Night Life during Ramadan- The market where men call out to you "How can i take your money" "You have Egyptian woman, you get it for free" Shisha smoking area too- Cultural memo: Muslims smoke, no drink, Christians can drink, but no smoke...

“Experience without processing is tourism”

The Hospitality of the Egyptians:

My favorite moment this week, was after going on an walking adventure with the girls from my flat to Metro Market the grocery store one evening, we arrived back to our neighborhood and a lady stepped out of her car. Simultaneously, the fellas met up with us, and while talking, I looked over and greeted the woman saying “Ahlan” meaning “Hello.” She warmly shook my hand and I asked her name in Arabic, “Inti ismik eh?” She respond Karima. A man named Hamman came and translated for her, and they told me I should get my hair done- he was a hair dresser- he was glad to make our acquaintance and very respectable, for she invited us up to tea at her house and Hamman did not go up to the flat with us- honorable thing for a man to do here.

 

When we arrived on the 7^th floor- there were about five kids there, a father, another, and an aunt and grandma- the whole family under one roof- such liveliness. They were not expecting us, but were very hospitable and most happy to welcome us. I love that we are strangers and they invited us in so quickly- I wish it were that easy to welcome and trust strangers in the US but alas, it is not as easy and our culture does not seem teach us that- does it seem that we fear the stranger all to often? But of course, foreigners are always fun in any culture, even in ours I suppose…I love it being about relationships…

Anyways- We spent almost two hours late that evening learning to speak Arabic, playing with Siif (3 yrs) and Reehim (2 yrs) kids are such a blessing- I love families

 

Funny story- I kept saying “zaay tuul…” trying to pronounce “How do you say ____?’ buy they were hearing zany toun… which means “olive”- So they were confused and started explaining to me about fruits- apple, banana etc. We did not figure out that I was talking about fruits the entire time, until I simply asked, How do you say, “how do you say?” Then Achmad (the father responded) izzay tu’uul and we realized that everyone had been misunderstanding each other, but it all made so much sense- The family and friends laughed so hard…

 

We checked out a coptic monastery and this little girl followed us and held our hands everywhere- I love her! 

Garabage City from last post:  I love the colors of clothes hanging out of the window

Prison: Another language exchange for an hour while waiting to go see prisoners-

A girl was going through language book teaching me words- I love learning and am not ashamed to jump into attempting to speak the language so I may make a fool of myself…

God is doing a work amongst the Christian prisoners- many are in their 20 yrs+ and for life - I could not imagine- I spoke with the only Russian prisoner there too who had interesting thoughts on prayer and public…he was more to himself- but I like him

 

He said “if the Christians did not come to the prisons and give them stuff, the other Christians in prison would not pray” he said it critically- but I think to myself how discouraged I may get if my brothers and sisters around the world did not come to visit or pray for me and I was in there for life…

Classes: Great- I am coming here to be more informed- I still ask myself what am I doing here- I am a Biology major? I feel so disconnected from current events from the past 3 years, but then I tell myself, I came here to learn and to be a little more informed about the world I live in.

 

 

The Westmont 3: Typical Ratio even in Cairo! Ha! I think this group is going to be precious to me.

Discussion on God: 

 

In a discussion I had with a friend last night about God’s justice and mercy- she expressed frustration in an inconsistency of God’s character in the Old and New testament- somewhat Universalist-

 

I could understand the frustration- I don’t have everything down- but this was the thought I feel most important- I told her- it all boils down to “Who do you say I am”-Jesus- who do we say Jesus is? A prophet, a good man, God/son of God- because the importance of the cross shows God’s character being consistent-

 

In Christ God’s justice and mercy expressed in the OT are fulfilled in Christ- God does not get weaker and more soft in the New Testament- He is both just and merciful as He ever was…even if I can’t reconcile or understand all of history or His Word which is pivotal to our understanding of Him.

 

Simple Things in life:

Love Mangoes! Love Middle Eastern Food and Music, love the Night life, socialness, and Ramadan. Heat!