Gunshots and Road 01-29-2011

A 4PM curfew has been instituted and school has been canceled for a week.  I know its selfish and possibly stupid, but I am going crazy with inaction.

Earlier today I walked all over Zamalek with friends Cody, Meg, Sa’id, Hunter, and Aaron.  We circled the island from the dorms all the way around.  Near Cilantro (a local coffee shop/sandwich place on the Nile,) we watched as the Arcadia mall burned on the other side.  I was told later that one of the government buildings was behind it.

Near the other bridge, the Democratic building was still smoldering from the fire lit yesterday.  I was so relieved when I woke up today and the curfew had been lifted and people’s phones were working again.  I think we were all hopeful.

Around 2PM we were given notice that rumors had spread that the riots were coming to Zamalek tonight.  We were told that an enforced curfew had been implemented from 4PM-8Am tomorrow.  I quickly walked to the market to get a few things that I needed (a water boiler, juice, a new alarm clock, coffee, peanut butter, water, and laundry detergent.  When I got back to the dorms they were serving us lunch.  No one was delivering so they opened the kitchen in the cafeteria with no charge and they fed us koshary, babaganoush, salad, kebab, and om ali.  It was a very nice lunch, but I couldn’t really eat.

Nothing was happening after lunch.  The streets were still calm.  People were rushing home and stores were painting or covering their windows, but no rioters were on the island.  The only true indication that anything was wrong was that the police were strangely absent from their positions on every corner.  They have always consistently been on their corners.  Also, they were emergency evacuating the students who had flights home because they had only been in Cairo for the winter session. 

I was physically exhausted from my walk and then my trek home from the market with fairly heavy bags so I decided to lie down.  I woke up just before four.  When I got down to the lobby and enquired as to what was happening, I was informed that there were fires and that the rioters were now on the island. The dorm security guards had a fire hose strung across the lobby and up to the doors and everyone was watching the news.

I went into the cafeteria/game room and was sitting talking to a few friends when one of the RAs came into the room and announced that due to security issues, they wanted us to get out of the lobby and go either to the rooftop terrace or our rooms and that if we had rooms facing the street to go into a friend’s room and away from the street.  I chose to go to the terrace.  Being in my room was too confining. 

Up on the roof I saw all the fires.  It was an exaggeration that we were surrounded.  There were two that hadn’t already been there from yesterday.  I was told by one of the RAs that the rioters were trying to get into Cairo’s military armory and that it was pretty heavily guarded.  No one wanted this to go to the level of the rioters being armed like they would be if they broke through.  Several tomes through out the afternoon and into the evening we heard the low pop of tear gas canisters being projected, gun shots (we believe they were shot into the air,) and the pop-thud of rubber bullets being shot.

On a separate bent, I was told the news had reported that protesters had broken through the line into the Cairo museum and were destroying artifacts.  Most of the people here decided that they probably weren’t destroying them, rather they were stealing them in order to sell them to black market purchasers.  The people here are poor enough for that to be true.  Many people have speculated that the destruction isn’t actually protesters, but government groups hired to discredit the true intent of the uprising.  Several reports have been made of looting in cities other than Cairo.  We were told that Alexandria had twenty fires, but of course, none of us really know what’s going on. 

Several times we have been told that “nothing is happening,” but mostly it is to reassure us.  Thus far it has had the opposite effect.  We are all able to tell when we are being bullshitted.  It just makes us edgier knowing they are keeping the truth from us.

After dark, around 9PM, we were given a short but informative briefing from the head of security and he was honest with us.  They had wanted us to evacuate the lobby because they didn’t want us to be damaged by glass should anything happen.  The whole first floor is glass in the dorms.  We were then told the answers to several questions and the truth, debunking several of the rumors.  School had been cancelled for one week not two, the UN hadn’t threatened to declare Egypt a war zone, the altercation on the steps of the dorm was merely an argument between two men but broken up by our guards, no one in any government position had commanded us to be evacuated.  It relieved a lot of stress because we all knew he was being honest.  He didn’t down play the severity, but he delivered the news in a way that made it seem manageable.

I will say that aside from the trio of men who pulled a homemade road spike strip, two army members in uniform, the heightened security, and all the smoke and gunshots; we saw nothing indicative of the troubles going on around us.

