a little light, a little peace

This is dedicated to my family, friends, and homies in the slam.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Dearest Sugarplum,

Today I found you hair in my computer keyboard. Thanks for that. It was great to have a memento of you while in another land.

See your slobbery, spoiled, and half-insane self soon.

Love,

Tim

Saturday, May 24, 2008

LCD

open valve--begin vent.

My roommate Greg has aptly pointed out that the person who determines the cleanliness of a house, apartment, or room is the dirtiest and sloppiest one: the lowest common denominator (of cleanliness). He should know as he lived in a fraternity house.

I have noticed the accurateness of his statement in living with six other guys. There is a lowest common denominator. From days old dried rice and chicken carcass of take out to shriveled hot dogs in festering ketchup to molding dishes in the sink to dried chicken blood on the counter (all over the counter) and now the coup de grat.

This morning one of the bathroom doors was closed but no one was in it. That is unusual here. I open it to go to the bathroom, and am greeted with a sink full of upchuck. Throwing up is never neat, goodness knows I've done it enough to know that aiming is hard enough when your body is wracked body violent spasms, but this was insane. I imagine it may have been one of those "I'm not sure if I am going to throw up-oh yes I am!" frantic arcs into the sink or that it was just copious amounts of vomit. It could have been both. It is everywhere, from splatters on the mirror to flecks on the shelf where people keep toothbrushes toothpaste and deodorant to in the sink basin, on the sides, down the shaft of the sink, the floor, and let's not forget the wall behind the sink. To top it off, he decided it wold be a good idea to run water over it, which the sink being clogged by undigested hot dog, meant that the water level is near the top of the rim, so within the cloudy yellowish orange body of water rests a demon at the bottom of semi-liquid semi-solid rejected material from the human stomach.

Anyway, I am not mad as this post may make it seem, people who know me know that I don't get angry that often. Its just a little frustrating and even a funny in that shake your head exasperated funny.

I am a neat person and most of the other people I live with have different standards of neatness. We have found a happy medium in terms of cleanliness throughout the semester so there have been no problems. They put up with me asking them to do some of their dishes and I put up with a lower level of cleanliness than I would normally like. As for the LCD, he really is a nice guy; I did some boxing with him at the beginning of the semester...he is just not very neat.

Oh well, I guess we just need some conflict resolution and interpersonal communication to get the vomit taken care of. It's too bad I haven't taken those courses for my INDS major yet. Let me just get my bat instead.

Close valve--thanks for letting me vent.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Apartment Hunting

Well I officially don't like apartment hunting already and I only had about six hours of it. We walked over to Zamalek and then talked to a sketchy semsar (broker) who was leaning against a car, balding, missing teeth, and had chest hair falling out of the top of his shirt. He gave us an expensive price and then we said no.

The next semsar was a half blind man in full galabeya. He told us an even more expensive price. So again we said no.

Then we met some AUC students I know and they told us where to look. We walked over to the area met up with another broker. (There is no system, you either go to a bowab (doorkeeper) and ask to see some rooms and they get a broker (unnecessary in my opinion) or you are standing around and they walk up to you saying 'you need a room?')

Anyway he was nice enough, spoke good enough english, thankfully we had Ahmed with us. I love native Arabic speakers. We saw one in a quiet neighborhood on the top floor. It was three bedroom, kitchen, sitting room, balcony, and a man in his underwear one floor down walking on his balcony. The owner was this older woman who didn't hear real well and wouldn't rent to us because Ahmed was with us. She did not want to rent to Egyptians because she said they party too much, bring home to many girls, and play music too loud. We were confused and thought she was a little crazy. Usually those people stereotyped such as this are foreigners. So we left, then tried again in a half hour with only me and Greg going up to talk saying Ahmed was only a friend. She then agreed and then after we left our deposit and left, she called and said no. She really was a crazy woman, nice but crazy. So the broker showed us one more apartment, not as nice as the crazy woman's one. We didn't want it. If we were to take either of these, of which we are not, the broker would charge us and outrageous fee of 30% of a months rent as commission. Uhh.

