I thought about waiting 3 more days to post to make it an even two months since I'd posted anything, and then figured that I had better post while I was in any kind of mood to do it or that three days might pass right by, along with another 60!
I'm not hiding or avoiding, there just hasn't been anything going on.
I stopped my picture a day some time ago as there was just nothing I felt like taking pictures of since I don't get out that much. Though I am still interested in this project in general and may restart at some point, a fresh start. And perhaps with a specific subject matter instead of random pictures every day.
The biggest news at the moment, aside from the fact that allergy season has hit at last, is that I booked my tickets for a visit back to the States.
I had hoped hubby would be coming but it looks like it's just me this time. He has some work that he can't leave, and in addition, he'll most likely be traveling for work as well, so it works out fine.
I'm excited beyond belief to get back home for a visit. I miss my family a lot. And how easy everything is in the States. How accessible everything is.
Not looking forward to the flight from Paris to LA, but until they invent that teleporting machine, or they let me fly on a Concorde, then I think I just have to deal with it. Hard to be bored and "trapped" in a long tube with several hundred other folks.
Anyways, it's nice having this trip to look forward to. And I feel energized, making lists and having something to do besides the normal nothing.
Not sure when I'll post again. No promises.
Oh, and here's the last day of the journal, I think I missed posting it before. There's not much to it, things had really died down by that point, at least in our neighborhood.
:::
Saturday, February 5th
Woke about 10:30. Nothing new overnight from what I could see. And for the most part, at least looking from the outside in, it would have almost seemed like business as usual today. Much more traffic about, more stores open, more people out. But, banks and stock exchange still closed until Monday. And still shortages of some goods and money, gas, etc.
I think the tanks are gone from this area, at least the patrol tanks. Gone back to wherever they came from. Fine by me. I'm not sure if they did any good or not.
Not much gun fire to speak of. A few shots around 8 p.m. and also at 11 p.m. A helicopter now and then.
So things in one sense have settled down. And yet, the tension is still high, people are still waiting, nothing feels like it's been accomplished. Of course, there are things that have happened, and I think there have been some moves in a positive direction, but still waiting. It's like that itch you can't scratch that starts to drive you mad after a while.
Not feeling safe enough to leave the apartment at this point. Easy enough for hubby to go out to the stores or cafe, but I'm still hearing bad things about foreigners being detained and I don't think there's any reason to risk that kind of thing. It would be unpleasant to be detained, to say the least.
So for now, watching like the whole world, waiting like the whole world.
When you really see the way this government has acted, when you really understand who these people are, it's enough to make you ill. How does the rest of the world not step in to stop leaders like these? How has this gone on for 30 years with no intervention?
I know that I have taken so much for granted, growing up and living in the United States. There are negatives to be said about the country, just like for any country, but there are definitely positives as well. And one thing I can't stress enough are the rights that the people living in the States have, that are not a given in other countries like Egypt.
Because they have been living under "emergency law" for 30 years, they essentially have no rights at all. None. No rights and further, the police can come and take you at any time, detain you as long as they wish and for whatever they wish. Maybe most people don't worry about something like that, but after seeing what the government is capable of in the last couple weeks, I think they should.
Some limited gun shots during the wee hours but nothing too major. Not much else happening. 5 a.m. and time for sleep.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Two years and Tahrir
We finally made it down to Tahrir Square today. We've been meaning to go for a couple of weeks now but something always seemed to come up, preventing us from going.
The weather was beautiful, low 80's I guess. Not overly sunny so didn't have to worry so much about glare.
There was some sort of rally going on for the voting tomorrow. Lots of people and there were some police but I'm not sure if they were military or what.
After passing through Tahrir we went to the AUC bookstore. AUC being American University of Cairo. They had a book that I have been wanting so we finally picked that up. While there I asked the person behind the counter if it was possible to get a membership to the AUC library, but he said that you have to be a member of any university in Cairo to get a membership. Oh well! There are other libraries, but I would have loved to go inside that one, it's ginormous!
After that we took some more pictures down by the Egyptian Museum and then we walked around downtown for almost two hours, looking here and there and everywhere.
They have the best smells and I really wish I could record them for you. The food smells unbelievably good and I'd just bet on it that if you could smell it you'd book a ticket to Cairo for as soon as you could!
So, here are the pictures we got today.
If you want to view any of them larger, just click on the image and it will take you to a page with a larger image. Some of them are larger files sizes because I left the images a littler larger than usual. Sorry for those on dial up!
This first image is of Tahrir and the rally that was going on. Actually this one and the next one are both of the rally. Lots of people but the crowd was fine while we were there.
:::
:::
Then we have me standing next to a very dirty phone booth. The only reason I actually included this picture was so you could see how dirty it was. I'm not sure you could pay me to touch this unless I was in danger from losing life or limb. lol
:::
And then here is me, same basic spot, showing the crowds in Tahrir. This was taken from the opposite side of the street from the first two pictures.