On a personal level, today was harder for me.  I wasn’t prepared for it.  I was out on a beautiful morning.  I had a latte in nice café and I really enjoyed the company.  The burning mall was a remnant of the day prior and I really felt it would be better today.  I wasn’t mentally prepared to have to deal with the stress of riots on Zamalek.  At one point I had a moment of weakness and I started crying.  Just a few tears, but it helped to let myself have that moment.

People keep telling me I need to go home.  No one important, but all I can think is that this is a piece of world history and so long as I don’t do something foolish and put myself at risk, I am a part of it.  I am really glad that I got to Skype with my kids and my best friend the day before we lost our internet capabilities. I have no desire to leave.  I am not afraid.  To the contrary, I feel remarkably safe here.  These people have no desire to harm us.  They just want to be heard and this is the only way to do it.

Mubarak has fired all his head people, but after doing that, he appointed a jerk as his VP who according to what I have gleaned from talking to several people is a dangerous man.  What the people here want is for Mubarak to step down and let fresh blood into the office.  They say that his “presidency” has turned into a dictatorship; as it has gone on for 29 years. 

Some people in the dorms have speculated that he knows that if he steps down and loses all the personal security, a price would be put on his head.  Many people here think that is part of the reason he won’t step down. 

Being here during all this has given me a lot of time to contemplate my own life.  Life is so precious and I have it so good.  In the United States, I am considered low class because my annual income is below $12,000.  I am on public assistance and I receive full financial aid.  In Cairo, I would be considered middle-upper middle class; according to some I would be classified as upper class. 

I want to have an impact.  I want so badly to help these people and others like them. I can’t conceive of living the way they do.  People in the States bitch and complain about immigration and how all the illegals are taking our jobs and causing our economy to fall, but not one of them can conceive what these peoples’ lives are like in their home countries.  The unemployment rate in the United States is in the 20% range.  In Cairo it is 80%.  The situation here is not about laziness or an unwillingness to work, it’s about the absolute inability to find work at all.  There are literally no jobs.  People here live in squalor.  It tears at my heart to know how much we waste in the states when so many here go without.

I know it seems trite to say “eat all your dinner, there are children in Africa starving,” but there really are and even though the scraps left on our plates won’t benefit the people here, it’s the idea that people are starving and we should value and appreciate the things we have.  I wish I could make everyone see these people through unclouded eyes.  This isn’t about religion or anger or unruliness, this is about survival.  These people are dying.  Mothers are watching their babies starve and it’s not right. 

 

 

Protests and Riots 01-28-2011

I have assured everyone at home that things here are safe and that nothing major is going to happen.  Then today happened.

The riots have progressed to all on violence.  I feel that we, on the island, are safe.  We are; however, able to see the smoke and hear the protestors loudly on the island.  As of 2PM, we have been locked down in the dorm because there was fear that the rioters would break though the line blocking them from the island.  Last night around 11:30PM, our ability to access internet all together cut us off completely with being able to communicate with anyone not in the room with us.  Even cell phone service has been suspended.

Around 2:30PM we were advised against leaving the dorm and we were authorized to access the 7th floor terrace so we could see what was happening (at a distance,) while still being safe.  We watched for several hours, at an extreme distance, the smoke from burning tires in three separate locations around us.  We could hear the crowds yelling and we could see the smoke trajectory of the tear gas cannons.

I want to comfort everyone by saying that every AUC student was accounted for prior to 2PM, but that would be a lie.  A group of around ten AUC students took it upon themselves to be involved.  One returned with the casing of a rubber bullet and a tear gas can. Another returned with a small cut/burn on his arm where hot glass had blown back on him.  Several others wanted photographs at significant risk to themselves.  We are all; regardless of risks taken, accounted for and healthy.

Many of us here are in total support of the citizens of Egypt.  The conditions of their existence are abhorrent and totally intolerable.  The current climate here calls for massive reform and the people deserve it.

Mubarak has been in office almost my entire life.  When he took office the previous president had been assassinated.  He was shot while standing during a public event and Mubarak (vice president at the time) was sprayed with his blood because he was sitting right next to him.  The people cared for him and believed that he was going to take their country in a good direction.  Twenty-nine years later and we have riots.  One of the most profound things about Mubarak’s presidency is that he has maintained the peace with Israel founded by his predecessor (Sedat) 1978.  Egypt is the only middle eastern country to have signed a treaty for peace with Israel. 

