Last of the Joys of Cairo`

So, that Wednesday night, we decided to just hang out after the long day... Now, this next part would take a lot of explanation, but through a series of events, Andrew had a minor medical issue that night which led us to take the next day (Thurdsay) off from council. Now, that's not to say I really NEEDED to stay home with him... but it was just too good an opportunity to pass up. We pretty much just spent all day hanging out, playing card games and chilling in the hotel. We took a walk around later in the neighborhood of Heliopolis where our hotel was, finding a great super cheap smoothie place and a few neat stores. And then, once again, spent most of the night chilling and a little time prepping. That day totally gained my sanity back from the daily stress of class in Amman; I just needed a break.

The next day of council on Friday went really well. Through a series of fake events, Palestine declared themselves a state, and obviously, we, as Syria, were very excited about this. We held a fake press conference, blabbered about human rights and had an overall wonderful time. Late that night, we went out to an Egyptian restaurant downtown, then by chance, out to a local bar. Obviously, places serving alcohol are not commonplace at all, but this bar was up on the rooftop of a semi-crappy hotel, and it was actually really great just hanging out with all of our delegation, even if not for that long.

The next day, we woke up a little late and had to take a taxi to AUC. Big mistake. After a long 2 hours of insanity, we finally walked into council way too late. But it still was a good day, full of ridiculous-ness. Debate is so so so different here than in the states, but I can't wait to hopefully kill at our regional conference in February. That night, was of course another dance party. I still don't totally get it, but it looked fun, despite it being a little chilly. And no, obviously not chilly like Chicago weather, but still just a little cold for my light sweater and dress. We ended up getting Best Delegation for our council... Still not really sure how me and Andrew pulled that off... But that was sweet, even though we were immediately whisked away back to the hotel.

So, then I arrived here this morning on a 830 am flight, definitely not ready to say goodbye... But obviously I had to. Classes were fine, a little more tolerable today after the the last week. Only about three and a half weeks left. YESSSSSSSSSSS AMERICA!!!!

Cairo Continued!

There's so much to write about Cairo... So I'll try to fit everything in. Conference was jam-packed, so I had to wait until I returned to Amman today to continue.

So, after the Islamic Quarter, a group of five of us really wanted to return to the pyramids to really get close. So, after a long argument with the cab driver, who literally did a full hour circle around the Pyramids with them in plain sight just teasing us, we finally arrived at "Gallopers" the horse place. After another bout of extensive haggling, we set off for the pyramids. We had such INCREDIBLE views, got really close and even went into a few tombs (probably illegally). Two of us climbed a few blocks up the pyramids too. The pictures are great, hopefully I'll get to upload them later today.

Andrew brought my very gracious brother's computer with him, so now I actually can get in contact with the world on a regular basis! It was a lifesaver at the conference. I just realized I should probably explain the Model Arab League quickly. Well, the real Arab League essentially acts like the United Nations, only its members are only Arab states and it only makes decisions and passes resolutions about Arab issues (generally). Like the UN, it's pretty ineffective, but super entertaining. In Model Arab League, we represent these Arab countries and hold a fake conference on Arab issues (about the economy, human rights, political issues, etc.) Andrew and I were actually on a different council, the Union For the Mediterranean, which involves, like the name implies, mostly nations affected by the Mediterranean, so we had both European and Arab countries represented.

Opening ceremonies, which with our bus running on Egyptian time (literally anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours later than scheduled), we were late for, were nice, but we were all exhausted during them. But then, I have yet to have decided whether this was surprising or not, there was a massive dance party outside of the auditorium. WTF? We more stood around watching all the AUC participants get their Arab groove on. We, along with West Point, were the only American delegations, along with a French delegation. So, most of the Egyptian students knew each other from previous meetings about the conference. Which was fine, we definitely got to know people as the conference went on, but the first night we were just more in awe.

AUC is absolutely gorgeous. Gorgeous gorgeous. Jordan University seriously was so depressing today, when I remembered how great AUC is... But then I realized that my Arabic wouldn't be nearly at the level it now is if I had decided to stay there. Even though Egyptian Arabic is pretty different from the Jordanian dialect, I surprised myself by how easy it was communicating, even though fewer people knew English there... I came away feeling that I really have been learning useful things here in Jordan

So, then council started the next day. While both Andrew and I had been researching somewhat for the topic, but without knowing that we would represent the Syrian Arab Republic until a few days before, it was kinda limited. Plus, we both had papers due that week. But it ended up being really great. While we were both a little rusty remembering parliamentary procedure and just generally staying focused, it went pretty well. Syria pretty much is against everyone, so we were often in conflict, especially because this is the only body in existence to which both Syria and Israel are members.

