Holy shit, you guys!
Dude. I'm in EGYPT!!! I got here yesterday evening, and Cairo is absolutely amazing. The city is beautiful and everyone has been so nice. One random Egyptian woman led us halfway across town in order to help us find a bank that we needed to get to. I can understand a lot of what people are saying, but I'm going to wait until I've had the Survival Arabic class before I try to speak the language. Also, Egyptians don't speak English well at all. Even the AUC staff members can hardly get their point across. Oh well, more incentive to learn Arabic! Woohoo!
I'm rooming with another girl from the U of I named Jill. We were on the same flight from Frankfurt to Cairo, so we got to Zamalek (my dorm) at the same time. They just put us together because we're both non-smokers. I'm really happy about this because she's very nice and we seem to get along well. I sort of wanted an Egyptian roommate, but this arrangement is perfectly fine. I don't think I could take another bitchy roommate like the one I had freshman year. Jill is leaving after first semester, though, so I'll get someone else in the spring.
Speaking of dorms, mine kicks SO MUCH ASS. My room is literally twice the size of the one I had at the U of I...at least. There's air conditioning (thank GOD--it's over 100 degrees here) and wireless internet! It's kind of hilarious how strict they are about keeping the sexes separate. Whenever the male bellhops come up to our floor with students' luggage, someone yells, "MAN ON THE FLOOR!!!!!" like we're all supposed to lock our doors and hide under the bed. Good times.
We went into campus to do some stuff today and walked around the surrounding area, but other than that, I haven't really explored much. Oh well, I do have 9 months in which to do so. I saw the Nile (it's on the way to campus), and it's so pretty! I already love this city, and I think this year is going to be so wonderful! Yay!!! All right, I'm going to go study for the Arabic placement exam tomorrow, even though that might be a dumb idea. Ma'a salaama!
I'm rooming with another girl from the U of I named Jill. We were on the same flight from Frankfurt to Cairo, so we got to Zamalek (my dorm) at the same time. They just put us together because we're both non-smokers. I'm really happy about this because she's very nice and we seem to get along well. I sort of wanted an Egyptian roommate, but this arrangement is perfectly fine. I don't think I could take another bitchy roommate like the one I had freshman year. Jill is leaving after first semester, though, so I'll get someone else in the spring.
Speaking of dorms, mine kicks SO MUCH ASS. My room is literally twice the size of the one I had at the U of I...at least. There's air conditioning (thank GOD--it's over 100 degrees here) and wireless internet! It's kind of hilarious how strict they are about keeping the sexes separate. Whenever the male bellhops come up to our floor with students' luggage, someone yells, "MAN ON THE FLOOR!!!!!" like we're all supposed to lock our doors and hide under the bed. Good times.
We went into campus to do some stuff today and walked around the surrounding area, but other than that, I haven't really explored much. Oh well, I do have 9 months in which to do so. I saw the Nile (it's on the way to campus), and it's so pretty! I already love this city, and I think this year is going to be so wonderful! Yay!!! All right, I'm going to go study for the Arabic placement exam tomorrow, even though that might be a dumb idea. Ma'a salaama!