So we are still at square one and squandered a whole day in Zamalek instead of studying. But there are prospects for downtown/garden city which is where I want to live. So we shall see...

Lastly, Catherine Karp, a published author, posted a link to my blog on her's today (May 23)!! This is the second promotion I have had after my Dad on his. Its so exciting when things go well! Her blog is http://suburbanvampire.blogspot.com/ if you want to drop by.

Chatper 5

bloggeration-details of a journey


big inhale


I've decided to stay in Cairo for another two months.


This is a huge decision for me, and almost a complete about face for me from two weeks before. I was laying in bed one night and started thinking about everything Cairo. I thought maybe I could stay for a little longer. Then began the discussion with the necessary people; I dropped a couple of bombs, my brother having the best reaction (that I saw) when I told him while he was here. It means two more months away from home and the wonderful goodness that is there, but there will some great things going on here.


Mostly I will be hanging out practicing Arabic, hopefully playing backgammon, drinking tea, and trying not to die of heat stroke. With no class I should really be able to focus on Arabic and writing for Sunset. This will put my grand total away from home at six months and after that I will live in my country for a good long while.


I hope to really pick up the blog during the summer hopefully posting everyday. For those of you who read, thanks, and if you know anyone who would like to hear about Egypt send them my way. This has been my very public way of keeping a journal and letting you know how I am doing. I have noticed that it started out describing my adventures in Egypt, then as I got used to everything, the topics started to stray. I don't know which direction it will go in the summer, but it will go. Hopefully some humor will be involved.


Anyway because I will be here another two months, maybe with not all that much to do, you are welcome to come visit. It will just be really hot here...

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Crooked cops and brotherhood

In the past two days I have had the privilige of meeting two good people. One was an honest cop and the other a decent taxi driver who didn't try and overcharge me. It came to me as a surprise. I know it is sterotypical for me to think that there are no honest cops and no decent taxi drivers but when all evidence points to the contrary and with the reputation they have among many others, the good get drowned out by the bad.

My brother is on his way home, having finally adjusted to the jet lag. We had a wonderful time here and I am glad I was able to share part of my experiences here with him. We saw lots-mosques, people, museums, and cafes. He did some solo traveling down to Luxor. And he was really just great to have along. I mean we sat on the mediterranean together, drank tea and 7-up in cafe horreya, and sat in the belly of the pyramid together, how could we not have a good time. I think he has learned a lot coming to Egypt, and I can't wait to see him and the rest of my family in full again.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

A new word

I created a new word today for my paper.

Techno-social movements-socieal changes intiated, guided, and controlled by a new form of technology affecting a large or influential part of a population i.e. blogging in Iran

go me

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Iran

I am curious. What do you all really think of Iran? What images pop into your head when you see its name in a headline or hear someone talk about it?

If you would, could you post a response to this (before you read the articles) and let me know what you all think of Iran. It can be anonymous if you want, but I would like it honest. Then read these two articles which give two different viewpoints about Iran and the people.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article1363826.ece
http://www.alternet.org/audits/66847

They may challenge your assumptions. They challenged mine.

My brother has left me and the end of the world

SWWEEET!

I am finally going to get to read an online serial as it is posted. None of this catch up stuff. It is by David Dunwoody the author of Empire. He has started new one called The Harvest Cycle at http://www.harvestcycle.blogspot.com. Oh yeah!! Apocalypse novels!!

Anyway as for an update with my brother. I should be writing a paper instead of blogging while he is not here. And he is not on his way home. Yes, my brother has embarked on an adventure to upper Egypt to Luxor by himself. He's got guts, traveling like this, by himself, is something I haven't done yet. I am actually feeling very proud of him.

