So I don't really have too much to say this time, but i'll give you a quick update on my life and really I just wanted to jot down some things I simply do not, and probably never will understand about Egypt.
First off, life is good. I love the crew of ladies I hang out with on a regular basis, my classes are fairly easy, the food is wonderful, and when we get around to sightseeing that's fabulous too. Here's my average weekly schedule:
Sunday---Class, Dinner, Homework
Monday---Class, Dinner, Homework (maybe)
Tuesday--NO SCHOOL! Cairo adventures and then home to finish all the work we didn't do the night before.
Wednesday--Class, Dinner, Homework
Thursday---Class, Dinner, Homework and then going out of some sort. Asually a bar or Shisha and Tea
Friday---ADVENTURING (aka sightseeing of some sort)
Saturday---ADVENTURING
Generally pretty chill evenings where we just hang out and chat. Monday, Thursday and Friday nights tend to be late with chatting and laughing going on for hours, while school nights we're usually asleep by midnight. By body probably hates me for all the back and forth, but what're ya gonna do right?
Yesterday three friends and I went to the Citadel together. It was BEAUTIFUL. Unfortunately it was rather smoggy so we weren't able to see as far as we would've liked to, but the Citadel and Mosque themselves were beautiful. It was really cool to get a chance to do something a little more touristy too since we've been acting like locals for a while now.=]
So here are some last minute thoughts I need to get out before I go crazy. The students here are SO. RUDE. Maybe i'm just more aware of this because I grew up with teachers and am all too aware of what effect students have on those who attempt to teach them, but I CANNOT deal with it. AUC bows down to these children's wishes. And yes, they are CHILDREN. The readings and class work are NOTHING compared to what we get in the US and yet the students complain and try to get less work. Many of them don't even attend the first 1-2 weeks of classes. They argue with professors relentlessly. To the point that you can barely remember what we're lecturing about at all. Honestly, when a professor is going over a syllabus, is it necessary to stop him every other word? Or if we're going over something that you CLEARLY understand just as well as the rest of us, is it necessary to keep clarifying the point? NO. SO BE QUIET. Granted, to understand why this happens one must look at the realities of the situation.
1. These are the richest kids in Egypt. They're in school because either they have nothing else to do or they simply want to hang out with the opposite sex without their parents being around.
2. AUC is expensive. No one else can afford to come here. If these kids go to Europe/US to study, AUC loses all funding and collapses entirely.
3. Daddy works for the government. If these kids DO get upset about something, their parents are in extremely high standing in this country, and getting that problem fixed would be extremely simple. Plus, it could begin to make the US look bad, so let's avoid offending the children.
Solution: Bend to the will of the students. As pathetic as those desires may be.
So, while I would love MORE Egyptian students to study in "western" countries to get a feel of how ridiculously pampered they are, I do understand why AUC needs them. Still, it's frustrating to sit in class knowing that you may be one of 3 students there who actually cares about and works for the grades and eventual diploma you'll get. Welcome to my life.
So, on that note. Rant is over.
Other random things I've learned while being here:
1. Everyone is organized. There's simply an insane amount of miscommunication (or just a lack thereof).
2. Everything seems to go bad ridiculously quickly.
3. Try ALL desserts.
4. Make sure you decide on a price BEFORE getting in the taxi.
5. Walk away from any haggling and you'll eventually get the price you want.
6. Joke with people. Even if they don't fully understand, they appreciate your recognition that they're human.
7. Do NOT give your phone number to waiters (or let others do so for you), the calls/texts don't stop.
Also, God has been ridiculously good. I can't even begin to tell you here how wonderful I feel my time has been in bringing me closer to God. We have a 45 minute bus ride to and from class each day, so I have plenty of time to sit, read the Word and just pray fro life, people, you all. And God's been taking that opportunity and running with it. I'm more interested, curious, and analytical when I'm reading. Things come up in my life that pertain to what God's been teaching me. It's been incredible and I love every minute of it. I might have to do a quick "things i've been mulling over with God" blog sometime in the near future. But until then I pray that this continues! AMEN.
