Ramadan

Ramadan is the 9th month in the lunar calender. This is the holiest of months for Muslims throughout the world. This year, Ramadan began around August 20th. When I arrived in Egypt on August 28th, Ramadan was in full swing. During this month, followers of Islam fast from Sunup to Sundown. That means no food, no water, no smoking. Muslims should also restrain themselves from any other indulgence during this same time. Also, Muslims should try to read the entire Holy Quran during this time. The reasoning behind fasting is because it was a commandment from God. during the last ten days of Ramadan is when God told the first part of the Quran to Mohamed. Also, by fasting the Muslims are able to experience the hunger that impoverished people feel everyday. In Islamic states, such as Egypt, it is impolite to eat or drink in public. So, while my host family did not allow me to fast, I was able to get a taste of the experience while I would be gone all day in the harsh sun of Egypt. To break their fast, Muslims participate in a meal called Iftar. This meal occurs at sundown, and as soon as the call is heard from the local mosque. Then, people usually drink something first such as coffee or soda. Then the eating begins. If I haven't mentioned before, Egyptians eat alot of food. And, most of their food is very heavy. A common meal at Iftar would be a broth like soup with small pastas in it, rice, a vegetable dish, and some sort of meat, either roasted or fried. Also there is always tomato and cucumber salad.Your plate is loaded in on for the first portion, and then my host mother wanted to keep putting more. After this meal, Muslims snack throughout the night having sweets, hot drinks, and fruit. Then around 3 0r 4 in the morning, they have another small meal. This meal consists of sandwitches, which could be egg, cheese, fuul, falafel, or potatoe to name a few. As you can see, alot of muslims stay up all night during this time. Then most of the day is slept through. My host brother for example, stays up all night, and then sleeps until Iftar. It is too hot to go outside, or to do any thing if you can't have water. While Ramadan is a very Holy month, it is also a very festive time. Many people go and visit friends and family to have iftar or to simply enjoy their company. Every night there are festivities throughout the city. I visted my host mother's sister to share iftar, and we have gone on several boat rides on the Nile for the same reason. Ramadan is also a month of giving. People volunteer more, and give money and clothes to the needy. All throughout the city, there are tents set up for people to have Iftar for free. It is quite an amazing an Holy month and I am glad I was able to be here to experience it. After Ramdan, there is a three day holiday called Eid. Since the last day of Ramdan was saturday, Eid began on Sunday. People are happy to be able to eat or drink as they please. People eat these special powdered cookies, and there are many many celebrations. One thing I noticed was how calm the streets seem during the day during Eid. Alot of shops are closed for the holiday, so there were very few people out and about. Yesterday, I went to a celebration for Eid with my Counselor and her family. It was very fun. It was at a club by the Nile. It was very pretty. There were lots and lots of people there. Everyone was sitting and talking and eating. Also all the kids ran around and played on the playground. There were also lots of performers. Some of these pereformers were for the kids, and then there were some tradional Upper Egypt dances done. It was all alot of fun. To finish the day, we went on a boat ride around Zemeleck, which is the island in the nile. Today is the last day of Eid. Eid Saied!

