We wound through the covered and open passageways of Damascus’s bazaar and open air markets on coble stone paths dodging the many people, carts, and vehicles on the narrow pathway. As we hurried through we strived to keep sight of one another as we rushed late to our appointment at the Syrian Bathhouse. Finally we arrived at a dark corner under a small yellow and white awning. We lined up against the wall staying out of the traffic as we waited to step back in time and in customs into the women’s bathhouse. Adjusting our lungs to the dense humid air we were greeted by the store owner- a lean and petite women with long black hair loosely thrown up with a clip. Her dark eyes and high cheek bones gave her a beautiful but stern look. As we came down the concrete stairs we saw her leaning with her elbows on the tea serving counter near the cash register in a small clean white tank top. She was obviously a hard working businesswomen. She welcomed us loudly and began her instructions. As we filed in we took in the place. After, passing through the narrow and crowded streets it took a moment to adjust to the space opening up before us: a high domed ceiling with small circular holes the size of bottle cans letting in colorful shafts of natural light that looked like spotlight rays in the steam. They shown down on a concrete fountain with plants with a small pool below. We walked across the tile floor and we were informed to place our belonging in cupboards underneath the bench seating that went around more than half of the square room. We each were given a towel, soap, and a loofa. The local women looked on with amusement seeing 15 young women with such pale skin and hair file through their bathhouse. With the light falling of bare feet we all went through small salon style swinging doors to the sauna room. We each took turns sharing the small space full of dense heat. The store owner was always there directing traffic and telling us all how much time each we had and in which order to do things- sauna rinse-wash --rinse–scrub-rinse. In small groups we filed from the sauna room into the much larger bathing room.
But the best moment was after most of us had had more than our share of water and were waiting for everyone to be finished. A small group of us sat in the Sauna room watching this store owner help customers. In a lull the store owner explained that these high domed ceilings had great acoustics and her and several of the other Syrian women began to demonstrate-singing quite beautifully. We were lost in the music-and probably light headed from the steam when suddenly the music stopped. After a few stares and gesture we began to realize it was our turn to contribute. So we began to sing and humm to the tunes of famous Arab songs we had heard often on the radio in taxis or been taught in Arabic class. When the Syrian women could understand a piece of the famous melody they would join in and provide the words as we mumbled and hummed along. This soon turned into a full on sign along. We were soon asked to share music from our country with these Syrian women. Unsure of what all of us would know-or could feel was appropriate our RA mentioned the love song from Titanic. Now I am no Celine Dion fan, nor a fan of Titanic or really of much cheesy over done on the radio love songs. But I had to agree-this was one song that all of us knew and we had no problem sharing with our Syrian friends. So we boisterously began to sing “Every night in my dreams. . . “ and as we sang the stern face of the store owner who by now had gotten distracted by work began to change. She stopped what she was doing and her eyes lit up as acknowledgment crossed her face. She began to humm the melody mumbling words as we did to the Arab songs until she was lost in the music and memory of the love story. As the song continued and became more dramatic so did our singing and in came hand motions and dramatic poses. Our over-dramatization had an effect on the Syrian store owner who began to smile and as she sang mumbling the words along. Then to our surprise she began to dance-with arms swinging wide like ballet and with large sweeping movements turning and spinning barefoot on the moist floor. The light from the can sized holes in the ceiling suddenly were spotlights shinning down on the small women who glistened with sweat from the moisture the light from the wet floor also reflecting back on her face. We, the audience to this, were shock and surprise by the very sudden change in demeanor of this hardened workingwomen. Yet we still completed the song to the best of our memory of it. We were met by smiles and applause, which we then returned for the interpretive dance. There was laughter and smiles all around.
Music was the connector between cultures. We then dried off and collected our belongings, heading back through the saloon doors where we then sat and had steaming hot sweet tea. We sat relaxed and watched as the store owner went back to her busy work inviting and preparing things for new customers and instructing workers and guests alike. We left and wound back through the same cobble stone path we had hurried down before. The shops had closed and it was almost sunset. As we walked much slower back through the market we caught each other humming along to the voice of Celine Dion alongside our Syrian friends to our own version of the Syrian Titanic love song.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Philippines: The Youth Rally
I know I left you all hanging for too long. So here it is:
We rattled and jumped along the bumpy poorly paved streets holding onto our unbolted benches crammed in the back of the church-owned Jeepnie. We stopped at huts, shacks, and houses fitting more and more youth into the over packed vehicle. We were gathering young Filipinos from all over the city and outskirts of Lapu-Lapu for a Youth Rally downtown. We reached the covered concrete basketball court and all piled out of the backside of the old army vehicle grateful we could breath again. As we all looked up we could see young people arriving from all over the city:
The youth from the dumpsite village came crammed in a similar Jeepnie tighter than we had packed in ours. The city youth came on foot in groups or on colorful trykes honking as they came down the road.
We all walked into the outdoor auditorium and faced the plastic chairs neatly lined for the event. On the stage: sound equipment and band instruments ready to be used.
As we all sat down the divide became clear:
On the right the city and suburb youth sat in their bright colored clothes, white powdered and pale faces, oiled and shinned black hair, with book bags, flip flops, hats or barrettes in their air.
To the left the outcasts: the dumpsite youth in their faded thin shirts contrasted by their dark complexions and short frizzed hair. Having nothing to bring with them, they wear dirt covered and duck taped plastic flip-flops no accessories to boast.
The two sides dared not look at each other. They dared not speak across river that was the aisle separating their chairs.
The City folk with brightness in their eyes would with caution dare to take a peek and ‘the others”. “
The “Others” feeling uncomfortable in this concrete city cage were out of their league.
They were out of their world, their slang language, gangs, and rough behavior. Squirming in their seats afraid to look up to see the curious stares or glares of the city side.
I sat next to a young Filipina girl wearing a white shirt and purple clips in her hair on the city folk side. Other students sat on the left. The rally began and we sang Filipino worship songs all together. Although we were one in voice the social divide was great, staring us in the face. Awkwardness in the air.
After worship ended and everyone settled into their previous stances, and the same glances, our trip leader took the mic and took up a challenge. He called on the young Filipino people to help devote themselves to changing the poverty and oppression in their country. Like Moses when he was called to lead his oppressed people that they will have God’s help to bring this change.
Then he pointed out the elephant in the room: The dumpsite people were segregated from the city and suburb youth. To this separation he made it clear: we are all made equal in Christ –and that all Filipinos needed to work together to bring hope to their country. With this we prayed God would call these Filipino young people to reach their own -to instill hope in their hearts.
After such a sober event silence filled the building. Until it was announced that it was time for the youth groups to present their songs, dramas, and human videos. Each youth group did their song and dance, which was followed by clapping and smiles.
But the Dumpsite youth group was by far the most popular. As I watched I realized I had seen this before-they had practiced in their tin roofed church on the outskirts of their village everyday since we had begun visiting them. They wanted to make an impression, to prove themselves,and they did. In these young Filipinos moves you could see the truth of emotion and meaning.
In this interaction- a small shift occurred in the looks and attitudes of the city youth sitting and watching in their chairs. A change-less nervous glances- and then encouraged clapping for their performance. These poor young Filipinos walked back to their chairs with smiles on their faces.
It all ended in prayer. As we crossed the aisles grabbing one another’s hands-the river gap of the aisle was breached -hesitantly. It lasted only a moment but there was a hint of the hope. A joining of young Filipino Christians together encouraged to bring hope to their country.
We rattled and jumped along the bumpy poorly paved streets holding onto our unbolted benches crammed in the back of the church-owned Jeepnie. We stopped at huts, shacks, and houses fitting more and more youth into the over packed vehicle. We were gathering young Filipinos from all over the city and outskirts of Lapu-Lapu for a Youth Rally downtown. We reached the covered concrete basketball court and all piled out of the backside of the old army vehicle grateful we could breath again. As we all looked up we could see young people arriving from all over the city:
The youth from the dumpsite village came crammed in a similar Jeepnie tighter than we had packed in ours. The city youth came on foot in groups or on colorful trykes honking as they came down the road.
We all walked into the outdoor auditorium and faced the plastic chairs neatly lined for the event. On the stage: sound equipment and band instruments ready to be used.
As we all sat down the divide became clear:
On the right the city and suburb youth sat in their bright colored clothes, white powdered and pale faces, oiled and shinned black hair, with book bags, flip flops, hats or barrettes in their air.
To the left the outcasts: the dumpsite youth in their faded thin shirts contrasted by their dark complexions and short frizzed hair. Having nothing to bring with them, they wear dirt covered and duck taped plastic flip-flops no accessories to boast.
The two sides dared not look at each other. They dared not speak across river that was the aisle separating their chairs.
The City folk with brightness in their eyes would with caution dare to take a peek and ‘the others”. “
The “Others” feeling uncomfortable in this concrete city cage were out of their league.
They were out of their world, their slang language, gangs, and rough behavior. Squirming in their seats afraid to look up to see the curious stares or glares of the city side.
I sat next to a young Filipina girl wearing a white shirt and purple clips in her hair on the city folk side. Other students sat on the left. The rally began and we sang Filipino worship songs all together. Although we were one in voice the social divide was great, staring us in the face. Awkwardness in the air.
After worship ended and everyone settled into their previous stances, and the same glances, our trip leader took the mic and took up a challenge. He called on the young Filipino people to help devote themselves to changing the poverty and oppression in their country. Like Moses when he was called to lead his oppressed people that they will have God’s help to bring this change.
Then he pointed out the elephant in the room: The dumpsite people were segregated from the city and suburb youth. To this separation he made it clear: we are all made equal in Christ –and that all Filipinos needed to work together to bring hope to their country. With this we prayed God would call these Filipino young people to reach their own -to instill hope in their hearts.
After such a sober event silence filled the building. Until it was announced that it was time for the youth groups to present their songs, dramas, and human videos. Each youth group did their song and dance, which was followed by clapping and smiles.
But the Dumpsite youth group was by far the most popular. As I watched I realized I had seen this before-they had practiced in their tin roofed church on the outskirts of their village everyday since we had begun visiting them. They wanted to make an impression, to prove themselves,and they did. In these young Filipinos moves you could see the truth of emotion and meaning.