To put the conditions here in perspective for those not here, the average Egyptian lives on 459 L.E per month.  That is equivalent to $70.  I don’t know about anyone out there, but that is not an amount I could live on.  Don’t let me forget to mention that this amount isn’t for just one person.  It’s for an entire family.  I know people who spend more that more than that on cigarettes each month.  It’s messed up that this has been allowed to continue for this long without their political representatives helping them.  I guarantee Mubarak isn’t living on $70 a month.

While we are sitting at home worried we won’t be able to afford the newest cell phone until our contracts are up and we get a rebate, people here are worrying about where their next meal is coming from and how they will earn enough to keep eating. The people here are so grateful for employment.  Even in the dorms, the workers on the women's' side were just today scrubbing the stairs, by hand.  I needed to use the stairs and I was in my slippers (basically socks with non slip soles).  Instead of being unhappy that I was messing up their freshly scrubbed stairs, they were concerned and speedily drying the floor so I wouldn’t get wet socks.

I have spoken, in this blog, about the area and the beauty and at times I am ironic and sarcastic.  I haven’t spoken about the people.  They are a beautiful people.  Everywhere I have gone, I am treated very well.  The people here are gracious hosts.  If I have ever asked what a word is or what a word means, they help with a smile. This is a culture of people who want to give and find joy in giving.  The women are always ready with a smile and no matter how much you know they suffer, they will graciously offer assistance.

Egyptians don’t know how to say they don’t know when you ask directions.  They want so badly to help that they will give you directions even if they don’t know.  I was asking directions once and four men were trying to help me and all four were giving me different directions.  They just wanted to help and didn’t want me to walk away thinking that they weren’t willing to help.

I want to approach Islam in this situation.  I am so afraid that the media and previous misconception are causing people who are uninformed to blame the unrest here on Islamic extremism.  Islam has nothing to do with this rebellion.  If anything, Islam has slowed the intensity.  Islam requires followers to pray declaring Allah (God) as the only God and Mohammed as his prophet. They are required to do this five times a day; once at dawn, once at noon, once prior to sundown, one right after sundown and one at night.  This is strictly followed. 

Islam is an extremely peaceful faith.  They are faithful in the same way Christians are.  I would say more faithful than many who call themselves Christians.  As I said, they are gracious, helpful, and kind.  They only want what is due them as citizens of earth and members in the race of man.  Please, believe me when I say that this is not an Islamic uprising.  This is an uprising of the poor wanting their leaders to protect them and to do what leaders are intended to do; which is to provide a way of life that allows them to survive.  They don’t have this now.  This is a civil uprising.

This morning, I will admit, I went as close to the Nile bridge as I could in order to see the people massing in Tahrir Square.  I was in no danger, this was prior to any violence and at the very beginning of the people gathering.  We were however affected (due to wind) by the first few tear gas cannons shot into the air as a forewarning to those gathering.  To have just felt in my eyes and my throat the effects, made me admire the commitment those involved must have to their cause.  Multiple tear gas bombs were ejected into the crowds today and on Tuesday. High pressure water hoses were sprayed into the crowds.  It was even rumored that the government had authorized the use of live ammunition if the police or Army personnel deemed it necessary.

This is serious.  These people are serious.  They need to be taken seriously. They are starving, they are afraid, and instead of listening to them, the government disconnected them from the rest of the world and from each other.  Something needs to be done.  I have no power here, but if I did, I would help.  All I can do is sit here impotently watching the news and writing this blog.

Three Days in Cairo

 Where to even start…

How about Sunday?  Sunday was my first day on campus at AUC.  I forced myself to stay up until 2AM Sunday morning and then I had to turn around and wake up at 7AM, 5 hours later, in order to go to the school.  I did this to try and beat jet lag.  it’s still something I am working on.

Let me start out by saying that I love AUC campus, not just like, LOVE! 

The morning started out with a 45 minute commute on the bus from Zamalek to New Cairo.  I really enjoyed this ride because unlike the ride prior, it was sunny and I could see everything.  The driving was just terrifying, but amazingly enough, you get used to it.  On the bus I observed the whole city flying by.  It was shocking to me and also very interesting how there were apartments on top of apartments on top of apartments, and ugly run down buildings and then BOOM! all of a sudden a massive gorgeous mosque would be there  or a beautiful building, then back to the crumbling structures.  The city grew up around the beautiful original structures.

Another thing that struck me is the massive presence of armed (heavily so) police nearly every corner.  The people here are very oppressed and VERY poor.  It really is humbling to know how much we waste that would go to use for these people.  It isn’t the Ethiopian pictures we have seen on the give a dollar to feed a kid for a month commercials, but it’s pretty bad.

