Wednesday, January 31, 2007
History Channel
I was watching the History Channel a few nights ago in my room. The show was called "dogfights" and it told the story of famous air battles in history. The theme of this particular show was the Israeli air force. It told about the 1967 war and the 1979 war. In both of these wars, the Israelis simply blew the Arab planes away.What troubled me was the fact that the History Channel only told one side of the story. Every person that they interviewed on camera was Israeli. The History Channel usually takes sides. But, it usually isn’t quite this one sided. In WWII shows, they interview Americans AND Germans. They usually give the appearance of trying to be unbiased. In this particular show, however, they didn’t even try. I did not see one Arab interviewee. It was entirely one sided.Other things that made me frustrated were little things. The announcer never brought up the context for the wars. In both cases, Israel was the one who fired first. In the 79 war, Israel invaded Lebanon to take out the PLO. After giving the details of a dog fight between some Israeli pilots and the Syrian air force, the announcer said something to the affect of, "The Syrians learned that they should never interfere with Israeli military strikes." The program had a lot of subtext behind the actual words which were spoken. This subtext said, "Yay for Israel, go kill those stupid Arabs."
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Scholarship
| Essay due: January 31, 2007 |
Description
The "Dream Deferred" Essay Contest on Civil Rights in the Middle East is available to students who are 25 years old or younger and live in the Middle East or America. You must submit an essay of 600-2,000 words addressing one of the questions listed on the sponsor's Web site. You must reside in an Arb Lge member state, Irn or the United States and essays may be submitted in English, French, Arabic or Farsi.
Sorry for the short notice, people usually do stuff at the last minute anyway...
MafishMishMish
Don't see The Fountain.
Hugh Jackman, at one point in the film, floats in a bubble to a nebula and in the lotus position, buds off into it to explode at supersonic speed.
Yes. No jokey. You may be convinced by a group of good friends to see it.
Resist.
All else is amazingly well. Friends are good. Family good. Spending my time between 3 literature classes and a few required ones. Tutoring Spanish 2 nights a week. Movie theatre runs almost tri-weekly. Lots of Diet Coke. Lots of Flaming Cheetos. Lots of deliberation on what to wear to Valentine's Day Ball. Lots of ex-boyfriend avoidance.
I got to the underwater level on Supermario today.
_kaitlyn
Hugh Jackman, at one point in the film, floats in a bubble to a nebula and in the lotus position, buds off into it to explode at supersonic speed.
Yes. No jokey. You may be convinced by a group of good friends to see it.
Resist.
All else is amazingly well. Friends are good. Family good. Spending my time between 3 literature classes and a few required ones. Tutoring Spanish 2 nights a week. Movie theatre runs almost tri-weekly. Lots of Diet Coke. Lots of Flaming Cheetos. Lots of deliberation on what to wear to Valentine's Day Ball. Lots of ex-boyfriend avoidance.
I got to the underwater level on Supermario today.
_kaitlyn
Monday, January 29, 2007
Long overdue
I'm trying my best to keep up reading you guys blogs. It's so good to hear what's going on with you. Molly glad you're back to school!
Anyway this semester is going to be rougher than I thought. My classes are easy, all Gen eds except one and that is by a teacher notorious for being really easy (and slightly crazy). Things are crazy because my boss is allowing me to work over the student limit of 20 hours a week. So now I pretty much spend my days going between the classroom and the library, until about 11pm. While my classes are easy, they have a lot of reading, like 4 novels a class, so my weekends should be consumed with reading.
Living in the appartment is great. I get along real well with all 4 of the guys. I didn't know one of them really well and I come to find out that he's an MK from Azerbaijan. We've already once went out to this Amazing Middle Eastern restaruant in Lexington. It was amazing!
I'm still working with the youth at Nathanial Mission. I did a show and tell lesson for them and that was really fun. I wore my galabeya and my kafaya, it was so much fun!
I started going to the St. Athanasius Orthodox Church last Sunday. It was weird, not because it was weird, but because it was so not weird. It felt like home almost immediatly and I almost crossed myself my first time out. I reframed because I don't want to jump in to quickly, but it was amazing to be there. It's especially cool to be going during Lent, from what my friends there tell me it's some of the most exciting time in the church life. It's nice too that I didn't have to start going alone, two of the girls I work with went with me. One of them started going this summer, she had been church hoping her entire 4 years at Asbury (she's not on college staff) and decided to go here because so many in the IS department went. She felt simular to me, at home almost immediatly. The other girl was a first timer like me, but it was so nice to come in like that. I really think I found a new church home, at least till I leave the Lexington area.
Well I wish I had more exciting stories, but 80% of my days are spent fixing computers and finding ways to make the helpdesk run smoother. Don't want to bore you all with that nonsense. I'm glad I finally got time to post. I keep starting posts and then getting distracted with something else and never making it back to finish. Just want you all to know that I still think of you often and I can't wait to see some of you this weekend!
Anyway this semester is going to be rougher than I thought. My classes are easy, all Gen eds except one and that is by a teacher notorious for being really easy (and slightly crazy). Things are crazy because my boss is allowing me to work over the student limit of 20 hours a week. So now I pretty much spend my days going between the classroom and the library, until about 11pm. While my classes are easy, they have a lot of reading, like 4 novels a class, so my weekends should be consumed with reading.
Living in the appartment is great. I get along real well with all 4 of the guys. I didn't know one of them really well and I come to find out that he's an MK from Azerbaijan. We've already once went out to this Amazing Middle Eastern restaruant in Lexington. It was amazing!
I'm still working with the youth at Nathanial Mission. I did a show and tell lesson for them and that was really fun. I wore my galabeya and my kafaya, it was so much fun!
I started going to the St. Athanasius Orthodox Church last Sunday. It was weird, not because it was weird, but because it was so not weird. It felt like home almost immediatly and I almost crossed myself my first time out. I reframed because I don't want to jump in to quickly, but it was amazing to be there. It's especially cool to be going during Lent, from what my friends there tell me it's some of the most exciting time in the church life. It's nice too that I didn't have to start going alone, two of the girls I work with went with me. One of them started going this summer, she had been church hoping her entire 4 years at Asbury (she's not on college staff) and decided to go here because so many in the IS department went. She felt simular to me, at home almost immediatly. The other girl was a first timer like me, but it was so nice to come in like that. I really think I found a new church home, at least till I leave the Lexington area.
Well I wish I had more exciting stories, but 80% of my days are spent fixing computers and finding ways to make the helpdesk run smoother. Don't want to bore you all with that nonsense. I'm glad I finally got time to post. I keep starting posts and then getting distracted with something else and never making it back to finish. Just want you all to know that I still think of you often and I can't wait to see some of you this weekend!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Hugs...
So Northwest Iowa has been a bit cold lately, actually really cold. I'm sure all the other Midwesterns can relate. But there is nothing like a nice hug to warm you up on a cold night...and that is just what I got on Thursday night when I received hugs from two of our 'Dutch Mafia' friends. They were so gracious to invite me to a gathering of Dordt students who had gone on MESP. Arriving at the house before anyone else, I found myself making small talk with the mother of someone who went on MESP with Dena. Anyway...as I am chatting I am also watching out the window when I suddenly see an oh-so-familiar face just light up when our eyes meet. I open the door to be greeted by a huge hug from Micah, followed by Emily who just about knocked me over. We, along with the other Dordt students then shared a fantastic meal of kosheri, roz bi leban and tea. I think I smiled for 3 straight hours. It was the most fun I have had in a while, a much needed reunion with people I love that simply 'understand.' Thanks for the great evening Micah and Emily! For all of you going out to Calvin--Sorry that I won't be able to make it to the conference--but if it is any consolation, my roommate is going. I might give her my MESP t-shirt so if you see here, say hello. Have fun!
