my life...bulleted

• some of my automatic responses (IE. "wait!" "no!" "hurry" "let's go," "how are you," etc.) now come out in arabic.....even in my dreams.
• i'm feeling as though i'm lacking challenge in my life, which inevitably means i'm feeling a bit un-inspired. inspire me...please
• there are NO craft stores, thrift stores, walmarts, or safeways....duh
• i almost got fired (slightly exaggerated) from my volunteer job for "negligence" in one of my kindergarten classes. some kid poked (or stabbed depending on how you look at it :) another kid with a pencil...but when the principal found out the real story, she pretty much put her hand to the face of the kid's furious dad. it's all fine...now.
• my third official tahd-eesa came today. tahd-essa comes from the word for "stapler"...it's arranged marriage egyptian style - staple two people together whether they like it or not. but today, i found out that i would like it. i even got to see pictures. supposedly, my colleague's mom would love me....just like she does...just like her 24 year old brother would. hmm..arab men - not too shabby...let me think about it........thanks, but no thanks. flattering, nonetheless.
• i almost spent L.E. 70 for a jar of salsa and a bag of chips...yum, chips and salsa. but i didn't. oh yeah, L.E. 80 = $16....that's a fortune here....
• i think i'll be a preschool or kindergarten teacher when i grow up
• a few of the younger boys (pre-k age.)are being a bit too friendly.....maybe my next lesson will be on the birds and the bees......that would be hilarious. oh those poor, little kindergartners...if i lived in a movie, i'd totally do it.
• my roommate had her HAND hanging out of the taxi window and the driver came extremely close to some guy bending over and she almost SMACKED THAT on accident. i almost died of laughter.

Vignettes

Children, chatter, chants:

The door opens slowly. First, peering through the opening door, I then take a step in. Eyes turn toward me. One voice begins: "MISS GIGI!"

The others join in. "MISS GIGI!" The shouts synchronize to a beating chant:

"Miss-Gi-Gi! Miss-Gi-Gi! MISS-GI-GI! MISS-GI-GI!"

"Good moooorning!"

"GOOOOOD MOOOORNING, MISS GIGI!"

"How are you today?"

"I AAAM FINE, THAAANK YOU!"

And so, my morning begins with the Kindergarten 2 class.

Scuffed Shoes

The bell rings, FINALLY! After a long day at school, there's nothing like riding in a bus full of chattering children and talkative teachers through the crazy Cairo streets. But where's our bus?

No bus....you know what that means:

"FOOTBALL!" Of course.

"Miss Gigi!!! Play football!"

Good thing I wore my cute, expensive travel shoes offering the most comfort possible. Good thing they're only going to get completely scuffed and scratched. Good thing I obviously have a choice in the matter.....football it is.

Hands raised in victory as I score the first goal. Um, why are my hands the only one's raised? I turn around just in time to see my answers walking toward us. The principal and a teacher are coming. It's no secret, their wrath will soon be released upon these unsuspecting children.

"Hahaha, suckahs!" is my first thought. These kids are in for it and just as the teachers arrive, I give the "I-can't-believe-you're-playing-football-when-you-should-be-waiting-for-the-bus-you-naughty-children" look. Being a teacher myself, they would NEVER say anything to me.

But secretly, I know they don't always know what to make of me -- a FEMALE teacher who enjoys playing with the children......or a child myself? It's a tough call, I know. It's been a predicament my whole life.

But at the end of the day, it's true......I'm just a girl who doesn't mind scuffed shoes.

Just so you know, the teachers are by know means evil as "their wrath will soon be released upon these unsuspecting children" may make them seem.....seriously.

japanese janean...

i am japanese....ok, so i'm half japanese - hapa as they say in hawaii. this so exciting....yes, yes, ...i've been half japanese my whole life, i know....but still, i'm just as excited today as i am when i, as a wobbly tolder, asked my parents which half of my body was japanese....

i was talking to a korean lady today....we were joking about being asian....and half asian. she said she could tell that i had some asian blood running through my veins (probably in my eyes ;) a generous compliment highlighting my day........she joked about her small eyes. i joked about my dad's small eyes.................... :)







ps. i'm equally grateful for my other half......thanks, mom!

So, you want to marry me?

"Will you marry me?" His face turns red as the guy in front of us glances over his shoulder in shock.

Wait a minute! How did I get into this situation, you may be wondering? Well, it's quite simple really. Let's rewind.

Here we are, about fifteen of us on a bus. I just happen to sit next to one of two Romanian speakers on the bus. Having an knack for learning random phrases in other languages, I begin to show off what few phrases I've stored in my Romanian arsenal to my new Moldovan friend. But wait, I can't quite recall how to ask, "Will you marry me?" Why I ever knew this question in Romanian is besides the point. For the life of me, I cannot remember how to say it. I must know! So, of course, being the curious person I am and wanting to further supply my random Romanian phrase arsenal, I ask this very important question. Being the helpful Moldovan that he is, my friend clearly says, "Will you marry me" in Romanian.

With a sense of relief and wonderment as to how I could have ever forgot this phrase, I begin to repeat after him only to be interrupted as the only other Romanian speaker on the bus sitting a few seats in front of us glances over his shoulder with the i-can't-believe-what-i'm-hearing-i'm-about-to-freak-out look plastered on his face. Priceless!

Let the explaining begin.........

so....I'm not Egyptian?

You don't say! Pardon my slight sarcasm. So here we are, Lianne and I, that is, minding our own business (like we always do, right?) while we shop for much needed supplies. As teachers, we must keep an adequate arsenal of red pens, white out, duct tape, etc....you know, the basics. Anyway, as we are paying for our supplies, Lianne makes a comment in Arabic and without a moment's hesitation, the cashier let's us know that her comment is Egyptian and ONLY for Egyptians to say...........we waited for him to crack a smile, or say "welcome to Egypt" or something.....but no. not even a glance from him. just a cold, pricey check to pay.

wow, just wow.

quick update:

Arabic lessons -- fantastic
teaching -- great
traveling -- greater
having my own kitchen -- priceless......seriously.

I'm going to go make some pancakes.......

photograffiti.....

For more pictures:
http://nwcollege.facebook.com/p.php?i=167100372&k=YXAZQY52T23MYJMGRF44V

click on the picture to enter the album......there's three pages.

This past week I visited a garbage village, the Garbage City, a recycling center, Sinai Peninsula -- St. Catherines, Mt. Sinai, Dahab, a bedouin camp. Blue Hole, and a few other places....you will see all of these in the album.

snap shots:

It takes a really, ridiculously long time to upload photos....so I'll be adding a few each day:) click on it to enlarge for more detail

Garbage City:

Bacan, anyone?

Look carefully for the woman in the pile of rubbish (clue: she has a box on her head)

child's perspective


playing in his front yard