Small things that go un-noticed

First of all new pics! here are the links...they are on my facebook page, but for those of you who don't have facebook, no worries just click on these links and you can still view them without signing your life away to the electronic beast of connections...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2058620&id=71906336&l=f070522fc1

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2058618&id=71906336&l=09875cb712

now for the good stuff :-) I enjoy writing, just wish I did it more often.

The other day my roommate and I stopped by the metro supermarket about a mile from our house to pick up some groceries. When I went to check out the lady in front of me was obviously new to the system. From her accent I could tell American, which means in Maadi (the area of town I live in) the probability of her being in a military family is high, though she could be a teacher, or a skydiver (joke), but I like to try and guess. :-) As she was going to check out her total came to 102.10 LE (Egyptian pounds). She looked through her money a few times and finally settled on giving the cashier 102.50, with the explanation that she simply did not have any smaller change. The cashier tried her hardest not to laugh, she was a very sweet girl (I must admit I was tempted to break out a laugh as well, I am sure a grin did escape). The lady looked very concerned and explained it was her first time going shopping for groceries since she arrived. The cashier welcomed her and explained the amount of money she had given her was perfectly fine. I have long since forgotten the days of trying to pay to the penny (or piaster in the case of Egyptian money).

Here we usually round up to the nearest quarter, even then most of the time there is not change for those small amounts, so a few sticks of gum or a "mafeesh mishkilla" (no problem) is exchanged. If you go to the same shops frequently, one day they may be short a pound, the next day you are...so in the end it usually all washes out. The funny thing is I don't remember when a few pounds here or there stopped being a big deal, but the incident at the market reminded me of a change that has occured in my life without me even taking notice. It makes me wonder how many other things, perhaps even larger things, have changed without me noticing.

Wow...way too long

Okay...okay...I know it has been awhile. That one busy week turned into a crazy month of drama and happenings. Both good and bad. While I can't catch you up on all the happenings, I will at least attempt to pick up from here...

My Arabic classes have been going really well! I am so excited about continuing. My goal is to be at level 5 or 6 by December, and I am already down to just 2 lessons left in level 2, just 6 weeks into class (I meet 2 times a week)! My Arabic has improved so much that I notice even a difference on the street. People respect you more, and it is a lot easier to avoid getting lost.

My friend Joanna came to visit for about 10 days, and we had a ton of fun traversing the city and the Sinai Pen. I think she may have experienced more of life on this side of the ocean than she was planning, but it was great having her here! God knows what you need when you need it, and He sent her at the right time.

During Joanna's visit we went to Dahab for 3-4 days (one night we spend climbing Gebel Moses- moses's mountain). It is a quaint little village on the Sinai pen, situated between the mountains and the Red Sea. On clear days you can see the mountains in Saudi Arabia on the other side. Joanna quickly saw why I have fallen in love with this little resort. Usually I travel with small groups when I go, this is the same place I go scuba diving, but this time it was just Joanna and I. It was a very relaxing weekend, laying on the beach chairs, reading Harry Potter (book 4) and absorbing as much free vitamin D as we could :-).

Summertime is flying by here. Hard to believe the hottest part is already gone (temps of 110 everyday almost). In just over 5 months from now I will be home for Christmas and my little bro's wedding. I have officially been here longer this time than I ever have been before. And everyday Egypt becomes more like home.

Tonight one of my roommates and I are going out to Chili's for dinner, on a boat on the river. It is one of her last nights here in Egypt, so we are celebrating her making it one year and still maintaining sanity and living. I am sad to see her leave. In such a short time we have become good friends. I look forward to Christmastime in hopes I can visit her in Germany on my way home.

My new roommate will move in on Sunday. I am excited because it is a girl I met almost 2 years ago when I was here before. She is Italian and always tons of fun! And a good cook too!

I know I need to be more diligent about writing updates, stories, adventures, and customs from here. Hopefully this next month is a little less dramatic, and I will get a chance to write more. :-)

New pics to follow soon!