11 weeks.
Wow. Exactly eleven weeks and I will be in Amsterdam awaiting a flight to Cairo. I started plotting my year abroad over a year ago, so the realization that it is actually happening is...mind blowing. The fact I still don't know how to say "I'm lost", "I need a US Embassy," or "Where's the bathroom" and have no idea what 9 means in arabish is disconcerting... but my optimism has not disapated quite yet. It seems cheesy, but some informal statement of goals seems essential:
*come home with a serious grasp on Arabic and the ability to pass not for a local but at least for a non-tourist. Avoid English outside of class.
* be able to say I have seen North Africa. its people. its quirks.
*come out of it having some well-documented narratives of my experiences, even if just good conversations that i've written down.
* break a few stereotypes held abroad about Americans, and dissolve a few of those I may hold subconsciously of others, too.
* find a masjid i like, with old ladies as insightful and odd as the one i go to now. actually that's the better the goal: meet wise old muslim women.
insha'Allah.
1 comment:
Hey Amy!
It's awesome that you'll be spending a year in Egypt. I'm so excited for you!
Oh, and random curious question: when did you convert to Islam?
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