Ok so around here, there are midans, circles, roundabouts whatever you call them in your state/country....
they are everywhere!! I want to tell you a story that was just rip snortin hilarious in person..but I may be inadequate to tell it properly! I just realized I haven't put up pictures in a more than a week! oh and by the way...the time changed here today...Egyptians just well...they walk like Egyptians...they change their time different from every country on the rest of the globe...we just sprung ahead today....too bad we didn't know YESTERDAY! ok here's my story! I hope it gives you at least a chuckle ;)
There are people employed to water them and keep them healthy..they each have a hose attachment and there are 1-3 people who work to water it with a long thick white hose. I'm glad it's white, it really stands out. When you cross a midan, it's important not to trip over them since they just pull and whip the hoses around w/o looking...sorta like the way you drive...if you get hit w/ it, it's cuz YOU weren't looking....
So today....I watch a guy whipping it around to get control of it..one section is at the edge of the midan (it's roundabout in Michigan, but Midaan in Egyptian Arabic(mee Daaaaaaan soft a drug out a bit) it's at the edge of the midaan whipping maybe 5-6 feet in the air, the guy looks like he's loosing a battle to get an anaconda....when a large militar truck goes by...and drives VERY close to the midaan.....
I seriously laughed out loud!
SNAG! CAUGHT A BIG ONE!!
Two men go screaming.....now there's a "clothesline" across the road as the unsuspecting fish has hooked the bait of snake meat ;) Cars are honking....driving under...driving over....a car gets hooked....now it's stopped, screaching horns, breaks...
and I'm just laughing...
the military guards want to know what's so funny..they look around and begin running....some laughing with me...
luckily the catch of the day had to stop to turn...and the military guards at THAT corner, saw what the fuss was about...and everyone got untangled...
the other funny part is how while this is going on...NO car is trying to stop and help, they're all beeping swerving, seeing, beeping more, waving hands, yelling.....
HILARIOUS!!
don't stop to fix the problem!! just keep yelling and swerving..and pray it doesn't snap and crack you in the head! goodness!!
HILARIOUS!!
wish you were here!!
Oh there's the doorbell! LOVE getting groceries delivered!! jiggity jig!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
TawLeb Maya Maya
I am a very cool student ;) (even if I can't spell in English what I can say in Arabic! HA)
Two tests....100% on both! Today, he did a group oral test and only 3 of us got past half way.....and...well...I'm going to brag..I was the only one who completed the oral one!!
Rob signed me up for the "intensive conversation" class that starts after this one. The instructor is the same and he recommended I take it, he says I'm very serious about it, study hard and will do well...
I'M VERY NERVOUS ;)
There - that's my silly Egyptian news for today!!!!
now for the GREAT AMERICAN NEWS FOR THE WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!! As an American, always save the bes for last!!
My mom is doing well, improving quickly now!
She is sleeping well at home!
She is doing her exercises and handling the pain!
She gets some drainage tubes taken out Friday...the rest in one week!
The incisions are healing VERY well!
PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS WISDOM, GUIDANCE TO THE WONDERFUL STAFF!! PRAISE THE LORD FOR GIVING MY MOM'S BODY THE STRENGTH SHE NEEDS! PRAISE THE LORD FOR MY MOM AND DAD HAVE THE STAMINA AND ENDURANCE FOR THIS KICK THE CRAP OUT OF CANCER PLAN!!!
When I know about radiation.....I'll let YOU know ;) It **will** be daily when it starts. This will be very difficult for her body...and while they are 1 hr away...and my dad is working FULL time! Anyone who'd like to drive a day here or there....feel free to let me know! :-)
The grief I deal w/ here is also guilt...God has me here to serve the people here....I'm surrounded by opportunities too difficult to explain publically ;) But it's hard for me not to be severely guilty for not doing my part THERE...
anywho ALL GOOD NEWS!
I ROCK (in Kindegarten) ARABIC (lol)
and
MY MOM AND DAD ARE DOING TAMAAM! SUPERB! TERRIFIC!!!! MAYA MAYA!!
ALL PRAISE HIS NAME!
Two tests....100% on both! Today, he did a group oral test and only 3 of us got past half way.....and...well...I'm going to brag..I was the only one who completed the oral one!!
Rob signed me up for the "intensive conversation" class that starts after this one. The instructor is the same and he recommended I take it, he says I'm very serious about it, study hard and will do well...
I'M VERY NERVOUS ;)
There - that's my silly Egyptian news for today!!!!
now for the GREAT AMERICAN NEWS FOR THE WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!! As an American, always save the bes for last!!
My mom is doing well, improving quickly now!
She is sleeping well at home!
She is doing her exercises and handling the pain!
She gets some drainage tubes taken out Friday...the rest in one week!
The incisions are healing VERY well!
PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS WISDOM, GUIDANCE TO THE WONDERFUL STAFF!! PRAISE THE LORD FOR GIVING MY MOM'S BODY THE STRENGTH SHE NEEDS! PRAISE THE LORD FOR MY MOM AND DAD HAVE THE STAMINA AND ENDURANCE FOR THIS KICK THE CRAP OUT OF CANCER PLAN!!!
When I know about radiation.....I'll let YOU know ;) It **will** be daily when it starts. This will be very difficult for her body...and while they are 1 hr away...and my dad is working FULL time! Anyone who'd like to drive a day here or there....feel free to let me know! :-)
The grief I deal w/ here is also guilt...God has me here to serve the people here....I'm surrounded by opportunities too difficult to explain publically ;) But it's hard for me not to be severely guilty for not doing my part THERE...
anywho ALL GOOD NEWS!
I ROCK (in Kindegarten) ARABIC (lol)
and
MY MOM AND DAD ARE DOING TAMAAM! SUPERB! TERRIFIC!!!! MAYA MAYA!!
ALL PRAISE HIS NAME!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Hand Gestures, Body Language and Dress Codes
*thanks* for joining the intermission. We appreciate all the prayers and reminders of prayers. It is noon in Egypt, 6 am in the US (or earlier, depending on your state). We should know in about 6 more hours, if my mom gets to go home today. She should have been home Friday. She continues to improve. Both my parents know so many are praying...and so thankful!**
Hand Gestures, Body Language and Dress Code
Today in class, we started counting from zero to twelve as well as learning directions.
Palm out to someone - when you want to say five (khamsa) you may want to hold your hand up, all five fingers out. THIS IS VERY RUDE! turn the front of your hand to yourself, back of your hand to the other person.
Thumb is the one, not the pointer finger.
Never ask someone to come to you by using one finger, always use your hand with the full motion to come towards you.
This is the only Arabic country where the thumbs up MEANS 'thumbs up, great!' You may know, like I did, that Arabic countries, the thumbs up equals the American tall man standing alone.
Don't touch. I knew this...I have broken this rule a few times. Tho my teacher says it's the Italians who are the WORST, because not only do they touch but they are ROUGH touchers! HA HA HA HA! Our teacher told us "I have much pain when I have Italian students" because they pat his arm or have to grip his hand so severely. In America, I thought the really tight long handshake was to show off! HA HA!
We talked about who's touched, who can touch, etc. so it IS ok since I'm a foreigner, for Rob and I to hold hands. It's also ok for Anas and Rob to hold hands, but it's never Ok for me (foreigner or Egyptian woman alike) to hold hands with anyone besides her husband or her children. I told about touching Wy-el on the shoulder once.....I still feel badly I did that, tho the teacher said "do not worry, if he is driver for American families long time, he understands it's not you inviting him"
EEK!