In this interaction- a small shift occurred in the looks and attitudes of the city youth sitting and watching in their chairs. A change-less nervous glances- and then encouraged clapping for their performance. These poor young Filipinos walked back to their chairs with smiles on their faces.
It all ended in prayer. As we crossed the aisles grabbing one another’s hands-the river gap of the aisle was breached -hesitantly. It lasted only a moment but there was a hint of the hope. A joining of young Filipino Christians together encouraged to bring hope to their country.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Setting the Scene: The Philippines
From Kingdom without borders by Miriam Adeney:
“The sun goes down in the blink of an eye in the tropics, but the evenings stretch out wonderfully. People amble, gratefully inhaling the night breeze. Friends laugh, families meander companionably, couples nuzzle. Vendors, alert and awake, cater to everyone’s desires. In upscale places like The Fort or the Mall of Asia or the Podium, stylish people flock to coffee shops and bars.
Yet not far away, cardboard shacks hover on the banks of fetid canals thick with unspeakable garbage. The night breeze and the family and friends and vendors are here too, but the options are limited and the milieu squalid.” (Adeney, 13-14)
This is the Philippines. Small Islands known for their big cities with apartments of concrete and tin roofed shacks. Tropical foliage, mango trees, palms, and flowers. The crowded streets full of bikes, trykes, food carts, jeepnies, and people in flip flops wearing thin clothing. White powdered faces coming in and out of convenient stores selling home goods, local movies and music carrying sun umbrellas. Food carts with roasted chicken and other items on a stick, open-air markets with chickens bound at the feet, and fast food Jollibee standing happy guard outside. This is one version of this country. City life.
The other is right outside the gravel or concrete streets where the road becomes mud and dirt. And the homes become thatched collages of spare sheet metals, dried palm leaves, and old pop music or political posters. Built around waterways where children play in the local dumpsite, sewage waste, drinking water and swimming pool all in one. Wires and antennas strung from home to home held on by pieces of bamboo and duck tape connecting these villages and neighborhoods to the tube. Dirt yards with plastic chairs outside where children play with stones, sticks, and if they are lucky a cheap colorful plastic ball. They wear even thinner clothes some with holes, small dirty shorts, skirts, and t-shirts advertising off-brands in Tagalong, English, or Chinese or with skewed images of famous cartoon characters on them. This is another version of the country. Suburban life.
The last is even further out of town in the arid wasteland. Where the foliage disappears and mango trees do not offer fruit falling down a crevice of a tin roof. The roads are dusty and wide connecting one larger suburb or city to another. But there is life in-between, ignored as an unpleasant blur and smell on the side of the roadway. Some small huts outside known as sari-sari stores house small amounts of products from the city: candy and soda, chips and cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, and laundry powder. The entryway is met with a few homes-the nicer version of what is to be seen further and deeper into the village. They are made of spare parts and pieces: more tin siding and roofs, posters, rotting wood, a bamboo strung door, and rusted and crooked nails or duck tape holding the leaning and buckling structures against each other. Here a meal is served once every three days. Children run around with even thinner clothes that look more like cloth napkins with holes bigger than quarters in them. If the children are wearing clothes at all-it may be washday and they lack pants or a shirt or both. They run around trying to find ways to waste their energy, too young to work. Those who can work are found further back in the village in the mountain landfill: the dumpsite. Where unmarried women and men of all ages work picking through the trash and leftovers from the city scavenging for goods that can be kept, or polished, reshaped, and sold. Blackened by their hours in the sun they are treasure seekers, looking for money in another man’s trash hoping to find enough to provide the family’s dinner in two days. Or to find a new siding to the house, a new piece of cloth for carpet, a new stick to poke the garbage with the next day they work. This is the often untold version of the country: the outcasts: the squatters: the Dumpsite people.
These are the poorest of the poor.
So what happens when all three versions of this country collide?
To be continued . . .
P.S.- for those of you who can relate to seeing similar situations (any of the three pictures I describe) in other countries please feel free to share your memories, feelings, and reactions. If you have not, feel free also to comment of course on your thoughts in reading this :)
-sorry if the pictures are too small-anyone know how I can make them bigger?
“The sun goes down in the blink of an eye in the tropics, but the evenings stretch out wonderfully. People amble, gratefully inhaling the night breeze. Friends laugh, families meander companionably, couples nuzzle. Vendors, alert and awake, cater to everyone’s desires. In upscale places like The Fort or the Mall of Asia or the Podium, stylish people flock to coffee shops and bars.
Yet not far away, cardboard shacks hover on the banks of fetid canals thick with unspeakable garbage. The night breeze and the family and friends and vendors are here too, but the options are limited and the milieu squalid.” (Adeney, 13-14)
This is the Philippines. Small Islands known for their big cities with apartments of concrete and tin roofed shacks. Tropical foliage, mango trees, palms, and flowers. The crowded streets full of bikes, trykes, food carts, jeepnies, and people in flip flops wearing thin clothing. White powdered faces coming in and out of convenient stores selling home goods, local movies and music carrying sun umbrellas. Food carts with roasted chicken and other items on a stick, open-air markets with chickens bound at the feet, and fast food Jollibee standing happy guard outside. This is one version of this country. City life.
The other is right outside the gravel or concrete streets where the road becomes mud and dirt. And the homes become thatched collages of spare sheet metals, dried palm leaves, and old pop music or political posters. Built around waterways where children play in the local dumpsite, sewage waste, drinking water and swimming pool all in one. Wires and antennas strung from home to home held on by pieces of bamboo and duck tape connecting these villages and neighborhoods to the tube. Dirt yards with plastic chairs outside where children play with stones, sticks, and if they are lucky a cheap colorful plastic ball. They wear even thinner clothes some with holes, small dirty shorts, skirts, and t-shirts advertising off-brands in Tagalong, English, or Chinese or with skewed images of famous cartoon characters on them. This is another version of the country. Suburban life.
The last is even further out of town in the arid wasteland. Where the foliage disappears and mango trees do not offer fruit falling down a crevice of a tin roof. The roads are dusty and wide connecting one larger suburb or city to another. But there is life in-between, ignored as an unpleasant blur and smell on the side of the roadway. Some small huts outside known as sari-sari stores house small amounts of products from the city: candy and soda, chips and cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, and laundry powder. The entryway is met with a few homes-the nicer version of what is to be seen further and deeper into the village. They are made of spare parts and pieces: more tin siding and roofs, posters, rotting wood, a bamboo strung door, and rusted and crooked nails or duck tape holding the leaning and buckling structures against each other. Here a meal is served once every three days. Children run around with even thinner clothes that look more like cloth napkins with holes bigger than quarters in them. If the children are wearing clothes at all-it may be washday and they lack pants or a shirt or both. They run around trying to find ways to waste their energy, too young to work. Those who can work are found further back in the village in the mountain landfill: the dumpsite. Where unmarried women and men of all ages work picking through the trash and leftovers from the city scavenging for goods that can be kept, or polished, reshaped, and sold. Blackened by their hours in the sun they are treasure seekers, looking for money in another man’s trash hoping to find enough to provide the family’s dinner in two days. Or to find a new siding to the house, a new piece of cloth for carpet, a new stick to poke the garbage with the next day they work. This is the often untold version of the country: the outcasts: the squatters: the Dumpsite people.
These are the poorest of the poor.
So what happens when all three versions of this country collide?
To be continued . . .
P.S.- for those of you who can relate to seeing similar situations (any of the three pictures I describe) in other countries please feel free to share your memories, feelings, and reactions. If you have not, feel free also to comment of course on your thoughts in reading this :)
-sorry if the pictures are too small-anyone know how I can make them bigger?
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Storytelling
As some of you know I started this blog so my friends and family could keep track of my travels through the Middle East this past spring. Well my many college travels are over but my experiences and the memories remain.
I feel blessed by these memories and sometimes the ability to express them in a way that others can feel them come alive again.
I ask God to remind me of what I have seen and heard-and I will have flashes-glimpses into moments.
Those moments that are unexpected, that put you in awe and amazement- fill us with joy and laughter- or weakens your knees and makes your heart turn to lead- all significant -all should be told.
We live in a culture where story telling is something people do when they are done living their lives; for the elderly who can have no other occupation but to reflect on the life they had a share it with others.
But in many cultures and in ancient times, before the square boxes took up space and possession of our time and minds, it was a source of entertainment.
–a way to stay connected as humans –to know where we have come from-where we are going.
It was education: to learn the history and identity in clans, families, and countries. Through stories the younger learned life lessons and morals from those older and wiser. Many of the great speakers and leaders have told stories, parables, folklore, and personal or collective histories
-it is a discipline; a discipline Christ was familiar with and used to teach.
So here is my plan:
I am beginning a discipline of storytelling.
As memories come to me I will write, share, and hopefully develop a way to keep these memories alive. They will mostly be recent as in the last 4 or 5 years since that it when most of my personal adventures have been.
To those who may actually read this: as I tell these stories feel free to share your own. With a little work we can create a discipline of storytelling.
I have asked people in my travels what they want me to do when I come back to America
-most often they say one of two things:
1. remember us
or
2. tell others about us
-So this is my effort to honor that.
I feel blessed by these memories and sometimes the ability to express them in a way that others can feel them come alive again.
I ask God to remind me of what I have seen and heard-and I will have flashes-glimpses into moments.
Those moments that are unexpected, that put you in awe and amazement- fill us with joy and laughter- or weakens your knees and makes your heart turn to lead- all significant -all should be told.
We live in a culture where story telling is something people do when they are done living their lives; for the elderly who can have no other occupation but to reflect on the life they had a share it with others.
But in many cultures and in ancient times, before the square boxes took up space and possession of our time and minds, it was a source of entertainment.
–a way to stay connected as humans –to know where we have come from-where we are going.
It was education: to learn the history and identity in clans, families, and countries. Through stories the younger learned life lessons and morals from those older and wiser. Many of the great speakers and leaders have told stories, parables, folklore, and personal or collective histories
-it is a discipline; a discipline Christ was familiar with and used to teach.
So here is my plan:
I am beginning a discipline of storytelling.