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Me, Speechless...
Okay, so we all know there is one thing that I am really good at, and that is talking. I can talk for hours. I can argue with just about anyone about anything. I love it. It's bad.
Well, tonight for the first time. I was rendered completely speechless. I had nothing to say. Even more interesting is that it happened four or five times. I could say anything other than... But, but ohh....but. Yes, the same person did it all four or five times.
My dear flatmates, I am sure know, that this flustered me, so I came back home and cleaned. This still has not helped (maybe that is because my apartment is not yet clean...).
I was asking this young man about Middle Eastern politics etc. He kept reminding me that I focus to much on the politics. He said "you should not be consumed at the politics, and then looking at Christ. Instead, you should be consumed in Christ and then looking at the politics."
Now, an evening that I was hoping was going to help me process, is instead, an evening that I am trying to process. Tonight, I could not argue. I could not reply. I could only mumble my way through things. I do not think that it helps, that tonight was the first time I looked a guy straight in the eyes for a prolonged conversation since returning home.
So, I hope this makes you laugh. I hope you enjoy it. masalama
Well, tonight for the first time. I was rendered completely speechless. I had nothing to say. Even more interesting is that it happened four or five times. I could say anything other than... But, but ohh....but. Yes, the same person did it all four or five times.
My dear flatmates, I am sure know, that this flustered me, so I came back home and cleaned. This still has not helped (maybe that is because my apartment is not yet clean...).
I was asking this young man about Middle Eastern politics etc. He kept reminding me that I focus to much on the politics. He said "you should not be consumed at the politics, and then looking at Christ. Instead, you should be consumed in Christ and then looking at the politics."
Now, an evening that I was hoping was going to help me process, is instead, an evening that I am trying to process. Tonight, I could not argue. I could not reply. I could only mumble my way through things. I do not think that it helps, that tonight was the first time I looked a guy straight in the eyes for a prolonged conversation since returning home.
So, I hope this makes you laugh. I hope you enjoy it. masalama
Thursday, January 25, 2007
you traveled the middle east and didn't get hurt until you came home????
it is rather ironic i suppose. at least it seems to be to most people i talk with. hmmm. well, i made it back to school today! ilhumdillaleeh. a week lying on my back was enough to drive me slightly insane. i have this problem with over-thinking and over-analyzing everything! as time was on my side...i used it to completely pulpify every aspect of my currently confused life. i now think that this was God's way of making me deal with stuff and to spend some good quality time with Him. i don't even know why i am writing this, but seriously all...God is continuing to bless me beyond belief with his compassion and grace. i am in such awe of His ways. and dang it: i don't understand anything! but then...i guess i don't have to. and that is the beauty of this game of life we all are playing. i suppose. sorry if this makes absolutely no sense. i make no sense. life makes no sense. praise God for God. the sense in the midst of consuming senselessness.
on another note: did you know that if you wanted to get yourself killed...rather than having a stupid sledding accident, you should just go into the streets of cairo and make known the fact that you are a christian? because all they want to do there is slaughter christians. hmmm. the new things i learn everyday by the oh so wise and well-meaning around me. interesting.
p.s.
i made a mesp calendar! its pretty sweet and now all of you will have your turn to represent a month this year. be excited. :)
on another note: did you know that if you wanted to get yourself killed...rather than having a stupid sledding accident, you should just go into the streets of cairo and make known the fact that you are a christian? because all they want to do there is slaughter christians. hmmm. the new things i learn everyday by the oh so wise and well-meaning around me. interesting.
p.s.
i made a mesp calendar! its pretty sweet and now all of you will have your turn to represent a month this year. be excited. :)
on being unoriginal
hello, my friends.
one does not easily undo the tenuous ties that bind two people together during a journey fraught with hardship. i lived the proof of it, bringing back to life past scenes, past conversations. our common habits sprang up at their usual times. i missed our bursts of refreshing or understanding laughter. like opium, i missed our daily consultations. i pitted myself against shadows.
these lines are from "so long a letter"--a short novel by miriama ba. i reread them while going through a powerpoint composed of quotations that i like (which i do every so often), and they capture my feelings from the last couple days (read: i miss you). ive been going through all the pictures again and putting together a presentation that ill give at church on sunday, and ive been doing nothing but smile as i click from picture to picture. im going to be talking about the trip during the sunday school hour to anyone who wants to come--i really have no idea how many people to expect, or what kinds of questions ill get at the end, but i think it will be fun no matter what.
interim was a really good time for me. i took a fantastic class on eastern orthodoxy that really gave me some new perspectives on my faith. orthodoxy challenges me on so many fronts. i realize that ive taken a lot of things that i believe for granted, and that while some of the things i believe might not be wrong (though some of them certainly are), most things arent as straightforward as i had assumed. orthodoxy has a pretty different concept of original sin from what we tend to have in the western church, they talk about the atonement and the cross using different language and imagery than ive always used, and then they have of course the iconography and the saints and all sorts of other things that make them seem weird to me. to make a thus-far short and unfinished story shorter, in just this brief intro to orthodoxy ive warmed up considerably to veneration of the saints and of icons, and im really interested to read about the early fathers and the lives of the saints. (im pretty hazy on the time between paul and augustine, and then on the millenium between augustine and martin luther......im pretty hazy on augustine, too, come to that.) anyway, this class opened up a whole new world for me that seems pretty exciting.
i hope you're all doing well and am really looking forward to february 1-3.
love,
phil
one does not easily undo the tenuous ties that bind two people together during a journey fraught with hardship. i lived the proof of it, bringing back to life past scenes, past conversations. our common habits sprang up at their usual times. i missed our bursts of refreshing or understanding laughter. like opium, i missed our daily consultations. i pitted myself against shadows.
these lines are from "so long a letter"--a short novel by miriama ba. i reread them while going through a powerpoint composed of quotations that i like (which i do every so often), and they capture my feelings from the last couple days (read: i miss you). ive been going through all the pictures again and putting together a presentation that ill give at church on sunday, and ive been doing nothing but smile as i click from picture to picture. im going to be talking about the trip during the sunday school hour to anyone who wants to come--i really have no idea how many people to expect, or what kinds of questions ill get at the end, but i think it will be fun no matter what.
interim was a really good time for me. i took a fantastic class on eastern orthodoxy that really gave me some new perspectives on my faith. orthodoxy challenges me on so many fronts. i realize that ive taken a lot of things that i believe for granted, and that while some of the things i believe might not be wrong (though some of them certainly are), most things arent as straightforward as i had assumed. orthodoxy has a pretty different concept of original sin from what we tend to have in the western church, they talk about the atonement and the cross using different language and imagery than ive always used, and then they have of course the iconography and the saints and all sorts of other things that make them seem weird to me. to make a thus-far short and unfinished story shorter, in just this brief intro to orthodoxy ive warmed up considerably to veneration of the saints and of icons, and im really interested to read about the early fathers and the lives of the saints. (im pretty hazy on the time between paul and augustine, and then on the millenium between augustine and martin luther......im pretty hazy on augustine, too, come to that.) anyway, this class opened up a whole new world for me that seems pretty exciting.
i hope you're all doing well and am really looking forward to february 1-3.
love,
phil
Monday, January 22, 2007
Running
I have not written in a very long time. This is because I do not know what to say, nor do I think it will make a difference. Coming back into the American culture has been depressing to say the least. I have been confronted with ignorance, racism, oppression (yes, oppression in America...ooo), materialism, and the list goes on and on. I have been blessed by being surrounded by people who want to listen to me most the time, but I am also confronted with idiots. American society is lonely...I keep on wondering...where are all of the people. I miss my friends that went on the trip with me terribly. They were my family, my church and my friends, and now, they are no where near me. I do not like this place. People keep on telling me what an asset I am to their class, yet I feel insignificant and dumb.