Back to work i.e. eating and reading the prologue to the new novel. :)

Friday, May 16, 2008

busy, busy, busy

Everything is wrapping up here, which means basically chaos. Posting has gotten sparser as a result. Sorry.

I saw Iron Man in an Egyptian theater today and went to the freaking pyramids-so old and so dead. Of course I forgot my camera so when Pepe gives me his pictures I will have some for you.

I will post when I can and will definitely resume regularly in the summer. One thing which will remain regular besides being awesome, is Sunset. Chapter 4 is up and is specially dedicated to my coteacher of English over here in Egypt.

Hang in there,

timmah

Monday, May 12, 2008

My Puppy



I really miss my dog. I have only seen her on video a couple of times, and I am thankful for that. I miss her craziness and soft fur and how she will growl at you if you try to move her from where she is sleeping on my brother's bed if you are trying to get into bed to go to sleep.


Here are two pics to show how much she has grown-she has a habit of putting things in her mouth. She is a dog after all.


Sunday, May 11, 2008

Happy Moms

Today is Mother's Day...

Hope you hugged your mother (if you can).

I love you mom. Thanks for everything. See you soon.

timmy

This Weekend

The reason for the lack of postage this weekend was that my brother arrived in Egypt!

He came friday night at 1230ish and I must say I know the Cairo Airport very well. I made the mistake in thinking that he came 1230 thursday night at 1230 pm on friday afternoon. I rushed to the airport and looked around at both terminals and then realized the flight doesn't come in until 12 hours later. Therefore, I returned to the aiport that night and went again to both terminals until I found the right one. Thankfully I was there to greet him as he stepped left baggage claim.

Needless to say, if you ever visit Cairo, you will see cabs zipping and weaving and in general being a danger to humanity. I was the result of one of these crazies because I asked him to get their quickly thinking my brother had been at the airport for twelve hours already (when in fact he was being momentarily lost in London).

Anyway it is great to have him here. Its so good to see a blood relation and a friend. Currently he is sleeping, catching up on the traveling and weekend in Alex. He has been overwhelmed just like I was when I first arrived.

Friday morning we had a field trip with my architecture class to the city of the dead. It is an amazing place home to crumbling ruins, fabulously preserved ruins, and ,of course, poor people. The city of the dead, it a poverty stricken area, which originally was just cemetaries. There were many mausoleums which had rooms for the relatives to visit. These rooms began to be occupied by the homeless. One thing led to another and then apartments were built, which is why you have the living in the city of the dead.


After this field trip, I introduced him to koshary (about as addicting as crack) and then went to Alexandria. We stayed for one night. The train ride was fine except I drank a five pound glass of tea (prohibitively expensive). When we arrived at our hotel, the Windsor Palace, we found that they didn't have our reservation. Reception said we hand't paid, when in fact we had, so therefore asiarooms.com (the company I booked through) had not emailed them to make the reservation. It was a blessing in disguise (hopefully) because I am in the process of trying to get my money back, and instead of paying 400 pounds I only paid 100 for a low budget but decent hotel a block over.


After that fiasco we walked along the corniche to Bibliotheca Alexandria and saw what there was to see. Then we tried to find this restaurant called Al Sharq. It was as elusive as a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, so we ate at this place called the Dream Cafeteria. DO NOT GO THERE! The food was okay, but they overcharged us as foreigners. They brought us a bottle of water which we did not order, so we thought it was complimentary and charged us for it and overcharged us for service (think close to 50%). It turns out Al Sharq is right around the corner-we went there the day after. It has great food, great music, and great service.

The next day we did a lot of walking and tram riding. We went to Qait Bay Fortress, Pompei's Pillar, and the catacombs nearby. Most amazing. If you want to know about them, check out my previous Alexandria posts or go to answers.com. I had a very similar experience both times except the second with Pepe was far better. I wasn't with a huge group of obnoxious Americans and we had more time at each sight. That night we spent catching up and talking in the hotel.