HA HA HA!
Never put your hands on your hips, no matter what your facial expression, it ALWAYS means aggression. I do this sometimes thinking...I wonder if everyone's terrified of me - oopsie - nah, they're just saying "another crazy American" ;)
Teacher says it should be like this everywhere, but especially in Egypt, to show respect to yourself and the people around you...do not show your breasts (I liked that he blushed saying this), your under arms, any of your middle and definitly not above the calf. i already had this one down pat - WHEW. And he says if you don't follow this or if you wear something very tight, most men will truly believe you are flirting with them. I tend to agree this should be a worldwide understanding anyway.
When making a 3 with your fingers, remember thumb is one, so you can either start w/ your middle finger as one or your thumb, but do not start w/ the "pointer" finger - it's just rude, nothing "inappropriate" just it's rude.
The Arabic # for 1, 2 and 3...is SOOOO amazing! The one looks like a curvy line - like a 1 (but not in this font). The 2 looks like a two tiled to lay on it's right side, same with the three!
The most difficult is that V is seven SEVEN for V??? ugh!
Guess what the nine looks like?
9 nah, tail is too big.... looks like the 9 on my keyboard but not in this font ;)
0 is Five
a filled in zero is....zero..or it could be a diamond too.
backwards 7 is 6.
I was VERY grateful to hear that no matter what word or who's talking or who you're talking TO....it's always the same word for each number! WHEW!
Because we learned directions today too - so if I tell a woman left, it's one word, a man left, it's another...a group of people, yet another word
CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!
oh, I don't think that translates to Arabic ;)
Speaking of directions, you would never say here in English "go back" or "back up" you would ALWAYS saying "reverse, reversing" depending on the situation. Think thru "go back" how do you GO to your back? and back up....back is not up! HA HA!
As you see, even my English is CHANGING.
I'm sure you won't all remember this - I just found it really interesting today and wanted to share.
Here's a photo that's almost a year old! Thought it might make you smile! Makes me laugh out loud!
Happy Memorial Day 2009
Happy Birthday to my Mom 2009
my poor mom is working diligently to keep composure and just smile, but the 3 "kids" are totally out of control ;) LOVE this photo!!
Hand Gestures, Body Language and Dress Code
Today in class, we started counting from zero to twelve as well as learning directions.
Palm out to someone - when you want to say five (khamsa) you may want to hold your hand up, all five fingers out. THIS IS VERY RUDE! turn the front of your hand to yourself, back of your hand to the other person.
Thumb is the one, not the pointer finger.
Never ask someone to come to you by using one finger, always use your hand with the full motion to come towards you.
This is the only Arabic country where the thumbs up MEANS 'thumbs up, great!' You may know, like I did, that Arabic countries, the thumbs up equals the American tall man standing alone.
Don't touch. I knew this...I have broken this rule a few times. Tho my teacher says it's the Italians who are the WORST, because not only do they touch but they are ROUGH touchers! HA HA HA HA! Our teacher told us "I have much pain when I have Italian students" because they pat his arm or have to grip his hand so severely. In America, I thought the really tight long handshake was to show off! HA HA!
We talked about who's touched, who can touch, etc. so it IS ok since I'm a foreigner, for Rob and I to hold hands. It's also ok for Anas and Rob to hold hands, but it's never Ok for me (foreigner or Egyptian woman alike) to hold hands with anyone besides her husband or her children. I told about touching Wy-el on the shoulder once.....I still feel badly I did that, tho the teacher said "do not worry, if he is driver for American families long time, he understands it's not you inviting him"
EEK!
HA HA HA!
Never put your hands on your hips, no matter what your facial expression, it ALWAYS means aggression. I do this sometimes thinking...I wonder if everyone's terrified of me - oopsie - nah, they're just saying "another crazy American" ;)
Teacher says it should be like this everywhere, but especially in Egypt, to show respect to yourself and the people around you...do not show your breasts (I liked that he blushed saying this), your under arms, any of your middle and definitly not above the calf. i already had this one down pat - WHEW. And he says if you don't follow this or if you wear something very tight, most men will truly believe you are flirting with them. I tend to agree this should be a worldwide understanding anyway.
When making a 3 with your fingers, remember thumb is one, so you can either start w/ your middle finger as one or your thumb, but do not start w/ the "pointer" finger - it's just rude, nothing "inappropriate" just it's rude.
The Arabic # for 1, 2 and 3...is SOOOO amazing! The one looks like a curvy line - like a 1 (but not in this font). The 2 looks like a two tiled to lay on it's right side, same with the three!
The most difficult is that V is seven SEVEN for V??? ugh!
Guess what the nine looks like?
9 nah, tail is too big.... looks like the 9 on my keyboard but not in this font ;)
0 is Five
a filled in zero is....zero..or it could be a diamond too.
backwards 7 is 6.
I was VERY grateful to hear that no matter what word or who's talking or who you're talking TO....it's always the same word for each number! WHEW!
Because we learned directions today too - so if I tell a woman left, it's one word, a man left, it's another...a group of people, yet another word
CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!
oh, I don't think that translates to Arabic ;)
Speaking of directions, you would never say here in English "go back" or "back up" you would ALWAYS saying "reverse, reversing" depending on the situation. Think thru "go back" how do you GO to your back? and back up....back is not up! HA HA!
As you see, even my English is CHANGING.
I'm sure you won't all remember this - I just found it really interesting today and wanted to share.
Here's a photo that's almost a year old! Thought it might make you smile! Makes me laugh out loud!
Happy Memorial Day 2009
Happy Birthday to my Mom 2009
my poor mom is working diligently to keep composure and just smile, but the 3 "kids" are totally out of control ;) LOVE this photo!!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
An intermission.....
to pray.....
when you send an email, it may be short, I may not respond at all.
when you contact me thru f/b or send your own note, I might not read it for awhile.
My mom is having a very personal surgery today. Not only is part of her body being removed, but it's so personal...forever people who know her, may know her by this. Friendships will change, it's the ugly nature of life here on earth. If you know her, I'm praying for you too...that you won't let her outter shell change who she is to you or how you look at her or what you say to her..she is still a bubbly, energentic woman who loves God and will pour herself into you too because of her faith!
But....her hope remains in the Lord.
Please use this intermission to remember my parents in prayer.
For the medical team to be gentle, wise and work well as a team.
For my mom to have supernatural strength from God to recover in her heart, head and body!
for my dad to be comforted by God and have the stamina to support my mom on this journey.
praise for the friends stepping up to support them both, give them mercy to extend to my parents.
That no cancer cells would get lose and attach to in her body.
that the chemo would make it's final departure - it has effected her muscles - that this would now end.
That we who love her and still need her here so desperately on earth...would remember...even when the darkness closes in....
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!
the our eyes and hearts would remain steadfast to the King...and remember He loves her more than we do...even all together...and tho we hurt for their hurts....that we'd be comforted to know His love is deep, wide and neverending!
Thanks for sitting with me during this intermission......
when you send an email, it may be short, I may not respond at all.
when you contact me thru f/b or send your own note, I might not read it for awhile.
My mom is having a very personal surgery today. Not only is part of her body being removed, but it's so personal...forever people who know her, may know her by this. Friendships will change, it's the ugly nature of life here on earth. If you know her, I'm praying for you too...that you won't let her outter shell change who she is to you or how you look at her or what you say to her..she is still a bubbly, energentic woman who loves God and will pour herself into you too because of her faith!
But....her hope remains in the Lord.
Please use this intermission to remember my parents in prayer.
