Crossing into Gaza

http://therealnews.com/web/index.php?thisdataswitch=0&thisid=863&thisview=item#

As I write, Egypt is experiencing a huge influx of over 700,000 Gazans coming over the border for basic supplies. This video will give you an up to date account of the situation.

I ask you to not be concerned over my safety, it's a non-issue in this regard.

...hanging in there.

Showers, baths, central heating, paper towels, a functioning washer, cleaner air, water and streets would all be lovely things to experience on a daily basis.

Or monthly....

I miss my home with a greater intensity than I imagined or expected. It comes in waves daily.. the least noticeable or completely diminished when I am with my tutors (Khedega & Seid Mohammad). They are wonderful, wonderful people. Today I cried in class because I kept getting a sentence wrong (well, it was the needle...). It was something like, "We were late because we went to the bank to get money." (A true story.) My two tutors and A. were all telling me what to do and I got so confused that I had no idea what to say. I was a bit overwhelmed and had some emotions spill over.. :-\ Khedega, my female tutor, started to cry because I was! Hahaha.. awww.. they really are my home away from home.

It's been very challenging to get the things we need, such as the internet and medicine. Alex and I are hoping to have an internet connection at our apartment by Thursday, but the likelihood of that is low. It costs 2 Egyptian pounds an hour to go to the internet cafe in our neighborhood (where I'm at now), which is approximately 43 cents/hour. It adds on though, let me tell you...

I have so much to say, but when I sit down my thoughts evaporate and I'm left just an exhausted, busy woman. I want to email everyone I know individually but I honestly do not have the time. It takes forever to get anywhere, to do anything! Just getting soy milk (to my delight!) would take 40 minutes... walk to the store 15 min. away, get the milk, walk back. Washing my clothes takes HOURS, and then drying them on the line takes days! (It's really cold here right now.) I get at least 10-20 new words a day which I'm expected to memorize, so after my 5 hours at the language center I have to study for at least 3. Whew.

Speaking of time, I need to go. I have to pick up a loaf of hobz (bread) at the fern (bakery) on my way to elbait (the house). Then, I have to pick up some broccoli, bananas and potatoes (I don't know those words yet!) from the vegetable market... A. and I are having rice with steamed broccoli & carrots and mashed potatoes for dinner.

Ha, then we'll study until our eyes fall out. Yay! Lol.


Know you're missed & loved dearly.

Always,
Candiace

Cairo is so NOISY

People yell in the streets at 6am. People throw their rugs over the side of their balcony and hit them with a stick to get the dust out. Hundreds of cars driving passed us in 10 minutes, honking, honking, honking... Did I mention the kids playing soccer outside my window? The planes flying over head? The prayer messages coming out of speakers on every block, announcing the time to pray..?

Oh, and the bajillions of stray cats who yeowl at random points in the evening, can't forget those poor souls. Yes, Cairo is so noisy and I LOVE IT. As much as I already hate things about this city (which will be explored in a different post sometime), I love how people do what they need to do and they're not afraid to be REALLY loud about it.

Time to study Arabic.

I'm so homesick... :( :(


Love,
Candiace

Palestinians Enter Egypt

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/829B8398-ECC5-45B9-A457-725230F5E281.htm

http://therealnews.com/web/index.php?thisdataswitch=0&thisid=836&thisview=item

Since Egypt has let in the Gazans, the US and its Zionist agenda have revoked 100 million dollars in aid. Before they opened the gate and there was a struggle going on, one Gazan was quoted saying something like, "Why would they (Egypt) not let in their own people (Arabs)?" Well, they have, and the Gazans are busy buyng essential supplies since Israel has locked them out of the Gaza strip.

Rafah is very far from where I'm at in Cairo, in the center of the city in middle class suburbs.

Pictures

Downtown Cairo at dusk.

The Sphinx was pretty rad... but the people around selling
souvenirs would not leave us alone. Egh.

I don't remember what mosque this is, but I'll be seeing it regularly.

On a minibus to Medinat Nasr from Downtown... Crowded and crazy!

7up & Pepsi

Looking over the Nile towards the island Zamalek.

In the restrooms at the Semiramis Hotel.

My and A.'s first meal in our apartment!

I would like to thank my mother for constantly pushing for pictures when I didn't want to take any. <3>

Contact Info

To send me a free voicemail, call:
1-888-579-0208, follow the prompts, then enter my account number 3101351585.

To mail me a letter or package, send it to:

Candiace Terry
c/o Sibawayh Center
11 Al Jahiz St, 7th District
Nasr City
Cairo, Egypt
11371


My Egyptian phone number is 011010016993 from outside of Egypt. Call me with a calling card or Egyptian phone plane, lest you pay a heavy $2.50/minute!

I love you all very much. Comment on my entries sometime soon, I need your support and suggestions~!!


Love,
Candiace

Chillin in Medinat Nasr!

Oh, Egypt, dear Egypt. I never thought I would be here, but alas, here I am. It's been really hard, and while I knew it would be the hardest situation I've deliberately put myself in, it's hard living it. "I don't understand, I'm sorry!" passes through my lips more times than I wish to admit... but I'm learning.

Today was my second day of class at the language center. I have two tutors that I share with A.; we each get individual time with each tutor for two hours, switch tutors for two hours then have conversation all together for the last hour. It's been quite effective, I've learned almost 20 words within the last two days. Wayyyy better already than in the states.

I've been out and about between Nasr City and Downtown Cairo since I've been here. The trip is terrible when taking a cab because the exhaust fills the car, giving A. and me headaches. Ha, not only that, but the traffic is absolutely INSANE! Traffic laws DO NOT EXIST as far as I know. People get off moving buses into moving traffic. Women holding hands with children, sandwiched between cars at an intersection. While taking a taxi from my school to City Stars Mall we got rear ended. The driver of the taxi and driver of the offending car got out, assessed the damage, had a one minute heated conversation and then went their separate ways. No insurance, no police, no exchange of money or information at all. With all cars being dented, I'm surprised I haven't been in an accident sooner.

As far as my safety, one need not worry. Serious crimes are very very rare, which surprises me because of Egypt's 20% unemployment rate. What do these people do? How do they live? Petty theft isn't unheard of, but I've never felt so safe in my life. Houston - no. Dallas - no. California - yeah right. Anywhere in America, people are always watching their backs. I'm an obvious foreigner with no real language abilities and no one has gotten close to messing with me. I don't expect anyone to, but I'm still going to keep an eye out.

As much as it shames me to say & do, I can not claim myself as American here. People change when I say it, bringing up Bush and eying me a bit differently. I don't want to come across someone who is potentially violent and have them take out their frustration on me about a government even I don't support! So, A. is from Puerto Rico and I'm from Australia... it's just the way it has to be. Our black friend from the states, D., just says he's from Africa. I didn't think it would work because Australian, Puerto Rican and Sudanese accents are different, but they obviously don't notice!

Well, there is much to write about but it's late and our curfew is 12am. A. and I live in a 'family building' and should be in by 10pm, but we're American women and we mostly do what we want! ....12am is pushing it a bit, though. All is well! Even in this cafe drinking our Lebanese coffee and Egyptian tea, there are many, many women around us having a good time.

Well, I'll write much more soon!

Love,
Candiace <3