Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Holy Moly
Well, I made it home. I told you..."before you know it"...I'd be here. Here I am, at my mom's house. Dad has "temporarily" lost his vision. I say temporarily in quotes because I cannot confirm whether it is permanent or temporary. But rather I would like to believe it is temporary, thus...the quotes.
Gosh, alot sure has happened since last I wrote. I wish sometimes I would have transcribed more experiences. Reading back on them is much more enjoyable than actually experiencing them! HaHa. Well, some of them. Actually, I can keep that insight for my next adventure. Which I am sure will not be too far away.
So the hotel, gosh, what an experience. Truly. Not much that I can say other than I learned a lifetime of information. Everything from not shaking a "peasant" man's hand to having to explain, justify and show credible evidence that I was not a
1. Spy.
2. Compulsive Gambler with large debts back home.
3. A murderer...but like seriously.
4. A prostitute propositioning herself to young vunerable Muslim Egyptian men...GAG.
5. A mental retard (This one was actually alot more difficult to convince otherwise).
During the now infamous "inquisition" I was accused of faking my PASSPORT..."umm, dude, I'm like AMERICAN. p.s. not too easy".
Accused of faking my Resume "There is no such thing as a 4 star restaurant...DOESN'T EXSIST. NEVER EVER." Accused of faking the photo of myself in my Resume (aka CV...it's an International thing). Asked over and over and over again "WHO ARE YOU?" "DON'T LIE...WHO ARE YOU?".
Regardless, with that little incident over and my reputation exonerated for the time being (I'm a single female living Islam...my reputation isn't too high right now anyway). I have to say that the people, the bedouin, my neighbors, my colleagues, and so many others I cannot think of allowed for the situations in which I could ultimately learn GRACIOUSNESS, HUMILITY, APPRECIATION, GRATITUDE, SELF CONFIDENCE (there is nothing quite like walking down an Egyptian street headed to your Grocer to buy produce knowing WHAT to say...and HOW to say it) PATIENCE and LOVE. They allowed for me to make many...MANY cultural mistakes, they allowed for me to be angry, sad, frustrated, lonely, bored, happy, peaceful, content, quiet, humorous and most importantly MYSELF. They allowed me the full gamete of emotions, to experience every single one deep so that I could understand them and truly experience CONTRAST. Contrast in everything. Everything was different. No example of my daily life could ever be transplanted there and work. You have to use different methods. Different stories.
I have now been back in Dallas, Tx for almost 3 months. And it's okay. Dad can't see and that is okay. He is managing. He is surviving. And I can't say how lucky and appreciative I am to be here for that. I have been catching myself becoming so nervous that I will "convert back". Here I am without ANYTHING. With no place of being, with no bank account, computer, material possessions, clothes ( I mean I have some clothes, but extremely limited...still my Egyptian wares) and I am okay with that. In fact, I am so scared that I will fall back into this rhythm of CONSUMERISM. I have just recently let go of all these things. And now, I'm in DALLAS. It is the center of materialism. I think materialism was born from here and transplanted to L.A. There is nothing to do but spend money. That's IT! A great challenge I now can see from writing. How wonderful to incorporate my recent experiences into a place that offers nothing but the opposite...EVERYTHING you want whenever you want it...Wow.
I hope I get this job. Not at Shangri-la. Didn't work out. A true disappointment for the time being. But honestly...I really didn't want it. It sounded nice cause it was "given" to me. But really it made me nervous. No point in that, right.
