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 2^nd 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

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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!