2006 Reflection

It’s almost that time of the year when we have to say good-bye to it. It is amazing to me that in only two days it will be 2007. 2006 went so fast. There were times when it seemed like it would never come to an end; but here I sit reflecting on this past year, the good and the bad. I can’t even think of a word to describe all the things that happened this year.

This time last year was actually quite stressful. And probably caused a domino affect on how things turned out for me this year. If you were at WSC in Dayton, you know how crazy things were. It wasn’t the best way to start of the New Year. But yet, I got through it and luckily didn’t go insane by May.

2006 marked a lot of milestones for me.

• This year I entered my third semester as LCP and third year in AIESEC.
• It was the year green became my favorite color ;)
• I got a reality check on a few of my friendships and relationships.
• I got over some heartache but then drama decided to resurface itself back into my life, yay – oh how I love sarcasm.
• I went to a ball
• I graduated in FOUR years from Miami University and owe not a cent to the school but…I still have loans :(
• I moved out of #25; a place I called home for 2 years with two great friends.
• I had to leave my friends, um correction family, of four years
• I had dinner with my two dads.
• I got a new car :)
• I left the country for the first time ever, and did it on my own (the physical part, not the financial – thx fam!)
• I went more than a week without watching my soaps – been watching Y&R for 11 years, so this was a hard thing
• I was reunited with Nisrin – still amazes me that we both ended up in Egypt together, AND live across the street from each other
  I’ve met and befriended people from every continent
• Was able to see some old friends
• I saw the Pyramids of Giza & the Sphinx
• I walked along the Mediterranean & Red Sea
• I got an awesome buddy, friend & coworker :)
• I camped in the desert – soooo not a thing I would normally do
• I lived in my first apartment by myself – but it was only for a week!
• I learned to say “Ana Amrekeya. Ana mean Chicago.”
• I learned to cross the street in Egypt
• I moved 4 times in 5 months
• I moved in with the best roomie
• I’ve gained an international perspective

And this is just what I can think of off the top of my head. This year was an absolute rollercoaster from beginning to end. It started off crazy and I have a feeling it will end that way. I owe a lot of thanx to many people who supported me and were there for me through thick and thin. Too many people to name but you know who you are.

So with NYE being less than 48 hours away, I can’t help but reflect on all the things I accomplished and still strive to achieve.

I was supposed to fly home in three days but extended my time here. And I’m happy I did for many reasons. I think in a way the thought of ’07 kinda scares me. This is the year of the unknown for me. I’ve accomplished everything I’ve wanted to do up until this point. I graduated when I wanted to (summer school was worth it now that I looked back). I made my goal of coming to Egypt – something I decided on two years ago btw – a reality. The next thing on my list is grad school but that won’t start becoming a reality for another 3 years. I basically know what’s in store for me until April. Maybe my week in Disney with the fam will get me prepared and energized for the unexpected. Here’s to 2007…Out with the old and in with the new ;)

Post-Christmas

Christmas has now come and gone but it still doesn't feel like the holidays.

Farzina and I had an awesome Christmas party; we even decorated the apartment with Christmas lights on the windows and trimming along the walls. I spent Christmas day basically at Nisrin's – watched t.v., fell asleep at 6am, woke up at 4am, went home to shower and change, went shopping for food at 6pm, started cooking at 7pm, ate around 11pm (one of these days we will start designing our menu around the size of Nisrin's oven!)

The food was random – a 5 layer taco dip, a chicken & potato with lemon flavor baked/stove thing :) some other veggies and desert was fudge brownies. The company was good – Nisrin, Kenny, Dody, Mike and May. It was cool to have a chilled out Christmas.

I was even able to talk on the phone with all my parents and siblings on the same day; which I probably haven't done since I graduated from Miami .

All in all, it was a good weekend; I guess I just don't feel the holiday spirit here. Tho' I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot of spirit soon since next week is another Eid! Yay more cultural learning :)

Santa Claus

as i was leaving zamalek today after an amideast intern dinner, i caught a clipse of something familiar in the window of diwan. it was santa claus! it kinda shocked me yet made me smile. besides the random places selling christmas trees (and the one standing outside of my office) i haven't seen much christmas paraphenelia around. i was in a taxi back to dokki when some other interns when i saw santa. we quickly and joyfully waved to him and he waved back as jolly as santa should. this made me look forward to the upcoming holiday season.

what also added to my day was the post that went out over egypt trainee voice from tom trying to get everyone together for christmas day. it seems that there are quite a few people that will be around; kudos to tom for being proactive :)

so it seems that my holidays won't be too bad. the 22nd will be Farzina & Nay-Nay's Christmas Bash/Thomas' going away party. and the 25th will be christmas dinner with friends; what more can you ask for when you can't share this time with your family?

'Tis the season ;)

Living la Vida Cairo

I’m totally strugglin’ right now to even write this, so bare with me! Alright so I’ve been in Cairo for about 5 days and things have been going on non-stop ever since. I arrived to Cairo to find an awesome apartment – kudos to Farzina for the find! It’s on the 18th loor of a building on Tahir Street, across from Cinema Tahir. It’s a two floor apartment; my room is on the second floor. I live with three other girls, Lizzy & Abby who are students at AUC, and Farzina, another AIESEC trainee. Farzina has an awesome room with a view of the Nile on the left and the Giza pyramids to the right, tho only really visible on a non polluted day. My view is of the Nile and much of Cairo, Dokki and Zamalek. I’ve got my own bathroom and a sweet lounge area outside my room.

Got to Cairo Saturday afternoon and was quickly welcomed by most of the people I know here. For about 5 hours, we had people coming in and out of the apartment. Next day headed to work; did I mention that my office is a 10-15 minute walk from my place?! Work was crazy; we were in the middle of doing all the final things for the company’s 50th anniversary gala dinner and symposium held Tuesday and today.

Working on these events have added to my ability to not sleep well. I got to work at 1pm yesterday (at the Four Seasons) and left at about 11am. Tho’ it was worth it. It was our gala dinner, and there were so many important people there from Egypt and America. The First Lady of Egypt gave the keynote speech. There were ambassadors there, CEOs from different corporations. Mobinil, GE, USAID were just few of the companies/organizations in attendance. It was amazing. Especially all the security. You couldn’t enter the event unless you had a stamped invitation from the Egyptian government. They had dogs sweep the room several times before the event to ensure the safety of the First Lady. Tons of guards, dogs and large guns were present at the beginning, thankfully they were well hidden throughout the event.

After learning that I had to be at work at 7:30am today, I went straight home and headed to bed. Woke up this morning soo tired and headed back to the Four Seasons (which I can see from my bedroom window). Worked towards getting the symposium ready. It went really well. Dina Habib Powell, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Educational and Cultural Affairs gave the second keynote speakers. There were also two panel discussions. The first one was about Education, Training and Job Creation. The second panel was about International Educational Exchanges and Linkages.

There were some really interesting information presented. It was mentioned repeatedly that the educational system here needs to be demand driven. There are a lot of people getting the opportunity to have a higher education, but there aren’t enough jobs available. One speaker, Dr. Dell Felder, made a couple of comments that I think were really important. “Teachers pass knowledge into their students, who passively accept what they’re taught” and “Women are an undeveloped economical resource.” It was just really great to hear people discuss how important education is.

After the event and lunch, I headed home and crashed. Now that this event is over, I have to start concentrating full-time on the upcoming conference I’m helping to plan. I just learned that all of my roomies are going to be gone for Christmas, so I’ll have the apartment to myself :( Anyone wanna hang out on Decemeber 25th with me? At least I know I’ll be around people for New Years. Gotta start making those Dahab plans soon.