Goodness Gracious. Long blog. I think I'll sign off. But one thing...capitalism is wonderful. Really. It's moderating it that is the tough part.
xoxo
Back in the USA
Friday, February 29, 2008
new digs
my new employer asked me to move into the newly constructed management housing OFF PREMISE to assist the recently relocated Spa Manager. i was STOKED to say the least. my last apartment...nice and WARM, which was key for the winter, but it had no windows and i felt a little like i was living in a cage. so my new pad is KILLER. when i say KILLER, i really mean, it's siiiiick. beautiful. i HAVE A BATHTUB. my very own BATHTUB. i might have to get a room mate...but who cares, i have rooftop access, my private garden, all new appliances. it is such a blessing and i am really starting to feel like cinderella.
however, two days ago the maintenance team and the housekeeping crew from the hotel was making adjustments to the property to prepare it for the Level 1 management team. anyways, i am not exactly sure what when wrong...but it all started to go downhill. the GM and the Architect ended up coming to find that ALL their employees were at our apartments to do god knows what...all that was needed for was a light for the outside and the satelite fixed. end up with over 20 hotel employees (all men) trampzing around putting their fingers all over my personal things.
regardless of how it went...tensions were high and then one of the plumbing dudes broke a water line in my bathroom and i got VERY nervous. i waved over the housekeeping manager since he was in charge of supervising the entire crew...i now know that you NEVER NEVER NEVER wave over an ARAB man. ever ever ever....i believe this is the point when the situation escalated but it boiled over when the housekeeping manager starts to walk into my house with a cigarette and i politely informed him i don't smoke. another big NO NO...a WOMAN DOESN'T TELL A MAN WHAT TO DO...NEVER...NEVER...NEVER...
he got carried away and was screaming in my face...i don't take orders from you...i only take orders from my boss...you can't tell me what to do...blah...blah...blah. soooooooooooooooo....since the property is under the management of the hotel the same entitlements and priviledges apply to us as if we were staying in the hotel. so the next morning housekeeping came to clean the apartments...i denied the service since i really did not feel comfortable have strange MUSLIM men trampzing around my apartment when i am not there...cash, passport, personal items. i leave for work and upon my return i found a large STAR OF DAVID painted into the sand in the garden.
i really felt very scared. i have experienced things here in which i have felt uncomfortable or ignorant or even a little frightened...but not at this level. i was downright FREAKED THE FUCK OUT. i immediately called my GENERAL MANAGER and her husband (the architect and project manager for the hotel) called me and came to see the property.
i am still unsure about this. everyone tells me that the egyptians are not dangerous...but it is still a sensitive and delicate region. regardless, thank god my neighbors are bedouin. i feel a little more safe. alot of lessons here. the next day i was sat down and spoke to...because I responded incorrectly. "ummmm, dude, a muslim man painted the jewish symbol into the sand of my personal space"....an EMPLOYEE of the hotel. i am a SINGLE FEMALE LIVING ALONE. WTF? but it is a lesson for me to learn. how to manage all male staff.
a story i really didn't want to tell again....but just in case. i have the photos on my camera.
however, two days ago the maintenance team and the housekeeping crew from the hotel was making adjustments to the property to prepare it for the Level 1 management team. anyways, i am not exactly sure what when wrong...but it all started to go downhill. the GM and the Architect ended up coming to find that ALL their employees were at our apartments to do god knows what...all that was needed for was a light for the outside and the satelite fixed. end up with over 20 hotel employees (all men) trampzing around putting their fingers all over my personal things.
regardless of how it went...tensions were high and then one of the plumbing dudes broke a water line in my bathroom and i got VERY nervous. i waved over the housekeeping manager since he was in charge of supervising the entire crew...i now know that you NEVER NEVER NEVER wave over an ARAB man. ever ever ever....i believe this is the point when the situation escalated but it boiled over when the housekeeping manager starts to walk into my house with a cigarette and i politely informed him i don't smoke. another big NO NO...a WOMAN DOESN'T TELL A MAN WHAT TO DO...NEVER...NEVER...NEVER...
he got carried away and was screaming in my face...i don't take orders from you...i only take orders from my boss...you can't tell me what to do...blah...blah...blah. soooooooooooooooo....since the property is under the management of the hotel the same entitlements and priviledges apply to us as if we were staying in the hotel. so the next morning housekeeping came to clean the apartments...i denied the service since i really did not feel comfortable have strange MUSLIM men trampzing around my apartment when i am not there...cash, passport, personal items. i leave for work and upon my return i found a large STAR OF DAVID painted into the sand in the garden.