As memories come to me I will write, share, and hopefully develop a way to keep these memories alive. They will mostly be recent as in the last 4 or 5 years since that it when most of my personal adventures have been.
To those who may actually read this: as I tell these stories feel free to share your own. With a little work we can create a discipline of storytelling.
I have asked people in my travels what they want me to do when I come back to America
-most often they say one of two things:
1. remember us
or
2. tell others about us
-So this is my effort to honor that.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
water-necessary to live-but killing thousands
Water-the simplest and most essential things of life-the earth is made of mostly water –so are most of the living creatures on earth-including us-its hard to think of water as a killing force and not a life giving force-but for billions that is how it is- there is plenty of water in the world but not enough drops to drink- it takes filters and wells to make that possible and bottled water does not help the situation-
I remember that I bought bottled water in Egypt because local water would make us sick- and we just assumed it doesn’t make locals sick because their bodies are used to it-what is that is not true-what if they have developed a resistance to it but this has led to other problems in health when they get older-or causes more risks in children dying? Then also there is the issue of plastic bottles-why do we ship and distribute this to thousands in a crisis instead of giving them water filters to use the water that is all around them-teach the tools to boil and treat the water that surrounds them and is muddied up?
It is suppose to be a life giving force and with help can be restored back to its original purpose –to help bring life- Water is a crisis world wide-only a few weeks ago I read an article on BBC about conferences going on about the Nile and its sources and the fight over it as a resource among North African countries –I think of how polluted the water was in Cairo and no one could even swim in it let alone drink from it-yet it is one of the largest and most important water sources of the North Africa- I think of how water pollution is often on the list of issues and obstacles to peace as well. To learn more about the Nile and the treaties and talks over this resource see below links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8187984.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8682387.stm
An organization that is making a difference in all of this is Wine to water, led by Doc Henley, a former bartender, who was named one of the top 10 CNN HERO's this year- this organization is building wells and distributing filters, all over the world and in so saving lives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esjYt62JMD4
As Doc has explained more Gov. funding for research on disease is being done for HIV, Malaria, AIDs etc. then research into water sanitation/disease control –these do not kill by themselves as many people as unclean water does each year. Another staggering truth is that every 15 seconds a child dies as a result of lack of clean water. Wine to Water is using money made through hosting wine tastings and selling their own wine to have wells built by local communities with local resources. They are training locals how to build the wells, and where to find the supplies to keep them running.
To find out what can be done go to: http://winetowater.org/
Thanks
I remember that I bought bottled water in Egypt because local water would make us sick- and we just assumed it doesn’t make locals sick because their bodies are used to it-what is that is not true-what if they have developed a resistance to it but this has led to other problems in health when they get older-or causes more risks in children dying? Then also there is the issue of plastic bottles-why do we ship and distribute this to thousands in a crisis instead of giving them water filters to use the water that is all around them-teach the tools to boil and treat the water that surrounds them and is muddied up?
It is suppose to be a life giving force and with help can be restored back to its original purpose –to help bring life- Water is a crisis world wide-only a few weeks ago I read an article on BBC about conferences going on about the Nile and its sources and the fight over it as a resource among North African countries –I think of how polluted the water was in Cairo and no one could even swim in it let alone drink from it-yet it is one of the largest and most important water sources of the North Africa- I think of how water pollution is often on the list of issues and obstacles to peace as well. To learn more about the Nile and the treaties and talks over this resource see below links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8187984.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8682387.stm
An organization that is making a difference in all of this is Wine to water, led by Doc Henley, a former bartender, who was named one of the top 10 CNN HERO's this year- this organization is building wells and distributing filters, all over the world and in so saving lives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esjYt62JMD4
As Doc has explained more Gov. funding for research on disease is being done for HIV, Malaria, AIDs etc. then research into water sanitation/disease control –these do not kill by themselves as many people as unclean water does each year. Another staggering truth is that every 15 seconds a child dies as a result of lack of clean water. Wine to Water is using money made through hosting wine tastings and selling their own wine to have wells built by local communities with local resources. They are training locals how to build the wells, and where to find the supplies to keep them running.
To find out what can be done go to: http://winetowater.org/
Thanks
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
photos
so I have no new posts today but I have gone back and updated old posts with a couple of pictures-my hope it to have a slideshow of pictures to put onto this blog at a later time.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
review: Turkey
So I am having to go into the far reaches of my mind and look at my journals to remember the crazy schedule I kept up this last semester-as I sit I my PJ’s feeling lazy in light of the constant business I had just experienced.
So in review: Turkey
Turkey was such a difference in culture, geography, and politics then any place I had been to before. I was surrounded with brick buildings, a Latin script based language that sounded almost Slavic, cobble stone streets, and ancient castle-like ruins of Constantinople. There was moss growing up trees, clouded over rainy and windy weather, and homes built on the hills leading down to the Bosporus straight. In some ways the weather and terrain reminded me of Seattle and Kirkland near Lake Washington. The narrow cobble stone streets and dress of the Turkish people reminded me of Eastern Europe and of Italy. But I also saw many beautiful Byzantine style mosques from which calls to prayer came from throughout the day.
The day after touring Koc University and speaking to the students we went to one of the AKP ‘s center (the current ruling party of Turkey) and spoke with a representative about the political realm of the country and its current relations with other countries. After this meeting we went on a tour of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Old Istanbul.
The Hagia Sophia is very unique for the locations use for religions over the years-it was once a Christian Basilica and Roman Catholic Cathedral over the years with similar styles in architecture to the ones I had seen in Italy years earlier. But it has also over the years been used as a Byzantine Mosque after the fall of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks. In the center front of the building where an alter used to be now stands a mithrab and on the four corners of the building are large wood plates on which are in detailed Arabic calligraphy the names on Allah and Muhammad and other well known figures in Islam. It is a very unique and beautiful place that has seen many world events and wars and has still stood. Many churches stood there previous to the current building the oldest being from the 4th century. There are many cracks in the floors from fires and earthquakes and half deteriorated mosaics from the period of its use as a cathedral depicting Mary and Jesus. It also was once the owner of four bronze horses that They originally belonged to the Hagia Sophia but were plundered during the 4th crusade and now stand outside St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice Italy (which I have also seen).
For more on this amazing building and its history:
http://www.guide-martine.com/istanbul_3.asp
Immediately following this tour we went to the Blue Mosque which is within the same area. This mosque is in amazing condition and gets it name for the wonderful beautiful blue detailed tile work found through the whole inside of the building. It was also the first place I had been to where I’d seen stain glass calligraphy designs in Arabic. It is also unique for its 6 minarets which is uncommon most mosque have 2 some have 4 but very few have 6 which makes people believe that this mosque could have been modeled after the famous mosque in Mecca which also has 6 minarets.
After this several of the MESP girls students and I toured the grand Baazar which was a winding maze inside dark and slightly musty but warmer than it was outside. Everywhere you turn there is jewelry, stain glass lanterns, pipes, hookahs, pottery, silk scarves, restaurants ,Turkish tea sets and so much more. That day we just took it all in and wandered and found out prices of things. Afterward myself and one other student walked around and found another mosque nearby known as Sultan Faithas and also found Istanbul University. We got a snack at a local fast food place that serves mostly pastries stuffed with cheese meat and vegetables or potato. We being cold and tired ventured to discover the transit system and found where to buy tickets got tokens and took the metro back to the other side of the Bosporus then took a wire car/trolley up the hill to the hotel.
The picture to the right is of the blue mosque exterior-the one on the left is me in the Hagia Sophia
Ok well that believe it or not was one very long day-so I will make these shorter than my previous entries and work at one thing at a time
Next: visiting the Ottoman Palace grounds and the Bazaar and Souq shopping.
So in review: Turkey
Turkey was such a difference in culture, geography, and politics then any place I had been to before. I was surrounded with brick buildings, a Latin script based language that sounded almost Slavic, cobble stone streets, and ancient castle-like ruins of Constantinople. There was moss growing up trees, clouded over rainy and windy weather, and homes built on the hills leading down to the Bosporus straight. In some ways the weather and terrain reminded me of Seattle and Kirkland near Lake Washington. The narrow cobble stone streets and dress of the Turkish people reminded me of Eastern Europe and of Italy. But I also saw many beautiful Byzantine style mosques from which calls to prayer came from throughout the day.
The day after touring Koc University and speaking to the students we went to one of the AKP ‘s center (the current ruling party of Turkey) and spoke with a representative about the political realm of the country and its current relations with other countries. After this meeting we went on a tour of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Old Istanbul.
The Hagia Sophia is very unique for the locations use for religions over the years-it was once a Christian Basilica and Roman Catholic Cathedral over the years with similar styles in architecture to the ones I had seen in Italy years earlier. But it has also over the years been used as a Byzantine Mosque after the fall of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks. In the center front of the building where an alter used to be now stands a mithrab and on the four corners of the building are large wood plates on which are in detailed Arabic calligraphy the names on Allah and Muhammad and other well known figures in Islam. It is a very unique and beautiful place that has seen many world events and wars and has still stood. Many churches stood there previous to the current building the oldest being from the 4th century. There are many cracks in the floors from fires and earthquakes and half deteriorated mosaics from the period of its use as a cathedral depicting Mary and Jesus. It also was once the owner of four bronze horses that They originally belonged to the Hagia Sophia but were plundered during the 4th crusade and now stand outside St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice Italy (which I have also seen).
For more on this amazing building and its history:
http://www.guide-martine.com/istanbul_3.asp
Immediately following this tour we went to the Blue Mosque which is within the same area. This mosque is in amazing condition and gets it name for the wonderful beautiful blue detailed tile work found through the whole inside of the building. It was also the first place I had been to where I’d seen stain glass calligraphy designs in Arabic. It is also unique for its 6 minarets which is uncommon most mosque have 2 some have 4 but very few have 6 which makes people believe that this mosque could have been modeled after the famous mosque in Mecca which also has 6 minarets.
