Arabic = trickkyyy

Well. I must say, I didn't think today's post was going to work out. When things like this happen, the brilliance of technology kind of freaks me out and is just a little obnoxious. (And yes, I do realize the irony of this since technology is also allowing me to share these thoughts with you across the world). But Google/blogger.com/whatever on my computer is just SO smart that it knows I am in Egypt and just ASSUMES that I know Arabic, so now my whole little toolbar at the top of my blog is in Arabic. So between all the options to click on and the slow internet connection, it took me quite some time to figure out what group of squiggly letters would allow me to write a new post. Bother.

However, today I did have my first Arabic lesson, so perhaps someday (soon?) I will actually be able to read those squiggly letters. My lesson went just swimmingly. Imad (can't figure out how to spell it, forgive me Imad) is an Egyptian friend who has tutored pretty much this whole group of people I am friends with over here. And he is very patient, thank goodness. I can see myself having a few outbursts over the difficulty of this language though. The way I am planning to tackle it is to learn the alphabet, but then focus on just conversational Arabic by writing and reading with the English characters - the transliteration. Supposedly this will be a titch easier to do. It just seems unfair though; it's like you have to learn TWO new languages! But in just over a week it has become abundantly clear that if I actually want to form friendships with Egyptians, which I clearly do, then I need to speak Arabic. I'll keep you updated on how that is going...

Yesterday Amy and I went out to Garbage City to spend time with her friend Siham. (Once again, I have no idea how to spell this. The only way I could remember to say her name is it's like scissors and ham.. siham. Clearly, I have to employ extremely juvenile methods to remember things.. yikes). Siham grew up in Garbage City, and I think she is about 20 years old. She was so thrilled to see Amy, and between Amy's Arabic and Siham's English, communication somehow works. Nancy, her two year old cousin, was also instrumental in the conversation by pointing alot, playing peek-a-boo, and being generally precious. I must say, it kind of rocks my world view to walk through winding streets piled high with trash and then enter a home and drink Fanta, chat, laugh, and look at pictures on Siham's computer from her cousin's recent wedding. In some ways it just feels so normal.

Well, Arabic studying is calling my name. Imad is teaching me again on Thursday and I would love to be able to say 'good morning, how are you' in a way that is at least sort of correct....