i really felt very scared. i have experienced things here in which i have felt uncomfortable or ignorant or even a little frightened...but not at this level. i was downright FREAKED THE FUCK OUT. i immediately called my GENERAL MANAGER and her husband (the architect and project manager for the hotel) called me and came to see the property.
i am still unsure about this. everyone tells me that the egyptians are not dangerous...but it is still a sensitive and delicate region. regardless, thank god my neighbors are bedouin. i feel a little more safe. alot of lessons here. the next day i was sat down and spoke to...because I responded incorrectly. "ummmm, dude, a muslim man painted the jewish symbol into the sand of my personal space"....an EMPLOYEE of the hotel. i am a SINGLE FEMALE LIVING ALONE. WTF? but it is a lesson for me to learn. how to manage all male staff.
a story i really didn't want to tell again....but just in case. i have the photos on my camera.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
the biggest challenge...
the biggest challenge that i have been facing is LANGUAGE. talking. i rarely talk. when i do speak, it is usually with people that are using english as their SECOND or sometimes THIRD language. so it can be a bit tricky. especially with my vaste command of the english language...such as "dude", "that's sweet", "take it easy bro", "hot dang", "goodness gracious".
yesterday i was invited to sharm el sheikh for hisham's perfomance at the shark bay hotel. it was a long evening. we arrived around 7pm...popped some cold brewskie, sat...and sat...and sat a little more. we were waiting for the food...8...no go...9...don't think so...10...don't even think about it...11pm they casually start rolling out the food. i was STARVING. i think that everyone else was too. regardless, the buffet was bum rushed and i was left gnawing on some boiled carrots. undercooked boiled carrots. hell freeze over before i would open my mouth and actually say that i was hungry. so i sat there sipping tea sitting by the fire with friends. the only woman, yet again, nearly 100 bedouin men. mostly from the desert. a unique breed of humans. more mystics. anyway, sometimes i feel very uncomfortable. too much male energy. WAAAAY too much. but one thing i really enjoy about these nights is that you are left alone. bedouin men are not allowed to speak to an unmarried woman...much less look at one. so i can just sit and mind my own business. it's nice sometimes. sometimes i get really really REALLY bored.
the show was good. great, actually. as always. after, we head back to dahab and stop for gas before the checkpoint...yes, i said checkpoint...you think twice about drinking and driving when a couple of UZIS are staring at your face. ahhahah...anyway, i asked for a coca cola to tide me over the 1 plus hour back to dahab. the guys all call me GIBNA...it's arabic for cheese. hahahah...for real. it's hilarious...so they say "standa schwa-a, gibna...standa schwa-a"....(arabic for wait a little bit) and i'm thinking 'WAIT?! WAIT?!!! how can i wait anymore". but again, one of the life lessons i am POSITIVE that for me i have to learn here is PATIENCE...afterall it's a virtue. so i nodded my head and said "mashi". (okay).
next thing i know we are driving around sharm el sheikh at 3:30am...and my stomach is shriveled....when the smell of french fries....burgers....apple pies comes wafting through the window. i turn around and we are pulling into a MCDONALDS.....WAHOO MICKEY D'S! yessur. i wish i had brought my camera. however, sometimes moments like this are reserved just for your memory.
white american gir andl...6..yes...6! VERY nicely dressed BEDOUIN men...when i mean nicely dressed i really mean it...they take great care and pride in their fashion. it might look like dresses and towels to us, but it is much more. sooo here we are strolling in 6 + one rugrat deep. it was a feast none the less...french fries....a HUGE big mac...it was the size of my face. they definitely don't make them that big in the states. for sure! they just ordered a massive amount of food. it was so nice to EAT! and yes, it was mcdonalds...but shit, sometimes it's nice to have things from home. but boy o boy did everyone look at us...we are sitting there, half drunk, stoned and chowing on mcdonalds french fries and laughing. unique experiences.
