this is not actual update, for there are many things worth updating about and the inconvienence of final exams to tend to first. but my newest roomate just started this list and it was simply too funny to not post immediately. enjoy.
you know you have adjusted to living in cairo when...
1. you stop converting to US dollars, and therefore find a 25LE meal wicked expensive.
2. all the places that deliver food have you in their database.
3. you stop noticing the heaping piles of garbage on the sides of the street.
4. the Costa Coffee staff knows you name and what you want before you order.
5. you start thinking American cops are puny because they don't have AK47s.
6. you stop being picky about cleanliness of your food and choice of resteraunt.
7. 5LE (1 dollar) seems like an unjustifiable expense for koshary when there is felafel for 50piasters (50cents) on the next corner.
8. you blow your nose and the kleenex is black.
9. you feel like the videogame Frogger while crossing the street.
10. you say "laa" (no) and "iowa" (yes) and "inshaAllah" and "bes" (but) when you are speaking English.
11. you become nonchalant about flies and fruit.
12. young people of different sexes holding hands in the street seems kind of scandelous.
13. rain seems to inhibit life from running normally.
14. you stop being suprised when your "tan" washes off in the shower.
15. you wake up, or are simply alarmed, when cars STOP honking their horns.
16. you start wondering which headscarf would look best on you.
17, you see a dollar in your drawer and think, "what's that?"
18. you're suprised when the sky is blue.
19. you become deeply excited when you find a star or two in the night sky.
20. you want to cover "half-naked" tourists walking down the street.
21. stray cats, bats, beetles, and rats are considered local wild life.
22. you're confused when you walk into a grochery store with aisles.
23. you see a rooftop without trash piled high or impromtu shacks or tons of dusty satelite dishes and wonder what's wrong with the building.
24. you are suprised by freshly-painted, and therefore clean, buildings.
25. you think the US is mean for limiting how many employees can work in any giving business.
26. you see a political protest and wonder why the police haven't arrive yet.
27. you see a political protest of approximately 50 people and aren't suprised to see three times as many police officers.
28. you start recognizing the random people on the street, like men at the makeshift tama3a breakfast stands, the kleenex women, and the other "usual street folk" who share your daily routes.
29. you stop using a watch because the daily calls to prayer let you know what time it is.
30. you're no longer concerned about you're hair falling out.
31. you laugh and ask 'why?' when people tell you not to drink the tap water.
32. you're suprised when electronics work, or a probem is fixed within an hour, or something happens on time.
33. having a bigMac or mochaLatte delivered to your door no longer seems lazy or exotic.
and some personal additions...
34. when "fi aie?" and "aie da?" rolls off your tongue quickly and without thinking if you encounter reckless drivers, tempestuous metro riders, or perverted men on the street.
35. "yanni" finds its way into your daily lexicon.
36. when a problem arises, you scan your cellphone for relevant "contacts"
37. sleeping in on a sunday seems weird.
38. you stop asking what the cost is and just give the the taksi driver or store clerk your money with a pleasant 'ma3salama'
39. waking up before 8a or sleeping before midnight seems absurdly early.
40. the tinyest discrepancy becomes a community controvery or passionate argument.
41. western music is a treat to your ears and makes you feel rebellious.
42. you wonder when you can buy a najar or burqua.
43. people washing "their concrete" no longer seems weird.
44. the phrase "non-smoking section" provokes thoughts like, "impossible - really?"
45. you can bargain the vendors at theKhan down by 100s.
you know you have adjusted to living in cairo when...
1. you stop converting to US dollars, and therefore find a 25LE meal wicked expensive.
2. all the places that deliver food have you in their database.
3. you stop noticing the heaping piles of garbage on the sides of the street.
4. the Costa Coffee staff knows you name and what you want before you order.
5. you start thinking American cops are puny because they don't have AK47s.
6. you stop being picky about cleanliness of your food and choice of resteraunt.
7. 5LE (1 dollar) seems like an unjustifiable expense for koshary when there is felafel for 50piasters (50cents) on the next corner.
8. you blow your nose and the kleenex is black.
9. you feel like the videogame Frogger while crossing the street.
10. you say "laa" (no) and "iowa" (yes) and "inshaAllah" and "bes" (but) when you are speaking English.
11. you become nonchalant about flies and fruit.
12. young people of different sexes holding hands in the street seems kind of scandelous.
13. rain seems to inhibit life from running normally.
14. you stop being suprised when your "tan" washes off in the shower.
15. you wake up, or are simply alarmed, when cars STOP honking their horns.
16. you start wondering which headscarf would look best on you.
17, you see a dollar in your drawer and think, "what's that?"
18. you're suprised when the sky is blue.
19. you become deeply excited when you find a star or two in the night sky.
20. you want to cover "half-naked" tourists walking down the street.
21. stray cats, bats, beetles, and rats are considered local wild life.
22. you're confused when you walk into a grochery store with aisles.
23. you see a rooftop without trash piled high or impromtu shacks or tons of dusty satelite dishes and wonder what's wrong with the building.
24. you are suprised by freshly-painted, and therefore clean, buildings.
25. you think the US is mean for limiting how many employees can work in any giving business.
26. you see a political protest and wonder why the police haven't arrive yet.
27. you see a political protest of approximately 50 people and aren't suprised to see three times as many police officers.
28. you start recognizing the random people on the street, like men at the makeshift tama3a breakfast stands, the kleenex women, and the other "usual street folk" who share your daily routes.
29. you stop using a watch because the daily calls to prayer let you know what time it is.
30. you're no longer concerned about you're hair falling out.
31. you laugh and ask 'why?' when people tell you not to drink the tap water.
32. you're suprised when electronics work, or a probem is fixed within an hour, or something happens on time.
33. having a bigMac or mochaLatte delivered to your door no longer seems lazy or exotic.
and some personal additions...
34. when "fi aie?" and "aie da?" rolls off your tongue quickly and without thinking if you encounter reckless drivers, tempestuous metro riders, or perverted men on the street.
35. "yanni" finds its way into your daily lexicon.
36. when a problem arises, you scan your cellphone for relevant "contacts"
37. sleeping in on a sunday seems weird.
38. you stop asking what the cost is and just give the the taksi driver or store clerk your money with a pleasant 'ma3salama'
39. waking up before 8a or sleeping before midnight seems absurdly early.
40. the tinyest discrepancy becomes a community controvery or passionate argument.
41. western music is a treat to your ears and makes you feel rebellious.
42. you wonder when you can buy a najar or burqua.
43. people washing "their concrete" no longer seems weird.
44. the phrase "non-smoking section" provokes thoughts like, "impossible - really?"
45. you can bargain the vendors at theKhan down by 100s.
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