like an hour an a half away. Actually, no that's the Suez Canal. Whatever I'm closer to the Red Sea than some of you are so there. 

If you learned anything from this, I hope it's to watch yourself before making generalizations about a culture you haven't experienced and get to know a person for who they are instead of "what they are". And also, religion isn't a bad thing. And that "what is your religion or lack there of?" should be an appropriate and acceptable question. 

Thanks for reading. Eat your broccoli. Here's a picture of a baby lion: 

Stay beautiful. 

Byeeeeee

Corie.