'Cause I'm white, right

You ever have that feeling that someone over your shoulder staring at you, as if they're burning a hole in your back w/ their eyes. Well, I sort of pick up that feeling every time I step onto the metro, which is a few times a day. Well, there are anywhere from 30-100 people in each car and they are all fixated upon the white guy. They don't look away either when I look in their direction, that's probably the funniest part about. It's like 65 people are staring at me, and me right back at them. Alashaan ana abiat regl sah ('cause I'm a white guy, right). Mafeesh mesh kelah. Language is coming along, my health is still good, and I'm getting to know some new people. Here is a picture of some river I see every now and then. It's kind of big. Someone told me it's pretty long too.

You gotta know how to work it

I went down to this area of the city where there were many shops w/ a lot of things to buy. I was w/ a friend there and being white, we got hit up for our moenay all day. Well, one story is that we sat down and had some tea w/ a guy who spoke pretty good english and had a new shop where he was selling perfume. He asked my friend if they wanted some perfume. Not once, did they ever hint they wanted to get anything. Well, he basically pushed it on them to buy it. He said since we were his new friends, he would sell it to us equivalent of about 60 dollars. That is a ridiculously hight amount for here, so we just looked at him like he was drunk. As we got up to go, he lowered it to about $18. That's quite a drop in price. Still, he was trying to rob his new friends he knew for ten minutes. We walked off, and he folded into about $9, which is what we ended up buying it for. In the states, I don't know much about fragrances, I know some smells, but fragrances, this would probably be sold for about $80-100, maybe more. We got a good deal, ended up finding later we could have got it for $5-6. No problem, I say we did a pretty good job, though. Learn some language, be stubborn, and get some good stuff. Watch the Mavericks for me, I don't have this opportunity, I just check the final score online, go Mav's.

What's up my Mother's Spirit?

So, I've learning some arabic slang. I've been learning some phrases in which you say "You're the best, hey man, chief, star" (roughly translated). Hard to translate slang, like idioms. Well, I was going to try to be funny within the language, so I was going to say, "You're the best, hey donkey." It didn't come out like that. I ended up saying, "You're the best, hey spirit of your mother." I know, what the junk? Well, they fell over laughing at me. Mafeesh mesh kelah (no problem). I am starting to see some headway on language. Some encouragement has fallen my way today, so that is always good to hear. I leaving you w/ a pic from the balcony in which I am staying. This is a sandy place, but there are places you find some green, especially next to this river.

I've Never Clapped at the End of a Movie

...especially, Mission Impossible 3. So, I've now seen MI-3 twice, last night, and just an hour ago. I made plans for tonight, got invited w/ a spur last night, didn't want to offend either, so I stared at Tom Cruise for about 4 hours in the last 24:

2hours X 2viewings = 4hoursofviewing

Someone would have been lost if I didn't explain, little sis. There was some clapping at tonights, but last night, woe nanny. You would have thought Tome Cruise was in the theater. Much less, clapping at the end of the movie, I've still never clapped half-way through a movie, either. Here in C they have intermissions half-through the movie. I guess, for smoke breaks; I'll probably lose 6 years of my life due to my new addiction of second-hand smoke. There's a heist in the middle of the movie, and once it was completed, the entire theater filled w/ applause as if the movie was over. It's no big deal though. One great thing about movies is that they cut our sex scenes, and edit some of the profanity. I can get used to that. Health has risen, I still get some things, but I believe my stomach has strengthened and it passes in about a day or so. Thoughts to that and continuing language.

Would you spit in front of your sister?

Let's have an Arabic update. This past week since my hunting time has been more intense Arabic lessons, in which I must have. We have been going more over verbs, which means I can have a 20 second conversation in this language. English has some weird rules, and weird reasons the rules are broken. So, I bring up the situation in Arabic in full knowledge that my language is wacky. My example deals w/ the words brother and sister. There are words in our language that seem negating, disgusting. Well, the word for brother is agh, and the word for sister is oght (long o sound). In your first reading of this from a Hooked on Phonics point of view, you probably make the h silent such as in the word ghost. However, in Arabic you take the German, Russian approach w/ gh as if you are builiding up a giant yellow-green loogie. So w/ that knowledge, you refer to your brother as an agh. You have to make the loogie for it to work. So in greatest endearment, you call your sister an oght. The big problem here is that while you are creating the mucus and as it's sitting at the back of your tounge, you then must make the t sound. Well, the hunk of junk is now sitting in your cheek. Would you gut it or spit it out? Take note, I have never seen an Egypting spit. In fact, it is considered very rude to do so in front of a person. It's not pleasant in the states, but it happens all the time. I say all of this not to sicken you, but for you all to be aware of my culturally sensitive predicaments. Leave a comment and tell me what you'd do?

Catch of the Day

Back from the Red Sea w/ some fish. This was our boat that we stayed on for three days and two nights. I've never... slept on a boat in the Red Sea, yes I have. I went swimming the first day and saw some fish and coral. We caught quite a bit the first day. I caught about 4 decent sized guys. I was proud. So proud I took a picture of the first fish I had ever caught. I also caught about 25 little guys about 4-5 inches long. We used those suckers for bait for the bigger guys. I caught all of the little ones w/o a pole. Line and hand. It was great. I felt as if I were a true hunter. Then I went inside the boat and had me a coke and some chips. Now our boat had a tape player. I should had brought all my old Carman tapes but I forgot, I must had left them in Cairo. So, we got to listen to Egyptian music for three days. Yeah, I was quite cross-culturally sensitive, but I'd rather chase the Hebrews into the Red Sea than be sensitive again. To the left, is my proud picture of the first fish I have ever caught. He tasted mighty good, too. The second and third day of fishing were quite windy, so our fishing didn't compete w/ the first day. It was a good experience, though. We saw some dolphins one day; that was super.
I'm getting to know the area better and still working on language. Getting to know people and all. I got my visas a couple of days ago for the summer, so I'm legal.

Gone Fishn

I'll be away from the city for the next few days, off to the Red Sea hunting some fish. I've actually never been fishing one time in my entire life. Yes, that's truth. I'm a true Texan and never been fishing. Well, I had to travel across the world to experience for the first time. I am seeing some headway on language, that is only due w/ the required time spent w/ it. Reading from right to left w/ characters that were completely foreign that are now somewhat foreign. Health is up from medium-low to medium. Met a guy today and had a good conversation w/ him in english. I'll be able to see him often, making a path by his work. All is safe and good. Gone Fishn

Being Conquered by Culture

In my last trip to this wonderful place, I brought something back w/ me that I did not pay for, it was free of charge and left a lasting impression, especially each time I found the toilet. Well, it has found me once again. I've taken some pills for it, instructed by a nurse close by. K. as well is an excellent cook, and I appreciate that much. This whole language, well is my life right now, getting acquainted w/ the culture and finding ways to meet people who I can speak to in good ol' English. I met a few nationals today, M.,I.,R. in which I will be able to meet w/ again next week and pursue a solid friendship; initial meeting went quite well. Language will do me in, as has the unprocessed sugarcane off the street. Mal lesh (It's no big deal). Thoughts to language, health, and people.