but sometimes i shout very quietly..."GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE".
the great and terrible.
yesterday i was invited to sharm el sheikh for hisham's perfomance at the shark bay hotel. it was a long evening. we arrived around 7pm...popped some cold brewskie, sat...and sat...and sat a little more. we were waiting for the food...8...no go...9...don't think so...10...don't even think about it...11pm they casually start rolling out the food. i was STARVING. i think that everyone else was too. regardless, the buffet was bum rushed and i was left gnawing on some boiled carrots. undercooked boiled carrots. hell freeze over before i would open my mouth and actually say that i was hungry. so i sat there sipping tea sitting by the fire with friends. the only woman, yet again, nearly 100 bedouin men. mostly from the desert. a unique breed of humans. more mystics. anyway, sometimes i feel very uncomfortable. too much male energy. WAAAAY too much. but one thing i really enjoy about these nights is that you are left alone. bedouin men are not allowed to speak to an unmarried woman...much less look at one. so i can just sit and mind my own business. it's nice sometimes. sometimes i get really really REALLY bored.
the show was good. great, actually. as always. after, we head back to dahab and stop for gas before the checkpoint...yes, i said checkpoint...you think twice about drinking and driving when a couple of UZIS are staring at your face. ahhahah...anyway, i asked for a coca cola to tide me over the 1 plus hour back to dahab. the guys all call me GIBNA...it's arabic for cheese. hahahah...for real. it's hilarious...so they say "standa schwa-a, gibna...standa schwa-a"....(arabic for wait a little bit) and i'm thinking 'WAIT?! WAIT?!!! how can i wait anymore". but again, one of the life lessons i am POSITIVE that for me i have to learn here is PATIENCE...afterall it's a virtue. so i nodded my head and said "mashi". (okay).
next thing i know we are driving around sharm el sheikh at 3:30am...and my stomach is shriveled....when the smell of french fries....burgers....apple pies comes wafting through the window. i turn around and we are pulling into a MCDONALDS.....WAHOO MICKEY D'S! yessur. i wish i had brought my camera. however, sometimes moments like this are reserved just for your memory.
white american gir andl...6..yes...6! VERY nicely dressed BEDOUIN men...when i mean nicely dressed i really mean it...they take great care and pride in their fashion. it might look like dresses and towels to us, but it is much more. sooo here we are strolling in 6 + one rugrat deep. it was a feast none the less...french fries....a HUGE big mac...it was the size of my face. they definitely don't make them that big in the states. for sure! they just ordered a massive amount of food. it was so nice to EAT! and yes, it was mcdonalds...but shit, sometimes it's nice to have things from home. but boy o boy did everyone look at us...we are sitting there, half drunk, stoned and chowing on mcdonalds french fries and laughing. unique experiences.
but sometimes i shout very quietly..."GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE".
the great and terrible.
Monday, January 28, 2008
last night
i was going to make some spinach pesto. i bought some fresh spinach in sharm el sheikh last thursday and needed to use it. so i was going to make some to freeze to have on hand when i got a PHONE CALL. my phone actually rang! a girl i had met last week and is a diver invited me to her house to make the pesto since she had a blender...score.
we decided to ride bikes and her friend had an extra one. we went to his house to borrow it and was invited in for a brewskie. or two...then another bro showed up with a flat of beer....two more people...two more....and A DUCK IN THE OVEN. say what?! next thing i know i'm surrounded by all GERMANS FROM THE EAST! duck...wine....braised red cabbage and boiled potatoes with gravy. doesn't get much eastern german than that! it is so amazing to me to think of my grandfather and my great uncles fighting in a war they could NEVER imagine would bond their granddaughter with "the enemy".
it was so lovely to enjoy a home cooked meal! roasted duck! they are all divers and i felt a bit left out since i know nothing about diving. they all kind of look at me blankly like "then why are you HERE?"