After this several of the MESP girls students and I toured the grand Baazar which was a winding maze inside dark and slightly musty but warmer than it was outside. Everywhere you turn there is jewelry, stain glass lanterns, pipes, hookahs, pottery, silk scarves, restaurants ,Turkish tea sets and so much more. That day we just took it all in and wandered and found out prices of things. Afterward myself and one other student walked around and found another mosque nearby known as Sultan Faithas and also found Istanbul University. We got a snack at a local fast food place that serves mostly pastries stuffed with cheese meat and vegetables or potato. We being cold and tired ventured to discover the transit system and found where to buy tickets got tokens and took the metro back to the other side of the Bosporus then took a wire car/trolley up the hill to the hotel.
The picture to the right is of the blue mosque exterior-the one on the left is me in the Hagia Sophia
Ok well that believe it or not was one very long day-so I will make these shorter than my previous entries and work at one thing at a time
Next: visiting the Ottoman Palace grounds and the Bazaar and Souq shopping.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
In review . . .
So I know it has been months since I have last written (or posted pictures) and for that I apologize. The schedule and constant moving of travel component got to me and the next thing I knew the semester was over. So short and sweet update: travel component ended, went back to Egypt for 2 weeks, finished papers, said goodbye, went home, went up to Seattle, graduated.
So that is the short of it- now for those who are nervous that I am about to dismiss this blog based on that summary-don’t be. I will be review and reflecting on what I did not write about so that I can remember it and I will (for real this time) post pictures with it as well.
So you can look back on my last semester with me from my journals and memories starting at the point I left off at - from the beginning of travel component.
So that is the short of it- now for those who are nervous that I am about to dismiss this blog based on that summary-don’t be. I will be review and reflecting on what I did not write about so that I can remember it and I will (for real this time) post pictures with it as well.
So you can look back on my last semester with me from my journals and memories starting at the point I left off at - from the beginning of travel component.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Travel component overview
Amanda Halvorson
So I first want to apologize for the lack of keeping up with everyone on my travels and adventures. I have been on the travel component portion of my semester and there has been on and off internet access as well as very busy days. There is no way I can in one blog detail all that I have seen and done in a mere two and a half weeks but I will make a list of the most significant moments:
Turkey:
Istanbul
-tour of the Bosporus straight-between the Marmar sea and Black Sea
-visit of Ottoman Palace, Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia
-Visiting (and shopping) in the oldest Bazzar/Souq
Ankara
-Tour of the tomb and museum to Ataturk-the country’s founder
And many other very important events and experiences which I will detail later
Syria
-flew from Ankara to where most people would know as ancient Antioch then drove to Syria
-stayed a few days in the capital: Damascus
- toured the old city-street called straight and Ananias’ house where Paul went to receive prayer and sight back and the very famous Ummayyad Mosque
-got ice cream from the oldest ice cream place in the world-in Damascus
- went to a Aramaic speaking village (Maaloula) and monasteries in the hills of Syria
-visited the Krack des Chevaliers-old Crusader fortress/Castle
-went to traditional Syrian Hamman (bath house)
Jordan
-Went to the Dead Sea-and floated and read in the water
Israel/Palestine
-Just arrived two days ago from Jordan and will be living in Jerusalem for two weeks through the holidays of Good Friday and Easter and will traveling throughout the region as well.
This is the most current update and I know it is brief and explains very little but I hope to add details in the future. I want to also apologize for the lack of pictures –my camera is currently broken but I hope to be able to get if fixed very soon.
So I first want to apologize for the lack of keeping up with everyone on my travels and adventures. I have been on the travel component portion of my semester and there has been on and off internet access as well as very busy days. There is no way I can in one blog detail all that I have seen and done in a mere two and a half weeks but I will make a list of the most significant moments:
Turkey:
Istanbul
-tour of the Bosporus straight-between the Marmar sea and Black Sea
-visit of Ottoman Palace, Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia
-Visiting (and shopping) in the oldest Bazzar/Souq
Ankara
-Tour of the tomb and museum to Ataturk-the country’s founder
And many other very important events and experiences which I will detail later
Syria
-flew from Ankara to where most people would know as ancient Antioch then drove to Syria
-stayed a few days in the capital: Damascus
- toured the old city-street called straight and Ananias’ house where Paul went to receive prayer and sight back and the very famous Ummayyad Mosque
-got ice cream from the oldest ice cream place in the world-in Damascus
- went to a Aramaic speaking village (Maaloula) and monasteries in the hills of Syria
-visited the Krack des Chevaliers-old Crusader fortress/Castle
-went to traditional Syrian Hamman (bath house)
Jordan
-Went to the Dead Sea-and floated and read in the water
Israel/Palestine
-Just arrived two days ago from Jordan and will be living in Jerusalem for two weeks through the holidays of Good Friday and Easter and will traveling throughout the region as well.
This is the most current update and I know it is brief and explains very little but I hope to add details in the future. I want to also apologize for the lack of pictures –my camera is currently broken but I hope to be able to get if fixed very soon.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Endings and Beginnings: Egypt to Turkey
The Ending:
So the first round of papers and finals have passed. They began the beginning of last week and ended this past monday. In the span of a week I wrote two large papers and had two finals. My Arabic class and Islam class have ended now. I am relieved that the tests are over but will miss the discussions and learning the local language- I will definitely continue to learn about both topics past this time.
Saturday night in the midst of studying I took a break to go to Sufi dancing at the Kahna Kahalili. It is free concert if you get there early enough to get in. I made it just in time as they were opening their doors and met up with other students and some of my Egyptian friends. We had a good time talking before it began. When it began we were able to hear both musicians and see the dancers-all men in pants and skirts for the whirling. One an whirled or spun for 45 minutes straight-no stopping-he would speed up and slow down and take off different layers of skirts and used prop such as flags and plates while constantly moving. Both the musicians and dancers were amazing and I would pay good money to see what I saw for free-it was a great study break.
We also on Monday had our last cultural activities and had a chance to see our students preform Dabka (Palestinian dancing) and Tabla (traditional drum). They all did a great job for the little amount of time we had to practice every week. A group of us girls that night then went to a local Salon for some relax time. I got my hair straightened and eyebrows threaded-I'd never had my eyebrows done(or did much to them at all) it was a good experience.
Then Tuesday was our last service project I spent it with the toddlers at sisters of Charity-they have a lot of energy and were in a small space but they kept me busy and it was good spending time with them.
Beginnings
Then yesterday we left for Turkey-Istanbul. As we were preparing to leave Egypt I couldn't help but think how much I was just really beginning to understand the culture and make connections with people there and just beginning to feel comfortable speaking my very basic Arabic with the local people in our neighborhood to just say hello or get my groceries or dinner. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Egypt and am looking forward to coming back after our travels.
As for Istanbul- we arrived in early afternoon to a cold and rainy day-I felt like I was back in seattle with the green and water front of the Bosporus straight. We took a bus with all of our luggage and drove through town-it is such a large and busy/urban/modern city- we took a boat out onto the Bosporus (after a lunch/snack of starbucks) and got a tour of the straight that leads to the Black Sea. It was cold but enjoyable-great views. We then got back and headed to our hotel and settled in for the night getting some basic reading on Turkey done preparing us for the visits and speakers we would have coming up. I went out to eat near Tax-him square where we are staying and had "toast" for dinner-cheese and tomato sandwich as well as of course I tried Turkish delight for the first time.
Today we got ready and headed to Koc University a private university where classes are only taught in English. We heard a good overall lecture on the social and political history and current climate of Turkey is like then had a chance to eat lunch with some of the students. From the school which is on some hills outside of downtown Istanbul you can see the Black sea and a surrounding forest- great view. This afternoon and evening has mostly been spent trying to catch up online and get reading done for upcoming events. I am overwhelmed in a good way by all we will see and do in the next month and am looking forward to the adventure. It will take a lot of flexibility and constant changes as all of a sudden I am not speaking Arabic and I know little to no Turkish and am using new money system as well. I am no longer reading Arabic script on buildings or eating Egyptian food. It is definitely different but so far its been a good experience. Just as when I arrived to Egypt I am just taking it all in and am fascinated by the culture and environment. I am looking forward to the Adventures ahead.
So the first round of papers and finals have passed. They began the beginning of last week and ended this past monday. In the span of a week I wrote two large papers and had two finals. My Arabic class and Islam class have ended now. I am relieved that the tests are over but will miss the discussions and learning the local language- I will definitely continue to learn about both topics past this time.
Saturday night in the midst of studying I took a break to go to Sufi dancing at the Kahna Kahalili. It is free concert if you get there early enough to get in. I made it just in time as they were opening their doors and met up with other students and some of my Egyptian friends. We had a good time talking before it began. When it began we were able to hear both musicians and see the dancers-all men in pants and skirts for the whirling. One an whirled or spun for 45 minutes straight-no stopping-he would speed up and slow down and take off different layers of skirts and used prop such as flags and plates while constantly moving. Both the musicians and dancers were amazing and I would pay good money to see what I saw for free-it was a great study break.
We also on Monday had our last cultural activities and had a chance to see our students preform Dabka (Palestinian dancing) and Tabla (traditional drum). They all did a great job for the little amount of time we had to practice every week. A group of us girls that night then went to a local Salon for some relax time. I got my hair straightened and eyebrows threaded-I'd never had my eyebrows done(or did much to them at all) it was a good experience.
Then Tuesday was our last service project I spent it with the toddlers at sisters of Charity-they have a lot of energy and were in a small space but they kept me busy and it was good spending time with them.
Beginnings
Then yesterday we left for Turkey-Istanbul. As we were preparing to leave Egypt I couldn't help but think how much I was just really beginning to understand the culture and make connections with people there and just beginning to feel comfortable speaking my very basic Arabic with the local people in our neighborhood to just say hello or get my groceries or dinner. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Egypt and am looking forward to coming back after our travels.
As for Istanbul- we arrived in early afternoon to a cold and rainy day-I felt like I was back in seattle with the green and water front of the Bosporus straight. We took a bus with all of our luggage and drove through town-it is such a large and busy/urban/modern city- we took a boat out onto the Bosporus (after a lunch/snack of starbucks) and got a tour of the straight that leads to the Black Sea. It was cold but enjoyable-great views. We then got back and headed to our hotel and settled in for the night getting some basic reading on Turkey done preparing us for the visits and speakers we would have coming up. I went out to eat near Tax-him square where we are staying and had "toast" for dinner-cheese and tomato sandwich as well as of course I tried Turkish delight for the first time.
