Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Cruise the Nile vs. Taken for a Ride
One of the remarkable things to do whilst in Cairo is to cruise the Nile in a felucca and was a must do on Tenday's list, with or without us. I'm sure Fatima will be cursing herself for not coming with us. It starts out with the usual – using the restroom in a posh hotel (current score: four seasons -1, intercontinental – 2, grand hyatt – 1). Apparently I have a 6th sense for finding the restrooms in these places. Maybe someday I'll collect locations w/instruction and post them... As this is Tenday's adventure – she gets to negotiate the cost: 50 LE. Cool. 
So we get in and a tow rope is given to a little motor boat that tows us out. Nice – but then half way between bridges he drops the rope and we're on our own. 
The guys unfurl the sail. 
About 2 minutes into this the girls realize we're not moving. At all.
And here we sat - for 45 minutes
So we get in and a tow rope is given to a little motor boat that tows us out. Nice – but then half way between bridges he drops the rope and we're on our own. 
The guys unfurl the sail. 
About 2 minutes into this the girls realize we're not moving. At all. And here we sat - for 45 minutes
5 classes, two exams and one weekend left.
I didn't come for the religion (since, in my humble opinion, there is only one God/Allah and the message is all the same between religions), though it's an interesting moment when there is a part in the textbook that has verses from the Koran and Madeha will sing them. It's an art to singing the phrases together and the pauses between each stanza (or whatever each entry is called). Great – since my reading is halting and I can't sing – and I don't think interpretive dancing is an acceptable substitute. She makes up for it by making us read and then re-read out loud all the other dialog. (If I were the type of person to get headaches I would have one non-stop from Saturday to Wednesday) Still – it's been suggested by other students to take a Koran reading course since it has all the punctuation (which is critical for pronunciation – since an incorrect stress can mean something opposite, immoral or undecipherable) I might look into that as long as I don't have to sing. And I really hate reading slow.
The intensive is just that. Carolynn (from Sweden) was commenting on how none of us taking an intensive for the first time truly understood how intensive it was going to be. I'm torn between setting up a blog devoted to the Fajr Center experience alone and letting everyone else find out for themselves – just like I did. It's not just what we're learning or how much but then there is the re-writing of all the dialog and/or vocabulary that gets checked and is part of your grade. So – when you're instructed to copy the dialog 5 times it means copy the dialog 5 times and include all fatas, damas, kasras, sekuns, etc... and what is missed is corrected in red pen. 5 times. I'm running out of refills for my mechanical pencil.
There are two sisters from South Africa (one is in our class) – but they keep missing class. Pity to think their parents spent all this money to house them here, pay for schooling and they only show up half the time. Their dad works two jobs – so it's not a cool thing to do (found that out in class during an exercise – it's not like I came straight out and asked them). Madeha (our class instructor) simply threatens to kill her every-time she does make it in since the homework is rarely done. That alone is terribly amusing. She reiterates in English the many ways she will kill her to get the point across. And we're in the lower levels....so I wonder what the she's like teaching the advanced courses?
As for the other girls: the eastern girls (mostly Kazakhstan) keep to themselves. The Nigerians are super friendly – hopefully they'll want to come along on Thursday's adventure/mishaps (by the way: their national team lost against Egypt in the Africa's Cup game last night....they were ok with it since Egypt is out of the next World's Cup so it's a consolation win in their opinion). There is one chinese girl in particular that is quite interesting to observe. She's been in Cairo for two years and is taking level 3 over for the 4th time, yet firmly belives she should be in a more advanced class.
Bored with homework last night, my flat-mates and I went for a walk – not an easy thing to do at night as it isn't how this culture kills time. Last night was the exception since there was literally no traffic as everyone was watching the game. We were able to follow the game results by the cheers and knew when to make straight for the flat.
Tonight – we're going on a felluca ride on the Nile, Tenday's insistence, though she said she'd go with or without us. And since she's a magnet (vortex?!?!) for weird – we're all going. Pictures will follow. We have all been plied with homework for the weekend and have been threated with a little exam on Saturday...we'll have to make everything half day kind of trips. I still need to make it to the Egyptian Museum so Alexandria will have to wait for another time. More than anything, I really want to see dead people. And the vases. But mostly dead people.
