New Post....

Good evening family and friends!

I know its been a while since I posted. Things can get so busy here that I forget and I get swallowed up in stuff to do. A lot has gone on since my last blog. First, my first semester as a teacher ended (6 week semesters) and I survived! My students love me and so I continued up to the next level with them and they all followed me. Some got assigned to different teachers for this semester and they switched into my class!
I survived my tests - and even got all A's so far.... keeping fingers crossed for final grades. Got two midterms and two big papers due in the next two weeks...so keep your fingers crossed with me.

I was offered an RA (Resident Advisor) position this week for next semester and I've taken it! So I have a job now, and I'll be staying in the dorms for one more semester at least. I realized when I was apartment hunting with my potential roommate that we had very different things in mind. First, he was a study abroad and he came to Egypt for a cultural experience. I came to Egypt to work on my Arabic, and because the two issues that I am interested in are geo-politically connected to the area. Failed and Fragile states in Africa (Somalia, Sudan, Congo, etc) and refugees (specifically Palestinian refugees). So while I came here for academic and professional advancement and to get my feet dug in to a region where I can see myself working in the future - he came to experience a culture and get an experience. That's why we had very different tastes in what we were looking for and I realized I'm looking for a nice, clean, quiet, place that is convenient for my studies. And that turns out to be on campus! So for now at least, I'm staying put. It's a little bit away from "the action" of Cairo, but "the action" of Cairo would probably be distracting to me at this point anyways.
It's a little wierd to be the oldest one here, and always giving advice, but now I'll get paid to do just that. And the staff saw that in me and offered me the job - so I think it all will work out fine!

Looking forward to spending Christmas in Rome with my little brother. No, I don't really have a little brother, but I adopted one! LOL He's like a little brother to me. He's 18, soon to be 19 and we hang out all the time. He moved into room, and sleeps on couch cushions on my floor! He'll be my actual roommate next semester now. So that should be a fun trip. I bought a ticket (or thought I did) to Greece for 5 days in January. My friend Libby will be visiting friends there for three weeks and I was going to come by and see her. However, I just realized today that I never actually received the e-ticket and I can't get a hold of the travel agent - so now I dont' know what's happening and I'll have to figure that out soon!

I experience my first instance of Egyptian bureaucracy this week too at the Mogamma. Its the biggest government building in Africa, and it's the middle of downtown Cairo. Among other things - that is where you take care of your passport visas, etc. The university has an office that will do it for you, but it takes two weeks. And I heard that just going there yourself will take about 3-4 hours. So I tried it and was sooooooo frustrated by the end of it, that I went to the university office and let them handle it after two days of getting NOWHERE with that place. It was crazy, frustrating and definitely an experience....but one that I won't do again! All in all though - I love it here. There are things that frustrate me, but there are things that frustrate me about the States too. This country is beautiful and the people are 98% wonderful. Every country has a few stinkers, but I feel on the whole Egypt has less than most. I can't wait for 2 more years here! :)

On a less happy note, my grandfather passed away this week as well. He had been sick for a while, so I wasn't completely surprised by this, but it didn't make it any easier. And it sure hasn't made it easy being literally half way around the world, away from my family and my parents. But I'll be okay for now and hopefully will be home soon to see my parents and family.

Until next time - G'do