Anyway, I digress, back to AUC.  After the bus ride, we headed to the conference center where we were greeted with breakfast and drinks.  I have learned to hoard water when they offer it for free.  I am stocking up. After breakfast I signed in and received a messenger bag filled with goodies.  Inside was a guidebook to Cairo (a blog unto itself,) a stainless steel travel mug, a map of Cairo, a student guide/assignment book, a pen, and a few other things.  It was nice and the bag is really nice.

I signed up and paid for several trips some to landmarks (pyramids, Nile, Alexandria,) and some to cultural events (Khan El Khalili bazaar, and Bedouin Nights.)  I am hoping to have enough to go on the one I really really want to go on; to Luxor and Aswan.  (the Sphinx among other things) It’s a four day boat ride on the Nile with stops at the major landmarks.  It will cost 2000-2500L.E which is almost $500 American, so it’s up in the air.  I may have to see if someone back home will help me out.   I may never get this chance again.

The main thing I spent Sunday doing was trying to get myself into the Survival Arabic course.  I didn’t have the $350 American that it cost and they wanted it up front.  I spent the day with the sweetest woman (Thank you, Amal!) who was on the phone pretty much all day trying to find out if I could set up some sort of payment system.  The end result was to have me sit in on the classes until they decide.  It works out for me because I am picking it up and it really has been helpful.  It also gives me a head start, because I have 9 hours of Arabic this semester and however many at home, so I like to be a little ahead of the curve.

They served a really great lunch on Sunday too (stocked up on more water.)  Lunch was three pitas stuffed with different things.  The first was stuffed with foul (fool)  foul is reminiscent of refried beans, but has a much richer flavor.  The second was falafel. This is a fried bread type product that has a flavor that is hard to describe but is very yummy.  It was stuffed in the pita with lettuce, tomato, and a sauce.  The third and by far the most interesting to me was stuffed with French fries, the same sauce, the same veggies, and served with ketchup.  Very strange, but not unpleasant.  These pitas were served with a side of pickles.  Pickles in Egypt are not like in the States.  these are carrots, turnips, peppers, and tiny lemons put in a spicy pickling sauce.  they are very spicy and I didn’t find them to my liking.

We met with the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.  He is amazing.  He has a long long history in the art world, worldwide.  His list of credentials is longer than my arm and they are all related with the world of visual art.  I spoke with him for awhile, I couldn’t help myself!  At AUC the performing and visual arts are a department within the College of Arts and Sciences,  unlike Tech, where is is it’s own college.

The next big thing I did was my first day in Survival Arabic.  I had missed one day, so I was a bit behind, but Sh’ reen (my instructor) did a quick review of EVERYTHING they had done the day prior, and I picked most of it up pretty quickly.  This class runs from 1:30 until 6:15.  By the end of it, I am so ready for a nap which, I get on the 45 minute ride back to Zamalek.

End of full day 1, I ate at the Euro Café.  I had souvlaki which is kind of like a gyro but the pita is toasted and the meat is chicken or beef, not beef/lamb.  The tzaziki sauce is much more garlicky here too.  Mmmm!  The Euro Café gives AUC students a 20% discount, but I still ended up spending 40L.E  which in my opinion is too much for food here.  They made really good coffee though.

I went back on Monday to campus and got another lunch, breakfast, four bottles of water, and another day of Arabic.  (by far my favorite part.  I really love learning it.)  Monday night; however, I went to dinner with my friend Veronica, and we went to Alex Top.  Alex Top serves koshary, which is a mix of two types of noodles, lentils, chickpeas, and fried onions that are reminiscent of French’s onions.  This is all served with a tomato based sauce.  It was fabulous and I only spent $1.23 American and I was stuffed.  Needless to say, I went back again tonight!

Today, today was much more interesting.  By being one day late, I missed signing up for some of the trips because they filled up.  Today was one of those trips, the trip to Old (or Coptic/Islamic) Cairo and the Khan El Khalili bazaar.  I decided that I would just show up at 8AM and see if there was space for me and turns out there was.

