Dec 11

What’s up?

Dec 9
So went out with Mohammed. We went to a police officer’s club. Actually very exclusive and fancy, it was on the Nile river. We went with one of his girlfriends, Mona. She didn’t speak any English. It was an interesting night, kind of boring, we just mostly sat and listened to the live music, but it was very good of him. But talking is hard b/c of music, and my Arabic is bad, but I’d rather practice it, otherwise it won’t get better. Also, I’m worried I wasn’t quite as friendly as I could have been. Taunt Nabila is always extremely cautious, and others are quite cautious as well, so it’s probably a good thing in many cases, but it may be a hindrance in some situations where being outgoing and more friendly would be quite beneficial. So we’ll see how I learn. It’s hard for me to remember I’ve only been here like 5 days and I’ve got another almost 4.5 months here, so I need to be patient.

Everyone here is named Mohammed. Let me illustrate. Mohammed the police officer. I’ve taken two taxis, both driven by men named Mohammed. I played Tennis (you’ll read this soon), and the ball boy was named Mohammed. It’s crazy. The psychologist in me is wondering if men named Mohammed might have a potential for an underlying identity crisis.

Dec 10
Already forgot what I did. No, not true. Slept in (as was out late with Mohammed). Then went and played tennis, basketball and squash at another club (again, read country club) with Wah-il from the church and a few others. I don’t remember if I mentioned him. It was nice to play sports.

Other than this, just visited with family in the evening and worked on Arabic.

Dec 11
Went out with Amani to register at the Police station, but turns out I didn’t have to, as a Canadian. Then went to find out what the process of me obtaining Egyptian citizenship is. After this, went to University of Cairo to see if I can use their facilities for physical activity. It’s likely. That would be good, to work out and play sports at my leisure. Also talked to Iman…I may get a job with her - the research, planning, administrative social programs type place - but we’ll see. So I have an appointment with her tomorrow, after my appointment with Hoda, the relative who has an Arabic school.

I think I’m “talking” too much. No, I’m writing and typing too much. I get sick of typing and writing after a while…as many of you know I don’t easily tire of talking too much.

Had an Arabic lesson from a private guy today; Amani had found his number at a church she was visiting for some reason or another. It was okay. He said I was very good, but I know my conversational Arabic still isn’t great, though I’m starting to understand more. It will come. Again, I forget how long it takes to learn language, and that since spoken and written Arabic are so different, my course doesn’t help too much, so I’ve only really been learning to speak since August, and that was a very limited amount with family in Canada. So it’s coming. Patience.

So that’s until now.

A comment on previous days/things I said…

The one that struck me most was the beggar. I’m not proud to mention it, but maybe it’ll make you think a bit too. I am so stingy. So stingy. To anyone who asks, whether they be beggars in Edmonton or Cairo. Jesus says…to any one who asks, give. I’m not how to read this verse, but however you do, it’s not like I did. I mean, at first I honestly didn’t understand what was going on when they started talking to me. Honestly. Then I caught on. But I was defiantly not eager to give money. They would have been happy to have a pound or two each.

An Egyptian pound is worth 20cents Canadian. 20 cents! I would probably not stop to pick up 20 cents off the street. And I would quickly give 20 cents (or quite a bit more) to someone begging. But it took me a long time before I would give money to them. Honestly. I was really ashamed once I realized what was going on in my own heart and especially after doing the mental currency conversion – the difference in value wasn’t apparent at first. After I gave them money, I also gave them a pen and a pencil. They knew I had these because I had taken my journal out to write. Imagine being so poor that you would beg for a pen? I also said I had no food, which I thought was the truth, but then after they left I found a couple of granola bars, so I called them over, and gave them the granola bars. I’m not tooting my own horn here. I really didn’t do anything. And on the other hand, I don’t want to make a spectacle of myself in the other direction, either as a terrible man, or as one who has realized and turned into a Mother Theresa. The focus isn’t about me and I don’t care what you think about me after this discussion, but this is what happened, and just at least take a bit of time to think on what I have described and about any personal application who and wherever you are and with whomever you interact.

Enough for tonight. We’ll talk to you soon. Thanks for your comments. Note that I have changed my comments settings so that anyone may write comments, not just blogspot members.

To those in exams now, I wish you all the best and am thinking about you.
Adam