So, the day went well, lots of debate about using European funding in southern shore countries to create and expand alternative energy resources, as well as natural gas pipelines. Why would Europe shell out a bunch of money for a bunch of crap in North Africa and the Middle East? Well, besides labor and resources being cheap there, the general idea is: they won't bomb us if they need us. Bizarre, borderline logical, thoughts. After a long day (10-6) of conference, we were more than ready just to kick back that night.

Football, litter and pyramids...

So much has happened in the last five days!! No time to list it all, but here's the highlights:

- Arrived in Cairo at 11pm the night of the MASSIVE World Cup qualifying football (aka soccer) match between Egypt and Algeria which was IN CAIRO. It was absolutely insane. Kids hanging out of car windows holding flags, standstill traffic because the youth were crowding the streets, horns blaring... Long story short, the traffic was sooo bad that I couldn't even get to my hotel. The cab driver only spoke Arabic, but I was really glad that my Jordanian dialect was easily understood. He found me a cheap hotel outside the madness. I stayed awake, somewhat terrified, until 2 am listening to the riots outside. Thank goodness that Egypt won, otherwise I have no idea what could have happened.

- Spent all day Sunday by myself waiting for the NU students to arrive. Spent four hours at the Egyptian Museum, pouring through room after room full of incredible artifacts. Tons of tombs, mummies... Everything. It was really interesting. I couldn't believe how some of the large pieces were even transported to the Museum, and the animal mummies (crocodiles, birds, dogs, cats)were really bizarre.

Spent way too much on a much needed American dinner in the Nile Hilton. I promised myself I wouldn't pay for any Arab food because I need a little bit of a break from that. But it was nice to see the great view of the Nile from the top floor of the hotel downtown. Of course, I had already checked into our hostel nearby, which was surprisingly nice considering that it was only 15 dollars a day. Great free internet.

- Monday was a great packed day; the NU group had arrived from Chicago on Sunday night. Andrew and I got up in time to head over to the Egyptian Museum for the early afternoon; I had told him it was a must-see. So, we headed over, and I showed him around the overwhelming number of artifacts. It was essentially the Louvre, but only of Ancient Egypt.

NEXT was the great part. We met up with the rest of the group to try to see the pyramids at sunset. Giza is only a 20 minute cab ride away, but once we arrived, the gate was due to close in 15 minutes. We went to a horse tour place that promised us to arrive before it closed. We hopped on horses, and literally began to trot/canter/gallop to the gate. Little boys, literally no more than 6 or 7 year old boys, ran with our horses to the gate. Unfortunately, we didn't make it in time, and we had to haggle with the horse company owner. Apparently, there's a way to see the pyramids from outside the wall perimeters from essentially giant sand dunes in the Sahara.

So, walking/trotting with the horses, whose boys let the more experienced riders take the reins themselves, we saw the pyramids. It was amazing. I miss riding SO much. It's impossible to find riding like this in the states; no stable would take on the liability of having inexperienced, unhelmeted riders take the reins. The little boys screamed at us to "Yalla!", essentially the Arab equivalent of GET GOING!. It was hilarious. But I got to trot, and even gallop, my horse a little bit. She was a little testy, but it was way too much fun to care.

So, the next day, we woke up somewhat early and went to the market in the Islamic quarter. We first walked around the tourist section, but everything was essentially cheap-made souvenirs that we had no desire to bargain for. So, we went to the real market: stores full of live chickens, butchers slicing open freshly butchered cows, and cheap felafel and other Middle Eastern foods. We didn't buy anything there either, but it was definitely an experience. And only emphasized further my strong desire for vegetarianism. I have been eating way too much meat off the bone in the Middle East. It's super healthy that so many things are cooked in the home here, but I'm pretty sure the emphasis on lots of meat and tons of oil counteracts any healthiness.

More to come!

Just an update

Nothing to exciting to update about... Lots of homework...

Oh, however, my motherboard (isn't that something only in bad sci fi movies?) in my computer crashed. Hopefully, through a series of lucky circumstances and some hard work from three wonderful people, I'll have another computer by this weekend. There IS a Mac re-sale store here with a genius bar, however, since it takes a whole month to ship in parts from Dubai, it was too big of a bargain to try to get it fixed here.

WHICH, having a computer is somewhat essential because I have my massive 10 page research paper ALL IN ARABIC due next week before my trip to Cairo. YIKES! Hopefully, it'll be fine.... I'm probably going to spend all day at an internet cafe doing research. I'm focusing on the conflict in France over Muslim women's clothing (the niqab, the "burkini" and the hijab) and whether the French truly feel that it isn't "French" to wear these types of clothing.

But without a computer, I probably am around more mentally at home. I've been heading to bed by 11 because it's FREEZING here now. Well, freezing is in the 50s and 60s. But when it's raining and you don't have sufficient winter clothes, it feels much much colder. Central heating just isn't happening here... I'm not sure if it's not cold enough yet or what, but the buildings are definitely much colder than they probably should be.

So, nothing exciting.... I'll be back in Springfield on Dec. 20th. So exciting!