Then we tried to go to the beach. A half tram ride away from the city, got us just past the library and turned out to be a six minute tram ride on the way home. We couldn't find the beaches so we sat on some big concrete blocks and watched the water hit them, slept, and sunned. I aired my feet out.

We arrived home tired, watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and slept. Pete has been inudated with Egyptian life and has been going nonstop, which is why he is still sleeping. I think within 36 hours he had been to three cities-London, Cairo, and Alexandria. Needless to say, today is an easy day.

In Alex when we were walking the streets, it was the first time for Pete but the first time for me since arriving in Egypt that I felt distinctly aware and slightly uncomfortable with my status as a foreigner. We really stuck out in the small streets in Alex. I am used to not being in the minority anymore, but it came back to me here. Not totally sure why.

Okay now I actually have to do some homework.

Turkolicious

Day Phree

This day was a much easier day, therefore, a much a much shorter post. By today we were exhausted from traveling and walking and sightseeing; therefore, we did more of the same.

We went to the military museum. It was cheap to get in, incredibly huge, and very nationalistic. Alex got riled in the museum and I was disconcerted. We did see a really big gun in the courtyard though.

After this experience, we went to the Galata Tower and walked across the Galata Bridge. The view was great and the fishermen on the bridge were numerous. They never really catch anything except this tiny little fish which we had lightly fried in Bodrum. Very tasty.

Alex had to leave, it was the end of the weekend and Greg and I just relaxed. We came back to the hostel, I wrote some of Sunset on the rooftop cafe/bar and felt the wind coming in from the Bosporus (probably the nicest thing of the day).

As always we ate the Turkish breakfast, had some doner (kebab in a wrap), and then went to the Sultan Hostel for dinner-spaghetti bolonaise.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

We were Turkey

Day 2 began bright and early with a trip to the Topkapi Palace where we easily spent two and one half hours looking at stuff. Said stuff included the harem of the palace, the room where the ministers and sultan would gather to run the ottoman empire, the treasuries (one of which held the Tokapi dagger), great courtyards, beautiful views of the Bosporus, and a huge kitchen. Then Greg, Alex, and I hit up the Hagia Sophia. A most magnificent building with high ceilings and wondrous mosaics. Sadly there was scaffolding in the main part obstructing some of the view. The most interesting part was seeing where the alter had been which now had a mihrab and minbar. After a short break we went to the Blue Mosque, fabulously huge and then to the sunken cistern. For those of you who don't click the hyperlink, just watch From Russia With Love.

The next stop was the Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Spice Bazaar. The gb is huge. The first time I went was just for the feel. There are people everywhere, shops and merchandise everywhere, and surprises everywhere you go. When you turn down a little alley you find a place that sales antique swords and daggers, around the corner is a calligraphy shop, and when you have had enough of the touts, you will find yourself wandering into a hassle free shop. The gb has almost anything and everything you could want especially tourist kitsch. The Spice Bazaar was great, though I don't know how Egyptian it was. It was mostly spices and Turkish delight. It smelled heavenly and was also just as crowded.

Then it was time for our authentic Turkish bath-what an experience. I wish there was one back home, with big burly Turkish men included. The proprietor at the bath which is located near the red light district (our taxi driver told us to watch our for pimps) didn't really speak English except for the word hello.

He would say the word once or twice and gesture emphatically what he wanted us to do, whether it be take off our shoes, change in this room, or remove our towels. We get down to the bath and sit in the sauna with some other Turkish men. After sweating for ten minutes the three of us clothed only in towels around our waist step out and are greeted by big Turkish men easily 250-300 pounds with mustaches waiting for us-to give us the treatment.

The following happened to each on of us. I was taken by the man to sit on a low ledge with a basin next to it. He poured cool water on my head then scrubbed me down with a rough loofah like glove. He would begin with a SMACK and then scrub away. I got a scalp massage as he lathered my hair. When getting rinsed off at this place, it isn't a dainty little pouring from the bucket. This is manly tossing of water.