I have been running from all that happened last semester. Now, I am having the same issues thrown back into my face, and I am having to face all that I have been running from.
I have been running from all that happened last semester. Now, I am having the same issues thrown back into my face, and I am having to face all that I have been running from.
Brainwashed...!?
So I know I haven't blogged on here yet--sorry! I have to keep up my other blog for monetary purposes through my school so haven't felt the need to blog on here really...sorry again. However, I have been censored in my blogging for my school thus I am blogging on here. (For real, the lady who runs my blog had to talk to me about my Palestinian viewpoints and harsh Anti-American words--thus I am censored and am only allowed to blog about boring stuff like what happened in my last class--not REAL issues in the world.--sorry bitterness abounds)
In other news, I met up with an older professor today who I worked with extensively last year and while we were chatting he brought up something somewhat disconcerting. He was telling me about a girl he was trying to recruit to Spring Arbor and told her she could do lots of stuff at Spring Arbor like travel abroad for a semester. She had apparently been reading my blog and chimed in, "Oh yeah! I've been reading a girl's blog who's been living in Egypt! Is she being brainwashed over there or what?!" I stood in utter astonishment as he told me that "funny anecdote" and starting laughing. I was not laughing, as you can imagine. I asked him what she thought I had been brainwashed about and he said something along the line of the Palestinians. Another blow to my...sanity, I guess. Our encounter was hours ago and I still cannot get it out of my head. The girl asked my prof if he knew me and he said "yes, very well." She asked about my compassion, my lovingkindness and my faith. He confirmed that he knew me to be a loving, compassionate God-fearing girl.
Sorry gang, I am still horrified about her comments apparently. Am I over-reacting here? I don't feel like I am...someone help!
ps. I love you all and miss you very much and am SUPER excited about the conference at Calvin!!!
doorstopper=Mandy
In other news, I met up with an older professor today who I worked with extensively last year and while we were chatting he brought up something somewhat disconcerting. He was telling me about a girl he was trying to recruit to Spring Arbor and told her she could do lots of stuff at Spring Arbor like travel abroad for a semester. She had apparently been reading my blog and chimed in, "Oh yeah! I've been reading a girl's blog who's been living in Egypt! Is she being brainwashed over there or what?!" I stood in utter astonishment as he told me that "funny anecdote" and starting laughing. I was not laughing, as you can imagine. I asked him what she thought I had been brainwashed about and he said something along the line of the Palestinians. Another blow to my...sanity, I guess. Our encounter was hours ago and I still cannot get it out of my head. The girl asked my prof if he knew me and he said "yes, very well." She asked about my compassion, my lovingkindness and my faith. He confirmed that he knew me to be a loving, compassionate God-fearing girl.
Sorry gang, I am still horrified about her comments apparently. Am I over-reacting here? I don't feel like I am...someone help!
ps. I love you all and miss you very much and am SUPER excited about the conference at Calvin!!!
doorstopper=Mandy
Sunday, January 21, 2007
creative writing...
Ok so as I think I told u earlier, I wrote this story about a Jinn and a minibus driver in Cairo. Anyway, everyone but one guy in my class evidently liked my story but I'd like to share with you this one guy's comments on my story that I thought were pretty funny.
"This appears to be in a very strict Muslim area, are girls allowed to giggle?"
"What the hell is a Jinn?"
"Shouldn't he be saying Allah (instead of God)"
"the 'God willing' and 'praise be to God' got really cheesy really quick"
There were quite a few other criticisms, but these were the ones I thought you'd appreciate.
O and Phil and I did walk by the Islamic Center on our street, when we finally found it after riding past it on the bus and then walking like the whole street. It was a little disapointing and intimidating though. Its this little white building with ISLAMIC CENTER on the front, all the little windows boarded up, and combination key pads on the doors. Also, Phil noticed that the one car in the parking lot was "probably not a Muslim" considering they had a Jesus fish on their car, that was pretty funny. So we decided maybe we'll call or mail them a letter since my email bounced back.
I can't wait till a bunch of u r here in a couple weeks. I'm thinking of stuff for us to do when we have down time (Lebanese restaurant, hookah lounge, smoking my hookah, etc.).
"This appears to be in a very strict Muslim area, are girls allowed to giggle?"
"What the hell is a Jinn?"
"Shouldn't he be saying Allah (instead of God)"
"the 'God willing' and 'praise be to God' got really cheesy really quick"
There were quite a few other criticisms, but these were the ones I thought you'd appreciate.
O and Phil and I did walk by the Islamic Center on our street, when we finally found it after riding past it on the bus and then walking like the whole street. It was a little disapointing and intimidating though. Its this little white building with ISLAMIC CENTER on the front, all the little windows boarded up, and combination key pads on the doors. Also, Phil noticed that the one car in the parking lot was "probably not a Muslim" considering they had a Jesus fish on their car, that was pretty funny. So we decided maybe we'll call or mail them a letter since my email bounced back.
I can't wait till a bunch of u r here in a couple weeks. I'm thinking of stuff for us to do when we have down time (Lebanese restaurant, hookah lounge, smoking my hookah, etc.).
Don't you have to be scared of all of those Muslims cutting off your heads?
Okay, so I didn't get fired and am not going to jail, but needless to say, things suck at my group home job and I will probably quit soon, but the good news is that my other boss offered me a great job being in charge of thier school aged program for after school and this summer, so I am pretty excited and all I can say is a simple ilhumdillalah!
But, this is the best part of the whole proces...
So I was in a meeting with the president of my group home company. Keep in mind that he owns a company that is all about accepting people for who they are and helping and lovign all people.... It is called ACR which stands for Acceptance, Care, and Respect... so he was making small talk with me after lecturing me about professional behavior for 10 minutes and asked me where I had been studying the last few months. I smiled and said, "Egypt". He then said, "oh, well isn't that kind of dangerous?" I said, "oh, not really... I felt pretty safe, there isn't much going on in Egypt right now." Then he said (get ready, this is the best part...) in complete seriousness, "Oh, I mean, don't you need to worry about the Muslims cutting off your heads?" I looked at him, and I said, "Well Mr Nelson, I'm pretty sure you don't ever need to be concerned about Muslims cutting off your head no matter where you are." He just hung his head an appoligized over and over again saying that he wasn't well traveled.
Anyway, So, like I said, I'm not fired, but God has really provided for me in the situation and just given me the opportunity to quit and not be fired but also a great job to go to
Oh, I am starting a conversational Arabic class this week with community ed that I'm really excited about... Just once a week, but it will be a good reminder of Aguza and the Sheik shop even if I don't learn anything new
I miss you all, and hope you are doing great!
