One month

Tomorrow marks the one month anniversary of my committed relationship with Egypt.  I am getting sentimental as I sit drinking my tea (Egyptian style with too much sugar) on my balcony.  I am nearing the end of the tin of cookies I bought on my way from the airport.  I remember stumbling stupidly through the super market with Sherif, baffled at what exactly I might need to survive.  I was immediately drawn to the tins of cookies, a favorite part of my first Egyptian host family’s home.  I always called them tea cookies, but the can says “Butter Cookies.”  I always associated this tea and cookies snack as an Egyptian phenomenon, but now, after a month long engagement with this cookie tin, I see that the brand is “Americana.”

I think I’m doing pretty good.  I have survived happily living alone without any major meltdowns (knock on wood).  I have been studying and I really love my school.  I have seen my host family as much as possible.  I have seen two/three major tourist destinations I didn’t get to see last time: The Black and White Desert, and Coptic Cairo.  I have also visited a destination that wasn’t nearly as famous when I was here before: Tahrir Square.  (I passed through today and bought a little flag on my way to renew my visa.)  I have watched the Euro Cup at a wust el-balad (downtown) ‘ahwa (cafe), and I have ridden the metro.  Six more months baby.  I can’t wait to see what’s in store.