i'm figuring that one out.
we decided to ride bikes and her friend had an extra one. we went to his house to borrow it and was invited in for a brewskie. or two...then another bro showed up with a flat of beer....two more people...two more....and A DUCK IN THE OVEN. say what?! next thing i know i'm surrounded by all GERMANS FROM THE EAST! duck...wine....braised red cabbage and boiled potatoes with gravy. doesn't get much eastern german than that! it is so amazing to me to think of my grandfather and my great uncles fighting in a war they could NEVER imagine would bond their granddaughter with "the enemy".
it was so lovely to enjoy a home cooked meal! roasted duck! they are all divers and i felt a bit left out since i know nothing about diving. they all kind of look at me blankly like "then why are you HERE?"
i'm figuring that one out.
Friday, January 25, 2008
some interesting thoughts...
or maybe not so interesting depends on who is reading.
so last night i watched CNN for the first time in a LOOONG time. it is interesting to me the way they portray what is happening in Rafa and El Arish Egypt. they make it sound like it is on the brink of the 3rd world war. when really it is a case of SUPPRESSED people who have been cut off from ANY AND ALL supplies...foood...waaater...EVERYTHING...and have fled to Arish to eat and gather supplies. is it not the right of man...of EVERY human, to have free access to the necessary things in life? WATER...FOOD?
a bunch of people from Dahab have gone to Arish to sell cigarettes because they are worth 1,000 USD right now to a Palestinian. and i'm talking about shit cigarettes too. like the WORST.
why should they be punished? what EXACTLY have they done?
regardless, it isn't close to Dahab and i am completely safe. but they make it sound like the ENTIRE area is full of angry arab men. when in reality...in ACTUALITY 60 percent of the population can't read or write...they don't read the news. they are living their little lives out here on the red sea. muslims are very peaceful people and it truly is unfortunate that we don't get to view THEIR life. real life. all we see is destruction...anger....hate. it is such a drop in the landscape of all of ARABIA.
i don't really know what i'm ranting about.
yesterday i had the pleasure of having lunch with the PALACE MANAGER for King Abdullah of Jordan. she is an interesting character and had lots of very solid advice. JUST DO IT! stop thinking so much. you never know WHAT will happen.
p.s. I GOT THE JOB. just waiting to sign in BLACK INK on the dotted line. yessur. i'm getting back home. i'll be seeing you. maybe not soon. but soon enough. trust.
so last night i watched CNN for the first time in a LOOONG time. it is interesting to me the way they portray what is happening in Rafa and El Arish Egypt. they make it sound like it is on the brink of the 3rd world war. when really it is a case of SUPPRESSED people who have been cut off from ANY AND ALL supplies...foood...waaater...EVERYTHING...and have fled to Arish to eat and gather supplies. is it not the right of man...of EVERY human, to have free access to the necessary things in life? WATER...FOOD?
a bunch of people from Dahab have gone to Arish to sell cigarettes because they are worth 1,000 USD right now to a Palestinian. and i'm talking about shit cigarettes too. like the WORST.
why should they be punished? what EXACTLY have they done?
regardless, it isn't close to Dahab and i am completely safe. but they make it sound like the ENTIRE area is full of angry arab men. when in reality...in ACTUALITY 60 percent of the population can't read or write...they don't read the news. they are living their little lives out here on the red sea. muslims are very peaceful people and it truly is unfortunate that we don't get to view THEIR life. real life. all we see is destruction...anger....hate. it is such a drop in the landscape of all of ARABIA.
i don't really know what i'm ranting about.
yesterday i had the pleasure of having lunch with the PALACE MANAGER for King Abdullah of Jordan. she is an interesting character and had lots of very solid advice. JUST DO IT! stop thinking so much. you never know WHAT will happen.
p.s. I GOT THE JOB. just waiting to sign in BLACK INK on the dotted line. yessur. i'm getting back home. i'll be seeing you. maybe not soon. but soon enough. trust.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
a good day
today...