For the medical team to be gentle, wise and work well as a team.
For my mom to have supernatural strength from God to recover in her heart, head and body!
for my dad to be comforted by God and have the stamina to support my mom on this journey.
praise for the friends stepping up to support them both, give them mercy to extend to my parents.
That no cancer cells would get lose and attach to in her body.
that the chemo would make it's final departure - it has effected her muscles - that this would now end.
That we who love her and still need her here so desperately on earth...would remember...even when the darkness closes in....
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!
the our eyes and hearts would remain steadfast to the King...and remember He loves her more than we do...even all together...and tho we hurt for their hurts....that we'd be comforted to know His love is deep, wide and neverending!
Thanks for sitting with me during this intermission......
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Family Trip to The Khan
Today we had Ieman take us to suu' khaan el-khalili.
suu' means market
khaan is like a gallery type place
el-khalili specifies it even more! el-khalili "the" because the man's name eon's ago was khalili.
' is a quick stop. So yes it sounds like sue, but you gotta add an airy K is what I call it ;)
That's your Arabic lesson for today!
MMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmm - we had a YUMMY and relaxing lunch! We arrived prior to the tour buses...just us Egyptians wandering around ;) We enjoyed Kofta and pigeon alongside pizza, fresh strawberry juice and french fries. Mmmmmm the fresh bread and hummus is worth fighting over! I know...you're thinking
WAIT! DID SHE JUST SAY THEY ATE PIGEON? is pigeon another word for something? Yes, actually....in Papua New Guinea, it's the name of their language. Here a "peegheee-on" is a pigeon...the kind that strut their stuff all over the streets of Bolt ;)
They are raised here for meat, and have been since the days of the Pharoahs. It is REALLY good and I **highly** recommend it here! We had it grilled. REALLY good! Thankfully, there was no head.... ;) It wasn't much meat, disappointingly enough. But I dug right into the bones and cleaned 'er up ;) Joshua and I were almost fighting over it like dogs! HA!
I tried to find something suitable for my dad - hmm..no luck! But got my mom another blouse. Am sending this one - it's maroon - LOVE IT! they didn't have it in my size. None of the colors they had were overlapping in size, so we can't match again..sigh...oh well! that means we must return again! ;)
Being that I understand and speak more Arabic than before, I was able to get REALLY good prices!!!!!!
Joshua got a kid-size REAL guitar. Jasmine got an ornament. I got a lamb purse (WC, I was dying laughing thinking of the lamb/camel hide chewing discussion!) now I have a purse large enough to carry water bottle, visa's and first aid along w/ seperate pockets for LE - if they see your LE, well it's best to not have it all in one spot. Rob got himself a nile crocodile belt! :-) I also bought some fresh spices MMMMMM gotta get to Seoudis and have them deliver me some beef ;) Oh I'll never be an American again after having my food and even McD's delivered ;)
here's some pics!
The drive home. Rob was stoked to be in a tunnel, so he took a photo.
isn't the sky and architecture stunning? how'd you like to ride w/ this guy behind us on the freeway?
The story about the photo below.....
I've learned to accept that we just live longside mangey cats, wild horrid dogs....and ants. The ants live IN the floor actually...they only come out when there's a reason. Today I got up and first made 2 batches of corn muffins (one for Joshua, one for the rest of us)....I put one batch in the oven, ran to go pee......came back...and this is how fast the native creatures take over..
NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASTY! a blob of dough obviously was on the bottom of one pan and fell to the floor.....
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Some more about nuttin
Today is the 2nd time someone has very slowly said to me...
Do
You
Speak
English?
The first time, I recognized the British accent and said "ummm..no" then we all laughed....today however, the expat lady was so obviously distraught, that I said "yes, I do" to the open back window on the taxi.....
She asked me where such and such was...I explained it to her in English, then to the driver in Arabic. To which she says "oh I'm glad I found someone who's lived here a long time." I just replied "happy to help"
when in reality I was like - girlfriend...if you get stuck in the thick of it like me, you MUST find out. Everything I used w/ the driver, is what I learned "on the street" and by being "stuck" or "confused" or "lost."
This morning when I had my fresh squeezed orange juice freshly picked yesterday.....I saw 2 classmates come by - both area here with their embassy (Nigeria and Australia). They were simply flabbergasted that I could survive without a driver, a car, a school fully paid and a maid. I had a hard time not laughing at their extreme facial antics ;)
At Arabic class, we learned the word for pants - now there is no old word for this, since they didn't wear pant-leg type anything until the French came.....
the word is...
bantaloon.
PANTALOON! A layer of old fashioned women's underwear....I had a difficult time not chuckling ;)
Perhaps it's been a bad week or something, but I was so sad to hear a woman in my class go overboard verbally about how Egypt isn't "civilized" - it was a detestable thing to listen to...and a few of us tried to level her out....but not only did she pull allo our attention..but it soon became about Islamic people then too! So not only am I unable to escape the horror of stupidity....but I'm sitting with 2 islamic women, one Egyptian Islamic teacher and suddenly I smiled and said
I'M SO GLAD IT'S NOT ANOTHER AMERICAN SAYING THIS! whew! I felt relief! ;)
When she went to male bashing in general, the teacher finally got pretty harsh with her...SAD...AN ADULT FOR HEAVEN SAKES?! maybe it's the heat?
and SHE has a car, driver, maid, school tuition! HA HA HA HA HA!
We found guinea hen eggs - scrambled them up for Joshua - anyone know if these are ok if you have a chicken egg allergy? I was told duck was ok but duck is what's available in Michigan..not like I can find ostrich and guinea farms ;) We really need to try the pigeon meat here, I've heard it's wonderful!
Rob's been stuck in Italy under a cloud of ash. After 7 days, he's finally heading home today. His owner and family took trains to Rome to be S far enough to take airlines out. Some people were like...but.it's not that far S in Italy...well...you gotta think globaly....if we can't fly over the middle east or Libya...the flight path isn't quite as broad for going "around" things as it is in the US ;)
and of course N is the ash cloud. So they got a clear window from some small system that cleared the air...and a few planes made it out - the ones sitting waiting (very impatiently HA)....they're leaving from Rome soon....didn't have enough time to fuel or something ;) HAD TO LEAVE - ha!
My mom's having her surgery Thursday at 7:30 am. We appreciate your prayers!
And one more bit of nutting - what do YOU think an American looks like? Some of you know that I get white Americans saying to me "really, she's Korean? i think she looks Chinese" because they for some reason are experts...and can probably tell which people in the community are Dutch, German, Nigerian and Libyan, RIGHT?! you hear the sarcasm, right? Ok....so guess what I get here?
Where are you from?
America
REALLY? you don't look American!
I cannot begin to tell you how many people DEBATE if I am an American - what is it? Do I not have enough make up? Is it my dorky tennis shoes under my skirt and no sassy cool shoes? Am I too light? too dark? HILARIOUS! what is it? they don't know..just...Egyptians are constantly surprised I'm an American...but NO ONE will tell me why!! People think Rob looks American...
so maybe...they're thinking "Native Americans" ???? hmmm.....?? unsure! But today, I debated it with 2 Egyptians......no I'm not Swiss, happy you asked...that's fine..BUT STOP DEBATING IT WITH ME..I'M WALKING OFF NOW! SEE THE BACK OF MY HEAD! Give up being astonished at my birth heritage......and accept it..
AMERICAN MEANS "MELTING POT" - we don't really look or even act alike and yet we are all together......
right?
yeesh! LOL
Do
You
Speak
English?
