Allow Me To Present...

Pictures! Yup, one of the added bonuses of having our own internet is that I am actually able to post pictures to things. So, here's the Shutterfly slideshow, conveniently located in this post. I haven't totally figured out this Shutterfly thing, but I think this link should always bring you to my share site, even if I post new pictures onto it. Unfortunately, I'm honestly not sure. I think it's weird that the website doesn't allow you to be constantly upgrading and editing published albums, but maybe I just haven't figured out how yet.

In other news, today's a day off for us - we were supposed to be doing some kind of field trip, but that got relocated to tomorrow and, since they'd already canceled with the secondary volunteer sites (for me, Ana al-Misri), Zoe and Ustaz Lo decided we deserved a day off. So, last night we went on a late-night faluka ride on the Nile (complete with our speakers and lots of singing) after watching the World Cup game at the Hard Rock Cafe, and today we're just relaxing (maybe shopping...?). But enjoy the pictures!

Recap of a Coptic Adventure

So, our day off yesterday was long-awaited and much appreciated. We had a chance to go to the bank, pick up groceries, clean up the apartment a bit, and do a little sight-seeing! My afternoon was spent wandering aimlessly through Coptic Cairo, the traditionally Christian part of Cairo which was more touristy than I had anticipated but still beautiful and worth seeing. The churches were intricate and people are allowed to wander through just about everything. I didn't go that far from the metro station, but that was mostly because I was too busy wandering through shops admiring the scenery and brainstorming on gifts to bring back. And a few of us found a lovely little cafe near a cathedral where I had some delicious chocolate ice cream and the local cats found us very intriguing.

Anyway, though I am tired, and sore, and covered in bug bites, I feel content. It was a trying afternoon at Ana al-Misri, but I don't feel that it was too terrible. And though we complain about our Arabic classes a lot, I don't find them to be necessarily bad - today one teacher randomly brought in a papaya and we made juice, which was really nice of him and absolutely lovely. Nothing here is perfect, but I'm okay with that.
Now, note that I wrote this before I finished my homework- my opinion may soon be a little different.