1. i sat in the sun in wadi gunay = glorious
2. i drank an ICE cold fresh squeezed glass of orange juice (oranges from syria...delicious)
3. i ate pizza at el dorado---a delicious italian pizza with grilled zucchini made by italians
it's the simple things.
1. i sat in the sun in wadi gunay = glorious
2. i drank an ICE cold fresh squeezed glass of orange juice (oranges from syria...delicious)
3. i ate pizza at el dorado---a delicious italian pizza with grilled zucchini made by italians
it's the simple things.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
rain rain...go away
i mean STAY! Last night it rained ALL NIGHT. quite amazing when you think that this place MAYBE sees rain once A YEAR! the older bedouin here say that it really hasn't rained for 10 years.
so the other night...and this is a bit crude...but it is a FINE example of how many different cultural exchanges i experience. so the general manager of the 5 star hotel that i have been interviewing for is SWISS (GABY)...and her husband is SWISS(ANDY). he has worked alot in America, namely Texas, building hotels and ranches etc. so she invited me to dinner at her hotel in an attempt to feed me. i've lost a considerable amount of weight...not that i'm complaining...i just don't eat too much anymore. ANYWAY, there is another SWISS (ROMAN PROBST) gentleman there. ALL of the people i am seated with speak 5 languages. the swiss gentleman speaks nearly 10 and owns a translation company that translates international patents and various things like that. he is brilliant. so here i am little american girl sitting amongst TRUELY accomplished people...when the SWISS gentleman hit my foot under the table. i jokingly said "mr. probst...are you trying to play footsies with me?" the table WENT DEAD SILENT. ALL EYES ON ME AGHAST!!
"what?", i said.
"my darling katie, i'm not exactly sure you meant to say that", gaby said
"what? playing footsies?", i repeated
LAUGHTER ALL AROUND.
"no, my dear, not too loud" , said andy
"what does footsies mean? what is wrong with saying footsies" i replied
"who is going to tell her...not until AT LEAST TWO GLASSES OF WINE" gaby said
"it is THAT bad?" i said
"well, she has to know...Katie, my dear, footsies in our language means PUSSY." andy said.
i nearly fell out of the chair!! we all died laughing.
cultural exchange...and NO...MR. PROBST WAS NOT to play FOOTSIES with me!! hahahahah. hilarious.
so the other night...and this is a bit crude...but it is a FINE example of how many different cultural exchanges i experience. so the general manager of the 5 star hotel that i have been interviewing for is SWISS (GABY)...and her husband is SWISS(ANDY). he has worked alot in America, namely Texas, building hotels and ranches etc. so she invited me to dinner at her hotel in an attempt to feed me. i've lost a considerable amount of weight...not that i'm complaining...i just don't eat too much anymore. ANYWAY, there is another SWISS (ROMAN PROBST) gentleman there. ALL of the people i am seated with speak 5 languages. the swiss gentleman speaks nearly 10 and owns a translation company that translates international patents and various things like that. he is brilliant. so here i am little american girl sitting amongst TRUELY accomplished people...when the SWISS gentleman hit my foot under the table. i jokingly said "mr. probst...are you trying to play footsies with me?" the table WENT DEAD SILENT. ALL EYES ON ME AGHAST!!
"what?", i said.
"my darling katie, i'm not exactly sure you meant to say that", gaby said
"what? playing footsies?", i repeated
LAUGHTER ALL AROUND.