The first time, I recognized the British accent and said "ummm..no" then we all laughed....today however, the expat lady was so obviously distraught, that I said "yes, I do" to the open back window on the taxi.....
She asked me where such and such was...I explained it to her in English, then to the driver in Arabic. To which she says "oh I'm glad I found someone who's lived here a long time." I just replied "happy to help"
when in reality I was like - girlfriend...if you get stuck in the thick of it like me, you MUST find out. Everything I used w/ the driver, is what I learned "on the street" and by being "stuck" or "confused" or "lost."
This morning when I had my fresh squeezed orange juice freshly picked yesterday.....I saw 2 classmates come by - both area here with their embassy (Nigeria and Australia). They were simply flabbergasted that I could survive without a driver, a car, a school fully paid and a maid. I had a hard time not laughing at their extreme facial antics ;)
At Arabic class, we learned the word for pants - now there is no old word for this, since they didn't wear pant-leg type anything until the French came.....
the word is...
bantaloon.
PANTALOON! A layer of old fashioned women's underwear....I had a difficult time not chuckling ;)
Perhaps it's been a bad week or something, but I was so sad to hear a woman in my class go overboard verbally about how Egypt isn't "civilized" - it was a detestable thing to listen to...and a few of us tried to level her out....but not only did she pull allo our attention..but it soon became about Islamic people then too! So not only am I unable to escape the horror of stupidity....but I'm sitting with 2 islamic women, one Egyptian Islamic teacher and suddenly I smiled and said
I'M SO GLAD IT'S NOT ANOTHER AMERICAN SAYING THIS! whew! I felt relief! ;)
When she went to male bashing in general, the teacher finally got pretty harsh with her...SAD...AN ADULT FOR HEAVEN SAKES?! maybe it's the heat?
and SHE has a car, driver, maid, school tuition! HA HA HA HA HA!
We found guinea hen eggs - scrambled them up for Joshua - anyone know if these are ok if you have a chicken egg allergy? I was told duck was ok but duck is what's available in Michigan..not like I can find ostrich and guinea farms ;) We really need to try the pigeon meat here, I've heard it's wonderful!
Rob's been stuck in Italy under a cloud of ash. After 7 days, he's finally heading home today. His owner and family took trains to Rome to be S far enough to take airlines out. Some people were like...but.it's not that far S in Italy...well...you gotta think globaly....if we can't fly over the middle east or Libya...the flight path isn't quite as broad for going "around" things as it is in the US ;)
and of course N is the ash cloud. So they got a clear window from some small system that cleared the air...and a few planes made it out - the ones sitting waiting (very impatiently HA)....they're leaving from Rome soon....didn't have enough time to fuel or something ;) HAD TO LEAVE - ha!
My mom's having her surgery Thursday at 7:30 am. We appreciate your prayers!
And one more bit of nutting - what do YOU think an American looks like? Some of you know that I get white Americans saying to me "really, she's Korean? i think she looks Chinese" because they for some reason are experts...and can probably tell which people in the community are Dutch, German, Nigerian and Libyan, RIGHT?! you hear the sarcasm, right? Ok....so guess what I get here?
Where are you from?
America
REALLY? you don't look American!
I cannot begin to tell you how many people DEBATE if I am an American - what is it? Do I not have enough make up? Is it my dorky tennis shoes under my skirt and no sassy cool shoes? Am I too light? too dark? HILARIOUS! what is it? they don't know..just...Egyptians are constantly surprised I'm an American...but NO ONE will tell me why!! People think Rob looks American...
so maybe...they're thinking "Native Americans" ???? hmmm.....?? unsure! But today, I debated it with 2 Egyptians......no I'm not Swiss, happy you asked...that's fine..BUT STOP DEBATING IT WITH ME..I'M WALKING OFF NOW! SEE THE BACK OF MY HEAD! Give up being astonished at my birth heritage......and accept it..
AMERICAN MEANS "MELTING POT" - we don't really look or even act alike and yet we are all together......
right?
yeesh! LOL
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Learning Arabic.....
I'm sure plenty of you know 2 languages or some even more!
I just wanted to tell you that so far, the hardest thing is....there's no exact
my chair
her chair
his chair
their chair
or
my chairs
her chairs
you get the idea ;)
it's ALL different words and combos!
My favorite thing is that there are words reserved only for God that is not used in everyday language! And I adore that here, the Muslim's who speak English do not use our Holy God's name in vain!
I find Arabic to be MUCH more poetic to me than English and Spanish...and very difficult because, as the teacher told me today, I need to flatten my tone a bit...especially when I talk to men!
MWAH HA HA HA HA HA! So while it is poetic, I need to be careful HOW i say my poetry ;)
nuff rambles for today! Boring post, I know - NOT EVERY DAY CAN BE A DAY IN DISNEY LAND!
off to stomp my feet - who told me that ugly truth anyway? ;)
I just wanted to tell you that so far, the hardest thing is....there's no exact
my chair
her chair
his chair
their chair
or
my chairs
her chairs
you get the idea ;)
it's ALL different words and combos!
My favorite thing is that there are words reserved only for God that is not used in everyday language! And I adore that here, the Muslim's who speak English do not use our Holy God's name in vain!
I find Arabic to be MUCH more poetic to me than English and Spanish...and very difficult because, as the teacher told me today, I need to flatten my tone a bit...especially when I talk to men!
MWAH HA HA HA HA HA! So while it is poetic, I need to be careful HOW i say my poetry ;)
nuff rambles for today! Boring post, I know - NOT EVERY DAY CAN BE A DAY IN DISNEY LAND!
off to stomp my feet - who told me that ugly truth anyway? ;)
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Goooooooooooooooooooo White Sox!!!!
Joshua's first game here, first time up to bat...he hit a homerun! Not cuz it was a fast grounder that passed everyone...nope...sailed flat thru the air about 5' off the ground zipped past all the players mits held up..........he brought himself and the baserunner ahead of him home!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO JOSHUA!!
Here's a coupe of cool shots!! The batting one is NOT staged...this is JUST seconds before CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRACK!!
Joshua started his Little League today!! I'm already assistant coach next game ;) Nuttin like jumpin in first thing, LOVE IT! If Rob's here, he'll coach with me.
The 2 building shots is a building I just LOVE!! it has an arched bridge over a "mote" around it and it's just REALLY EXQUISITE! I always think of Betty and Steve and Sara S too! I just LOVE the architecture. I walk past it to my "new" and GLORIOUS shopping experience (based on Egyptian standards)...and now also to baseball. Mon night is practice, games on Sat. I think it's 5 weeks or something...but still GREAT for us! It is thru the Cairo American College...which is actually a school from Y-5 through 12th grade. We got on through my homeschool group connections LOVE the group! The people I absolutely adore...but the group together w/ the connections and support WHAT AN ANSWER TO YOURS AND OUR PRAYERS!!
Then there's the kids playing after the game...and then my bouquet of flowers from Touny - one of the doormen here. They all chuckle when the breeze is just right (nessim - breeze) I stand and slowly inhale w/ my eyes shut....and really enjoy the soft smell of flowers instead of smog ;) So they often pick me flowers ;)
I am well taken care of here ;)
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO JOSHUA!!
Here's a coupe of cool shots!! The batting one is NOT staged...this is JUST seconds before CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRACK!!
Joshua started his Little League today!! I'm already assistant coach next game ;) Nuttin like jumpin in first thing, LOVE IT! If Rob's here, he'll coach with me.