Then to the slab. There was a marble slab in the middle where you would lie on the edge and get massaged. I laid to far in to the middle and my 165 pound self was manhandled as he dragged me to edge. On my back he massaged out my legs and arms. Then he crossed my arms and cracked my back by dropping some of his weight on my. With me gasping, he smiled and recrossed my arms the other way. It didn't hurt it was just forceful. Then I rolled on my stomach and had the same procedure. I felt like tenderized meat. Thankfully, I wasn't meowed at as Alex was every time the guy would slap him before massaging him down.

We returned to the sauna, then rinsed ourselves off again, sans Turkish masseuse. Then it was time to dry off. The man in charge came in with dry towels. He showed us the bin to put the wet towel, then waited. We hesitated for he didn't leave us to change nor were there rooms to change. Alex taking the initiative put the dry towel around him and began to shimmy out of the wet. The guy said no and reached to take the wet towel from around his waist. We got the idea and then changed our towels without privacy.

Then they gave us tea. We walked back along the Bosporus past a bunch of gypsies and went to get something to drink in the hip part of town-Taksim. This is the place young people go drinking. We were with the crowd, drank at a place called Balans (Balance) and listened to music from all directions, watched drunks dancing in the streets, and ate oysters? with rice inside.

Finally, we retired for the night after an uneventful ride home.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

p.s. I love you

Dear Qahira,

Today I realized something important. Somewhere along the lines of our three month relationship, I fell in love with you.

I fell for your fantastic Islamic architecture, energetic and talkative people, chaotic markets, and calls to prayer. Your food entices me and your beer relaxes me, but I must say koshary is my favorite.

As in any relationship, I am able to overlook most of the bad things and see you for what you truly are. I accept the pollution. I accept the homeless children. I accept your trash littered streets and alleys. I accept the ceaseless honking of horns. It doesn't make it right or nice, but its normal for me now.

I love my walk to school in the morning. It is quieter, usually not as smoggy, and I get to say hi to the shoe shiner who has never shined my shoes but says hi back anyway (in arabic of course). The smells that I get from the dumpster to the bakery make my walk complete, and it is a kindest gentlest greeting that I think I ever get from you. I even love talking in arabic (most of the time).

I have seen so much and at the same time only been able to take in a tiny bit that is this great city. I don't know if I can ever live with you; I don't think you are good for my health, but then what city is. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it (my Egyptian english class did not get this) sometime in the future. Thanks for showing me who I am, and for making me a better person. Isn't that what all relationships do?

See you soon,

Tim

Toikey

Day 1

Here were my initial observations after flying in the middle of the night to Istanbul, Turkey.
-Wow
-It's so clean and quiet
-There is water in the air and the temperature feels like a nice cool spring morning back home
-It's so....green
-No one speaks Arabic and Turkish don't make no sense
-Hey my roommate is here! Hi, Alex!

We took the metro to the tram stop and then promptly got lost for a few minutes trying to find the tram. Arriving at the hotel we checked in and went to the bosphorous, where I almost as promptly fell in copying Alex and trying to touch the water. We found a place near the water to drink tea and plan our day and then fell into a conversation with two Turkish men and a Kurdish guard who wandered over. The Kurd spoke only Turkish, one of the turkish men turkish and broken english, and the other english, turkish, and arabic. Greg and I communicated mainly in Arabic while Alex sat there, left out, and I had to tell him what were saying. It was a spur of the moment conversation and kind of nice.

The rest of the day we spent walking, walking, walking, and did I mention walking. We got lost a few times and had fun just wandering. Us travellers visited some mausoleums and Chemberlitas (the burnt column). Just a note, the grounds of Istanbul University are huge! and gorgeous! If only, UMBC, if only...