:::
Next is me with the Mogamma in the background. That's the building where you do all your visa stuff. Great place to people watch. Probably also a great place to catch a lot of germs!
:::
Here is me with the Egyptian Museum and the burned out NDP building in the background. Really strange to drive over the bridge to downtown and see the big hulking building all burned.
:::
And last we have a picture of my sweety pie in the same spot, with the museum and burned out building behind him. Not sure what he's looking at but something must have caught his eye.
So that's it for pictures today!
:::
As of tomorrow, it will be two years since I landed here in Cairo.
Two years. Roughly 730 days.
I'm happy that I came here. I'm happy for my experiences. But I still miss a lot of things about the States. And sometimes, when we're out and I'm looking around, I feel *so* very foreign. It's jarring at times.
There is so much that I still want to do here. Places to go and things to see and insha'Allah I'll be able to learn the language which should make it more exciting. Hard to fully interact with a society when you can't communicate.
I wish it wasn't so expensive to travel, and that I could go back and forth more frequently to the States to visit. Also that the flights weren't so long. That's a real bummer. No matter how many cushions you sit on, 11 hours on a flight is going to leave you with a sore butt!
I have good days and bad days, which is the same as before I moved here.
I feel happy though and lucky, mashAllah, to be living with my husband, who I love so very much.
Just like everyone, I'm not sure what the future holds. Not sure how long I'll live here for. Not sure how long I'll love it for. But still, 2 years on, happy to be here sharing my life with hubby.
More to write about when I post next insha'Allah.
The weather was beautiful, low 80's I guess. Not overly sunny so didn't have to worry so much about glare.
There was some sort of rally going on for the voting tomorrow. Lots of people and there were some police but I'm not sure if they were military or what.
After passing through Tahrir we went to the AUC bookstore. AUC being American University of Cairo. They had a book that I have been wanting so we finally picked that up. While there I asked the person behind the counter if it was possible to get a membership to the AUC library, but he said that you have to be a member of any university in Cairo to get a membership. Oh well! There are other libraries, but I would have loved to go inside that one, it's ginormous!
After that we took some more pictures down by the Egyptian Museum and then we walked around downtown for almost two hours, looking here and there and everywhere.
They have the best smells and I really wish I could record them for you. The food smells unbelievably good and I'd just bet on it that if you could smell it you'd book a ticket to Cairo for as soon as you could!
So, here are the pictures we got today.
If you want to view any of them larger, just click on the image and it will take you to a page with a larger image. Some of them are larger files sizes because I left the images a littler larger than usual. Sorry for those on dial up!
This first image is of Tahrir and the rally that was going on. Actually this one and the next one are both of the rally. Lots of people but the crowd was fine while we were there.
:::
:::
Then we have me standing next to a very dirty phone booth. The only reason I actually included this picture was so you could see how dirty it was. I'm not sure you could pay me to touch this unless I was in danger from losing life or limb. lol
:::
And then here is me, same basic spot, showing the crowds in Tahrir. This was taken from the opposite side of the street from the first two pictures.
:::
Next is me with the Mogamma in the background. That's the building where you do all your visa stuff. Great place to people watch. Probably also a great place to catch a lot of germs!
:::
Here is me with the Egyptian Museum and the burned out NDP building in the background. Really strange to drive over the bridge to downtown and see the big hulking building all burned.
:::
And last we have a picture of my sweety pie in the same spot, with the museum and burned out building behind him. Not sure what he's looking at but something must have caught his eye.
So that's it for pictures today!
:::
As of tomorrow, it will be two years since I landed here in Cairo.
Two years. Roughly 730 days.
I'm happy that I came here. I'm happy for my experiences. But I still miss a lot of things about the States. And sometimes, when we're out and I'm looking around, I feel *so* very foreign. It's jarring at times.
There is so much that I still want to do here. Places to go and things to see and insha'Allah I'll be able to learn the language which should make it more exciting. Hard to fully interact with a society when you can't communicate.
I wish it wasn't so expensive to travel, and that I could go back and forth more frequently to the States to visit. Also that the flights weren't so long. That's a real bummer. No matter how many cushions you sit on, 11 hours on a flight is going to leave you with a sore butt!
I have good days and bad days, which is the same as before I moved here.
I feel happy though and lucky, mashAllah, to be living with my husband, who I love so very much.
Just like everyone, I'm not sure what the future holds. Not sure how long I'll live here for. Not sure how long I'll love it for. But still, 2 years on, happy to be here sharing my life with hubby.
More to write about when I post next insha'Allah.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
One and a theory
Not to belabor a subject, but there is one memory I want to share.
I'm not sure how old I was, but I'm guessing somewhere around 5.
My family had taken a trip and I can't remember all the places we went or the ultimate destination, though it may have been Disneyland, however the memory I'm thinking of pertains to something that was bought at Magic Mountain.
There had been a stand there at the park selling blown glass figurines. Boy oh boy I loved those. Delicate, glass, sparkly, cute.