The 2 building shots is a building I just LOVE!! it has an arched bridge over a "mote" around it and it's just REALLY EXQUISITE! I always think of Betty and Steve and Sara S too! I just LOVE the architecture. I walk past it to my "new" and GLORIOUS shopping experience (based on Egyptian standards)...and now also to baseball. Mon night is practice, games on Sat. I think it's 5 weeks or something...but still GREAT for us! It is thru the Cairo American College...which is actually a school from Y-5 through 12th grade. We got on through my homeschool group connections LOVE the group! The people I absolutely adore...but the group together w/ the connections and support WHAT AN ANSWER TO YOURS AND OUR PRAYERS!!
Then there's the kids playing after the game...and then my bouquet of flowers from Touny - one of the doormen here. They all chuckle when the breeze is just right (nessim - breeze) I stand and slowly inhale w/ my eyes shut....and really enjoy the soft smell of flowers instead of smog ;) So they often pick me flowers ;)
I am well taken care of here ;)
Thursday, April 15, 2010
French Kissing
Who thought up the idea to touch cheeks and make the kissing noise?
or is the better question...why don't we do it in America?
Whatever it is...I truly wish this European or French kissing thing....came w/ some type of warning...
like I see women all dressed in black and their hands and I know they won't return my hello even in Arabic, it's just their beliefs, I'm accepting of that....
I see girls giggling w/ their headcovers and looking at me, I know they're about to practice their English on me....
but NOTHING has yet to prepare me for the women who want to come up and do the French Kissing...you know, grab ya, touch cheeks and make kissing noises...
I think that for the most part, I handle it with grace and probably don't seem as ruffled as I am....
I'm not even exactly sure why it ruffles me?
Perhaps what's more astonishing is HOW did these Egyptians get SUCH LARGE FEET? seriously....you know you've seen statues and did anyone ever think their feet were too large? even on the women?
I'm here to tell you - Egyptians have ENORMOUS feet! Wide, fat, HUGE feet! Women, men, children....and they're generally NOT large people! I'm taller than most the people I see all day!!!! And the same build as most of them too ;)
So - what is it? I mean they're almost like they got stung by bees..is it the heat? Is it the walking w/o the "give" of lush grass all their lives? Is it the carrying heavy loads from young ages? WHAT GIVES?? or is it a genetic trait that has stuck thru the years? From fair to nubian dark skinned - all Egyptians have GIGANTIC feet! I don't generally see the feet of the extreme upper class (there is no real middle class), so perhaps it's a diet thing? I dunno!?!?
I just think someone should figure out why....AND someone should figure out HOW to tell if someone is going to "Frenchkiss" me - cuz it really knocks me off my feet everytime...I'd also like a way to get out of it before it happens!
HA!
Blushing,
Wendy
or is the better question...why don't we do it in America?
Whatever it is...I truly wish this European or French kissing thing....came w/ some type of warning...
like I see women all dressed in black and their hands and I know they won't return my hello even in Arabic, it's just their beliefs, I'm accepting of that....
I see girls giggling w/ their headcovers and looking at me, I know they're about to practice their English on me....
but NOTHING has yet to prepare me for the women who want to come up and do the French Kissing...you know, grab ya, touch cheeks and make kissing noises...
I think that for the most part, I handle it with grace and probably don't seem as ruffled as I am....
I'm not even exactly sure why it ruffles me?
Perhaps what's more astonishing is HOW did these Egyptians get SUCH LARGE FEET? seriously....you know you've seen statues and did anyone ever think their feet were too large? even on the women?
I'm here to tell you - Egyptians have ENORMOUS feet! Wide, fat, HUGE feet! Women, men, children....and they're generally NOT large people! I'm taller than most the people I see all day!!!! And the same build as most of them too ;)
So - what is it? I mean they're almost like they got stung by bees..is it the heat? Is it the walking w/o the "give" of lush grass all their lives? Is it the carrying heavy loads from young ages? WHAT GIVES?? or is it a genetic trait that has stuck thru the years? From fair to nubian dark skinned - all Egyptians have GIGANTIC feet! I don't generally see the feet of the extreme upper class (there is no real middle class), so perhaps it's a diet thing? I dunno!?!?
I just think someone should figure out why....AND someone should figure out HOW to tell if someone is going to "Frenchkiss" me - cuz it really knocks me off my feet everytime...I'd also like a way to get out of it before it happens!
HA!
Blushing,
Wendy
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
to the Desert and Back again
As I type this, I'm listening to You Tube "A Horse with No Name" - ha! Thanks to John, this song was stuck in my head off and on...in between a Veggie Tales Song (no joke, Tanya, Teri and JenZie)...."everybody's got a waterbuffalo..her's is fast but mine is slow...."
At one point, John screamed out to the van people as we started to call "them" affectionately - remember this old hymn? "On Christ the solid rock I stand! All other ground is sinking sand...." HA HA HA! it'll make more sense later...keep reading....
This is going to be a long post and it'll take a good long time to get it together, in the meantime, I'm sure everyone's wondering where are their emails or skypes or f/b notes...well....they're coming together slowly here in one culmination.
First off - JASMINE LOVES SCHOOL!! and she was STOKED to return today - she woke up 20 min before daddy walked her to school, she ate breakfast on the way there....they're not doing L for lady bug, but rather I for insects, so she picked out a butterfly shirt since they are infact, insects ;)
We had wonderful hosts in John and Yrene and their kids yesterday as they invited us to join them and their friends from America (Tony and Monica). Tony and Monica hired a van and driver for their month here. Tony is Egyptian, I'd say he's probably 36-40 yrs old. He was born and raised here, left for America at age 18, so his return was bittersweet for them all - VERY cool experience for their family!
We left our home at 5:31 am Monday.
(sunrise over the pyramids)
We returned to our home at 8:47 pm Monday night. you KNOW kids are tired when....they're laying 2 people thick and mine even has a plastic cooler on top of him! Jasmine was asleep between Wy-el and I, I had a cramp from holding her legs off the stick as their SUV is manual.
Poor Jorge is on the BOTTOM! (age 4) and Joshua's drool! HILARIOUS!!!
this is her after a short nap between "stops"
speaking of Jorge - proof of Jasmine being smitten ;) We saw those two wander off...found them looking at rocks leaned up against....a trash can!
It was a day of Unbelievable Calamity (for Tony), Unruly Laughter for all, Unpredictable Awe over Creation!! I truly felt a burden as I again failed to express myself for what I feel over God's majesty, power, beauty, abundance. Truly unpredictable awe! We only had one major crash - Jasmine (poor girl) threw a tantrum (natural consequences rule) down the side of a steep incline...because other kids were eating OUR cantelope (you haven't had cantelope until you've had it outside the typical US stores...so I do grasp her possessivness YES ha). So...anywho...she stuck close after that. Some tweezers, antibacterial spray, lots of screaming and kisses and one ginoooooormous bandaid later...we were off again. But not before she had to apologize to 6 other children - goodness....I like that type of punishment! ha! I know you think I'm mean, but you don't know what a snob she can be sometimes - I'm baffled by her "teenage mean girl" mentality sometimes....but watching her humble herself not only made me giggle...it made me proud!
Unbelievable Calamity - Poor Tony! Our family prayed about specific things for our trip..and God supplied in unbelievable ways! You may think, as John said, that this story of Tony is one of fiction - rest assured...it is NOT!
side stop for my favorite pic! Xavier - 6, Joshua - 8, Gabriel - 9 - KING of the rock formations! I'd already climbed up ALOOONG ways - and then zoomed in - they are VERY high up there.
