Temporary move to Zamalek dorms

The program advised we move temporarily into the Zamalek dorms where classes are held.

This was mainly due to traffic concerns; even benign events on the street can negatively impact traffic, and our ability to arrive to class on time (that's why class today was canceled).

Largely out of a desire for the program to get back to normalcy, I agreed and am now operating from Zamalek, one of the safest neighborhoods in Cairo. I'm now far from any significant street-level disturbances.

Update: All is well, return to your homes

Hey all,

Sorry I've been offline a while. Long story; the amusing parts I'll upload later.

All's been well these past days. Our program is still in Cairo but is monitoring the situation super closely; we've had a few days, including today, off.

I've prepared a map of my Cairene haunts relative to the centers of protest. My stuff's green, the stuff I'm avoiding is red.

I'd write more, and I have a lot of photos to upload, but all this revolutionary fervor is distracting enough. I still do have homework--lots and lots of homework. As a sage once said, "What do you think I do? Write letters all day?"

Get in touch if you have any questions. Peace!

A few day's worth of photos and whatnot

 Looked to me somewhat steeple-like

 Ibn Tulun Mosque, largest and arguably oldest (completed 879) in Cairo in its original form.

 I believe that's the Citadel on the right.

 Just to the left of the tallest building in the picture (about 2/3 left) is the top of the Great Pyramid.

I broke custom yesterday and actually gave my mother details of how I was doing. Since it's already written, I'll share it here:

I’m still settling into a routine; gets better each day.

Up between 7 and 7:30, grab breakfast from a fuul-stand outside (fuul=imagine someone getting very creative with refried beans, and then eating it with a traditional bread that resembles the top and bottom of an English muffin), walk and hop a few minibuses to school, get online, then class at 9.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ful_medames

Class goes till like 1:30, then grab lunch (usually either falafel or koshary) and, as Dad would say, get to work. Stay till work’s done then head back home. Eat dinner when the mood strikes me (dinner for a while has been shawarma; one of the most popular street foods is just roasted cobs of corn, which I’ve taken a liking to). Sleep whenever I’m tired. I’m sleeping well but am a little under the weather—I think it’s respiratory, from not being used to city air.

As I say, I’m still getting acclimated. I get fruit when the deal’s good, and would like to find a souq nearby to shop more regularly. The end goal is to find an Egyptian who can teach me to cook.

Water’s good, filter’s great. There’s a worm common to Nile waters, called bilharzia. To purge it from drinking water, as you’ve read, they tend to put in a lot of chlorine. The filter takes care of that.

 For some reason the Nile fascinates me. I hope to travel southward upriver. I think also, and especially if I can really get settled well, that I’d like to be in the area a long time. I’m excited to here.

(More photos and videos to upload; I'll do it later.)

update

Shubra..as John Doe said in Se7en,"It didn't work out."

Updates to come. For now, living in el-Doqqi, in a neighborhood known for a relatively large Sudanese expat community.

Cheers!

Long story short, downtown was a bit much for me. Tahrir and Tal'at Harb (adjacent to the hostel) are bustling (loud) and you have to watch yourself.

After a few days in the rooftop hostel (pictures of view I found a nice little place in Shubra, a northern neighborhood of Cairo. Egyptians apparently call it the People's Republic of China because of its bustliness (zahma) but my area at least has a nice mix of urban activity and suburban calm.

 

I took a lot of pictures like this. Partly to scare myself.

 

It begins..

Hey yo,

 

Simple blog to keep anyone interested updated on my Cairene wheelings and dealings from now (June 2, 2013) to the end of CASA I 2013-14 May 31, 2014.

 

I'm new to blogging so let's keep criticisms gentle and constructive.