I apparently found one I really liked and I'm guessing the parents bought it for me because I don't really remember much about that part.
But what happens is, after we're home from the trip, I wanted to go next door to show the neighbor lady my special new figurine that I had got from the trip.
I don't remember anything about what happened next door, but I'm sure the neighbor made the appropriate oohs and aahs.
What I remember is, that coming home, and walking up the path to our front door, I dropped it.
Well, I was so upset. My new special sparkly glass ornament and it was broken.
It wasn't in a million pieces or anything, I think just a piece or two had really broken off, but it seemed unfixable and ruined.
But along with the sadness that I broke it, came a fear that I would get in trouble for breaking it.
This wasn't due to anything except being a kid and not realizing that this wasn't the end of the world for everyone else, that this didn't cost as much as a car and wasn't as precious to everyone else.
I'm sure in my mind, the thought was that kids get in trouble when they break stuff.
This has nothing to do with my folks, they didn't do anything wrong, but I guess stuff just seems overwhelming when you're little.
I think, though I'm not certain, that I tried to hide the fact for a little bit that I broke it but I'm a little hazy on that part.
I just remember walking up the path and dropping that shiny thing.
Hubby thinks that the reason kids remember bad memories is because perhaps emotions are stronger when we're young, in terms of not really knowing how to deal with those emotions.
It's easy enough to be happy and there's no problem with that, but little kids aren't really equipped to handle a lot of other emotions I think. It comes with time and as situations arise.
So perhaps, though of course I had many happy memories in childhood, perhaps I don't remember them as well is because I didn't know how to deal with the others, and so they stick out.
Of course I love my folks and this isn't a reflection on them at all. I know that I had many good times as a kid. I just wish I could remember more of them.
:::
Forecast is for 77 degrees today. Supposed to continue to warm up until Saturday when it's supposed to hit 91 degrees. Yikes!!
I'm definitely ready for some low 80's, but low 90's? *sigh*
Hopefully at least we've seen the last of the sand storms. If it's going to be hot I'd prefer not to be eating sand as well.
Not enough rain this year. I doubt we'll get any more at this point until the end of the year now. Wish we had had some more.
Alright, on to today's log. There is only one more after this.
:::
Friday, February 4th
Up at about 1 p.m. Seeing the news on al jazeera, 100's of thousands of people, maybe a million or more, gathered peacefully in Tahrir square. Chanting and cheering and milling around. Happy to see that there is no violence, same as before, until the police and thugs and pro presidential people got involved. I wonder how long the people will stay there?
Some of the things that I've read about from local ex-pats include having trouble finding atm's with money. I'd say over 99% of them have been out of cash for days. There's trouble getting fresh fruit and vegetables, and apparently the gas stations are out of gas. Many stores remain closed. Not sure how long all this can continue to go on and what will happen if it continues.
I still don't feel very safe to go outside but I think I was really just overwhelmed last night with too much news and getting a bit over fearful from all of the news. Feeling overall better today, just still not sure it's very safe for me to go walking around. Have heard of foreigners getting attacked in different areas of cairo by plain clothed police or others.
2:45 helicopter making rounds nearby
3:45 another round of helicopter
5:00 gun shot?
5:45 tank?
6:20 helicopter
Much more traffic out tonight judging by the sounds I can hear, though there should still be curfew in effect. Not normal traffic by any means but it's been so quiet at night lately that it's a noticeable increase.
8:40 helicopter
9:20 helicopter
10:03 helicopter
10:42 helicopter. i think it's making a continuous run around here somewhere.
3:25 It was fairly quiet tonight. Until about 45 minutes ago. There are a couple of cars nearby who have been honking back and forth for some time now. There's no pattern to it, so I don't know if it's a couple of kids just being irritating or what. There is also a lot of noise that reminds me of scavenging somehow. Not sure how to describe that but just odd noises. I don't think there's been as many people out at all tonight down on the street, for guard duty or otherwise. I think everyone wants a night inside. Maybe the fear of the thugs has died down, or maybe they're just worn from caring.
I have a deflated feeling, like somehow "we" have failed in our objective to get the president to leave. I know that this is a process and it takes time but I guess that myself and probably others as well felt a big lead up to today, hoping that there would be some sort of decisive outcome. No such luck.
I'm hoping that my hope will spring back eternal in the morning, after a night of sleep. Hubby asked tonight if I wanted to go back to the States for a month or two, but I would just worry about him if I was away, and we can't afford the trip anyways. He thought the embassy would pay for it, and I told him that they are only shipping people off to Greece or someplace nearby, not back to the States. And I think you have to pay them back anyhow.
Maybe, despite all the difficulties we would face in the States, we should think about heading that way to live. It remains to be seen what will happen to business here, and in particular hubbies business. I'm torn about living in either place, not completely satisfied with either.
And I really wish those darn cars would stop honking. lol
3:51 Honking be darned, it's time for sleep.
I'm not sure how old I was, but I'm guessing somewhere around 5.