Imagine yourself..no roads...no cell coverage...one suv and one mini van. 10 kids, 8 adults..nuttin but 2 hrs of desert behind you and nutting but days worth ahead of you......as you ride out to explore the Western Desert of Egypt - still one of the least explored areas of the world. Hence, no roads ;) We did come across a few helipads...and decided this must be how Mexican drug runners feel! HA! sorry, bad humor...the heat and sun and all...anyway..moving on...
imagine it OK? THERE IS NO HELP! we're as prepared as we can be, just off on an adventure...taking some risks....
When suddenly...the Egyptian driver of the mini van doesn't see a big soft spot and drives right into it.......
Thinking like Americans, we ASSUMED the SUV had a tow strap. NOPE
Well.....the TWO GUYS in the ENTIRE area who saw us...happened to be surverying of sorts to create a "road" (you'll see the roads out here in pics, you'll get an idea of what I mean by this road, more of a "path" - well these 2 guys saw us....they were working in their......
yes...you've envisioned where we're at right? You stopped thinking American right?
They came for us...in a FRONT END LOAD AND A BULLDOZER! and I don't even mean the little ones on little streets - THE BIGGER ONES! Pulled us right out!
Then they went back a ways for a little Jeep they had...
(how many Egyptians does it take to get thru the Western Desert? HA! Van driver in white, Tony (Egyptian American) in Hawaiian shirt, Wy-el (Wael) in orange shirt laughing, Coptic Egyptians in Jeep. (Coptic Christianity is a history lesson for another day - I mention it for our bud Gage who has interest in world religion and history!)
and lead us to a bedouin "camp" where they were erecting something, I can't begin to fathom ANYWAY...
We get there...and the driver of the van hadn't heeded the last warnings about how to drive (you know what happened right?) HE GOT STUCK!
So Wy-el was trying to pull them out, as Tony purchased the tow strap (HIGH value here, people OUCH) and Wy-el is attempting to pull them out, but....
1. the other driver doesn't realize he needs to be IN GEAR W/ HIS FOOT ON THE GAS!
2. once he figures THIS out..he doesn't realize he should drive straight and keep the rope taught....getting stuck AGAIN....off to the side but still behind us
3. Then 12 Bedouin push the van out but - read 2 again..HE ALMOST NAILED US AS WE WEREN'T READY - COMMUNICATION PEOPLE! (yes, both drivers are first language in Egyptian, it was NOT a language barrier). Wy-el takes off FAST - AS WE HAVE ALL THE CHILDREN IN THE BACK OF THE SUV LIKE PIGS TO SLAUGHTER!
4. This caused all the kids to flounder, scream, grunt...and WHAM....rip goes the tow strap.....
5. A Jeep of Americans come thru (why, I dunno? LOCO GRINGO'S! said best in Spanish)....what do they do? instead of noticing us, they pull up...almost run over the tow strap THAT'S LIKE 4' IN THE AIR AT THIS POINT! slam on their brakes then do the AMERICAN "swearing" HONK!
WITH MILES OF DESERT AROUND!
6. Tony pays all of the bedouin and they get us out....we drive thru the smallest things to call town - even John and Yrene said it's MUCH more desolate, poor and "dank" than Mexico! (yrene is Mexican, she'd know).
they wouldn't let me take photos....but I did get THIS sign after the above photo
as you can see.....we almost didn't heed its warning! about a 20' drop off!!!
All the while....the rest of us are having competely unruly laughter!!! John and Rob had to exit the suv and wander off, they were laughing SO hard, Wy-el couldn't concentrate! I couldn't get out because I didn't bring a skirt (oopsie) to put over my shorts and we were in a bedouin village. I contained myself...Wy-el banged his head on the steering wheel a few times and I think might've come close to loosing his integrity w/ the other driver a few times ;) GOOOO WY-EL!
Oh! and we saw goats and families living on top of "shacks" ?? I mean..not hanging out..but like...sleeping mats, cook stoves.....
So - we get set and they're in front...and
LOOOOOK OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUT!
The van driver hit a giant "bump" that was hard.....got airborn (I'm dying laughing still since no one was hurt), hit so hard that he knocked the spare tire off the bottom..and it's just going erratically across the desert on its own!! MAN THAT WAS HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!
Wy-el at one point yells out in his Egyptian accent
"What make of this? That van! THAT VAN! what make of this?"
The other family along w/ Yrene, Joseph, Xavier rode in the van. I rode w/ the rest in the SUV. I was in front with Wy-el. He would like to take his family to America, be a semi driver and travel in the sleeper w/ his family - NEAT WENDY C, EH?!
OH THE GROSSEST THING! may want to scroll a bit and skip this little part ;)
I had to go SO bad, but I couldn't out there...because...well the bedouin were with us!! The other women were nursing and sadly enough, actually became dehydrated :-( I was hurting VERY badly I had to go so badly....
Well we found a little medical center in one little "town", Wyel went in to ask if an American woman with her hair down and exposed legs could use the potty - so they cleared the area and Wy-el took me in....and stood guard...there was feces, piled with flies on the door, the walls, the toilet....
FIVE wipes...FIVE wipes.....but if I went in, YOU KNOW I WAS DESPERATE!! i thanked the nurses profusely, answered a few questions, then Wy-el said something and dragged me out (drug me out? HELP! am I really my kid's teacher?)
this was beside the clinic..I'd have prefer to go with these adorable beasts!! I think water buffalo are EVEN cuter than cows - how can I adore such stinky vile beasts? ha!
OH - nurses, did you know they're not medically trained here? They're more of like "support staff" with a pretty "label" - kinda scary! BUT - you see, at least nurses and doctors ALL want to BE that, it's not a "status" thing here, nor is it ANY way to make money! In the US, it's like "oooh you're a doctor" people know you'll have the big house, fancy cars after you pay off your incredible loans....anywho - here nobody does it for status or wealth, it just doesn't happen...so every doctor actually WANTS to be a doctor and serve - neat neat!
Did someone say this was a post about Mon? I think I'm on a rabbit trail!
I think I can get back on track
SQUIRREL!
I think I can get back on the desert track ;) and attach some way cool photos now!!
OH - my 2nd day of Arabic was GREAT!! I really like our teacher. Rob really enjoyed 3 hrs sitting in the cafe drinking his fruit smoothie and doing his computer work in calmness. We enjoyed our 30 min before and after class together JUST FOR US!
I have OODLES of homework, I'm going to make my family nuts ;)
Well, I have to get my little insect from school - GOTTA SMOTHER HER IN KISSES! I can't believe, after being with them NON STOP how much I missed them Sun and today - blushing at the admission. IT'S GOOD FOR ALL OF US!!
No word on my mom's heart test results. THANKS for prayers the other day! Will keep you posted!
When I sit again, I'll add pics.......
ok FREAKY story!! You all know, if you didn't know me WELL before the blog, I'm a "passionate" person..it's a blessing and a curse ;) Most people say I'm high strung, some people politely say I'm high energy, a few love on me and affectionately say I'm passionate ;) (tee hee) well....I put Jasmine in the back of the SUV (please stop panicking about seat belts and safety..it's just...throw it out of your mind..it's part of living here ;) now you can read on! lol
ok - so I'm in the front, right? John and Rob are in the middle w/ stuff, 4-8 kids in the back depending on what they wanted...I put Jasmine in the back of the truck....we "raced" vehicles...after 20 min of NOT seeing the other vehicle, I wanted Jasmine's attention to tell her something...
you know where this is going now don't you, Mom??? Everyone pick their hearts up off the floor..keep reading..it's a happy ending.....it's ok to breathe.....