Anna
But, this is the best part of the whole proces...
So I was in a meeting with the president of my group home company. Keep in mind that he owns a company that is all about accepting people for who they are and helping and lovign all people.... It is called ACR which stands for Acceptance, Care, and Respect... so he was making small talk with me after lecturing me about professional behavior for 10 minutes and asked me where I had been studying the last few months. I smiled and said, "Egypt". He then said, "oh, well isn't that kind of dangerous?" I said, "oh, not really... I felt pretty safe, there isn't much going on in Egypt right now." Then he said (get ready, this is the best part...) in complete seriousness, "Oh, I mean, don't you need to worry about the Muslims cutting off your heads?" I looked at him, and I said, "Well Mr Nelson, I'm pretty sure you don't ever need to be concerned about Muslims cutting off your head no matter where you are." He just hung his head an appoligized over and over again saying that he wasn't well traveled.
Anyway, So, like I said, I'm not fired, but God has really provided for me in the situation and just given me the opportunity to quit and not be fired but also a great job to go to
Oh, I am starting a conversational Arabic class this week with community ed that I'm really excited about... Just once a week, but it will be a good reminder of Aguza and the Sheik shop even if I don't learn anything new
I miss you all, and hope you are doing great!
Anna
Friday, January 19, 2007
Out dated update
I wrote this blog a while back when I couldn't figure out how to log into the blog:
Also, I'm heading to D.C and NY for Spring Break, if anyone is in that direction let me know.
Peace
So today was a terrifying day. I stood in front of my advisor’s desk and had to decide how to write what to do for my 25-30 page thesis research paper. After about 40 minutes things got worked out and now the process has begun. The stress has melted away and now all I have to do is find a 2nd reader, figure out how to do the research, write the paper, go to 5 meetings, make a bibliography, do research, fit it in my schedule, and hope for the best. Exciting. The fear of the unknown is much greater than many other things but now there’s checklist boxes awaiting checks in them.
At school I have highs and lows, sometimes I feel that it’s lonely being back and other times when I get to meet up with long lost friend’s I feel invigorated. It’s fun seeing people that genuinely are happy to see you’re back. So apparently college students in the Western hemisphere received some type of pheromones in which case everyone is getting engaged and/or are getting married in the next 6 months. I noticed this trend from a sample of the population at my campus and it’s freaking weird. Also for the seniors out there, isn’t it strange to be the “cool” person now on campus. It's like I'll say hi to someone and they'll say hi back, whoa. Crazy.
Right now I’m living in the lower classmen dorms and my room seems very close to the outside major power lines. I can hear a low hum frequency sometimes in my dorm, so that motivates me to not hang around too much. Classes are going well, I have a quiz on Friday for my math class and am going on a retreat this weekend to be a sponsor for a sophomore retreat. I’m actually getting paid money to go, it’s a beautiful thing.
So that's the outdated stuff, currently I'm in the process of continuing to learn the guitar and study etc. People ask me what I want to do now in life after I graduate and I don't know what to tell them. I'm going to start looking for jobs in February.Also, I'm heading to D.C and NY for Spring Break, if anyone is in that direction let me know.
Peace
Guess who?
It is 3:30 in the morning, I'm sitting in the Campus Security building at the main entrance to Gordon watching "The Office" when who should drive up but one of the last people in the world I would have ever expected to see. Mostly because the last place I had seen said person was Cairo, and I thought that said person was staying there long-term.
Any speculation? Well, it was Alissa's favorite "let's go out the day before we never see each other for the rest of our lives" admirer, formerly of Gordon College, Mr. Paul Case.
I was stunned, to say the least. Of all the people in the world whom I could have seen at that time and place he was one of the last I expected to see. He walked in to say hi and we made small talk for a bit, he asked how I was holding up back in the States and we talked about going back to Cairo. But the true fun of the night came when the subejct of Alissa came up. This happened indirectly at first. He asked me if I was keeping in touch with "anyone from your semester" with a certain eager look in his eyes which I knew well as the eager young squire hunting for news of his far-off beloved. I mentioned the blog, and said there were some e-mails going back and forth. He looked away from me and awkwardly said: "yeah, I think I was supposed to e-mail, you know, that girl...(long pause)...Alissa, but I'm just bad at keeping in touch" in that extremely male: "I'm trying to act like I don't care about this" kind of way.
Anyway, so I had a good laugh once he left, and only partially because I was watching the "Dwight's Speech" episode of The Office...
Any speculation? Well, it was Alissa's favorite "let's go out the day before we never see each other for the rest of our lives" admirer, formerly of Gordon College, Mr. Paul Case.
I was stunned, to say the least. Of all the people in the world whom I could have seen at that time and place he was one of the last I expected to see. He walked in to say hi and we made small talk for a bit, he asked how I was holding up back in the States and we talked about going back to Cairo. But the true fun of the night came when the subejct of Alissa came up. This happened indirectly at first. He asked me if I was keeping in touch with "anyone from your semester" with a certain eager look in his eyes which I knew well as the eager young squire hunting for news of his far-off beloved. I mentioned the blog, and said there were some e-mails going back and forth. He looked away from me and awkwardly said: "yeah, I think I was supposed to e-mail, you know, that girl...(long pause)...Alissa, but I'm just bad at keeping in touch" in that extremely male: "I'm trying to act like I don't care about this" kind of way.
Anyway, so I had a good laugh once he left, and only partially because I was watching the "Dwight's Speech" episode of The Office...
Thursday, January 18, 2007
What the heck is going on?!
Ok, reading Molly's blog has motivated me to finally sit down and tell you guys what's been going on in my life. Let's see, I don't really even know where to begin. My third day back in the states and my first day back on campus, a friend and I were walking around campus when two boys walked up to us, put knives to our stomachs and told us to give them everything we had. Unfortunately for them and us, all I really had was all my Egypt stuff (passport, Jerusalem bag, picture CDs, journals)...with some crucial ID and credit card crap as well. Seriously, I may have been the worst person to rob for miles, I still have holes in my shoes, I don't have any of my own clothes, and I had just deposited the 450 remaining dollars from Egypt into my bank earlier that day. Unfortunatly, I haven't been dealing very well with the experience. My campus has completely dropped the ball, it's like I still don't really go here, my friends are all scared of me, apperantly I have been through too much for them to even try dealing with, and Egypt is becoming a distant memory, increasingly overshadowed by memories of dark nights and knives flashing. I went up to Northern Wisconsin last weekend to get away from people and suburban America and I seperated my shoulder playing a ridiculously dangerous game called broomball. Somehow, my life is fairly hysterical at this point. I should have expected, that with my luck, I would get hurt. I'm not really sure what else is in store for these next couple of weeks, but I look forward to them with cynical humor.
Thus is my life.
