January 13, 2019: alabaster anxiety

On our last day in Cairo, we made our way to a fair trade shop I'd visited before with some friends.  My friend Danielle had asked if I minded picking her up an alabaster candle jar because she gave hers away as a gift.  I told her not at all, but when I went to the shop, they didn't have the ones she was looking for so this is the picture I sent to her asking if there was anything else she wanted.  I had too much anxiety to pick one out for her without her seal of approval.  I can move to a new country all by myself, but don't ask me to be decisive on someone else's behalf.  Too much pressure.

I said goodbye to my family today and headed back to Alexandria.  They fly home to Michigan tomorrow evening.   Having them in Egypt was a truly wonderful experience.  Living in Egypt is hard, especially when you're coming from three incredible years in Alaska.  I love the people here and have appreciated all the new experiences and the things I am learning about the culture here.   This trip really renewed my appreciation for Egypt.  I found myself excited to share with my family everything I have learned about food and language and navigation and how to ride a microbus and how not to get hit by cars. I was proud of this country. 

On our way in to Alexandria, my mom was asking me dozens of questions about various buildings in the city.  Most of the time my response was, "I don't know, mom," because most of her questions were about truly random buildings that I doubt anyone at my school would have information about.  At one point she said, "Mandy, you need to get out more."  Which was hysterical to me at the time.  I have been fairly intentional about exploring, but she's right.  I can always get out more.  And playing tour guide for this brief couple of weeks has motivated me to do and see even more than I have thus far.  I'll continue my Saturday morning adventuring.  But maybe there will be an afternoon a week where I wander the neighborhood and check out some of the places to get tea. Maybe I grab a friend and find a new off the beaten path route to the corniche.  Whatever it looks like, I'll make Susan proud ;)

January 12, 2019: tranquility

Today's Cairo adventure included our own personal tour guides and new great friends Hend and Omar picking us up and taking us all around the city.  We saw the citadel, a really great neighborhood that's all enclosed so no cars can drive through (though my mom still managed to get grazed by a motorcycle), tasted sugar cane juice, and ate at a DELICIOUS (I mean, really really delicious) grilled Egyptian food restaurant.  While we were out and about looking through the shops, we stumbled upon this beautiful shop filled with lanterns and lights.  It was truly stunning.

January 11, 2019: If I have to...

I've learned that when you come to Egypt, there are three different pictures you are expected to take:
1. Kiss the Sphynx
2. Grab the top of the Pyramids
3. Be on a camel with the Pyramids in the background.  Preferably with your hands in the air.

I'm not kidding you, the people who offer to take your pictures insist that you pose for all three of these shots.  I have ABSOLUTELY nothing against any of these poses, but for some reason, early on, for no reason whatsoever, I made it my own personal goal to make it through my time in Egypt and not do any of them.  I choose very stupid and random things to be stubborn about. 

But come on, a camel in front of the pyramids is pretty sweet.  So here I am, breaking a personal goal.  Two out of three isn't too bad.  I mean...my hands aren't in the air. (They're tightly clutching the saddle.  This was not the most stable or complacent camel, and I wasn't taking any chances).  So maybe the photo doesn't count.

January 10, 2019: one small proud moment

I took the train for the first time from Alexandria to Cairo.  My family has been in Cairo while I came back to school in Alex, so I decided to go hang out with them this weekend before they left for good.  Our school driver took me to the station and offered to go inside with me and help me find my train and my seat.  I told him I was sure I could make it, so I ventured through the station by myself.  I got lost a few times, and had quite a few strangers point me in the right direction.  BUT... once I got on the right platform, I navigated to the correct train, just by reading the Arabic numbers.  I took a picture of the screen, and the numbers at the top are the train numbers.  Mine was train 928.  Of course, once I sat down I noticed that if you wait long enough, the screens change to English, but by that time I had already found my seat and was feeling quite accomplished, thank you very much.

We won't talk about how once I got off the train, I got terribly lost in Cairo and spent 30 minutes wandering around the streets at 11pm searching for my hotel.  Can't be awesome all the time.

January 9, 2019: LOVE MY BLANKET!

I bought this blanket from my friend, Jolene's, etsy shop.  I got to bring it home with me after Christmas vacation.  I took this picture to send to her, thanking her for her creative brain and crocheting skills.  And then as I looked through my pictures to update my blog, I realized I never actually remembered to text her, nor did I take any other pictures today.

Not sure if Jolene reads this or not, but THANK YOU JOLENE!!!!!   I absolutely love my blanket!  Jolene has all sorts of adorable things in her etsy shop, but last I knew she was closing it down and opening an online bakery with her mom.  On top of starting her own event coordinating business.  You're amazing, Jolene!

January 8, 2019: nope

I don't eat a lot of leafy greens, but I'm fairly certain these aren't baby leaves of spinach...  Clearly I don't have any other guess at what they might actually be, but my money is on something non-spinach related.

January 7, 2019: citadel strangers

I took my family to the citadel this afternoon.  While we were wandering, I saw this group of men hanging out.  Friendship and laughter and carefree attitudes.  I loved it.