My family had taken a trip and I can't remember all the places we went or the ultimate destination, though it may have been Disneyland, however the memory I'm thinking of pertains to something that was bought at Magic Mountain.
There had been a stand there at the park selling blown glass figurines. Boy oh boy I loved those. Delicate, glass, sparkly, cute.
I apparently found one I really liked and I'm guessing the parents bought it for me because I don't really remember much about that part.
But what happens is, after we're home from the trip, I wanted to go next door to show the neighbor lady my special new figurine that I had got from the trip.
I don't remember anything about what happened next door, but I'm sure the neighbor made the appropriate oohs and aahs.
What I remember is, that coming home, and walking up the path to our front door, I dropped it.
Well, I was so upset. My new special sparkly glass ornament and it was broken.
It wasn't in a million pieces or anything, I think just a piece or two had really broken off, but it seemed unfixable and ruined.
But along with the sadness that I broke it, came a fear that I would get in trouble for breaking it.
This wasn't due to anything except being a kid and not realizing that this wasn't the end of the world for everyone else, that this didn't cost as much as a car and wasn't as precious to everyone else.
I'm sure in my mind, the thought was that kids get in trouble when they break stuff.
This has nothing to do with my folks, they didn't do anything wrong, but I guess stuff just seems overwhelming when you're little.
I think, though I'm not certain, that I tried to hide the fact for a little bit that I broke it but I'm a little hazy on that part.
I just remember walking up the path and dropping that shiny thing.
Hubby thinks that the reason kids remember bad memories is because perhaps emotions are stronger when we're young, in terms of not really knowing how to deal with those emotions.
It's easy enough to be happy and there's no problem with that, but little kids aren't really equipped to handle a lot of other emotions I think. It comes with time and as situations arise.
So perhaps, though of course I had many happy memories in childhood, perhaps I don't remember them as well is because I didn't know how to deal with the others, and so they stick out.
Of course I love my folks and this isn't a reflection on them at all. I know that I had many good times as a kid. I just wish I could remember more of them.
:::
Forecast is for 77 degrees today. Supposed to continue to warm up until Saturday when it's supposed to hit 91 degrees. Yikes!!
I'm definitely ready for some low 80's, but low 90's? *sigh*
Hopefully at least we've seen the last of the sand storms. If it's going to be hot I'd prefer not to be eating sand as well.
Not enough rain this year. I doubt we'll get any more at this point until the end of the year now. Wish we had had some more.
Alright, on to today's log. There is only one more after this.
:::
Friday, February 4th
Up at about 1 p.m. Seeing the news on al jazeera, 100's of thousands of people, maybe a million or more, gathered peacefully in Tahrir square. Chanting and cheering and milling around. Happy to see that there is no violence, same as before, until the police and thugs and pro presidential people got involved. I wonder how long the people will stay there?
Some of the things that I've read about from local ex-pats include having trouble finding atm's with money. I'd say over 99% of them have been out of cash for days. There's trouble getting fresh fruit and vegetables, and apparently the gas stations are out of gas. Many stores remain closed. Not sure how long all this can continue to go on and what will happen if it continues.
I still don't feel very safe to go outside but I think I was really just overwhelmed last night with too much news and getting a bit over fearful from all of the news. Feeling overall better today, just still not sure it's very safe for me to go walking around. Have heard of foreigners getting attacked in different areas of cairo by plain clothed police or others.
2:45 helicopter making rounds nearby
3:45 another round of helicopter
5:00 gun shot?
5:45 tank?
6:20 helicopter
Much more traffic out tonight judging by the sounds I can hear, though there should still be curfew in effect. Not normal traffic by any means but it's been so quiet at night lately that it's a noticeable increase.
8:40 helicopter
9:20 helicopter
10:03 helicopter
10:42 helicopter. i think it's making a continuous run around here somewhere.
3:25 It was fairly quiet tonight. Until about 45 minutes ago. There are a couple of cars nearby who have been honking back and forth for some time now. There's no pattern to it, so I don't know if it's a couple of kids just being irritating or what. There is also a lot of noise that reminds me of scavenging somehow. Not sure how to describe that but just odd noises. I don't think there's been as many people out at all tonight down on the street, for guard duty or otherwise. I think everyone wants a night inside. Maybe the fear of the thugs has died down, or maybe they're just worn from caring.
I have a deflated feeling, like somehow "we" have failed in our objective to get the president to leave. I know that this is a process and it takes time but I guess that myself and probably others as well felt a big lead up to today, hoping that there would be some sort of decisive outcome. No such luck.
I'm hoping that my hope will spring back eternal in the morning, after a night of sleep. Hubby asked tonight if I wanted to go back to the States for a month or two, but I would just worry about him if I was away, and we can't afford the trip anyways. He thought the embassy would pay for it, and I told him that they are only shipping people off to Greece or someplace nearby, not back to the States. And I think you have to pay them back anyhow.