We spent the day touring Mosques, Coptic Churches, and antiquated Synagogues that dated back to 700AD and I think even a few years earlier. I was in Art History heaven.  All day long I think I stood there with my mouth hanging open in awe.  I took zillions of pictures.  (you can find them on my Facebook. d.capulus@gmail.com )  After the tours, we headed into the area known as Khan El Khalili, which is most famous for it’s bazaar.  this is bargainers heaven.  if you are willing to argue, you can get a great deal.  today I talked a vendor down from 50L.E to 15L.E on a scarf because I just wouldn’t back down.  I felt so triumphant and I am going to wear my new pink scarf tomorrow.   

Today is a national Holiday, so we were out of school and that is why they planned this trip.  However, there was a huge political something going on and tens of thousands of citizens started rioting.  They descended on Zamalek while all of us students were in Old Cairo.  Needless to say, they put us all back on the buses and evacuated us to New Cairo (a thirty minute commute) and then put us back on the buses about thirty minutes after that and took us home to Zamalek (another 45 minute commute.)  I think they did this to give the police a chance to get things under control.  Sadly, the police are a part of the reason for the riots.

I uploaded all my photos when I got in and took a nap.  all the stairs in the Coptic churches and all the walking other than that had me completely worn out, but I had the best time and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Tomorrow night, after Arabic, I am signed up for another group to go to the bazaar.  maybe this time I will have more than ten minutes…

So, I Will Never Drive in Cairo....Ever!

My Night:

• Land in Cairo
• Get Visa (shiny sticker as it turns out)
• Go through Immigration
• Leave Immigration and head down to baggage claim
• They lost my luggage (took thirty minutes to determine it was still in London, good news is, they deliver)
• Go through the area where you declare items (since I had none of my items, I had nothing to declare)
• Find guy with AUC sign and we go get in the car/van thingy.

This is where it gets good.  Turns out there really are no traffic laws in Cairo. Sure, there are lines painted on the streets, but those are merely suggestions.  Also, no posted speed limit signs..not that I could read anyway. I know at one point we were going 110km/h.  Put the speed in with a street that has suggestive lines delegating it as a two lane road  when in reality there are five.  If you look down the road ahead of you, it looks comparable to 400 third graders trying to get to a candy tray right outside a doorway.  Most of the time, even at 110,I could have reached out a window and shook hands with the person driving next to us and several times I thought we were going to die. Oh, and forget being a pedestrian.  You can be walking down a street with no one but you in it and a car will come through beeping its horn at you.  yeah, and just for the record, turns out the rumors are true.  While walking around the area looking for a shop that will take American $$$ AND has blankets, I got whistled at on 8 or 9 different occasions.  I chose to be flattered, and I have decided I need to make a friend boy soon.

Back to my list

• I get to the dorm, which is lucky considering the drive and get checked it
• get a room key and head up to the room where I discover...I don't have a blanket.  Evidently only the dorms on the main campus come equipped with blankets and towels.
• So, not only am I without most of my things, clean clothing included, I have no blanket.  Or pajamas.

Thank God I stole the airplane blanket from Continental.

The Final Leg of the Journey

I am about two hours out from Cairo.  This flight has been very nice.  The jet is the same size as the one I took from Houston, but I am on the opposite side.  This makes twice that I have seen the sunset from the sky.

Today I got to sit next to a beautiful older Arabic speaking man.  He was kind enough to speak with me about the language and to encourage me to consider teaching English as a second language to Arabic speaking peoples.  He informed me that those who speak both languages are in great demand, educationally speaking, throughout the middle east.  It’s an exciting thought.  I’m not going to put the cart before the carriage though.  First, to see how I do with the language itself.

I slept the first hour and an half of this trip.  I didn’t even hear the safety information.  I leaned against the window as soon as we were off the ground and I was gone until I started smelling coffee and dinner.

I woke up just in time to miss the warm cloth one sometimes gets on flights to freshen up the skin and energize.  Dang it!

Dinner was very impressive.  This time despite my deep love of chicken, I chose beef.  It was awesome.  Several strips of very tender beef cooked in a sauce (no clue what it was,) saffron rice, a salad with lettuce, cucumber, and olives and what was called rich dressing (YUM!) Included also was a wheat roll, a tiny tub of butter, a wedge of Laughing Cow spreadable cheese, and a piece of carrot/spice cake.  They followed it all with a perfect cup of coffee.  It really was perfect.

I am a bit frustrated with myself (not too much, just kind of shocked.) I played that Arabic game for hours and hours yesterday on the flight from Houston to London and though I know I could win again and again if it were right in front of me, I can’t remember much of it to just spout it out.  I definitely need to learn this in a classroom/immersion setting.  I think the hardest part will be re-teaching myself so I can read from right to left.