Today we got ready and headed to Koc University a private university where classes are only taught in English. We heard a good overall lecture on the social and political history and current climate of Turkey is like then had a chance to eat lunch with some of the students. From the school which is on some hills outside of downtown Istanbul you can see the Black sea and a surrounding forest- great view. This afternoon and evening has mostly been spent trying to catch up online and get reading done for upcoming events. I am overwhelmed in a good way by all we will see and do in the next month and am looking forward to the adventure. It will take a lot of flexibility and constant changes as all of a sudden I am not speaking Arabic and I know little to no Turkish and am using new money system as well. I am no longer reading Arabic script on buildings or eating Egyptian food. It is definitely different but so far its been a good experience. Just as when I arrived to Egypt I am just taking it all in and am fascinated by the culture and environment. I am looking forward to the Adventures ahead.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Midnight Mt. Siani hike, the Red Sea ,Alexandria, and more . . .
February 21- March 8th
So this is a very long blog-as a heads up warning
So I know it has been a long time since I have last written so I will try to write when I can remember about what I have been doing since my last blog.
So I had planned on going to Sufi dancing at the Kahna Khalili the night after I wrote my last blog but it was already crowded and full by the time we had gotten there. But we had an opportunity to watch a performance of Turkish Baglama Folk Music.
Following this we had another week’s worth of classes and on Wednesday met with students from the Dutch Flemish institute here in Cairo. These students learn both Classical Modern Arabic and Egyptian or common Egyptian Arabic both in Europe and Cairo. They are currently on a semester abroad here as we are. We had a day of discussions about Middle Eastern issues being able to compare both their views as on issues in light of European perspective verse our American perspective on our involvement as the West in the Middle East. It was a good chance to speak to other foreigners who are living here much as we are and to hear the many similar views we had an also the differences.
Then on Thursday a thunder storm rolled through Cairo, which is of course rare, we watched the clouds, lightening, and wind from our flat’s porch until the rain hit. We packed and got hyped up and dressed for hiking Mt. Siani that night/early morning but when we met at the Villa to leave we were told that the weather changed our plans and that we may not even be leaving until the morning. It would have been extremely difficult and cold to hike the mountain in the rain and wind. We were all disappointed and stayed around hoping for good news. We were then told that we would still be leaving but hiking Mt. Siani on the way back out of town that weekend. So we all piled into the bus and spent about 2 or more hours trying to get out of Cairo which was in chaos as a result of the rain and flooding. Cairo does not have a drainage system that is prepared or used to rain so the streets which are always crowded with cars were also filled with rising flood waters. We finally got out of the city and began to travel to Dahab which is along the Red Sea in the Gulf of Aquaba where we had planned to spend the night when we arrived. After several hours of driving and watching the storm and sleeping we came to a place where the road had been closed; deemed impassible until morning. We then settled in for the night on the bus until the road cleared. Some of us slept on the floor of the bus others laid out across the chairs. Early in the morning before the sun rose we began to drive again toward Dahab and got there early in the morning, too early to check into our hotel/inn for the next night. So instead we got off the bus and disoriented by the sun we headed toward the Red Sea water front to sit, have coffee, and eat breakfast. It was an amazing view and the restaurant was right on the water. We ate a lounged on pillows and low tables looking out on the water and seeing in the not too far distance the mountain ranges along the water of Saudi Arabia. In my disoriented state it was hard for me to think that I was seeing what I was. I got Turkish coffee and read my novel for my bookreport until lunch time and had lunch there as well (they just kept a running tab for me until I left much as with other people-very laid back).
We then went to check in at our hotel and dropped off our things then changed into swimsuits and rented snorkel gear and headed to the beach. We walked out of the main restaurant tourist blocks and many of us got in with our snorkel gear. I was shocked at how clear the water was and how shallow. I was three feet from the bottom watching parrot fish eat off the coral and seeing sea urchins and cucumbers. Then all of a sudden I reached the shelf or ridge of the reef which opened up onto the ocean depths as far down as I could see. I was so amazed I struggled to breathe through the snorkel. In my explorations I almost ran straight into a small pink jellyfish a few inches from my face! After our exploration we went back and dried off then headed out to dinner at another outdoor restaurant by the water where we sat by a fire and ate.
The next day we got up and put on swimsuits and went out to breakfast then headed out in jeeps to the Blue Hole. As we came around the corner we could see the many scuba divers and water front stores. We dropped off our things and got our snorkel gear. As we looked down from the restaurant that was built up against the mountain side we could see the water and where the coral reef shelf dropped off only a few feet from shore. This snorkeling and suba diving location is world famous and is often compared only to the great barrier reef. We all got in and it was an immediate drop off into the depths deeper than anything I have ever looked and could not even come close to see the bottom of it. We followed the shelf of the coral along the hole. I saw seahorses and more parrot fish, clown fish, and eels. Other people saw octopus and lionfish as well. We could also see the scuba divers below us exploring deeper than we could go. Often I got so excited at what I was seeing I forgot the snorkel and dipped my head too far down and swallowed salty sea water. I took a nap out in the sun there and ate lunch then headed back to town where I explored the shops and got a little homework done.(it was difficult to focus on homework with such an amazing setting) We went out to eat again then packed everything up getting ready for hiking Mt. Siani.
We left Dahab around 11 and drove for two hours to the base of the mountain. We bundled up because the wind was strong and cold and then began to climb. Our guide stopped us every quarter of the way to give us a break for water at the many rest stop snack shops along the way. The pace was actually not that fast because of the many other people hiking with us and had to wait for or move to the side for camels coming up and down the path. We were blessed with a full moon so flashlights were not necessary most of the hike. We reached the stairs of penance which are the last portion of the hike which were created by the monks of St. Catherine church at the base of the mountain a long time ago. We were told there were 750 stairs but many of did not count them and many were less stairs and more just steps. It was in the last stretch that the wind kicked up strongly and I tried to stick to the rock wall as much as possible. By the time we got to the top there was little bit of light beginning to come over the mountains and we set up blankets and huddled on one of the ridges next to the church on top. As we sat there I thought of how many other people have seen this view and what their motives were for this same trek. I was able to better appreciate and understand scriptural accounts. Seeing this mountain I understand what the wilderness Israel experienced was like and how difficult it would be to wander it for two days let alone forty years. Once the sun had come up and we had felt that the cold and wind was getting to us and we were looking forward to the warmth of the bus. On the hike down we hit a wind tunnel and I was pelted by sand and gravel the closer we got to the base. By the time we reached the bus we were all wind, sand, and sunburnt from snorkeling and exhausted from a all nighters experience on the mountain. We all slept pretty soundly on the bus for several hours following on the way back to Cairo.
Then after one of our rest stops we pulled out along a spot of sand to which all of us were confused. Then one of our leaders explained to us that we were at the location in which the 12 springs of Elim mentioned in Exodus are. This account is in Exodus 15 in which Moses prays and God turns the bitter water to sweet then the Israelite travel to this Oasis area in which there are 12 fresh water spring. It is also thought that very close to this location where the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and we could see the peninsula across the water from where we were on one side is the Red Sea and the other side the Suez Canal. In order of events in scripture the Israelites crossed the Red Sea very close to where we were then God turned the bitter water to sweet then the Israelites traveled to these 12 springs which are still seen today as stone wells in the sand and then from there they traveled on to Mt. Siani in the mountain range in which we hiked the night before seen in Exodus 19. I wish I was not so sleep deprived and could actually grasp what I was seeing and take it in-it was surreal much as Mt. Siani was difficult to grasp the reality of how significant what I was seeing is to me and to what I have always pictured in my mind in these ancient accounts.
We headed back to Cairo then started our next week of classes. On Tuesday I went to the Sisters of Charity in Garbage City on the outskirts of old Cairo which is a home for the orphans and elderly run by the sisters in the Catholic order established by Mother Theresa. I helped to watch the babies and keep them awake until lunch time then fed them and kept them awake again until nap time. I was impressed with the day in and day out work of these sisters as they care for the facility and do laundry by hand for these children and elderly. Then on Wednesday night we watched a documentary on three women in a local Coptic Egyptian family as they were interviewed in their everyday lives and work. The women who created this documentary then spoke with us about this work and what we observed. It was a good comparison for me after home stays to be able to see the translation of these women’s thoughts in English after seeing and hearing similar in Arabic but not being able to understand it all previously. The next day we had a dance party at our flat in which we invited local Egyptian women over to talk and dance it was fun to interact with everyone.
The next day we left on an early morning train for Alexandria which is only a 2 and a half hour ride from Cairo. When we got there in the morning I and another student went to find a place to stay for the night and reserved a hotel room near the Mediterranean. We then took off exploring the city it was great weather and the water view so great. We visited the catacombs which was interesting to see the combination of Egyptian hieroglyphics and Greek drawings paintings and sculptures. We also visited the Fort Sultan Qaitbey and went into the fish museum and aquarium there. We then got ice cream and walked along the break water and watched the fishermen. That night we wandered around trying to find a place to get seafood and after some confusiong and much walking ended up at KFC for a late dinner.
The next day we had breakfast down stairs and checked out of hotel and headed to the new Aleandria Library which open in 2003. It is an amazing modern facility with a planetarium permanent modern art exhibits (along with some ancient artifacts) and a performing art center in addition of course to library itself. I spent the majority of the day in the library writing my first paper of the semester on Modern Middle Eastern History and wished I had had the time to look at some of the many pieces of art in the library or to explore the expansive book collections on the Middle East and Islam. After a full day of paper writing we headed to the Cinnabon on the grounds there for snack and my first drip coffee of the semester!!! We then caught a taxi and got to the train station and back to Cairo that night around 10. It was great to hear from other people what else went on that weekend as not everyone went to Alexandria and some stayed in Cairo or explored Alexandria for only the day and not overnight.