I've been reevaluating a lot of what God's will for me is, who the heck I am, and what the heck I'm supposed to be doing with my life. Ironically, I'm in Crime and Delinquency class where the prof has enjoyed assigning me a lot of books about violence, preventing crime, and the theology behind delinquency. I am constantly brought back to our time together when we studied about perhapse the biggest source of delinquency in the world today--extremism and fundamentalism, and how what I'm learning about victimology and criminal behavior can be applied to the Middle East. Micah stopped by campus last week and, seriously, it was so good to talk with him. It was great to have someone look at me and not think, "Oh, incredibly wise and broken Tory, we can't talk with her because her experiences are so far beyond us!" Micah, you're awesome. Also, Phil Rizk came and talked in my intro-level comparative politics class, which, if you can believe it, was a really really really interesting experience. He shared a bit about the conflict and, to be honest, it was a shock to hear the same voice talk about the same stuff, only dumbed down a lot. He told me later that he soon realized a couple of minutes into class that the class didn't even come close to the calibur of our group. So that's nice. I told him a bit about how much I miss Egypt, so he gave me some El Arosa tea from Egypt and we talked about Gaza. Wierd mixing of two worlds, but it was very welcome. Funny to think that last time I heard him talk was two months ago in Jerusalem...Anyway. It was good to see people from Egypt. They reminded me that there is more to life then this crap.
Fortunately, I'm learning more and more that it is Jesus that is more. That is the one thing that has remained sure and constant. Remember in our last conflict and change lecture we went around and talked about what we would do when we got back to campus? Remember Abbie's pithy conclusion that all she wants to do is learn more about Jesus? Well said my friend, well said. Il-hamdulilleh Jesus is still walking alongside us, Jesus is still offering his peace to a broken world, Jesus is still making all things new.
I hope everyone is doing well, that you get better Molly, and that God continues to teach everybody things beyond your wildest expectations. Remember how only a couple of months ago we were living the most incredible lives ever? Well, that didn't stop the moment we boarded the plane to the states. It's been sort of a sucky lesson to learn, but it's one well worth it. I miss you guys a lot!
Tory
Thus is my life.
I've been reevaluating a lot of what God's will for me is, who the heck I am, and what the heck I'm supposed to be doing with my life. Ironically, I'm in Crime and Delinquency class where the prof has enjoyed assigning me a lot of books about violence, preventing crime, and the theology behind delinquency. I am constantly brought back to our time together when we studied about perhapse the biggest source of delinquency in the world today--extremism and fundamentalism, and how what I'm learning about victimology and criminal behavior can be applied to the Middle East. Micah stopped by campus last week and, seriously, it was so good to talk with him. It was great to have someone look at me and not think, "Oh, incredibly wise and broken Tory, we can't talk with her because her experiences are so far beyond us!" Micah, you're awesome. Also, Phil Rizk came and talked in my intro-level comparative politics class, which, if you can believe it, was a really really really interesting experience. He shared a bit about the conflict and, to be honest, it was a shock to hear the same voice talk about the same stuff, only dumbed down a lot. He told me later that he soon realized a couple of minutes into class that the class didn't even come close to the calibur of our group. So that's nice. I told him a bit about how much I miss Egypt, so he gave me some El Arosa tea from Egypt and we talked about Gaza. Wierd mixing of two worlds, but it was very welcome. Funny to think that last time I heard him talk was two months ago in Jerusalem...Anyway. It was good to see people from Egypt. They reminded me that there is more to life then this crap.
Fortunately, I'm learning more and more that it is Jesus that is more. That is the one thing that has remained sure and constant. Remember in our last conflict and change lecture we went around and talked about what we would do when we got back to campus? Remember Abbie's pithy conclusion that all she wants to do is learn more about Jesus? Well said my friend, well said. Il-hamdulilleh Jesus is still walking alongside us, Jesus is still offering his peace to a broken world, Jesus is still making all things new.
I hope everyone is doing well, that you get better Molly, and that God continues to teach everybody things beyond your wildest expectations. Remember how only a couple of months ago we were living the most incredible lives ever? Well, that didn't stop the moment we boarded the plane to the states. It's been sort of a sucky lesson to learn, but it's one well worth it. I miss you guys a lot!
Tory
i almost died...no seriously, i almost died!
and here is the story: oregon had snow! that never happens. some friends and i decided it would be a good idea to hook a sled to the back of a truck and drive around...hint hint: bad idea! on my turn, the driver took the turn too quickly and i fly right into the back of another truck. i have been in the er for a few days and am now at home. it is making me very dizzy to write this, so i won't write much. i would appreciate your payers however. i have the most enormous black eye you hve ever seen, complete with a row of stitches where my eybrow used to be. i have two broken bones: one above my eye and one below. also, i have a small puncture in my brain...not good. so, i am missing alot of school and work and i feel like a piece of shit for lack of a better word. please be praying for me as i recover! thanks and i miss you all!
molly
molly
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Life is pretty good
Hey people. Some cool stuff has been happening in my life, so I thought I'd let u know about it. First of all I met this random old guy walking to school the other day and he had been in Cairo like a year ago so we got to talk about it. Other thing, I wrote a story about Cairo for my creative writing class. In fact, it was about a minibus driver and a Jinn. My class really loved it. I put some of the Quran and some songs in it. However, then my professor tried to explain to our class that a Jinn in Islam was the equivalent of a demon. I was like, "umm no its not," and then explained. Anyway, this prof is freaking annoying. However, today I was sitting in our on campus coffee shop during chapel break and he came up to me and was like, "I just want to tell you you're doing some good work, really good work." What the crap? Anyway, I guess that's good. I might publish my story in our campus magazine cause its kinda my way of informing people about what Egypt was like. If anyone wants to read it, let me know, you'd probably be better critics than my class too cause they've never been there and are kinda pansies in general.
Ok so then I went to Fridays with some people, and met this guy that's really interested in the Middle East, just bought a bunch of Qurans, knows this Middle Eastern shop owner here well, and is starting to get tutored in arabic. He did Salaam aleykum as a toast! I was pretty excited. I told him if its egyptian arabic I want to join.
Otherwise, I found what I want to do this summer. Its this organization in San Diego that works with torture refugees from the Middle East (and other places) and they have opportunities for data analysis (which is what I want to do). So ya, that's sweet. Oh and I applied for a job at Calvin's Center for Social Research too. And my current job is still the awesomest, easiest, most fun job in the universe. So ya.
Today I emailed the mosque down the main street from my house and Phil's house about setting up some sort of interfaith dialogue kind of thing with Calvin students and Phil and I are gonna go walk by it tomorrow. I also registered for the Faith and International Development Conference here and once again want to extend and invitation for you all to come. It sounds pretty awesome.
Otherwise, my life is going pretty darn well, in fact almost perfectly. My roommates are all freakin amazing. I'm seeing the guy I told u about last semester tonight and tomorrow night (not like "seeing," but he'll be at the same parties). It snowed last night but today the sky is bright blue so it makes that really pretty white and blue combination. I realized how much I missed the squirrels here. They make up for the lack of pigeons, but not quite for the lack of you all. Luv u, hope things are going well for u all too
Ok so then I went to Fridays with some people, and met this guy that's really interested in the Middle East, just bought a bunch of Qurans, knows this Middle Eastern shop owner here well, and is starting to get tutored in arabic. He did Salaam aleykum as a toast! I was pretty excited. I told him if its egyptian arabic I want to join.
Otherwise, I found what I want to do this summer. Its this organization in San Diego that works with torture refugees from the Middle East (and other places) and they have opportunities for data analysis (which is what I want to do). So ya, that's sweet. Oh and I applied for a job at Calvin's Center for Social Research too. And my current job is still the awesomest, easiest, most fun job in the universe. So ya.
Today I emailed the mosque down the main street from my house and Phil's house about setting up some sort of interfaith dialogue kind of thing with Calvin students and Phil and I are gonna go walk by it tomorrow. I also registered for the Faith and International Development Conference here and once again want to extend and invitation for you all to come. It sounds pretty awesome.