Maybe, despite all the difficulties we would face in the States, we should think about heading that way to live. It remains to be seen what will happen to business here, and in particular hubbies business. I'm torn about living in either place, not completely satisfied with either.
And I really wish those darn cars would stop honking. lol
3:51 Honking be darned, it's time for sleep.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Still?
Well, judging by the date on the calendar, it's time for another log post.
There are only two more after this, and they are all pretty short.
I'm glad that I kept the log, but not sure that I'll really look back on them at any point. Maybe sometime in the future but... who knows.
I hope they haven't been a total bore. I know it's not quite the same to read as to live through and a lot of it is kind of repetitive.
:::
The weather has gotten chilly again. Cold nose chilly. Those couple days we had at 80 plus degrees were really nice. Looking forward to warmer weather for sure.
Not looking forward to allergies but they don't seem to have started up yet so that's a blessing. I guess it's only a matter of time. Unless my body decides not to be allergic this year.
In any case, weather should be nice tomorrow, if a little chilly at 60, and we may go out for a walk somewhere. Depends on if we can manage to get out of bed early enough.
We've tried a couple of days this week to get down to Tahrir Square to visit a bookstore, but we just slept too late to really go down and walk around and get back by when hubby needed to.
Speaking of revolutions and bookstores, the reason for the visit to the bookstore was to get a book that I found on learning Egyptian Arabic.
I decided, even though I had wanted to learn to speak it before of course, that it was really just imperative that I make more of an effort. This really came home to me during all the protests and everything when I was not able to understand a lot of what was in the news here because I couldn't get a translation.
So, insha'Allah, this book, which has a CD included, will be a big help along the way. Hubby has promised to practice with me, so we'll see how that goes. It's a little embarassing starting out, knowing you aren't pronouncing right and feeling a bit goofy, but hopefully with time and practice this will pass.
I really look forward to the day when I don't have to ask, "What does that say?", or "What were they talking about?"
Alright, on to today's log.
:::
Thursday, February 3rd
Heard a few gun shots after going to bed. They were loud and close. Didn't hear much else that I remember.
Finally had a decent and long enough nights sleep though, which was really needed.
5:33 p.m. and the call to prayer is playing. It's been a fairly quiet day outside. Just been watching the news and wondering what will happen. This government is sneaky and devious in the ways they are trying to gain favor and turn things around. It's really disgusting. I hope with all my heart that the protesters get what they want, and that they send the president packing. I hope with all my heart that they don't give up before they get what they want.
From reading postings online from some other ex-pats living here in Cairo, it seems I'm not the only one who was doing extra cleaning while the internet was down for almost a week. Without being able to leave the house at night and many places closed during the day, it was hard to find stuff to do. I'm glad I had some books to see me through what would have otherwise been a very dull time.
6:30 First gun shot of the evening.
6:42 Possibly a tank going by but not sure without getting up to look. Could have just been a heavy truck, though there shouldn't be any out at this point with the curfew, though we do get a small trickle of cars throughout the night.
7:55 tank time.
8:15 Helicopter going by.
I've heard that they are imposing a 24 hour curfew for tomorrow to try to keep anyone from going towards downtown to protest. The more moves the government makes to try to end this, the more they are rallying the people to try to fight them for their rights. The government is making all the wrong moves if they truly want to end this.
Getting more nervous as I hear about foreigners being attacked, and not just in Tahrir square. Pretty sure I won't be stepping outside the apartment for a while. Who knows what will happen in the next two days, but I pray we will be safe.
The president continues to play dirty to try to divide and conquer. I'm really disappointed that Christiane Amanpour, who I had thought of as a good journalist, would actually let her "interview" of the president out as it is just lies, lies, lies! Shame on her and on ABC for airing this garbage!!! (as an afterthought, it now being February 28th, I never did see the interview and I don't know the intention of airing it, though I doubt it was for anything on ABC's part except ratings/money. but, as much as i hate that the president is a liar and some people can't see past it, maybe some people were able to see through him. don't know.)
12:20 gun shot nearby
Reports that there is about to be a slaughter in Tahrir, that police and thugs are about to go in and start doing a lot of damage to the protesters. Also reports that there is no live coverage in Tahrir right now to witness what is going to happen! Sad and worried. (it seems that one of the tactics of the current regime is to strike fear and confusion in people!)
1:40 multiple gun shots nearby
2:30 Too tired and stressed from the news to watch it or read it any more tonight. Will focus on other things instead and try to relax and calm down. Hubby asked if I felt safe and I said no! From all I have read, no I don't feel safe. Hopefully some rest and less news will fix that.
3:15 gun shots in the distance
Hubby was watching al jazeera, they were saying there was 200k people now in Tahrir square, so it's possible that number could be 10 times as much by noon tomorrow!
5:30 a.m. and time for sleep!
There are only two more after this, and they are all pretty short.
I'm glad that I kept the log, but not sure that I'll really look back on them at any point. Maybe sometime in the future but... who knows.