The intensive is just that. Carolynn (from Sweden) was commenting on how none of us taking an intensive for the first time truly understood how intensive it was going to be. I'm torn between setting up a blog devoted to the Fajr Center experience alone and letting everyone else find out for themselves – just like I did. It's not just what we're learning or how much but then there is the re-writing of all the dialog and/or vocabulary that gets checked and is part of your grade. So – when you're instructed to copy the dialog 5 times it means copy the dialog 5 times and include all fatas, damas, kasras, sekuns, etc... and what is missed is corrected in red pen. 5 times. I'm running out of refills for my mechanical pencil.
There are two sisters from South Africa (one is in our class) – but they keep missing class. Pity to think their parents spent all this money to house them here, pay for schooling and they only show up half the time. Their dad works two jobs – so it's not a cool thing to do (found that out in class during an exercise – it's not like I came straight out and asked them). Madeha (our class instructor) simply threatens to kill her every-time she does make it in since the homework is rarely done. That alone is terribly amusing. She reiterates in English the many ways she will kill her to get the point across. And we're in the lower levels....so I wonder what the she's like teaching the advanced courses?
As for the other girls: the eastern girls (mostly Kazakhstan) keep to themselves. The Nigerians are super friendly – hopefully they'll want to come along on Thursday's adventure/mishaps (by the way: their national team lost against Egypt in the Africa's Cup game last night....they were ok with it since Egypt is out of the next World's Cup so it's a consolation win in their opinion). There is one chinese girl in particular that is quite interesting to observe. She's been in Cairo for two years and is taking level 3 over for the 4th time, yet firmly belives she should be in a more advanced class.
Bored with homework last night, my flat-mates and I went for a walk – not an easy thing to do at night as it isn't how this culture kills time. Last night was the exception since there was literally no traffic as everyone was watching the game. We were able to follow the game results by the cheers and knew when to make straight for the flat.
Tonight – we're going on a felluca ride on the Nile, Tenday's insistence, though she said she'd go with or without us. And since she's a magnet (vortex?!?!) for weird – we're all going. Pictures will follow. We have all been plied with homework for the weekend and have been threated with a little exam on Saturday...we'll have to make everything half day kind of trips. I still need to make it to the Egyptian Museum so Alexandria will have to wait for another time. More than anything, I really want to see dead people. And the vases. But mostly dead people.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
two pictures from my balcony of the same mosque
There is no filter or photoshoping to either of these photos. The pictures were taken on separate days by simply stepping out onto the veranda and taking a picture.
This is an average day in Cairo (so dirty you can taste it)
This is a rare day in Cairo
Every day we have a choice in virtually everything we do.
If you don't make a change, who will?
This is an average day in Cairo (so dirty you can taste it)
This is a rare day in Cairo
Every day we have a choice in virtually everything we do.
If you don't make a change, who will?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Magical Lamp Lights
These are absolutely beautiful! I want to live here...bare stone walls and lots of silver lamps to light up at night.
I'll go back and see what I can get these for and a smart way to get them back safely.
This makes me think of home.
Minus the salsa and chilango margaritas.
mmmmm....margaritas
I'll go back and see what I can get these for and a smart way to get them back safely.
This makes me think of home.
Minus the salsa and chilango margaritas.
mmmmm....margaritas
Sunday, January 10, 2010
T-minus 8 days.
Oh – in other news – the class I'm in tests out tomorrow and we continue on with level 1. My flat mates are in level 3 (who have been studying for >5years) will test on Tuesday. There are 20 levels in this school. Several girls who are staying for at least six months are moving to the Al Asalat school – since it's easier. Apparently this is one of the toughest schools.
I'm glad no one told me about this earlier. Really.
I'm glad no one told me about this earlier. Really.