Otherwise, my life is going pretty darn well, in fact almost perfectly. My roommates are all freakin amazing. I'm seeing the guy I told u about last semester tonight and tomorrow night (not like "seeing," but he'll be at the same parties). It snowed last night but today the sky is bright blue so it makes that really pretty white and blue combination. I realized how much I missed the squirrels here. They make up for the lack of pigeons, but not quite for the lack of you all. Luv u, hope things are going well for u all too
I hate administration!
Hey everyone... just a quick little update on my life... I miss you all by the way. Anyway, I've just been working away at this little preschool where I worked last summer for the past few weeks tyring to decide if I was going to go back to my group home where Jason lived and where I have worked for the last 3 1/2 years now and updating my training so that I could go back... anyway, I got a call from the people in the office that run the company saying that i needed to meet with them before I returned to work... To make a long story short, apparently I have a hard time drawing the line between a professional care giver and a personal friendship (which in this situation is probably true) but at any rate, my employment is in question by a bunch of people who don't even know me and don't even know the situation.... Keep in mind that this in not being brought up by my boss or any one of my supervisors, but by a bunch of people who attended Jason's funeral becuase it looks good for the compnay if people from teh office attend and thought that my ulogy was too personal... SO needless to say I am a bit frusterated and well, just needed to vent it out, but really need your prayers if you would be so willing. I'm just confused and about weather I made the right decisions in all of this and even if I want to go back and work for the company at all... Okay, so thanks
Oh, and maybe I will be attending the weekend at Calvin as well... I'm not going to the conference because its the first days of classes for me, but I might go over just for friday night and saturday to see everyone since its not too far... So if you were questioning if you wanted to go or not, I bet that you want to go now... and maybe I'll even let Abbie tag along with me
Oh, and maybe I will be attending the weekend at Calvin as well... I'm not going to the conference because its the first days of classes for me, but I might go over just for friday night and saturday to see everyone since its not too far... So if you were questioning if you wanted to go or not, I bet that you want to go now... and maybe I'll even let Abbie tag along with me
Friday, January 12, 2007
Hooka! yay!
Last night I went to a Hooka bar with friends that I have not spent much time with since high school. It was a strange mix of feeling very comfrotable in that enviroment but also feelings somewhat embarrassed by the way my friends were behaving. I am supposed to be heading back to school tomorrow. I really do not want to return, and I am finding reasons not to go back (I've already come up with a few...anyone willing to help me out?) In the mean time, north Texas (where Abilene is located)is expecting an ice storm with lots of freezing rain. Yippie. The last time I drove to North Texas (New Years weekend) I nearly got sucked into the sky by a tornado (and no I am not exagerating). I am so excited.
I am very interested to hear about what you all are doing, and I am looking forward to reading responses to Alissa's paper. It sounds very interesting, and I would very much like to read it (esp. since I know very little on the subject).
Missing all of you very much,
Becca
I am very interested to hear about what you all are doing, and I am looking forward to reading responses to Alissa's paper. It sounds very interesting, and I would very much like to read it (esp. since I know very little on the subject).
Missing all of you very much,
Becca
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Jealous?
Hey kids--Further reasons for you all to move to Seattle. I got to hang out and go swing dancing with Heidi last night--complete with a nice Heinekin. Bet you all wish you could have been there, too. All of you--especially if your name is Mandy--should think about moving here. Me, Heidi, Suzannah--what more could anyone want?
In the news...
Hello everyone, I just read this article about Jimmy Carter's book about the conflict, thought you might be interested: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/11/carter.resignations/index.html
In other news, I am back at school. It is great to see friends and talk with professors, but I don't seem to want to do the school thing. My psychology classes just seem boring--its not that I hate them, I just don't think I would have chosen the same major if I had a chance to start over.
But otherwise life is good. I thoroughly enjoyed my Christmas break with Scott and my family. Scott and I are busy not only planning for our wedding, but also doing the premarital discussions as well as deciding where we are going to go after we say I do. Please pray for him as he is really confused as to what career path to go down--he has a few interviews coming up, so hopefully those provide discernment rather than confusion.
Love you all, Julia
In other news, I am back at school. It is great to see friends and talk with professors, but I don't seem to want to do the school thing. My psychology classes just seem boring--its not that I hate them, I just don't think I would have chosen the same major if I had a chance to start over.
But otherwise life is good. I thoroughly enjoyed my Christmas break with Scott and my family. Scott and I are busy not only planning for our wedding, but also doing the premarital discussions as well as deciding where we are going to go after we say I do. Please pray for him as he is really confused as to what career path to go down--he has a few interviews coming up, so hopefully those provide discernment rather than confusion.
Love you all, Julia
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
quick little update
Hey Everyone... so I spoke in chapel at my High School on Tuesday. I think it went fairly well, I ended up showing pictures of people like my host family, Kareem, and Abuna Chacour. I talked a little about their lives and a little bit about religious questions I am dealing with. When chapel was finished I had a few guys come up to me ask me questions about Islam and Muslims. It was incredible...first of all they actually listened and they asked question. Oh it was such an encouragement. I am going back tomorrow to answer questions from a Current Issues class, I am very excited.
I ran into a friend of mine from highschool who has studied abroad in quite a few places and so it has been really nice talking with him and just processing different ideas and emotions. Oh man, guys a friend of mine left for MESP yesterday morning and I was so jealous. I don't think I would mind if God just decided to rewind the past couple months so that it was August 30th again.
I miss you guys a lot...seriously.
I ran into a friend of mine from highschool who has studied abroad in quite a few places and so it has been really nice talking with him and just processing different ideas and emotions. Oh man, guys a friend of mine left for MESP yesterday morning and I was so jealous. I don't think I would mind if God just decided to rewind the past couple months so that it was August 30th again.
I miss you guys a lot...seriously.
Waxing nostalgic over bessboosa.
Hey kids! Ack, sorry, I feel like I fell off the face of the earth for a while. In actuality, I did not fall off the face of the earth (though I saw an interesting diagram today of ancient Hebrew cosmology in one of my theology classes where such a thing would be possible (whoo, two theology classes in one quarter is an intense re-introduction to Christian college)). I've only been back in Seattle for 9 days, but it feels like a month--in a good way.
Despite my excessive panicking about returning to SPU, living by myself in my cozy and fantastically inexpensive apartment has been great, seeing old friends (including the ex-roommate) has been nice, and while I haven't smoked my hookah yet, I did break all 3 lifestyle expectations my first day back in Seattle. That's good work, even for me.
Ah, but not to be flippant. I am taking two theology classes--one on faith and science (a class on evolution--taught by pro-evolution profs, so it's not too bad) and one on Christian scriptures. I'm really wishing right now that I had a few of you around to process all of this with--if I was holding onto faith with my fingernails in the face of Islam, holding onto my faith in light of evolution and all of the myth-debunking of my scriptures class will be a task. Not that I would support a faith that stuck its head in the sand instead of deal with such things, but I'm just trying not to get run out of Christian circles as a heretic and blasphemer at the moment, and they're just giving me more fodder to be irreverent. I already had to turn in a paper on what I think about the Bible, and another one due on Friday on the Bible's teachings on war (for my history of the crusades class). Anyway. It's good, it's just coming at me very quickly. I miss some late night/on-the-road theological conversations from this last semester.
