July 17

What's up. Today's July 17th, a Saturday, the last day of the weekend here. I'm already done with homework, which I think is the first time I've been done this early. So I decided to fire off a post.

Here at our dorm complex, we always have the option of eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner for free, so earlier today I and some others went to the cafeteria.

The cafeteria is located on the second floor of a building that just so happens to also be used for announcing test scores (I realize that last statement is a syntactical train wreck, but I decided not to edit it as it's a great example of how much my written English has taken a major blow). So, the place was crowded with people at the entrance eager to see their scores. As one of my friends put it, we were like the Beatles. It's crazy people here see Americans are absolutely star struck; I'm not exaggerating. People shouting "where are you from" or "welcome to Egypt," or any kind of nonsense or just standing in circles together talking about us and looking at us at the same time is pretty much the whole scene. It's awesome though, as I know the first day of classes this fall will involve me getting on a bus full of people who don't give a rat's who I am. We're very much unnamed celebrities here sometimes, that's the best and most accurate way I can put. It's very surprising because I get lots of visual attention Mexico, but people don't seem to literally be in awe of me or other Americans like they are here.

I've had the chance during the past couple of days to skype with a few friends, that was cool as it confirmed my hope that America still exists. Until now, it has only been a figment of my imagination. But it also has caused me to become more eager to return home to see everyone and tell stories and whatnot.

I've had some comments on facebook about looking like I've lost weight, and that's true. I don't know how much weight I've lost, as much as muscle mass or whatever. I never get to work out here, and I consume probably less than half of the amount of protein I have in the U.S. All the food here is carbs, there's really not a lot of protein. I eat a lot of food, relatively speaking of course, but it all gets burned off. I would guess I've lost between 5-10 pounds, it's hard to say. But I of course want to get back home and eat all the hormonally-enhanced beef along with lots of milk.

There's a group here from Utah University, or University of Utah. Whichever, I'm not sure, it's not important, but anyways they leave next weekend and that will be weird because it will begin to hit home that the program is starting to end. Homework is getting lighter, I've long since figured out minimum requirements, and students have firmly dictated to the teachers how much work they're willing to do, heh heh, so it should be smooth sailing from here on. I'm starting to have little flashbacks from the first days here, they seem so long ago yet I have a lot of clarity in the memories. I'm trying to enjoy each day now as much as possible because I know i'll be gone before too long and I'll start to miss this place, believe it or not.

I'm really looking forward to getting on the plane though and seeing the past summer replay itself perfectly in my mind, I'm quite confident it will as I remember a lot of things like they were yesterday.

I've definitely gained a different perspective since I've been here though. I can't imagine what landing in Tulsa is going to be like, I think being in Cairo, or more specifically coming back from a long-ish program and a few hours later being back in a place which not too long ago seemed drossfully normal but now seems like a far cry from the present will be refreshing.

I'll mention one thing then I guess I'll finish. I was talking on skype with a good friend and mentioned that there's really no personal time here. I remember in the U.S. it's nothing to get in a car and drive yourself somewhere and think nothing of it, but everything I do in public includes my riding with a taxi driver and getting lots of attention. Personal free time is almost non-existent except when I'm taking a shower or sleeping. Literally. It doesn't seem like something but everyone needs time just to not be talking to anyone and here that's not possible. It's not a conscious or nagging problem, but after awhile I kinda realized this. There is certainly a lot mental fatigue compared to being home. Ninety-five percent of the time I like it, but every now and then you just don't feel like dealing with it. I guess honestly it's not much of a problem so much as a slight annoyance. I found it an interesting and subtle difference from being back home.

But anyways, that's that. I'll try to update next weekend or something. I don't imagine there'll be anything cool to mention but who knows. Thank to everyone who reads this of course. later

Sometime a Longtime After My Last Post

I don't know when my last post was, or what I've done since, but I'll ramble on and hope everything gets covered.

We're about to finish our first week after the trip to Sinai. About which, we visited Mount Sinai, Saint Catherine Monastery, a very cool resort TOWN called Dahab, and a very nightmarish Russian-city-but-under-the-government-of-Egypt called Sharm-el-Sheikh.

On Sinai- we arrived at the base of the mountain at approximately 145 a.m. I don't remember which day, but i think it was Friday. Anyways, most people had their spirits high, regardless of the fact that we were about to start a 2.5 hour march-hike without any sleep.

It was one of the coolest things I've done in my life. Myself and 3 friends were the first 4 people atop the mountain that day, out of what I would guess was 150 tourists at sunrise. I was rather tired but very much had a sense of self-accomplishment. I underestimated the hike, which explains my rather nonsensical decision to carry my roughly 20-pound backpack all the way up. But the view was worth it, it was very cool and an experience I won't forget.

After that, we went to a seaside town named Dahab. I absolutely love this place and want to go back next summer if possible. In my opinion, it is the perfect combination of westernness without the tacky-tourist feel or size of Sharm el Sheikh.

The next day we visited Sharm el Sheikh, I guess it wasn't too bad but it had nothing on the atmosphere and chillness of Dahab. The whole place was filled with rich Europeans who were seemingly under the illusion they were experiencing Egypt. Ha.

Time is kinda slowing down right now, due to the fact I'm starting to anticipate the end. We have 3 weeks left this Saturday, and from now until the end it's going to be a headfirst jaunt through a forest of homework. It's a double-edged sword in the fact that I can slack and not do homework and see time creep even slower, or do my homework and...do my homework.

I'm growing more accustomed to this place, and really if I didn't have America on the very near horizon I would be very comfortable. But I'm very much being assaulted by the desire to see family and friends, experience American comforts again (of which there are too many to name or consciously recall), and generally see exactly how much I've learned and how much change I have undergone.

I'm glad to be back in Alex though. I guess you don't know what you have until it's gone, and Sharm made me realize that I guess that saying goes for Egypt as well. The people here are so much nicer, the city has a much more laid back air to it, and I'm starting to feel like I have my own little piece carved out now.

I guess that's about that for now. I might be taking a trip to Cairo next week to see a friend from OU, if so it'll be my last meaningful event here, that is unless I save a choking child or something. But I should update more often as I'll no doubt be seeking refuge from my homework. Until then, later.