First off, life is good. I love the crew of ladies I hang out with on a regular basis, my classes are fairly easy, the food is wonderful, and when we get around to sightseeing that's fabulous too. Here's my average weekly schedule:
Sunday---Class, Dinner, Homework
Monday---Class, Dinner, Homework (maybe)
Tuesday--NO SCHOOL! Cairo adventures and then home to finish all the work we didn't do the night before.
Wednesday--Class, Dinner, Homework
Thursday---Class, Dinner, Homework and then going out of some sort. Asually a bar or Shisha and Tea
Friday---ADVENTURING (aka sightseeing of some sort)
Saturday---ADVENTURING
Generally pretty chill evenings where we just hang out and chat. Monday, Thursday and Friday nights tend to be late with chatting and laughing going on for hours, while school nights we're usually asleep by midnight. By body probably hates me for all the back and forth, but what're ya gonna do right?
 |
| Somewhat typical night out with the roomss. |
Superbowl!
Yesterday three friends and I went to the Citadel together. It was BEAUTIFUL. Unfortunately it was rather smoggy so we weren't able to see as far as we would've liked to, but the Citadel and Mosque themselves were beautiful. It was really cool to get a chance to do something a little more touristy too since we've been acting like locals for a while now.=]
 |
| There is no God but God |
So here are some last minute thoughts I need to get out before I go crazy. The students here are SO. RUDE. Maybe i'm just more aware of this because I grew up with teachers and am all too aware of what effect students have on those who attempt to teach them, but I CANNOT deal with it. AUC bows down to these children's wishes. And yes, they are CHILDREN. The readings and class work are NOTHING compared to what we get in the US and yet the students complain and try to get less work. Many of them don't even attend the first 1-2 weeks of classes. They argue with professors relentlessly. To the point that you can barely remember what we're lecturing about at all. Honestly, when a professor is going over a syllabus, is it necessary to stop him every other word? Or if we're going over something that you CLEARLY understand just as well as the rest of us, is it necessary to keep clarifying the point? NO. SO BE QUIET. Granted, to understand why this happens one must look at the realities of the situation.
1. These are the richest kids in Egypt. They're in school because either they have nothing else to do or they simply want to hang out with the opposite sex without their parents being around.
2. AUC is expensive. No one else can afford to come here. If these kids go to Europe/US to study, AUC loses all funding and collapses entirely.
3. Daddy works for the government. If these kids DO get upset about something, their parents are in extremely high standing in this country, and getting that problem fixed would be extremely simple. Plus, it could begin to make the US look bad, so let's avoid offending the children.
Solution: Bend to the will of the students. As pathetic as those desires may be.
So, while I would love MORE Egyptian students to study in "western" countries to get a feel of how ridiculously pampered they are, I do understand why AUC needs them. Still, it's frustrating to sit in class knowing that you may be one of 3 students there who actually cares about and works for the grades and eventual diploma you'll get. Welcome to my life.
So, on that note. Rant is over.
Other random things I've learned while being here:
1. Everyone is organized. There's simply an insane amount of miscommunication (or just a lack thereof).
2. Everything seems to go bad ridiculously quickly.
3. Try ALL desserts.
4. Make sure you decide on a price BEFORE getting in the taxi.
5. Walk away from any haggling and you'll eventually get the price you want.
6. Joke with people. Even if they don't fully understand, they appreciate your recognition that they're human.
7. Do NOT give your phone number to waiters (or let others do so for you), the calls/texts don't stop.
Also, God has been ridiculously good. I can't even begin to tell you here how wonderful I feel my time has been in bringing me closer to God. We have a 45 minute bus ride to and from class each day, so I have plenty of time to sit, read the Word and just pray fro life, people, you all. And God's been taking that opportunity and running with it. I'm more interested, curious, and analytical when I'm reading. Things come up in my life that pertain to what God's been teaching me. It's been incredible and I love every minute of it. I might have to do a quick "things i've been mulling over with God" blog sometime in the near future. But until then I pray that this continues! AMEN.