My history of the crusades prof also has very little good to say about Islam--but he's good about letting me interject from time to time, so it's do-able. In good news, he's hooking me up with a center for Islamic Studies in Granada, Spain, where I can do some research for my senior thesis this summer. I'll let you know what I actually come up with a research topic...
But! I just made Bessboosa, so you know life can't be bad. And since it seems most of the friends I just had over for my Egypt party didn't like it much, I can have nescafe and bessboosa every night, just like Egypt.
ha, which brings me to my next update...I had a colon infection all week. Apparently my scrambled eggs and feyrouz diet for the past 5 months finally did a number on my body. yikes. I'm ok now, though, thanks to some antibiotics.
Alright, kids, that's all I've got. I just put your pictures up all around my desk, so I'm looking into all your beautiful eyes as we speak...
Keep it real, rock stars.
Despite my excessive panicking about returning to SPU, living by myself in my cozy and fantastically inexpensive apartment has been great, seeing old friends (including the ex-roommate) has been nice, and while I haven't smoked my hookah yet, I did break all 3 lifestyle expectations my first day back in Seattle. That's good work, even for me.
Ah, but not to be flippant. I am taking two theology classes--one on faith and science (a class on evolution--taught by pro-evolution profs, so it's not too bad) and one on Christian scriptures. I'm really wishing right now that I had a few of you around to process all of this with--if I was holding onto faith with my fingernails in the face of Islam, holding onto my faith in light of evolution and all of the myth-debunking of my scriptures class will be a task. Not that I would support a faith that stuck its head in the sand instead of deal with such things, but I'm just trying not to get run out of Christian circles as a heretic and blasphemer at the moment, and they're just giving me more fodder to be irreverent. I already had to turn in a paper on what I think about the Bible, and another one due on Friday on the Bible's teachings on war (for my history of the crusades class). Anyway. It's good, it's just coming at me very quickly. I miss some late night/on-the-road theological conversations from this last semester.
My history of the crusades prof also has very little good to say about Islam--but he's good about letting me interject from time to time, so it's do-able. In good news, he's hooking me up with a center for Islamic Studies in Granada, Spain, where I can do some research for my senior thesis this summer. I'll let you know what I actually come up with a research topic...
But! I just made Bessboosa, so you know life can't be bad. And since it seems most of the friends I just had over for my Egypt party didn't like it much, I can have nescafe and bessboosa every night, just like Egypt.
ha, which brings me to my next update...I had a colon infection all week. Apparently my scrambled eggs and feyrouz diet for the past 5 months finally did a number on my body. yikes. I'm ok now, though, thanks to some antibiotics.
Alright, kids, that's all I've got. I just put your pictures up all around my desk, so I'm looking into all your beautiful eyes as we speak...
Keep it real, rock stars.
Congrats!
I just wanted to Congratulate everyone, as now everyone (including Steve and Dena) are on the blog. Hooray! Good job kids.
Clarification
My last post (Random Stuff) may have been misleading. Phil Rizk did not write it. I wrote it. I was just quoting Phil's statement about having "open hands". Just wanted to make that clear.
OH GOD!! Hello? Where is everybody?!
Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't posted before now, I've been busy doing nothing and being lazy for my holiday break. I hope you like the title I thought it was funny and apporiate.
I'm back at Asbury now. I did end up in the appartment that I was worried I wouldn't get into. It's pretty sweet and will make this final semester more bearable. Christmas and New Years were good but uneventful. My family went to my Aunt's for Christmas and I didn't do anything for New Years, but that's fine with me.
My brother enjoyed his hooka, though my parents were much less than pleased with my choice of gifts for him. We smoked it once together, it was a good time. He's getting lots of use out of it with his friends.
I really miss you guys and Egypt and everything. I was driving the other day and all sorts of Arabic phrases just started flooding my head and made me all sappy sentimental. I've been laughing the last few days telling people my favorite experiences. One of my favorite things to tell them is how to say "fruits of winter" in Arabic.
Like I said I'm back on campus sitting at work and posting this blog. Classes don't start till Tuesday so I'm just working 8 to 5 with freetime in the evening which is nice. Most students won't return till Sunday so it's pretty quite, though 2 of my 4 appartment mates are moving in today.
Hope everyone is well!
I'm back at Asbury now. I did end up in the appartment that I was worried I wouldn't get into. It's pretty sweet and will make this final semester more bearable. Christmas and New Years were good but uneventful. My family went to my Aunt's for Christmas and I didn't do anything for New Years, but that's fine with me.
My brother enjoyed his hooka, though my parents were much less than pleased with my choice of gifts for him. We smoked it once together, it was a good time. He's getting lots of use out of it with his friends.
I really miss you guys and Egypt and everything. I was driving the other day and all sorts of Arabic phrases just started flooding my head and made me all sappy sentimental. I've been laughing the last few days telling people my favorite experiences. One of my favorite things to tell them is how to say "fruits of winter" in Arabic.
Like I said I'm back on campus sitting at work and posting this blog. Classes don't start till Tuesday so I'm just working 8 to 5 with freetime in the evening which is nice. Most students won't return till Sunday so it's pretty quite, though 2 of my 4 appartment mates are moving in today.
Hope everyone is well!
What not to do after graduation
Gosh, it sounds like everyone is having a time, some better than others. It has been a while since I wrote but the reason for that is I have been to busy doing really important things like..., well I know I have been doing something. Life is going well. My poor mom keeps calling me and asking if I will come home. I may be bored but not crazy, yet.
This morning (and by morning I mean 3pm cause I don't actually get up until noon) I was looking through all my pictures and starting some really cool albums that will most likely never get done but they are fun to start. I was also looking at all the great music I stole from my sweet flat mates. I guess what I was doing was missing you all a lot but it sounds like I am not alone in that feeling.
So on to my life cause lets just be honest that is the most important part of this post. Well Christmas was great. I got a watch, which I never wear but it looks pretty sitting on the dresser. My sister loved her hooka and other stuff and my poor parents don't actually believe they will ever get their things (wonder why?). So really the whole Christmas thing was kind of boring but nice. How can you go wrong with apple and pumpkin pie?
New Years on the other hand was far from boring. I got to go partying with a bunch of grad students. Actually the coolest part of the evening was watching my sister get "slightly drunk" and start dancing. My sister does not dance. Then there was my friend who started randomly making out with a girl/hooker. He was a bit smashed. Lets just say there was a lot of drinking, dancing and falling over. It seems as though that is what most of my outings include. It might have something to do with the group I hang out with. Fun people but they can't comprehend that fun can be done while sober. I am trying but they are slow learners.
I have made it through all three seasons of Veronica Mars. You laugh now but wait until you are stuck in a small apartment with nothing to do and no people to speak with. I did make an excursion into the great blue yonder the other day. It ended with me laughing hysterically at some poor person who kept trying to say either "hello" or "my dog's name is happy". I couldn't quite make it out. Walking in this country can create interesting situations and if you think the cars in Cairo are bad try walking on the bike path here. Scary.
So, to sum up my life, I get up at 12 or 3 then look for jobs then watch Veronica Mars. On the weekends I go to bars and watch people do stupid things (doing a few myself but we will leave those out) and get drunk. In between I make forays into Israeli culture and usually wind up laughing so hard I cry then people think I am crazy, which may not be far from the truth.