I hope they haven't been a total bore. I know it's not quite the same to read as to live through and a lot of it is kind of repetitive.
:::
The weather has gotten chilly again. Cold nose chilly. Those couple days we had at 80 plus degrees were really nice. Looking forward to warmer weather for sure.
Not looking forward to allergies but they don't seem to have started up yet so that's a blessing. I guess it's only a matter of time. Unless my body decides not to be allergic this year.
In any case, weather should be nice tomorrow, if a little chilly at 60, and we may go out for a walk somewhere. Depends on if we can manage to get out of bed early enough.
We've tried a couple of days this week to get down to Tahrir Square to visit a bookstore, but we just slept too late to really go down and walk around and get back by when hubby needed to.
Speaking of revolutions and bookstores, the reason for the visit to the bookstore was to get a book that I found on learning Egyptian Arabic.
I decided, even though I had wanted to learn to speak it before of course, that it was really just imperative that I make more of an effort. This really came home to me during all the protests and everything when I was not able to understand a lot of what was in the news here because I couldn't get a translation.
So, insha'Allah, this book, which has a CD included, will be a big help along the way. Hubby has promised to practice with me, so we'll see how that goes. It's a little embarassing starting out, knowing you aren't pronouncing right and feeling a bit goofy, but hopefully with time and practice this will pass.
I really look forward to the day when I don't have to ask, "What does that say?", or "What were they talking about?"
Alright, on to today's log.
:::
Thursday, February 3rd
Heard a few gun shots after going to bed. They were loud and close. Didn't hear much else that I remember.
Finally had a decent and long enough nights sleep though, which was really needed.
5:33 p.m. and the call to prayer is playing. It's been a fairly quiet day outside. Just been watching the news and wondering what will happen. This government is sneaky and devious in the ways they are trying to gain favor and turn things around. It's really disgusting. I hope with all my heart that the protesters get what they want, and that they send the president packing. I hope with all my heart that they don't give up before they get what they want.
From reading postings online from some other ex-pats living here in Cairo, it seems I'm not the only one who was doing extra cleaning while the internet was down for almost a week. Without being able to leave the house at night and many places closed during the day, it was hard to find stuff to do. I'm glad I had some books to see me through what would have otherwise been a very dull time.
6:30 First gun shot of the evening.
6:42 Possibly a tank going by but not sure without getting up to look. Could have just been a heavy truck, though there shouldn't be any out at this point with the curfew, though we do get a small trickle of cars throughout the night.
7:55 tank time.
8:15 Helicopter going by.
I've heard that they are imposing a 24 hour curfew for tomorrow to try to keep anyone from going towards downtown to protest. The more moves the government makes to try to end this, the more they are rallying the people to try to fight them for their rights. The government is making all the wrong moves if they truly want to end this.
Getting more nervous as I hear about foreigners being attacked, and not just in Tahrir square. Pretty sure I won't be stepping outside the apartment for a while. Who knows what will happen in the next two days, but I pray we will be safe.
The president continues to play dirty to try to divide and conquer. I'm really disappointed that Christiane Amanpour, who I had thought of as a good journalist, would actually let her "interview" of the president out as it is just lies, lies, lies! Shame on her and on ABC for airing this garbage!!! (as an afterthought, it now being February 28th, I never did see the interview and I don't know the intention of airing it, though I doubt it was for anything on ABC's part except ratings/money. but, as much as i hate that the president is a liar and some people can't see past it, maybe some people were able to see through him. don't know.)
12:20 gun shot nearby
Reports that there is about to be a slaughter in Tahrir, that police and thugs are about to go in and start doing a lot of damage to the protesters. Also reports that there is no live coverage in Tahrir right now to witness what is going to happen! Sad and worried. (it seems that one of the tactics of the current regime is to strike fear and confusion in people!)
1:40 multiple gun shots nearby
2:30 Too tired and stressed from the news to watch it or read it any more tonight. Will focus on other things instead and try to relax and calm down. Hubby asked if I felt safe and I said no! From all I have read, no I don't feel safe. Hopefully some rest and less news will fix that.
3:15 gun shots in the distance
Hubby was watching al jazeera, they were saying there was 200k people now in Tahrir square, so it's possible that number could be 10 times as much by noon tomorrow!
5:30 a.m. and time for sleep!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Memories
My husband, from time to time, will tell me wonderful stories about things that happened when he was a child.
He was quite the mischievous little guy and the stories are often quite amusing. I love watching him smile and laugh as he spins the stories out for me.
I wish that I could remember my early years so well. At least I think I wish that.
When I try to remember my childhood, I can remember here and there an event, but it's never something funny or nice. It's usually something quite the opposite.
And also, it seems that many of my memories are really just pictures, I mean literally, I have seen the pictures from when I was younger and so though I don't remember the actual time or event, my memory is a picture of that time or event.
It's kind of strange. Kind of sad.
I wish I had memories to look back on and laugh and smile about.
However, my memory for current happenings, including recent history, are usually quite excellent. And not so much for hubby. It seems our memories, in ability to recall them, are quite reversed.
