First Week of School

I left school today, ending my first week of classes, with a bag full of literature, all centered around the city of Cairo. I must say, I feel tremendously privileged to be living on the set of so many fascinating stories, the stomping grounds of so many prolific writers, in just one of the many blossoming eras of Egyptian history. For anyone dying for some interesting reading material and in need of leisure activities, consider reading "Midaq Alley" by Naguib Mahfouz. After the initial few chapters, I quickly realized the enhancement that comes from seeing the actual sites, hearing the actual sounds, smelling the actual smells, and tasting the actual flavors found amongst the characters and settings of the Arabic novel.

In other news, I'm beginning to feel more comfortable with navigating the city. I've ventured into the seemingly complicated metro system, experienced the chaos of micro-buses, and witnessed the understandable affect of gridlock on Cairo taxis. Though challenging at times, and to the likely humor of the local onlookers, I've managed to navigate confidently through parts of the city. The goal will be to gradually become familiar with what is one of the largest cities in the world, daunting though it may be.