Finally up to speed: Yesterday we went to Al-Ahzar one of the oldest if not the oldest still established colleges in the world. It is known for being a primary undergraduate and graduate institution for the study of Islam and students come from over 105 different countries to live on this campus and learn about Islam. We spoke with one of the school’s representatives and had a chance to meet with many students from the school of missions there over lunch. We discussed many interesting topics. There classes are segregated by gender and all taught in Arabic which is difficult for many of them who come from non-Arab countries such as Southeast Asia or other parts of Africa or other locations. It was a great discussion time.
Now currently: This week nothing in particular fascinating that I know of will be happening we are all in paper and test mode. Two of our classes will be ending next week and we have a final for Islam this week and Arabic next week. Then we also have several papers due. Once all of these are in then we begin the travel component of our trip next week in which we will travel north to Turkey then head down and around the meditereanian until we come back around to Egypt a month later visting many other countries along the way. I will know exactly where I will be going and doing sometime this next week.
So that is the update I think this is probably the longest review I have written. I also want to apologize for the lack of pictures- it is hard for me to find the time to edit them and to post them on the blog and facebook has not let me put pictures up and I have not figured out why. I will promise you all this: I am taking a lot of pictures and videos which I will gladly share when I get the time and ability.
So this is a very long blog-as a heads up warning
So I know it has been a long time since I have last written so I will try to write when I can remember about what I have been doing since my last blog.
So I had planned on going to Sufi dancing at the Kahna Khalili the night after I wrote my last blog but it was already crowded and full by the time we had gotten there. But we had an opportunity to watch a performance of Turkish Baglama Folk Music.
Following this we had another week’s worth of classes and on Wednesday met with students from the Dutch Flemish institute here in Cairo. These students learn both Classical Modern Arabic and Egyptian or common Egyptian Arabic both in Europe and Cairo. They are currently on a semester abroad here as we are. We had a day of discussions about Middle Eastern issues being able to compare both their views as on issues in light of European perspective verse our American perspective on our involvement as the West in the Middle East. It was a good chance to speak to other foreigners who are living here much as we are and to hear the many similar views we had an also the differences.
Then on Thursday a thunder storm rolled through Cairo, which is of course rare, we watched the clouds, lightening, and wind from our flat’s porch until the rain hit. We packed and got hyped up and dressed for hiking Mt. Siani that night/early morning but when we met at the Villa to leave we were told that the weather changed our plans and that we may not even be leaving until the morning. It would have been extremely difficult and cold to hike the mountain in the rain and wind. We were all disappointed and stayed around hoping for good news. We were then told that we would still be leaving but hiking Mt. Siani on the way back out of town that weekend. So we all piled into the bus and spent about 2 or more hours trying to get out of Cairo which was in chaos as a result of the rain and flooding. Cairo does not have a drainage system that is prepared or used to rain so the streets which are always crowded with cars were also filled with rising flood waters. We finally got out of the city and began to travel to Dahab which is along the Red Sea in the Gulf of Aquaba where we had planned to spend the night when we arrived. After several hours of driving and watching the storm and sleeping we came to a place where the road had been closed; deemed impassible until morning. We then settled in for the night on the bus until the road cleared. Some of us slept on the floor of the bus others laid out across the chairs. Early in the morning before the sun rose we began to drive again toward Dahab and got there early in the morning, too early to check into our hotel/inn for the next night. So instead we got off the bus and disoriented by the sun we headed toward the Red Sea water front to sit, have coffee, and eat breakfast. It was an amazing view and the restaurant was right on the water. We ate a lounged on pillows and low tables looking out on the water and seeing in the not too far distance the mountain ranges along the water of Saudi Arabia. In my disoriented state it was hard for me to think that I was seeing what I was. I got Turkish coffee and read my novel for my bookreport until lunch time and had lunch there as well (they just kept a running tab for me until I left much as with other people-very laid back).
We then went to check in at our hotel and dropped off our things then changed into swimsuits and rented snorkel gear and headed to the beach. We walked out of the main restaurant tourist blocks and many of us got in with our snorkel gear. I was shocked at how clear the water was and how shallow. I was three feet from the bottom watching parrot fish eat off the coral and seeing sea urchins and cucumbers. Then all of a sudden I reached the shelf or ridge of the reef which opened up onto the ocean depths as far down as I could see. I was so amazed I struggled to breathe through the snorkel. In my explorations I almost ran straight into a small pink jellyfish a few inches from my face! After our exploration we went back and dried off then headed out to dinner at another outdoor restaurant by the water where we sat by a fire and ate.
The next day we got up and put on swimsuits and went out to breakfast then headed out in jeeps to the Blue Hole. As we came around the corner we could see the many scuba divers and water front stores. We dropped off our things and got our snorkel gear. As we looked down from the restaurant that was built up against the mountain side we could see the water and where the coral reef shelf dropped off only a few feet from shore. This snorkeling and suba diving location is world famous and is often compared only to the great barrier reef. We all got in and it was an immediate drop off into the depths deeper than anything I have ever looked and could not even come close to see the bottom of it. We followed the shelf of the coral along the hole. I saw seahorses and more parrot fish, clown fish, and eels. Other people saw octopus and lionfish as well. We could also see the scuba divers below us exploring deeper than we could go. Often I got so excited at what I was seeing I forgot the snorkel and dipped my head too far down and swallowed salty sea water. I took a nap out in the sun there and ate lunch then headed back to town where I explored the shops and got a little homework done.(it was difficult to focus on homework with such an amazing setting) We went out to eat again then packed everything up getting ready for hiking Mt. Siani.
We left Dahab around 11 and drove for two hours to the base of the mountain. We bundled up because the wind was strong and cold and then began to climb. Our guide stopped us every quarter of the way to give us a break for water at the many rest stop snack shops along the way. The pace was actually not that fast because of the many other people hiking with us and had to wait for or move to the side for camels coming up and down the path. We were blessed with a full moon so flashlights were not necessary most of the hike. We reached the stairs of penance which are the last portion of the hike which were created by the monks of St. Catherine church at the base of the mountain a long time ago. We were told there were 750 stairs but many of did not count them and many were less stairs and more just steps. It was in the last stretch that the wind kicked up strongly and I tried to stick to the rock wall as much as possible. By the time we got to the top there was little bit of light beginning to come over the mountains and we set up blankets and huddled on one of the ridges next to the church on top. As we sat there I thought of how many other people have seen this view and what their motives were for this same trek. I was able to better appreciate and understand scriptural accounts. Seeing this mountain I understand what the wilderness Israel experienced was like and how difficult it would be to wander it for two days let alone forty years. Once the sun had come up and we had felt that the cold and wind was getting to us and we were looking forward to the warmth of the bus. On the hike down we hit a wind tunnel and I was pelted by sand and gravel the closer we got to the base. By the time we reached the bus we were all wind, sand, and sunburnt from snorkeling and exhausted from a all nighters experience on the mountain. We all slept pretty soundly on the bus for several hours following on the way back to Cairo.
Then after one of our rest stops we pulled out along a spot of sand to which all of us were confused. Then one of our leaders explained to us that we were at the location in which the 12 springs of Elim mentioned in Exodus are. This account is in Exodus 15 in which Moses prays and God turns the bitter water to sweet then the Israelite travel to this Oasis area in which there are 12 fresh water spring. It is also thought that very close to this location where the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and we could see the peninsula across the water from where we were on one side is the Red Sea and the other side the Suez Canal. In order of events in scripture the Israelites crossed the Red Sea very close to where we were then God turned the bitter water to sweet then the Israelites traveled to these 12 springs which are still seen today as stone wells in the sand and then from there they traveled on to Mt. Siani in the mountain range in which we hiked the night before seen in Exodus 19. I wish I was not so sleep deprived and could actually grasp what I was seeing and take it in-it was surreal much as Mt. Siani was difficult to grasp the reality of how significant what I was seeing is to me and to what I have always pictured in my mind in these ancient accounts.
We headed back to Cairo then started our next week of classes. On Tuesday I went to the Sisters of Charity in Garbage City on the outskirts of old Cairo which is a home for the orphans and elderly run by the sisters in the Catholic order established by Mother Theresa. I helped to watch the babies and keep them awake until lunch time then fed them and kept them awake again until nap time. I was impressed with the day in and day out work of these sisters as they care for the facility and do laundry by hand for these children and elderly. Then on Wednesday night we watched a documentary on three women in a local Coptic Egyptian family as they were interviewed in their everyday lives and work. The women who created this documentary then spoke with us about this work and what we observed. It was a good comparison for me after home stays to be able to see the translation of these women’s thoughts in English after seeing and hearing similar in Arabic but not being able to understand it all previously. The next day we had a dance party at our flat in which we invited local Egyptian women over to talk and dance it was fun to interact with everyone.
The next day we left on an early morning train for Alexandria which is only a 2 and a half hour ride from Cairo. When we got there in the morning I and another student went to find a place to stay for the night and reserved a hotel room near the Mediterranean. We then took off exploring the city it was great weather and the water view so great. We visited the catacombs which was interesting to see the combination of Egyptian hieroglyphics and Greek drawings paintings and sculptures. We also visited the Fort Sultan Qaitbey and went into the fish museum and aquarium there. We then got ice cream and walked along the break water and watched the fishermen. That night we wandered around trying to find a place to get seafood and after some confusiong and much walking ended up at KFC for a late dinner.
The next day we had breakfast down stairs and checked out of hotel and headed to the new Aleandria Library which open in 2003. It is an amazing modern facility with a planetarium permanent modern art exhibits (along with some ancient artifacts) and a performing art center in addition of course to library itself. I spent the majority of the day in the library writing my first paper of the semester on Modern Middle Eastern History and wished I had had the time to look at some of the many pieces of art in the library or to explore the expansive book collections on the Middle East and Islam. After a full day of paper writing we headed to the Cinnabon on the grounds there for snack and my first drip coffee of the semester!!! We then caught a taxi and got to the train station and back to Cairo that night around 10. It was great to hear from other people what else went on that weekend as not everyone went to Alexandria and some stayed in Cairo or explored Alexandria for only the day and not overnight.
