The Proposal

So, the past few days have been pretty interesting.  I've been running errands with Sama and getting to know Cairo better.  I went to the hairdresser by myself (trust me, that's a big step... lol) and a few other things.  

However, these things are not the main topic of this post.  Here is why my evening (yesterday... that's Thursday) was so interesting... and truly hysterical.

Sama had some friends pass by to get their gifts from tante Samia (from her trip to Switzerland).  So people were ringing the door bell all evening.  Well, the doorbell rang and Sama and Leila answered the door.  

Let me give you a little back story here:  the apartment below us is being renovated.  I like to sit on the balcony for non-air conditioned air.  Sometimes the guys are working while I'm outside.  I stay generally out of their sight, but sometimes it can't be helped.

ANYWAY, last night the doorbell rang and Sama and Leila answered the door.  There was a man at the door that Sama didn't know.  He asked if he could talk to the foreign girl who lived here.  Sama said why?  Who are you?  He said my name is... (whatever)... and I want to ask her to marry me.  Sama said, I'm sorry but she has someone in her life.  He gave her his card (with a shaking hand apparently) and said please can I talk to her?  Sama said, no.  But if something changes we'll call you.  lol...

OK.  When Sama came back to the living room her and Leila are cracking up.  Sama proceeds to tell the story.  The poor guy even went home and showered and put on his nice clothes... everything.  lol... he's a marketing and product sales manager for the company fixing the apartment (according to his card).  Let me tell you we all had a good laugh.

According to Sama and her mother, I'm not allowed to leave my room and I certainly am not allowed to sit on the balcony anymore.  

Well, I just thought that was a wonderfully ridiculous story that I needed to share.  Otherwise, things are good here and I'm having a great time.  :)  

Friday/Saturday

So Friday was a very uneventful day.  Although, I can't say that I'm not really enjoying this down time.  Anyway- Tante Samia came to take Leila (a.k.a. the shadow) to her house for a few days as she had just returned from Switzerland.  

After Samia left Sama and I went to drop a pair of sunglasses to get the prescription, went to the supermarket (which was really interesting, actually) and then went to Samy's for a few hours.  We hung out and didn't really do much, but as I said, I don't really mind.

When we left Samy's, Nadim came to meet me and we went to get a cell phone.  I got a really sweet LG that's made of all stainless steel... it's part of the shine collection and I freaking love it.  It's so pretty. lol

Today (so far) Sama and I went to Samy's.  lol That's it.  I'll either be going out tonight with Sama or Nadim.  I'll see.  But either way, I'm going out. lol

xoxo

New Cell Number

Just as a side note:

If you haven't gotten my new cell number yet please e-mail me, msn me, facebook me, myspace me or whatever.

xoxo

The First 48

Well, here I am.  Moved in, unpacked, set in my room and already set in my routine.  The first 48 has been interesting and absolutely surreal. 

Monday/Tuesday-

My flight left JFK late.  I was supposed to take off at 6.30 pm and I didn't leave until almost 8 pm.  I was stuck next to a nice woman, but one who had to pee just about every five minutes.  Needless to say, that got old really fast.  The only saving grace to my flight was Kareem and Mohammad- two Egyptian brothers from South Carolina.  Mohammed was maybe 20 and Kareem was 10.  We had a blast in the airport then on the plane.  They're staying with family close to my apartment in Agouza, but I didn't get to see them in the airport to get a phone number so I could pass by.  Still, they kept me entertained and laughing on what could otherwise have been the worst flight of my life.

When I got to the airport I was greeted by Sama and Leila- the latter of which immediately became my shadow.  We came back to the house, brought my stuff to my room (previously Gandmaman's) and ate molokhayya prepared by Saba7.  Just about the best thing ever, actually.  After dinner, we just hung around the house until Samy and Nadim came.  After Samy left, me and Nadim went to Oum Koulsoom- a cafe near the flat- and sat for some time.  Watching people here is so different from watching people in the states; there isn't any drinking in cafe's so it's all people smoking shisha and chatting and (if you're a guy) checking out girls.  Sorry Allyn, this isn't the place for you :(

After Oum Koulsoom we came back to Agouza and watched The Departed while eating Pizza Hut.  I know, I know.  No comments please.  

Wednesday-

Wednesday was fairly uneventful.  I unpacked, Samy passed by for a short while and I played with Leila.  She decided to dress up in my shoes, belt, watch, purse and lipgloss... and use my cell.  lol   That's the picture (above).

 I think the travel was finally catching up with me because I slept quite a bit throughout the day.  Salwa came to clean the flat, I went to Radio Shack to get a converter for my computer and we went to McDonald's for Leila.  And, it rained.  IT NEVER RAINS IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY!!!!  That's actually it, though.  I know, I'm in Egypt and going to Radio Shack and Mconald's, it rained... and I ate Pizza Hut.  The world is going to end.

Thursday-

Today was more interesting, by far.  It started out the same as usual- I waited for Nadim to pass by, but (also as usual) he didn't come.  So around 6, Sama and I dropped Leila to Sara's house- so Leila could play with Laila lol- and we proceeded to pick up Salley.  Salley is Sama's friend and I love her a lot.  She just had surgery and we had to take her to the doctor's office (in Do2i) to remove what I dubbed her "blood purse."  I'm not going to explain because it's too much.  lol  

After we dropped her back in Maadi, we came back to Zamelek to pick up Leila.  We stayed at Sara's for a few hours and ate her father's cooking.  Let me tell you, he is the most amazing cook who's food I've had the pleasure to eat.  We had eggplant with tomatem and kofta with batatas and tomatem.  It was a taste explosion... literally.  Also at Sara's I found my future husband.  He's a famous actor who is currently filming on Sara's husband's boat with Omar Sharif.  I'm trying to go visit them, but I don't think that's going to happen.  I'm really quite upset.  I love, love, LOVE Omar Sharif.  Although, now that he lives in Cairo again, there is the distinct possibility I will stalk him and meet him when he least expects it... hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha (oh yes, that was the evil laugh).

Other than that, I've been gawked at more times than I care to count and I'm already cursing at them. :)  I love it.

I'm not dead, I'm generally happy- if not a little tired- and I can't wait to see what happens tomorrow when I try to get a mobile (and, yes Allyn, insert a Friends quote here).

Love you all.