I wonder how it would be to have your whole life available on DVD to watch as you wished. Fast forward through the boring parts. The sleeping and being in class, etc., but to really see and feel the things you have long forgotten. What's the point of having memory if it doesn't work?
:::
I was browsing around online the other day and found a whole slew of people living in Cairo or other parts of Egypt who blog. Expats that is, people who have moved here from other countries.
I read a handful to see what they were like. Some were nice, some were boring. But I wonder what it is, everyone's obsession with writing out the minutiae of their life? Does this speak to a larger issue of disconnection? Of needing to be heard or validated? I don't know why I write, only that it's a need. I'm just not sure what's pushing that need.
I wish I had something more interesting to write about. Or some great wisdoms to share. Maybe thoughts about current politics and world events. But honestly I'm just not that deep. That's not to say I think I'm shallow, just... I guess my interests and emotions lay elsewhere, and for some reason they don't get shared here. I'm sure I must have, buried inside somewhere, something great to share. It's just... buried.
Okay, enough blathering on....
Today's log is shorter, as are the next (last) few after this.
And I wanted to point out, that although I mention a few times in this and other logs, that I wish things were getting back to normal, I don't mean that I wish things were exactly the same as before, president and all, I just mean that I wish things would settle down and we could get to living our lives without the constant interruption of the army and protesting and all the stuff that is going on.
That doesn't mean I don't care for what's happening. And I know it's an involved process and takes time. I just want some normalcy. I don't think that's too much to ask?
:::
Wednesday, February 2nd
1:30 p.m. and I'm woken by a helicopter flying directly overhead and also by my husband calling to see if the internet is working. Takes me a minute to get the computer up since I was sleeping, but yes, alhamdulillah, the internet is back.
Couple minutes later and now there are crowds down on the street chanting for the president. Lots of car horns honking in time with the people chanting. Not sure if they are walking down towards Tahrir or not. This is the second bunch I've heard in the last few minutes. Tempted to get the camera and go out but after just having woken and seen so many crowds pass by already previously, I just can't be bothered.
No idea what the news is yet but now that there's internet I need to check mail and news and lots of other things.
2:50 Well finally starting to get a look at the news in the media. Seems there has been so much support for the people of Egypt from people all over the world. I've just seen from CNN that there are injured protesters in Tahrir because the people now are divided about the president. Maybe hubby is right and this will turn into a civil war. I truly hope not.
I've just read where one of the pro presient protesters admitted that they were forced into doing it. Which is what I was writing about earlier, that I figured they were paid or given some other incentive. It seems forced is the answer, sadly.
Just seeing some pictures of the crowds of demonstraters in Tahrir square. Wow!!! Really amazing!
4:00 I have to say, being cut off from the media has had one good affect on me, which is that I didn't freak out like I might have if I'd seen all the videos and pictures on the news that I can see now. It's pretty crazy out there and I really hope this can come to a peaceful end soon.
4:21 Helicopter going by periodically. Still not sure what they are looking for, but maybe just keeping an eye on things and probably informing the army of what's happening from their vantage point in the sky.
6:00 Still trying to catch up on the news and what's happening currently. Seems that the pro president protesters in Tahrir are at least partially made up of plain clothed police and seem to be targeting people from the media. Shame on the government. Shame on the president. They say there will be change but it's lies as usual. As much as I want things to be back to normal, I also support the people in their continued protesting to bring about much needed change.
6:45 and having trouble with the internet. Not sure if it's gone down again or something else happening.
6:50 seems internet is okay and maybe there's just a lot of traffic or some slight hiccups getting everything going again. I really hope it doesn't go down like it did before. So hard to be cut off from everything.
7:30 and hubby has gone down to the cafe to watch news and talk with people. Been relatively quiet so far this evening since dark. Let's see what happens tonight.
8:10 Sounds like the first tank of the night is going by.
8:40 Can hear a chanting crowd somewhere down the street. Went out onto the balcony but couldn't see anything.
9:10 First gun shots of the evening, not too close.
9:30 Still getting helicopters close by every half hour or so.
10:40 Tank time!
12:45 a.m. gun shots.
Over all it's been a kind of a loud night the last few hours. Not sure if it's people arguing nearby or what but it always sounds like it's on the verge of breaking out into a fight.
The news isn't too good and it looks like the president is trying to fool everyone but still use the strong arm tactics he has always used. I hope the people see through it. I hope they can finally get him off his throne!
4:00 fairly uneventful evening in our area. Gun shots now and then but nothing major. Not too much tank traffic. All in all kind of quiet. Not sure about tomorrow!
He was quite the mischievous little guy and the stories are often quite amusing. I love watching him smile and laugh as he spins the stories out for me.
I wish that I could remember my early years so well. At least I think I wish that.
When I try to remember my childhood, I can remember here and there an event, but it's never something funny or nice. It's usually something quite the opposite.