Finally up to speed: Yesterday we went to Al-Ahzar one of the oldest if not the oldest still established colleges in the world. It is known for being a primary undergraduate and graduate institution for the study of Islam and students come from over 105 different countries to live on this campus and learn about Islam. We spoke with one of the school’s representatives and had a chance to meet with many students from the school of missions there over lunch. We discussed many interesting topics. There classes are segregated by gender and all taught in Arabic which is difficult for many of them who come from non-Arab countries such as Southeast Asia or other parts of Africa or other locations. It was a great discussion time.
Now currently: This week nothing in particular fascinating that I know of will be happening we are all in paper and test mode. Two of our classes will be ending next week and we have a final for Islam this week and Arabic next week. Then we also have several papers due. Once all of these are in then we begin the travel component of our trip next week in which we will travel north to Turkey then head down and around the meditereanian until we come back around to Egypt a month later visting many other countries along the way. I will know exactly where I will be going and doing sometime this next week.
So that is the update I think this is probably the longest review I have written. I also want to apologize for the lack of pictures- it is hard for me to find the time to edit them and to post them on the blog and facebook has not let me put pictures up and I have not figured out why. I will promise you all this: I am taking a lot of pictures and videos which I will gladly share when I get the time and ability.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Siwa and homestays
So as usual there is much to say. This last Wednesday night we left for Siwa on a 10 hour bus ride northwest toward the Libyan border. We traveled at the night and got to our hotel on the edge of the dessert in the middle of the night. This hotel has no electricity so we used kerosene lamps and candles and a fire pit at night sleeping in stucco bungalows with mosquito nets over the beds. After a few hours of sleep we got up and went into Siwa. All 36 rented bikes from a local shop (I had to have my seat lowered) and headed through the street traffic and donkey carts to a local Siwan’s home whom our program was friends with. We parked our many bikes outside of his home and discussed Siwan culture and current tourism and outside influences to this very traditional and conservative culture which has its own language. The Siwans are people who came from Morocco and Algeria during one of the Haji’s to Mecca hundreds of years ago whom found the oasis of Siwa in Egypt and decided to stay and live there instead of returning to their original home. We were offered siwan tea which is strongly brewed with mint and dates which are from their own garden. Dates and olives are their main source of income and has been for centuries. The women then were able to meet with the female family and discuss the differences in their very traditional culture in which women are fully covered in public if married and who are engaged and at a very young age and do not leave the house without permission of the husband, brother, or father. They made henna for us out of natural tea and henna plant and we put on different flower designs on our hands or feet. After this we explored down town Siwa on our bikes myself and several other girls went to get lunch at an outdoor restaurant under palm trees where I had a local Siwan dish of cousous and chicken. We traveled up into the old city Shali from which we could see the tombs in the mountain where the Siwans used to bury the dead and the area near Cleopatra’s bath and the mountain with the Oracle that Alexander the Great went to. We then all met up and headed on bikes to the nearby salt lake. The route was pretty rough in places and were not riding the newest and nicest bikes-all this to say I was impressed with myself and how I did (if any of you know my luck with bikes). We swam out in the salt lake (more like floated) then headed to a fresh water spring to rinse off. By the time we got to the fresh water spring the sun had gone down and many of us were being attacked by mosquitoes. We did the rest of the trip in the dark-with a few flash lights to guide the way walking the bikes when it was too bumpy to ride in the dark (again impressed with myself). We went back to the hotel and changed while dinner was being cooked over the fire pit. We had dinner late and had a siwan bad come and play for us. We stayed up late listening and dancing to the native music around the fire (very tribal).
The next day needless to say I was sore from the bike ride and dancing. We drove out to Siwa in the morning and walked around and relaxed. We meet up in the afternoon in the main square to head to the Sahara in Safari Jeeps. We drove out to the sand where the drivers took out the air in their tires and then onto the sand we went. It was so amazing riding out and over the dunes of sand with only the blue sky, sun, and wind. We stopped at one dune so we could sandboard (which is much like snowboarding but slower and in the desert) many of us just jumped down the dune or sledded on the sandboarding board. We then headed to a freshwater lake which was very cold then to sulfur based hot spring. Both places were very busy with both Egyptian and foreign tourist more than other years according to our leaders. We then stopped on a hill to watch the sunset over the sand dunes and had siwan tea and snacks around a fire while the sun went down. Then in the dusk we drove to the dessert camp where we to stay for the night. We got out of the jeeps and headed to our dessert tent where we changed and headed to the hot spring out past the camp. We came back and were served dinner on a low table in the tent and tea and talked until we all went to sleep. Some people slept out in the desert I chose to sleep in the tent with a few other people to keep warm. Other groups staying there for the night stayed up late and played local music and danced around the fire.
We took jeeps back to our hotel early in the morning and then go on the bus for Cairo after a brief breakfast. We got home late and got things unpacked and ready for class the next day.
That next night after classes we were introduced to our host families for the next week’s homestays. One other student and myself took a few clothes with us and traveled for an hour out to where our host families lived by taxi, metro, then micro bus. We were offered a full meal when we got there and were asked to eat more and more. This last week has been a lesson in Arabic and how to be a good guest. Often when I was with the family we would just sit and watch TV or I would be listening or struggling in my limited Arabic with the family members who spoke a little English. They helped me a lot with my Arabic homework and were great hosts always asking if I was tired or had homework or was hungry. They would never let us help them with meals or run errands with them and we always had a bed to sleep in even when some of the family members slept on the floor. The week was exhausting because even after going to bed the family would be up and talking with TV on until 3 or 4 in the morning-most do not go to work or get up until may hours after I had to be back downtown for classes. Today all of us are coming back from our experiences and weeks ready to communicate in English and sharing our stories and encounters. I hope to have more to say about this past week’s experience when I have more time to reflect on it.
I will post pictures for this blog soon also. Later tonight-Sufi dancing at the Kahna Khalili then a new week of classes and next weekend Mt. Siani and Dahab! (the adventure never slows down)
The next day needless to say I was sore from the bike ride and dancing. We drove out to Siwa in the morning and walked around and relaxed. We meet up in the afternoon in the main square to head to the Sahara in Safari Jeeps. We drove out to the sand where the drivers took out the air in their tires and then onto the sand we went. It was so amazing riding out and over the dunes of sand with only the blue sky, sun, and wind. We stopped at one dune so we could sandboard (which is much like snowboarding but slower and in the desert) many of us just jumped down the dune or sledded on the sandboarding board. We then headed to a freshwater lake which was very cold then to sulfur based hot spring. Both places were very busy with both Egyptian and foreign tourist more than other years according to our leaders. We then stopped on a hill to watch the sunset over the sand dunes and had siwan tea and snacks around a fire while the sun went down. Then in the dusk we drove to the dessert camp where we to stay for the night. We got out of the jeeps and headed to our dessert tent where we changed and headed to the hot spring out past the camp. We came back and were served dinner on a low table in the tent and tea and talked until we all went to sleep. Some people slept out in the desert I chose to sleep in the tent with a few other people to keep warm. Other groups staying there for the night stayed up late and played local music and danced around the fire.
We took jeeps back to our hotel early in the morning and then go on the bus for Cairo after a brief breakfast. We got home late and got things unpacked and ready for class the next day.
That next night after classes we were introduced to our host families for the next week’s homestays. One other student and myself took a few clothes with us and traveled for an hour out to where our host families lived by taxi, metro, then micro bus. We were offered a full meal when we got there and were asked to eat more and more. This last week has been a lesson in Arabic and how to be a good guest. Often when I was with the family we would just sit and watch TV or I would be listening or struggling in my limited Arabic with the family members who spoke a little English. They helped me a lot with my Arabic homework and were great hosts always asking if I was tired or had homework or was hungry. They would never let us help them with meals or run errands with them and we always had a bed to sleep in even when some of the family members slept on the floor. The week was exhausting because even after going to bed the family would be up and talking with TV on until 3 or 4 in the morning-most do not go to work or get up until may hours after I had to be back downtown for classes. Today all of us are coming back from our experiences and weeks ready to communicate in English and sharing our stories and encounters. I hope to have more to say about this past week’s experience when I have more time to reflect on it.
I will post pictures for this blog soon also. Later tonight-Sufi dancing at the Kahna Khalili then a new week of classes and next weekend Mt. Siani and Dahab! (the adventure never slows down)
Sunday, February 14, 2010
So I do not have time to write a full blog right now just a note: Siwa was amazing- Sahara desert is awe inspiring- and sleeping in the dessert and adventure. I am staying with a local family for the week and will probably not have time or access to the internet and will write all about this weekend and this next week sometime this next weekend. :)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Luxor and other Adventures
So I have decided that I cannot necessarily talk about each day’s activities in this blog or each entry would become overwhelmingly long. Instead I will strive to mention the main highlights.
So I have much to catch up on
My service project on Tuesdays as gone very well, we have class three week’s now and have covered cultural/conversational topics such as storytelling, sports, and current events, this next week is music which I am very excited to discuss as they have explained their desire to understand American popular music better.
Classes are going well also we can now read and write Arabic-although very slowly and now are beginning to create basic sentences and attempting to gain more vocabulary to match our reading ability. I feel like I am back in first grade attempting to read and sounding out words slowly and asking what words mean. Our Islamic thought and practice class is going well also our teacher is so well informed and patient with our many questions. We also have had two amazing guest speakers so far that have given us good background that will help us to evaluate the many experiences and the information we are being introduced to.
Ok onto the fun stuff:
We left in the evening on Thursday the 28th for an overnight train-it was a 10 hour ride. I was grateful that I was so tired because
I was able to sleep most of the way in spite of the train being cold and being in upright chairs. We got to
Then in the afternoon we had a tour of Karnack temple and 
metal reflected it and would stand as a shining example to the common people of where the gods dwelled. The average commoner never set foot in this temple during the time of the pharaoh’s and even the priests were only allowed in according to their levels of religious piety or ranking. The Pharaoh had the role of high priest and in so was allowed into the center to the massive temple. This temple is one of the most well known because it is the oldest/largest temple or sight of worship that is still in existence. I wish I could go into more detail about what I saw but I did not take notes and there was so much information to take in along with what I was seeing. The three top pictures are from Karnak temple.
