Life is better

Hi! So I decided I was tired of being homesick and in order to improve my conditions I would have to live like and Egyptian. So, instead of taking the metro to school I ride a camel, just like everyone else. Everyone here owns a camel, but I don't know enough to buy one myself. Luckily, people have extra ones and I rent a camel from the men in the picture. I pay a pound a day (about 17 cents) so its a really good deal!! I eat all the same food...mainly chicken, bread, rice, and cucumbers:) and I drink a lot of tea. Although Egyptian tea is much different than boxed tea. Its thicker and more bitter, and has grains on the bottom. I keep forgetting about the grains and drink it (imagine drinking coffee grounds!) its disgusting. oh well:) I do live in an apartment though:( If my landlord doesn't get his act together, then I'll move into a tent. It would be much more practical because I can be closer to my school and cleaning would be awesome. I just pick up my tent and move to a different location.


haha I'm just joking!!

Egyptians don't ride camels,,,in fact I haven't seen one this year. Also, many Egyptians haven't ridden one! But its a funny stereotype that most westerners have of Egypt. They also don't live in the middle of the desert in tents (but the information about the tea is true!). Cairo is a very modern city with a metro system, bus system, a huge amount of taxis, and minivans(they act like buses but are much smaller). There aren't skyscrapers but many of the buildings are fairly tall. The only difference is that they can drive without traffic lights, and they don't have a recycling program...I'm not too positive on the trash program in some parts either:( But don't feel stupid if you believed this stereotype because Egyptians of course have funny stories about us. For example, some were told that during Christmas the men exchange wives! I about fell out of my chair laughing. Oh the joys of traveling:) I'll let you know if I hear anymore stereotypes:)

But an update on my apartment,,,

The phone does work! And the maid actually showed up (of course the day after I spent 350 pounds on cleaning supplies and 6 hours of my weekend cleaning:)) oh well...and hopefully she understands when she is supposed to come. You can't blame it on the language barrier because one of my roommates (Hanan) speaks fluent Arabic. We're still waiting on the internet though...but the company says to give them three more days. This is the time when I wish I was in America so I could threaten to sue:) My air conditioner leaks water but luckily it still works because my landlord hasn't been rushing to fix it. Its annoying, but I'll live because I don't really want to talk to him. haha he always comes when I'm home alone and because of that thinks I have no friends and that I stay at home all the time. (yeah thats why I'm able to get 12 hours of sleep every night...I wish!) and he's getting kinda creepy. oh well. My roommates and I owe him 200 pounds for the phone bill,...but we don't feel like rushing to pay him back. hahah I love being stubborn:) Its also nice, because its acceptable in Egypt:) lol there's one thing I can do right!:)