THO I DID NOT!
Wendy "Hey, Rob, get Jasmine's attention for me please"
Gabriel "Jasmine's not back here"
W - ok kids, seriously, get Jasmine for me
Rob - SERIOUSLY, SHE'S NOT IN HERE
W - (complete meltdown) WHAT DO YOU MEAN? GET SERIOUS!
Rob - SERIOUSLY, SHE'S NOT IN HERE!
W - WY-EL STOP THE TRUCK! WHERE'S MY DAUGHTER?! WHERE IS SHE?!
Wyel - We go back, madam, we go back
fast u-turn, speeding back.....breathing mother......QUIET suv (4 boys....VERY quiet).....all you hear is me breathing....and us hitting bumps at 120 kmp (that's 70 MILES per h in the desert!!!!) and Wy-el mumbling......
We see the van.....he's swerving so they know we're not playing now......
Wy-el - Jasmine there? Jasmine there?
other driver - yes, she got in at the last minute
Wendy to Wy-el, I'm going to kill her!
Wy-el LAUGHING HIS BUTT OFF!!
Now we're back to racing ;) and later Rob said to Jasmine "it's fine you wanted to ride in the van, but ALWAYS ask mommy or daddy before doing that, ok?!" I simply cried and held her - heaven sakes, mommy!
The drive home was INTENSE! If you thought the driving in the desert was an adventure....well....try driving IN THE DARK WITHOUT LIGHTS (they think it's rude to shine lights in other's faces) going 50 MILES per hour in 3 lane traffic...and remember what's on the side of the road? WATERBUFFALO'S! 8 yr olds on donkeys! EEEEK! I'm not sure HOW others could rest! I even let out some gasps and grabbed the "panic handles"!!! (blushing)
We found an oasis! COOOOL!! gorgeous waterfall! The ONLY one still "active" in Egypt - plenty of dried up ones. Joshua found this section of a backbone and we turned it into the bedouin who keep this "section" of land looked after. We are SO curious what it could be! But even tho I had some strong opposition from MANY ages...I felt it cruel to steal it from its resting place!!
I need to do my homework for today - I'd better stop reviewing all my pics ;)
Thanks for looking!!!
Mahsehlehmah!!
At one point, John screamed out to the van people as we started to call "them" affectionately - remember this old hymn? "On Christ the solid rock I stand! All other ground is sinking sand...." HA HA HA! it'll make more sense later...keep reading....
This is going to be a long post and it'll take a good long time to get it together, in the meantime, I'm sure everyone's wondering where are their emails or skypes or f/b notes...well....they're coming together slowly here in one culmination.
First off - JASMINE LOVES SCHOOL!! and she was STOKED to return today - she woke up 20 min before daddy walked her to school, she ate breakfast on the way there....they're not doing L for lady bug, but rather I for insects, so she picked out a butterfly shirt since they are infact, insects ;)
We had wonderful hosts in John and Yrene and their kids yesterday as they invited us to join them and their friends from America (Tony and Monica). Tony and Monica hired a van and driver for their month here. Tony is Egyptian, I'd say he's probably 36-40 yrs old. He was born and raised here, left for America at age 18, so his return was bittersweet for them all - VERY cool experience for their family!
We left our home at 5:31 am Monday.
(sunrise over the pyramids)
We returned to our home at 8:47 pm Monday night. you KNOW kids are tired when....they're laying 2 people thick and mine even has a plastic cooler on top of him! Jasmine was asleep between Wy-el and I, I had a cramp from holding her legs off the stick as their SUV is manual.
Poor Jorge is on the BOTTOM! (age 4) and Joshua's drool! HILARIOUS!!!
this is her after a short nap between "stops"
speaking of Jorge - proof of Jasmine being smitten ;) We saw those two wander off...found them looking at rocks leaned up against....a trash can!
It was a day of Unbelievable Calamity (for Tony), Unruly Laughter for all, Unpredictable Awe over Creation!! I truly felt a burden as I again failed to express myself for what I feel over God's majesty, power, beauty, abundance. Truly unpredictable awe! We only had one major crash - Jasmine (poor girl) threw a tantrum (natural consequences rule) down the side of a steep incline...because other kids were eating OUR cantelope (you haven't had cantelope until you've had it outside the typical US stores...so I do grasp her possessivness YES ha). So...anywho...she stuck close after that. Some tweezers, antibacterial spray, lots of screaming and kisses and one ginoooooormous bandaid later...we were off again. But not before she had to apologize to 6 other children - goodness....I like that type of punishment! ha! I know you think I'm mean, but you don't know what a snob she can be sometimes - I'm baffled by her "teenage mean girl" mentality sometimes....but watching her humble herself not only made me giggle...it made me proud!
Unbelievable Calamity - Poor Tony! Our family prayed about specific things for our trip..and God supplied in unbelievable ways! You may think, as John said, that this story of Tony is one of fiction - rest assured...it is NOT!
side stop for my favorite pic! Xavier - 6, Joshua - 8, Gabriel - 9 - KING of the rock formations! I'd already climbed up ALOOONG ways - and then zoomed in - they are VERY high up there.
Imagine yourself..no roads...no cell coverage...one suv and one mini van. 10 kids, 8 adults..nuttin but 2 hrs of desert behind you and nutting but days worth ahead of you......as you ride out to explore the Western Desert of Egypt - still one of the least explored areas of the world. Hence, no roads ;) We did come across a few helipads...and decided this must be how Mexican drug runners feel! HA! sorry, bad humor...the heat and sun and all...anyway..moving on...
imagine it OK? THERE IS NO HELP! we're as prepared as we can be, just off on an adventure...taking some risks....
When suddenly...the Egyptian driver of the mini van doesn't see a big soft spot and drives right into it.......
Thinking like Americans, we ASSUMED the SUV had a tow strap. NOPE
Well.....the TWO GUYS in the ENTIRE area who saw us...happened to be surverying of sorts to create a "road" (you'll see the roads out here in pics, you'll get an idea of what I mean by this road, more of a "path" - well these 2 guys saw us....they were working in their......
yes...you've envisioned where we're at right? You stopped thinking American right?
They came for us...in a FRONT END LOAD AND A BULLDOZER! and I don't even mean the little ones on little streets - THE BIGGER ONES! Pulled us right out!
Then they went back a ways for a little Jeep they had...
(how many Egyptians does it take to get thru the Western Desert? HA! Van driver in white, Tony (Egyptian American) in Hawaiian shirt, Wy-el (Wael) in orange shirt laughing, Coptic Egyptians in Jeep. (Coptic Christianity is a history lesson for another day - I mention it for our bud Gage who has interest in world religion and history!)
and lead us to a bedouin "camp" where they were erecting something, I can't begin to fathom ANYWAY...
We get there...and the driver of the van hadn't heeded the last warnings about how to drive (you know what happened right?) HE GOT STUCK!
So Wy-el was trying to pull them out, as Tony purchased the tow strap (HIGH value here, people OUCH) and Wy-el is attempting to pull them out, but....
1. the other driver doesn't realize he needs to be IN GEAR W/ HIS FOOT ON THE GAS!