We then that night went to
The next day we got up early and drove out to the Valley of the Kings on the 
West bank of the Nile where the sun sets and where they set aside space for the dead .There are 9 tombs built underneath pyramid shaped mountains we were only allowed to choose 3 to see. The murals and carvings are much better preserved because they are underground and in so much of the color and details are still visible. We were not allowed to take any pictures inside of these tombs but I saw the tomb of the one female Queen there, of Tutmoses, and Ramses the III who build the burial temple we visited later in the day. Ramses’ tomb was the most colorful with many paintings and depictions of the crossing of the river in the afterlife into the land of the pharaoh’s where you live for eternity based on your judgment. To get to Tutmoses’ tomb we had to climb stairs, the tomb itself has many levels each with different drawings.
We then headed in the afternoon to the funeral temple Hube where the pharaoh’s were mummified. The entrance was a part of the Assyrian style architecture. This place was much less crowded with well preserved designs in the walls. With all of these temples I felt like I should know so much more about the mythology and culture of the ancient Egyptians. That afternoon and evening we explored the more touristy areas and I bartered for two scarves with several other girls which is challenging but also fun. The picture to the left bottom and right is of Hube.
Cat herding in 
a stray cat (which is common ) stuck on our balcony on the 5th floor which at night would scrape the window of the balcony door and cry and yell. We debated what to do and finally devised a plan. I turned off the lights in my room-opened the balcony door and stood on a chair in the corner next to the window. When the cat came into the room I slammed the balcony door closed and the cat ran out the front door of our hotel room and into the hall way. I am sure that the staff of the hotel are used to these sorts of things happening.
The next day we spent the whole day on the 10 hour train back from 
The next day –February 1rst-after going to classes we went to see a movie called Hassan w Morqos at a local church. It was a apart of an East meets West festival in which we met up with some of our Egyptian friends –it is well known film that came out in 2008 in
Thursday I made the best spontaneous decision of my life. One of the people in my flat was invited to go with her Egyptian friend and any of us who wanted to to get Henna done at her apartment. We went expecting to spend a few hours at her place and found ourselves at a pre-wedding party for one of her neighbors in which her whole female family members were getting Henna done and preparing the bride for the party that night. We attempted to use the little Arabic we knew and after a few hours with these women in the bride’s bedroom we were given food by the mother of the bride as the guests (although we were strangers) it was full meal with rice and lamb and vegetables and many other dishes I do not know the name of in English. We ate so well and then had to leave to go to our Director’s flat for a short while. They asked us to come back afterward to participate as their guests in the party. We shared with everyone our experiences and had more people join us as we headed back. When we got there they set up the speakers chairs got soda for everyone and we celebrated with them for several hours watching them dance traditional dances as well as participating in them when we got a chance. It was loud and amazing being a part of such an amazing community of people .
Friday we left early in the morning for Anafora a retreat center an hour outside of
So I know that was an extremely long blog and even at that I did not discuss everyday or detail.
A glimpse of what is ahead:
Bowling
Another week of classes
This next weekend Wednesday through Saturday: the desert community of Siwa where we will get a chance to do a desert safari and sleep in the dessert for a night, sand board, and meet with the local traditional Berber people.
Monday, February 1, 2010
So I got my Blog fixed finally so this is last week's the 17th- 22nd update:
Tuesday- I taught TESL conversation class with another student for our service project
Wednesday- we started our first Arabic class which went well although I do feel impatient to learn because the language can be immediately used-but I am grateful for the grammar and depth of the learning I am receiving and I am glad I have so much motivation.
Thursday we had Arabic again and had a overview history/political current events of most of the countries of the Middle East.
Friday is the first day of the weekend here in Egypt and it makes it easy to get around with little traffic especially before most people go to services at the mosques at 12. We went in groups to visit the Pyramids. It was so amazing to see this place that has been talked us so much. I have to say I definitely felt like I was a in a dream as I explored the outskirts where the camels and drivers take caravans of people in the desert. We had a chance to go inside the 2nd pyramid and see the tomb there. We wandered around pretty far ending up at the Sphinx. WIt is hard to know what to say when you see a marvel such as the pyramids I guess there is a sense of awe and you do not know how to describe it. Pictures help though:
The far right is of the 2nd pyramid the middle is of me and several other MESP students inside the 2nd pyramid and the last is of the sphinx with a view of the 2nd pyramid. Yes there are 3 pyramids and I do have pictures of them all I promise!
That night we hosted a women’s discussion night at our flat where we had questions and answering session with local Egyptian Muslim women who come from a variety of backgrounds.
Saturday I enjoyed having no alarm got up early still and stayed at the flat and did homework –in the afternoon I went shopping on the streets from veggie vendors for dinner which we made with veggies and tomato paste and pita for very cheap.
We then went to the villa for our friend exchange night where we meet local Egyptians our age we are partnered with to spend time with them while we are here. I am excited to spend more time with my new Egyptian friend as the semester goes on. We played games and had cookies and talked late into the night.
Sunday we started our new week of classes with Arabic and a current Egyptian history lesson from a documentary called a Nation in Waiting. We went back to the villa that night for a movie where we watched a 70’s production called The Message about Muhammad’s life and his message that has spread through the Middle East. It was a helpful overview of the basic beliefs, history, and origins of the Islamic faith.
Monday we had Arabic class again and got a chance to begin the Arabic script instead of transliteration! We also met our Islamic thought and practice teacher at one of the three famous mosques we toured. She showed us many of the features of Islamic and Arabic architecture and the way in which the styles changed with major historical shifts in dynasties and power. All three mosques were beautiful in different ways and very quiet out of respect which was a nice change from the constant noise of the busy city. We had a chance to climb up to the top minaret of the first mosque we stopped at-it gave a great aerial view of old Cairo. We were at this mosque at the noon call of prayer as well so from the minaret we could hear the calls spreading throughout the city. The other two mosques were built very close to one another-one being from a much earlier time period than the other but both inside being distinct from the first earliest mosque we visited. The last mosque we visited houses part of the old royal family including King Forouk and his mother and father
.
The first mosque is the first one we went to called Mosque of Ibn Tulun with a ziggurat style minaret. The second is of the second mosque called Sultan Hasan mosque and the third is from the last mosque and is the grave site of the last king of Egypt king Forouk.
Next Blog:
- Luxor this last weekend
- last week's classes/activites
-About being in Cairo the capital of Egypt when Misr (Egypt in Arabic) won the football (soccer) African cup for the 3rd year in a row!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Orientation week
So much has been going on as you may have guessed and it is hard to find time to journal or process it all let alone write blogs about what I have been doing. Travel went well and was a good opportunity for us to get to know one another in names, schools, ages, and majors. We had a 7 hour flight from DC to Frankfurt then a 6 hour layover then a 4 hour flight from there to Cairo. When we arrived on Thursday night we greeted by the full MESP staff and taken from the airport to the Villa directly where we received some basic information and were given this week’s schedule .
We learned some basic Arabic rephrases and numbers. We then headed to a local market where the women went to a scarf store/stand and picked out a scarf each to wear at the mosque the next day. We then explored the market and looked at the many different spices and items for sale. We also got a tour around Cairo showing the old town area the shopping or modern areas etc.
The next day all of us women dressed in long skirts and shirts and brought our scarf’s with us to the Mosque. The men in our group joined other men at the outdoor portion of the mosque prayer area and the women were taken upstairs to a separate room. We sat in the corner and observed as women came in from different walks of life to worship. We could see what was going on in the male service with a television and heard the sermon and saw it through the same television. We spoke to some women but not many while we were there. We came back and discussed our experiences and the differences in our experiences based on gender as well. We then had a time of discussion about health from a nurse of a local schools who is Australian.
The next day we did a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood with a group of 4 of us and got a chance to eat street sandwiches and navigate traffic and other things. We did a lot of paperwork in the afternoon but then went on a Felukka (open and lite boat) on the Nile and had dinner at night. Then we went to the Khan a Khalilil one of the oldest open air markets/souqs in the world. We visited several very famous mosques there-which I can write more about later and had Turkish coffee in a restaurant there. All the girls had henna done on one of their hands also. We then looked through both the tourist and local market that night- I know I will return again soon.
The next day we went to the government building to get our visas then were sent out to explore the Metro system in groups. We had some great adventures picking random stops on the metro line. That night we were split into groups for dinner with the staff and I had dinner with Dena our assistant director. She took us to a Lebanese restaurant then we went to her apartment for dessert and coffee. It was good to get small group time and to spend time with her at her place which is near the Villa.
Today we went to Garbage City which is mostly run by the Christian minority who uses the garbage to feed pigs which Muslims do not raise. We visited the churches built into the rocks there which are world famous and I will give more information on later. The church there has old and long traditions which I hope to share later. We visited the sisters of charity there established by Mother Teresa’s order who works with orphans, elderly , and the severely handicapped. We also visited an organization that gives jobs to the local women by providing them with skills and looms to make rugs, purses, and paperproducts, quilts and other things. We bought some things to support their work. I will have more about this later with pictures soon.
And that was my orientation week in a very fast nutshell-saw much and did much.
This next week will start classes.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
The beginning of the Adventure
So here it is everyone: The Blog I kept promising I would create before my next adventure.
As most (if not all) of you know I am headed to Cairo Egypt in a mere 3 days! I will be staying there for four months for my last semester of college with the Council for Christian College and Universities (CCCU) in the Middle East Studies Program (MESP). I will be traveling for the first 24 hours or so with the rest of the students from Washington DC. Then we will head to our school/program center. I will be spending the rest of the week in orientation trying to adjust to the time change and culture shock/changes. Classes will begin the following week. I will be studying Egyptian Arabic, Middle Eastern culture, Islam, and many other topics. I will be participating in cultural electives and local touring (yes that means the pyramids). I also will have the opportunity to travel to neighboring Middle Eastern countries including Turkey and possibly Syria, Lebanon, and Israel all depending on what is safe for us at the time. I do not have regular/daily access to the internet. But I will try to keep everyone updated on my adventures and post pictures as I explore and travel. I do not know yet, but I may have restrictions on what I can or cannot post or share about. For those things you will just have to be patient to hear or see them until I get back. I want to thank everyone who has helped encourage and pray for me as I applied and waited to get into this program. I am finally there and am excited to share it with you all!
Next blog I will be writing from Cairo Egypt.
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