1 o'clock Sunday

I just realized its been nearly 2 weeks since my last entry, so its definitely time to drop word on what's going on.  Overall, things are okay, if not a little mundane.  One of the most exciting lately has really been helping change the tire on a taxi cab... again.


Ramadan has been going well enough.  I will admit that I sorta miss drinking Coca Cola a little bit, and having cut it out of my diet for Ramadan really makes me think of being a kid at St. Joes when all the other kids would give up candy, soda, and video games for Lent.  I suppose I did that a few times too, although I only slightly recall once giving up the collection of baseball cards.  Funny thing is though, I'm not sure why I ever collected baseball cards in the first place, except perhaps to have more in common with my baseball loving friends.  In retrospect, I can't help but wonder if 'sacrificing' card collecting for 40 days was really just a ploy to get out of a true sacrifice... like if I were to give archery, or legos, or whatever else I was really into at that time.

As the end of August approaches, Cairo is becoming a hotbed of activity (pun intended).  Many of the development and relief organizations are concluding the August Holiday and are stepping back into business.  I've been applying for various jobs, and while I think I might be making some degree of progress, I'll be really glad when something picks up.  I found some really great jobs with the US government advertised online, so I'm tediously working on those applications.

A little summer time heat wave...

I haven't had a great deal to report on lately. August is hot in Cairo... crushingly hot... but think its starting to cool down already, it seems that it doesn't reach 100 degrees until about noon, when it was around 10 am earlier in the summer.  For those who are unaware, I did not receive the UNESCO job, but was selected as the 'alternate.' So I'm staying in Cairo for now. I'm presently applying to various development jobs etc. 

A friend on mine from art school, Anna Kipervaser, artist extraordinaire, will be coming to Cairo tomorrow night to work on a documentary film about the men that conduct the call to prayer from the mosque's of Cairo.  Make sure to click on her name and check out some of her fabulous paintings... she was definately my favorite painter in school, and I'm sure you can see why. It will definately be great to see her!

Aside from that, the biggest news is that Ramadaan is about to start!  I'm actually rather excited, and plan to participate this year.  So for 30 days there will be complete fasting till sundown.  I decided to take it a step further, and will also no alcohal and no soft drinks during the 30 days.  I'm contemplating cutting out caffeine entirely, and to consume no beverage but water... but I know that I would be really cranky and not too pleasent to be around... so I haven't decided on that one yet. But I'll let you know!

Finally! Back Online!

It has certainly been an eventful 6 weeks since my last posting.  Shortly after returning to America my web domain had expired, so the blog ceased to exist.  Then while in Cincinnati my computer crashed and I no longer had a working computer. Of course returning to Cairo I didn't have working internet, and then Mallory's friends came to visit right at the same time she became rather ill, so I became tour guide and resident care giver at the same time.

But now I was able to fix my computer - at risk of losing the last 6 months of data on my hard drive (keep your fingers crossed).  I was able to finally get the internet installed.  And now that Mallory is healthy again, we just returned with her friends from Dahab, with Melissa leaving tonight and Annie leaving tomorrow.


Dahab was a great time, as we spent hours and hours and hours snorkling along the reefs.  I really don't know what sort of fish were there, but I've never seen so many exotic looking creatures.  Not only that, but while standing on the beach we saw about 50 dolphins jumping out of the water.  We attempt to swim out to them, but they didn't wait around and took off before me made it.

All in all, it was a good trip.  My third time there, some of the people who worked in the area actually remembered me, while I made some new friends as well.  I definately came back with a bit of a sun tan, and after so many hours swimming, Mallory is so dark she looks Brazilian.  At this point I just look forward to a few days of R&R, and now that I'm online, keeping in touch, finding a job, and following through a a few other responsibilities won't be so complicated.  I look forward to talking to everyone soon, as the recent absence has been too far long.