I will be in Cairo soon.  Eeeeeeeee!

What exactly is a British Pound?

The flight from Houston to London was uneventful, which in my opinion is always a good thing when one is flying above 2000 miles of ocean.  They served a snack and several beverages followed by a meal which smelled heavenly but was lacking in flavor, several more beverages later and a morning snack (heavenly) was served.  I never eat breakfast, so that croissant and cup of melon was perfect for me.  They even served the croissant warm!

Back to the flight…because my original flight was missed, I lost my beautiful window seat assignment.  Prior to boarding the new flight I requested a window seat and the boarding agent gave me the hook up.  I had an entire row (3 seats) to myself!!!  Woo Hoo!

The truly beautiful thing about reeeeeaaaaaallllllyyyy long flights is that they have equally cool amenities. Along with the customary reclining seat and amazing service; I was able to watch new release movies, listen to pretty much any kind of music I wanted to, play games of all varieties ( I chose one that gave me an intro to Arabic,) and I was able to charge my laptop and Touch the entire way, all from the back of the seat in front of me.  The only thing I was unable to do…sleep.

So now I am literally beyond exhaustion.  I am functioning on several tiny cups of coffee on the flight, and two very expensive (by my standards) cappuccinos.  OMG, they are amazingly good though. I am hoping these two cappuccinos will get me through two more hours until I get on the flight to Cairo.  It’s a nice long flight in which I plan to sleep the whole way even if it means leaning on my seat mates.

I am actually worrying about finances now.  I have spent nearly $30 on two cups of coffee and ten minutes of internet time.  American money isn’t worth nearly as much as British money.  Seriously, I bought a cappuccino, handed the woman at the counter a $20 and she gave me back 8 Pounds and some change.  (To my British friends, forgive my lack of a Pound sign, I can’t seem to find it on this laptop.) It literally makes me nauseous with worry.  I am terrified that I will be stranded somewhere with no finances to support myself.  I wasn’t anticipating this exchange rate, only Cairo’s.  Hopefully I am worrying for no reason. 

One thing I was anticipating, I miss the kids and my roommate.  I am still in mommy vacation mode, but when I think about four months abroad without them and then two more when I get home and they are at their dad’s, it makes me kinda sad.  My roommate I miss a considerable amount.  I wish she were here with me as I sit in this airport café and listen to all the beautiful languages around me.  I would love to have had her on my flight looking out at the Atlantic (when I could see it.) It would have been a nice experience to have shared with someone.

All in all, this trip has been perfect so far.  It is still so overwhelming that it’s real and that I am no longer in the United States.  I never thought, in a million years, I would get to do this while I am still so young.  It’s a dream come true already.  I have some pretty amazing people in my life and I am more than grateful for each one. 

You made this possible for me.

 

Up in the Air

I just flew Over New York City and right before that I flew over Washington DC.  It’s funny.  I waited so long to do what I have always wanted to; see the world, and I still haven’t seen my home.  I find it funny and a little bit sad that my first view of the Statue of Liberty and our capital is from the air.  I know they are down there, but I can’t see them clearly.

I haven’t climbed to the crown of Lady Liberty and looked out over New York.  Four generations ago, she was the hope of my grandmother’s family.  She was reassurance and a sign that there was nothing left to fear.  I haven’t seen it.

I have always known that the United States was a refuge to many many people.  I have always taken it for granted that I could pretty much say what I want and do what I want and believe what I want.  We are working on the “love who I want” part, but we have it pretty good.  I didn’t realize how proud I was of my home until I realized I hadn’t seen it. 

I’m flying around the world and I am so very excited.  I told the shuttle driver, who took me to the airport this morning, that I was from Montana and how much I loved it.  I told him that I loved Texas too, which I do, it’s just never going to be home to me.  I told him that the most exciting part of going to Cairo (aside from the fact that I’M GOING TO CAIRO, is going somewhere so culturally different.  It really is incredible.  He told me about how he ended up in Houston, TX from Pakistan.  It was a good conversation.

We are on our way to fly over Halifax, Nova Scotia and St.John’s and we still have 3300 miles to go.  We haven’t even started flying over open ocean. 

I don’t know if my friend, Caryn, can read my blogs, being that she is traveling the world by sea this semester, but if you can and are, I am thinking about you tonight.  I hope you are well tonight, on the ocean, while I am flying over it.