And also, it seems that many of my memories are really just pictures, I mean literally, I have seen the pictures from when I was younger and so though I don't remember the actual time or event, my memory is a picture of that time or event.
It's kind of strange. Kind of sad.
I wish I had memories to look back on and laugh and smile about.
However, my memory for current happenings, including recent history, are usually quite excellent. And not so much for hubby. It seems our memories, in ability to recall them, are quite reversed.
I wonder how it would be to have your whole life available on DVD to watch as you wished. Fast forward through the boring parts. The sleeping and being in class, etc., but to really see and feel the things you have long forgotten. What's the point of having memory if it doesn't work?
:::
I was browsing around online the other day and found a whole slew of people living in Cairo or other parts of Egypt who blog. Expats that is, people who have moved here from other countries.
I read a handful to see what they were like. Some were nice, some were boring. But I wonder what it is, everyone's obsession with writing out the minutiae of their life? Does this speak to a larger issue of disconnection? Of needing to be heard or validated? I don't know why I write, only that it's a need. I'm just not sure what's pushing that need.
I wish I had something more interesting to write about. Or some great wisdoms to share. Maybe thoughts about current politics and world events. But honestly I'm just not that deep. That's not to say I think I'm shallow, just... I guess my interests and emotions lay elsewhere, and for some reason they don't get shared here. I'm sure I must have, buried inside somewhere, something great to share. It's just... buried.
Okay, enough blathering on....
Today's log is shorter, as are the next (last) few after this.
And I wanted to point out, that although I mention a few times in this and other logs, that I wish things were getting back to normal, I don't mean that I wish things were exactly the same as before, president and all, I just mean that I wish things would settle down and we could get to living our lives without the constant interruption of the army and protesting and all the stuff that is going on.
That doesn't mean I don't care for what's happening. And I know it's an involved process and takes time. I just want some normalcy. I don't think that's too much to ask?
:::
Wednesday, February 2nd
1:30 p.m. and I'm woken by a helicopter flying directly overhead and also by my husband calling to see if the internet is working. Takes me a minute to get the computer up since I was sleeping, but yes, alhamdulillah, the internet is back.
Couple minutes later and now there are crowds down on the street chanting for the president. Lots of car horns honking in time with the people chanting. Not sure if they are walking down towards Tahrir or not. This is the second bunch I've heard in the last few minutes. Tempted to get the camera and go out but after just having woken and seen so many crowds pass by already previously, I just can't be bothered.
No idea what the news is yet but now that there's internet I need to check mail and news and lots of other things.
2:50 Well finally starting to get a look at the news in the media. Seems there has been so much support for the people of Egypt from people all over the world. I've just seen from CNN that there are injured protesters in Tahrir because the people now are divided about the president. Maybe hubby is right and this will turn into a civil war. I truly hope not.
I've just read where one of the pro presient protesters admitted that they were forced into doing it. Which is what I was writing about earlier, that I figured they were paid or given some other incentive. It seems forced is the answer, sadly.
Just seeing some pictures of the crowds of demonstraters in Tahrir square. Wow!!! Really amazing!
4:00 I have to say, being cut off from the media has had one good affect on me, which is that I didn't freak out like I might have if I'd seen all the videos and pictures on the news that I can see now. It's pretty crazy out there and I really hope this can come to a peaceful end soon.
4:21 Helicopter going by periodically. Still not sure what they are looking for, but maybe just keeping an eye on things and probably informing the army of what's happening from their vantage point in the sky.
6:00 Still trying to catch up on the news and what's happening currently. Seems that the pro president protesters in Tahrir are at least partially made up of plain clothed police and seem to be targeting people from the media. Shame on the government. Shame on the president. They say there will be change but it's lies as usual. As much as I want things to be back to normal, I also support the people in their continued protesting to bring about much needed change.
6:45 and having trouble with the internet. Not sure if it's gone down again or something else happening.
6:50 seems internet is okay and maybe there's just a lot of traffic or some slight hiccups getting everything going again. I really hope it doesn't go down like it did before. So hard to be cut off from everything.
7:30 and hubby has gone down to the cafe to watch news and talk with people. Been relatively quiet so far this evening since dark. Let's see what happens tonight.
8:10 Sounds like the first tank of the night is going by.
8:40 Can hear a chanting crowd somewhere down the street. Went out onto the balcony but couldn't see anything.
9:10 First gun shots of the evening, not too close.
9:30 Still getting helicopters close by every half hour or so.
10:40 Tank time!
12:45 a.m. gun shots.
Over all it's been a kind of a loud night the last few hours. Not sure if it's people arguing nearby or what but it always sounds like it's on the verge of breaking out into a fight.
The news isn't too good and it looks like the president is trying to fool everyone but still use the strong arm tactics he has always used. I hope the people see through it. I hope they can finally get him off his throne!
4:00 fairly uneventful evening in our area. Gun shots now and then but nothing major. Not too much tank traffic. All in all kind of quiet. Not sure about tomorrow!
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