The view from my window
Outside across the street:
straight down:
A lot may be cleared for someone to build on – until then, you find lots of this:
Not sure if they are simply there to secure the land and keep vagrants off or if this is where they live until they are removed. Still - there is no such thing as an empty lot. There is space to build on but there is a family (sometimes extended) living on that lot until then. At least they can pirate electricity from the building next door. I'm not saying it's safe, I'm just saying.
Also – in a shell of a building that has no power/water/doors – just a shell of bricks waiting for plaster – there will be a family living there. Including children. There will be piles of building refuse around which the children are playing in, when they're not helping clean up after the workers have gone. I don't imagine they'll make it to school, but I hope I'm wrong.
straight down:
A lot may be cleared for someone to build on – until then, you find lots of this:
Not sure if they are simply there to secure the land and keep vagrants off or if this is where they live until they are removed. Still - there is no such thing as an empty lot. There is space to build on but there is a family (sometimes extended) living on that lot until then. At least they can pirate electricity from the building next door. I'm not saying it's safe, I'm just saying.
Also – in a shell of a building that has no power/water/doors – just a shell of bricks waiting for plaster – there will be a family living there. Including children. There will be piles of building refuse around which the children are playing in, when they're not helping clean up after the workers have gone. I don't imagine they'll make it to school, but I hope I'm wrong.
{speachless}
Outside the buildings – there is a random string of wires. Lots of wires. For a good reason:
We do have A/C. And as long as the wiring insulation holds - there will be a b
We do have A/C. And as long as the wiring insulation holds - there will be a b
finished product?
This place has been rented out numerous times. Judging by the condition of the building (i.e.: dust buildup on the outside of the building) it has been inhabited by paying residents for at least a couple of years.
The Flat - so much for movin' on up
Ironic that I work in a construction law firm. It makes me hyper aware of the construction going on here. Issues? Where to begin....
There is construction going on next door.
Fine finish on the cement – it answers quite a few issues inside the flat I'm staying in.
Come to find out that a building owner only has to pay taxes on a building once it's finished. Until it's finished – what is complete can be occupied. So you see quite a few buildings with very nice finish-outs on the outside and upper floors but the first one or two floors have gaping holes where windows and doors should be. The ground floor is (for the most part) secured. Or at least the entrance for the upper floors has a security door but the rest meant for shops are just walls and places for windows and doors. The front is NEVER landscaped – one is lucky enough to have some marble tiles laid so a floor mat can be put down to scrape the dirt, mud, grime off one's shoes before stepping inside.
The refrigerator. Easy to understand why it's leaning back at that angle.
Again – this is all manual labor. The lot next to the building under construction has been excavated about 15-20 feet down, all by hand. There has been a team of (what looks to be) 20-somethings working all day.
As for drainage – I think there is a sewer drain of sorts in the street – a 6” pipe set off the side of the road. I thought Town Lake was bad....the Nile – OMG! I wouldn't swim in it if my life depended on it. Cairo is in the middle of the flush.
There is construction going on next door.
Fine finish on the cement – it answers quite a few issues inside the flat I'm staying in.
Come to find out that a building owner only has to pay taxes on a building once it's finished. Until it's finished – what is complete can be occupied. So you see quite a few buildings with very nice finish-outs on the outside and upper floors but the first one or two floors have gaping holes where windows and doors should be. The ground floor is (for the most part) secured. Or at least the entrance for the upper floors has a security door but the rest meant for shops are just walls and places for windows and doors. The front is NEVER landscaped – one is lucky enough to have some marble tiles laid so a floor mat can be put down to scrape the dirt, mud, grime off one's shoes before stepping inside.
The refrigerator. Easy to understand why it's leaning back at that angle.
Again – this is all manual labor. The lot next to the building under construction has been excavated about 15-20 feet down, all by hand. There has been a team of (what looks to be) 20-somethings working all day.
As for drainage – I think there is a sewer drain of sorts in the street – a 6” pipe set off the side of the road. I thought Town Lake was bad....the Nile – OMG! I wouldn't swim in it if my life depended on it. Cairo is in the middle of the flush.
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