Then it was time for the walls. Yes, the infamous Walls of Constantinople that I had heard so much about in my previous two years from Alex, Mike, and mostly Steve. We climbed the ruins or some, and what a steep dangerous climb some of the steps were. The view was great and we could see all the mosques and buildings all over the city. The walls also stretched on for miles; they were and are impressive fortifications.

We then visited the Kariyeh Museum which is an old church with lots of old famous mosaics. Quite beautiful.

That evening we saw a whirling dervish performance. Though it was spinning for 90 minutes, it was kind of peaceful and spritual, especially when the music and singing stopped and the men were whirling for a few minutes in silence. The only sound was the swishing of their socks.

That was pretty much the day. Like I said, lots of walking. The action packed day concluded with us having our first Turkish beer, Efes, in the basement bar/restaurant of the Istanbul Hostel and talking with some people, one of which what we all thought was a cute german girl. (not her)

For food we ate one of what was to be many turkish breakfasts, though with the added benefit of an omlet. Alex and I split an omlet and turkish breakfast (slice of cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, bread, butter, jam, hardboiled egg).

I cannot say enough good things about our hostel. If anyone goes to Istanbul, I highly recommend this one. They are friendly, the Internet is free and they will book you good deals on bus trips (we didn't go through them) or dervishes or turkish baths (we did go through them). If I ever go back, I will stay there. It is located in the tourist section which has its advantages and disadvantages. The area is dead at night except the block over with all the restaurants and bars. It is easily accessed by public transportation. Our walks to wherever we needed to go took us in the park in between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Absolutely splendid first thing in the morning.

Thanks, answers.com

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Media

Though I have fallen out of habit at looking at break this remains my favorite video:
http://www.break.com/index/kosovo.html
This one is an entertaining diversion:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2g811Eo7K8U
This is a great song:
Dani California by the Red Hot Chili Peppers (played it today...I know)

Ever been rick rolled?

I love hyperlinks.

Back in the saddle again-blogs, online serials, wurst, turkish delight, and fiction in general

Wooh! Time to start blogging again. Before you read anyfurther, you should check out this story my dad sent me by a much better author than I. Even if you don't like science fiction, I would suggest reading it. It is a short story, so a small investment of your time. The story says interesting things...
The Last Question by Issac Asimov http://filer.case.edu/dts8/thelastq.htm

I have finished Autumn by David Moody and overall I like it. There are many more books in the series but you have to pay for them, so no go for right now, maybe when I get home and am working again. It was a slightly different zombie story one that focused much more on the human interactions and character building than on the gore fest. To me, this meant a little less action than I am used to in a zombie novel, and it took a little getting used to the difference.

So I am back in Cairo from Turkey and Germany and welcomed home with the full fanfare of Egyptness. To illustrate: Two days ago, Sunday, I was in Germany at the airport waiting for my flight, drinking a beer and eating a pretzel for breakfast still breathing the clean air. (The day before I was hiking in the black forest) Yesterday, I watched as a truck drove down the rode with a guy on the back who was sitting next to a machine that was spewing some sort of smoke or gas into the air. It was at such a prodigous rate that the visibilty went down dramatically. I don't know what I was breathing. (and I have already had koshary twice, and possibly will today too). Despite all this, I still was happy stepping off the plane to be back in Cairo.

I have found another short story to read. Yes I am always exploring when putting off my homework. It is similar to Zanesville by Kris Saknussemn but not about God (but I have only read the prologue so I could be wrong). It is called Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom and is written by Cory Doctorow. So far its crazy. I had to read the prologue twice to begin to understand it, but I am looking forward to reading the rest. Check it out!

And if any of you can read Arabic, I will be posting a very short zombie story in Arabic at Sunset soon, in sha' Allah. In fact, I am going to start typing it up now...

I promise to soon tell you about my trip to Turkey and Germany.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

a continuation...

Having returned to normal life back in Cairo, so has that of Baybars and Jason-as much as they can with a vampire in their life.

The next chapter is Friday May 2nd. Here.

See you then, and I think it will rock your socks off.