"no, my dear, not too loud" , said andy
"what does footsies mean? what is wrong with saying footsies" i replied
"who is going to tell her...not until AT LEAST TWO GLASSES OF WINE" gaby said
"it is THAT bad?" i said
"well, she has to know...Katie, my dear, footsies in our language means PUSSY." andy said.
i nearly fell out of the chair!! we all died laughing.
cultural exchange...and NO...MR. PROBST WAS NOT to play FOOTSIES with me!! hahahahah. hilarious.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
6 months
well, i am embarking on my 6 month anniversary. sometimes it is so difficult to live here i can't stand it. it has been an interesting journey into complete surrender and trust of SELF. i am blessed to have this time to really organize myself and thoughts.
however, sometimes i really miss home. i miss certainty. i have been sick for about 2 weeks now with some kind of stomach bug. or maybe i should say...WORM...ewww. GNAR GNAR. simple things like health...a comfortable bed...an ICE cold drink...an enjoyable MEAL. you really shouldn't eat out at restaurants here. the egyptian way is FILTH. complete and utter FILTH. they live in filth. work in filth. and THEY DON'T CARE. malish.
however, one of the doctors here is an AMERICAN born egyptian that studied at DUKE UNIVERSITY and completed his residency in COLUMBIA, SC. how wonderful!! it was nice to speak with someone who had actually been OUTSIDE of egypt and knows it's better.
i've been having a real problem with the food here. it is not a culinary rich area. it is desert and the energy here is based more on SURVIVAL not pleasure. it makes a really BIG difference.
i have been interviewing with a new hotel here since OCTOBER, it would be a DREAM job. i find out for certain on 2.1.07. inshallah i get it. INSHALLAH...INSHALLAH...INSHALLAH.
last week i attended a surfer party that was a BLAST. met some really interesting people from all over the world. that is one of my favorite things about living here. that and the goats. i LOVE the goats.
my bedouin friends are talking about taking me to a place in the desert called Serabit Al Kherain. It is an abandoned Turquoise mine from the Pharonic Era. The egyptian government doesn't have the money to maintain it. however if you walk around the area you can find turquoise fairly easy. the desert is always...ALWAYS nice. this area is so ancient. it's amazing.
i've been having a real problem eating but i am getting my appetite back. i am making myself eat. tuna with rice...cheese and crackers. it's just that all the food here is a variation of WHITE. eggs, rice, yogurt, hummus...fuul...bread...white...white...white!! i'm dying for some brussel sprouts, cabbage, CORN!!
more later...off to eat some white food.
however, sometimes i really miss home. i miss certainty. i have been sick for about 2 weeks now with some kind of stomach bug. or maybe i should say...WORM...ewww. GNAR GNAR. simple things like health...a comfortable bed...an ICE cold drink...an enjoyable MEAL. you really shouldn't eat out at restaurants here. the egyptian way is FILTH. complete and utter FILTH. they live in filth. work in filth. and THEY DON'T CARE. malish.
however, one of the doctors here is an AMERICAN born egyptian that studied at DUKE UNIVERSITY and completed his residency in COLUMBIA, SC. how wonderful!! it was nice to speak with someone who had actually been OUTSIDE of egypt and knows it's better.
i've been having a real problem with the food here. it is not a culinary rich area. it is desert and the energy here is based more on SURVIVAL not pleasure. it makes a really BIG difference.
i have been interviewing with a new hotel here since OCTOBER, it would be a DREAM job. i find out for certain on 2.1.07. inshallah i get it. INSHALLAH...INSHALLAH...INSHALLAH.
last week i attended a surfer party that was a BLAST. met some really interesting people from all over the world. that is one of my favorite things about living here. that and the goats. i LOVE the goats.
my bedouin friends are talking about taking me to a place in the desert called Serabit Al Kherain. It is an abandoned Turquoise mine from the Pharonic Era. The egyptian government doesn't have the money to maintain it. however if you walk around the area you can find turquoise fairly easy. the desert is always...ALWAYS nice. this area is so ancient. it's amazing.
i've been having a real problem eating but i am getting my appetite back. i am making myself eat. tuna with rice...cheese and crackers. it's just that all the food here is a variation of WHITE. eggs, rice, yogurt, hummus...fuul...bread...white...white...white!! i'm dying for some brussel sprouts, cabbage, CORN!!
more later...off to eat some white food.
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