Arabic Lessons

Last Sunday, I started Arabic lessons. I along with 7 other exchange students take our lessons at this place called Arabic Studies Academy. It is on Zemeleck which is the island in the Nile. Our lessons are in an apartment on the second floor of a building. It is really difficult to find, and everyday our taxi driver has to ask for directions. To get to my lesson, I leave my apartment at 10:30/10:45 and then walk to the end of a few roads to catch a microbus. Sometimes it is kind of difficult to catch one. The driver does not always understand what I am saying, and it may take a few tries. If I am lucky, the first one I ask lets me on. I ride the microbus for 5 to 10 minutes depending on the traffic. Then I walk to Courtney's apartment to meet her to go the rest of our journey. We then take the metro to opera station. After leaving the metro station, we take a taxi, always a black one because the white ones are too expensive. As mentioned before it takes a while for us to find the building where our lesson, so usually we are in the taxi for 20 or 30 minutes. Now, our lesson starts at 12. The first day we had to take a placement test. I couldn't answer anything. It was all written in arabic script, and the instructors wanted to respond in arabic. Other than a few key verbal phrases, I knew zero arabic. There were 4 other students in my situation. The other three have had some background in arabic. For the rest of the week, we were split into two groups. Our group has been working mainly on Egyptian Colloquial Arabic. Our teacher is fun, and I have learned quite a few words. We have also learned the alphabet. It is pretty difficult. Our lessons are three hours long. After we are done, Courtney and I take a taxi back to the metro, and then I take a microbus back to my road. It is about an hour long journey so it can be pretty stressful. Because of the Eid holiday(feast for three days after Ramadan), we only have a lesson on Thursday this week . Also, we have an exam on which we are supposed to be able to read and write some words. Insha'allah I willl do ok. It will take some studying though. All of the 28 arabic characters change form depending on whether they are in the beginning, middle, or end of the word. Pretty soon, my group will switch to the other class, and the teacher will teach us modern standard arabic which is what most written texts are in. I am glad to have arabic because it gives me something to do. As I said, this week I have arabic only once, but next week I will have it everyday again. Once school starts we will have it three times a week.

Felucca on the Nile

In the short time I have been in this beautiful country, I have been lucky enough to take two boat rides on the Nile. Each experience was quite different, but both were equally enjoyable. The first one I went on was with my host mother and host brother. We were meeting her best friend for the ride. After taking a a taxi down to the Nile area from Haram, we waited a while until her friend arrived. It was not only her friend, but her friend's daughter and about 20 of her friends. The boat was a small, motor powered, flat boat. We all got on, and waited for the last of the people to arrive. We were then on our way.Because of Ramadan, we waited until the sun went down, and the prayer call was heard, and then we all began eating and drinking. I was told that this one of the fun ways that they like to break their fast and to enjoy the company of their friends. We ate and then sat and talked. There was also music playing on the boat, so the mood was quite festive. The men danced on the boat, and I was offered countless things to drink and sweets. It is the hospitality of the Egyptians to offer a guest food and drink constantly. We rode for about two hours up and down the Nile. It was a fun night. The next night I went on a boat was only a few short days later. We again were going at sunset to break fast on the boat. I went with my host father. We met one of his friends and probably 10 other people. This boat was smaller and more of a sailboat. It was quiet, calm, and much more peaceful. I enjoyed just sitting back and watching the moon (you can't see any stars in the city). We also rode for about two hours. It was very nice. After each of the rides we would go somewhere else, either a cafe or a park, and sit and enjoy one another into late in the night. Boats, sunsets, and the Nile are memories that will last a lifetime.

Sunset on the Nile

First Impressions

So I have been in Egypt now for about five days. I have been with my host family for about three. Everything has been great so far. The people are very very nice and everything is just so interesting. My host mother has taken me out in the city twice and my host brother took me once. The streets are very hectic. There are people and cars going everywhere. Lots and lots of honking. We walked down the street stopping in a few stores. We had to cross the street which is adventure all in its own. See, the cars go fast when they can and fill in any space that is there. This makes it quite chaotic. you cross one lane at a time and usually there are atleast three or four lanes to cross. the first night when my host mother took me out, she baought me sugar cane juice from a street vender, It was milky and very sweet. Each time we go out in the street I feel nervous. All the people and loud noises is very different from what I am used to. Having my host mother or host brother there with me helps a whole lot. tonight My host mother met a friend and her daughter that is my age. We took two microbuses to meet them. That was interesting. They are like vans and cram as many people into them as possible. While we were sitting at a center for these buses, it was neat to see how the peole would race to get in one. Tonight we went to an older part of cairo. We were going to a concert. It was fun. We walked down several streets and through several markets on the way. All the sights and sounds keep me entertained. The music was good, and even if I do not understand what they are saying I thought it sounded beautiful, It is the same way with the prayer calls. I have grown to love hearing them. They are wonderful to hear. The food is also great here. It has a very distinct taste, and my host mother keeps me feeling very full. haha. Well things are well.