2. once he figures THIS out..he doesn't realize he should drive straight and keep the rope taught....getting stuck AGAIN....off to the side but still behind us
3. Then 12 Bedouin push the van out but - read 2 again..HE ALMOST NAILED US AS WE WEREN'T READY - COMMUNICATION PEOPLE! (yes, both drivers are first language in Egyptian, it was NOT a language barrier). Wy-el takes off FAST - AS WE HAVE ALL THE CHILDREN IN THE BACK OF THE SUV LIKE PIGS TO SLAUGHTER!
4. This caused all the kids to flounder, scream, grunt...and WHAM....rip goes the tow strap.....
5. A Jeep of Americans come thru (why, I dunno? LOCO GRINGO'S! said best in Spanish)....what do they do? instead of noticing us, they pull up...almost run over the tow strap THAT'S LIKE 4' IN THE AIR AT THIS POINT! slam on their brakes then do the AMERICAN "swearing" HONK!
WITH MILES OF DESERT AROUND!
6. Tony pays all of the bedouin and they get us out....we drive thru the smallest things to call town - even John and Yrene said it's MUCH more desolate, poor and "dank" than Mexico! (yrene is Mexican, she'd know).
they wouldn't let me take photos....but I did get THIS sign after the above photo
as you can see.....we almost didn't heed its warning! about a 20' drop off!!!
All the while....the rest of us are having competely unruly laughter!!! John and Rob had to exit the suv and wander off, they were laughing SO hard, Wy-el couldn't concentrate! I couldn't get out because I didn't bring a skirt (oopsie) to put over my shorts and we were in a bedouin village. I contained myself...Wy-el banged his head on the steering wheel a few times and I think might've come close to loosing his integrity w/ the other driver a few times ;) GOOOO WY-EL!
Oh! and we saw goats and families living on top of "shacks" ?? I mean..not hanging out..but like...sleeping mats, cook stoves.....
So - we get set and they're in front...and
LOOOOOK OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUT!
The van driver hit a giant "bump" that was hard.....got airborn (I'm dying laughing still since no one was hurt), hit so hard that he knocked the spare tire off the bottom..and it's just going erratically across the desert on its own!! MAN THAT WAS HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!
Wy-el at one point yells out in his Egyptian accent
"What make of this? That van! THAT VAN! what make of this?"
The other family along w/ Yrene, Joseph, Xavier rode in the van. I rode w/ the rest in the SUV. I was in front with Wy-el. He would like to take his family to America, be a semi driver and travel in the sleeper w/ his family - NEAT WENDY C, EH?!
OH THE GROSSEST THING! may want to scroll a bit and skip this little part ;)
I had to go SO bad, but I couldn't out there...because...well the bedouin were with us!! The other women were nursing and sadly enough, actually became dehydrated :-( I was hurting VERY badly I had to go so badly....
Well we found a little medical center in one little "town", Wyel went in to ask if an American woman with her hair down and exposed legs could use the potty - so they cleared the area and Wy-el took me in....and stood guard...there was feces, piled with flies on the door, the walls, the toilet....
FIVE wipes...FIVE wipes.....but if I went in, YOU KNOW I WAS DESPERATE!! i thanked the nurses profusely, answered a few questions, then Wy-el said something and dragged me out (drug me out? HELP! am I really my kid's teacher?)
this was beside the clinic..I'd have prefer to go with these adorable beasts!! I think water buffalo are EVEN cuter than cows - how can I adore such stinky vile beasts? ha!
OH - nurses, did you know they're not medically trained here? They're more of like "support staff" with a pretty "label" - kinda scary! BUT - you see, at least nurses and doctors ALL want to BE that, it's not a "status" thing here, nor is it ANY way to make money! In the US, it's like "oooh you're a doctor" people know you'll have the big house, fancy cars after you pay off your incredible loans....anywho - here nobody does it for status or wealth, it just doesn't happen...so every doctor actually WANTS to be a doctor and serve - neat neat!
Did someone say this was a post about Mon? I think I'm on a rabbit trail!
I think I can get back on track
SQUIRREL!
I think I can get back on the desert track ;) and attach some way cool photos now!!
OH - my 2nd day of Arabic was GREAT!! I really like our teacher. Rob really enjoyed 3 hrs sitting in the cafe drinking his fruit smoothie and doing his computer work in calmness. We enjoyed our 30 min before and after class together JUST FOR US!
I have OODLES of homework, I'm going to make my family nuts ;)
Well, I have to get my little insect from school - GOTTA SMOTHER HER IN KISSES! I can't believe, after being with them NON STOP how much I missed them Sun and today - blushing at the admission. IT'S GOOD FOR ALL OF US!!
No word on my mom's heart test results. THANKS for prayers the other day! Will keep you posted!
When I sit again, I'll add pics.......
ok FREAKY story!! You all know, if you didn't know me WELL before the blog, I'm a "passionate" person..it's a blessing and a curse ;) Most people say I'm high strung, some people politely say I'm high energy, a few love on me and affectionately say I'm passionate ;) (tee hee) well....I put Jasmine in the back of the SUV (please stop panicking about seat belts and safety..it's just...throw it out of your mind..it's part of living here ;) now you can read on! lol
ok - so I'm in the front, right? John and Rob are in the middle w/ stuff, 4-8 kids in the back depending on what they wanted...I put Jasmine in the back of the truck....we "raced" vehicles...after 20 min of NOT seeing the other vehicle, I wanted Jasmine's attention to tell her something...
you know where this is going now don't you, Mom??? Everyone pick their hearts up off the floor..keep reading..it's a happy ending.....it's ok to breathe.....
THO I DID NOT!
Wendy "Hey, Rob, get Jasmine's attention for me please"
Gabriel "Jasmine's not back here"
W - ok kids, seriously, get Jasmine for me
Rob - SERIOUSLY, SHE'S NOT IN HERE
W - (complete meltdown) WHAT DO YOU MEAN? GET SERIOUS!
Rob - SERIOUSLY, SHE'S NOT IN HERE!
W - WY-EL STOP THE TRUCK! WHERE'S MY DAUGHTER?! WHERE IS SHE?!
Wyel - We go back, madam, we go back
fast u-turn, speeding back.....breathing mother......QUIET suv (4 boys....VERY quiet).....all you hear is me breathing....and us hitting bumps at 120 kmp (that's 70 MILES per h in the desert!!!!) and Wy-el mumbling......
We see the van.....he's swerving so they know we're not playing now......
Wy-el - Jasmine there? Jasmine there?
other driver - yes, she got in at the last minute
Wendy to Wy-el, I'm going to kill her!
Wy-el LAUGHING HIS BUTT OFF!!
Now we're back to racing ;) and later Rob said to Jasmine "it's fine you wanted to ride in the van, but ALWAYS ask mommy or daddy before doing that, ok?!" I simply cried and held her - heaven sakes, mommy!
The drive home was INTENSE! If you thought the driving in the desert was an adventure....well....try driving IN THE DARK WITHOUT LIGHTS (they think it's rude to shine lights in other's faces) going 50 MILES per hour in 3 lane traffic...and remember what's on the side of the road? WATERBUFFALO'S! 8 yr olds on donkeys! EEEEK! I'm not sure HOW others could rest! I even let out some gasps and grabbed the "panic handles"!!! (blushing)
We found an oasis! COOOOL!! gorgeous waterfall! The ONLY one still "active" in Egypt - plenty of dried up ones. Joshua found this section of a backbone and we turned it into the bedouin who keep this "section" of land looked after. We are SO curious what it could be! But even tho I had some strong opposition from MANY ages...I felt it cruel to steal it from its resting place!!
I need to do my homework for today - I'd better stop reviewing all my pics ;)
Thanks for looking!!!
Mahsehlehmah!!
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