In reality, I am doing well but I miss you guys like crazy. I am praying for you all as school starts again and your lives become filled with homework and trying to find meaning to the world in college life. I don't envy you life in the US but I do envy you life in general. Be good people and pray for me.
This morning (and by morning I mean 3pm cause I don't actually get up until noon) I was looking through all my pictures and starting some really cool albums that will most likely never get done but they are fun to start. I was also looking at all the great music I stole from my sweet flat mates. I guess what I was doing was missing you all a lot but it sounds like I am not alone in that feeling.
So on to my life cause lets just be honest that is the most important part of this post. Well Christmas was great. I got a watch, which I never wear but it looks pretty sitting on the dresser. My sister loved her hooka and other stuff and my poor parents don't actually believe they will ever get their things (wonder why?). So really the whole Christmas thing was kind of boring but nice. How can you go wrong with apple and pumpkin pie?
New Years on the other hand was far from boring. I got to go partying with a bunch of grad students. Actually the coolest part of the evening was watching my sister get "slightly drunk" and start dancing. My sister does not dance. Then there was my friend who started randomly making out with a girl/hooker. He was a bit smashed. Lets just say there was a lot of drinking, dancing and falling over. It seems as though that is what most of my outings include. It might have something to do with the group I hang out with. Fun people but they can't comprehend that fun can be done while sober. I am trying but they are slow learners.
I have made it through all three seasons of Veronica Mars. You laugh now but wait until you are stuck in a small apartment with nothing to do and no people to speak with. I did make an excursion into the great blue yonder the other day. It ended with me laughing hysterically at some poor person who kept trying to say either "hello" or "my dog's name is happy". I couldn't quite make it out. Walking in this country can create interesting situations and if you think the cars in Cairo are bad try walking on the bike path here. Scary.
So, to sum up my life, I get up at 12 or 3 then look for jobs then watch Veronica Mars. On the weekends I go to bars and watch people do stupid things (doing a few myself but we will leave those out) and get drunk. In between I make forays into Israeli culture and usually wind up laughing so hard I cry then people think I am crazy, which may not be far from the truth.
In reality, I am doing well but I miss you guys like crazy. I am praying for you all as school starts again and your lives become filled with homework and trying to find meaning to the world in college life. I don't envy you life in the US but I do envy you life in general. Be good people and pray for me.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Random stuff
I am exhausted. I just want to go back to school. But, I am a little scared of doing so. (It starts in a week) My exhaustion isnt helped by the fact that I am sick. I am practically deaf from two ear infections. Everything is rather muffly and garbled.
There have been good times with the bad. I have had some good conversations with my parents. I also have had the opportunity to talk to some people from church as well as some friends. Tonight, I had the pleasure of talking to Matt Gruel for a bit on the phone. It was good to hear his voice. Also, I get to see Tory tomorrow. A good friend of mine is in the same residence group thingy (I think) as Tory.
I go through my prayer beads every once in a while. (the paint is chipping off most of them and one bead actually broke off ) But, it serves it's purpose.
Please pray for me. I am juggling a lot of things while at the same time being empty handed. It is funny how juggling does that to a person... You are busy, but you never really hang on to anything. "open hands" ~Phil Rizk~
There have been good times with the bad. I have had some good conversations with my parents. I also have had the opportunity to talk to some people from church as well as some friends. Tonight, I had the pleasure of talking to Matt Gruel for a bit on the phone. It was good to hear his voice. Also, I get to see Tory tomorrow. A good friend of mine is in the same residence group thingy (I think) as Tory.
I go through my prayer beads every once in a while. (the paint is chipping off most of them and one bead actually broke off ) But, it serves it's purpose.
Please pray for me. I am juggling a lot of things while at the same time being empty handed. It is funny how juggling does that to a person... You are busy, but you never really hang on to anything. "open hands" ~Phil Rizk~
Lucky me!
Guess who I got to hang out with today...? the amazing Phil. Aren't you all jealous? Unless you are Phil. haha. OK question to all of you...what should I write my creative writing assignment about? I want to write a short story about egypt, but I keep getting sad and missing it terribly when I try to write about it, and feel like I can never do the setting justice. So ya, any ideas for a short story plot line, let me know.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
We miss Phil--and EVERYONE
Phil!
We [Molly and Suz] just listened to your Gangsta's Paradise--"power and the money, money and the power, minute after minute, hour after hour." Summary--we miss you.
Mumkin--we have had a blast speaking Arabic, looking at such fun pics of everyone, missing all of you, and sharing stories without having to explain everything! An incredible sleepover in Seattle--except that 6 of the women from flat 2 are MISSING! Actually, make that 23 people are missing. It's time for you to take a jet to Seattle--DILWATI! Thus sayeth the Lord.--says Molly.
Hint--hint: We like you.
Eat some dang filafil--even though we had Chinook's with Heidi!
Dispahe ala xeer--
Molly and Suz
P.S. Abbie--we just watched you dance to Shakira! And mumkin we enjoyed laughing at a certain MESPer's rendition of a Luke Sky-Chicken. Which by the way, brought Molly many moments of joy in the midst of her sometimes solitary quest throughout Ireland.
We [Molly and Suz] just listened to your Gangsta's Paradise--"power and the money, money and the power, minute after minute, hour after hour." Summary--we miss you.
Mumkin--we have had a blast speaking Arabic, looking at such fun pics of everyone, missing all of you, and sharing stories without having to explain everything! An incredible sleepover in Seattle--except that 6 of the women from flat 2 are MISSING! Actually, make that 23 people are missing. It's time for you to take a jet to Seattle--DILWATI! Thus sayeth the Lord.--says Molly.
Hint--hint: We like you.
Eat some dang filafil--even though we had Chinook's with Heidi!
Dispahe ala xeer--
Molly and Suz
P.S. Abbie--we just watched you dance to Shakira! And mumkin we enjoyed laughing at a certain MESPer's rendition of a Luke Sky-Chicken. Which by the way, brought Molly many moments of joy in the midst of her sometimes solitary quest throughout Ireland.
Friday, January 5, 2007
finally, right?
listen, no...please...don't think that i've forgotten all you dear people. you've been in my thoughts and dreams constantly since leaving you in new york (and some in cairo)... and now i'm on the blog and can feel somewhat connected again. i guess this things has been going on for some time now that there are like 60 posts or something and i feel a little behind, but i lost track of the blog address for a little while.
wow. so we're back in the usa, huh? how are you all doing with that. i can honestly say that overall, its been really positive for me. there was definitely some adjusting to be done, but really, i've lived in america most of my life--i felt like i just wasn't really surprised at what was waiting for me back here, both good and bad. one of those really good things was christmastime with my family. who remembers the little rest stop in jordan when a bunch of us were talking about our different christmas traditions and what would be happening when we got back? that was fun... but getting back and actually doing all of those things was even... funner.
also, one of the highlights of getting back was walking up the atlanta baggage claim and seeing lauren for the first time. lucky eunice got to be there. haha, i'll spare all the details (as everyone breathes a al-humdulillah) but it was amazing to see her again and spend some time with her that week. we were at my house a few days before she had to leave, and then i flew down to houston over new year's to go to her big family reunion. and, by the way, alissa was right about that stupid 25,000 mile base for a free flight. i just can't believe that flying halfway across the globe doens't equal out to enough damn miles for a little domestic flight. anyways...while in texas, our favorite malcolm family invited both lauren and i over for a new years dinner and i got to hang out with becca for the afternoon. it was awesome. oh, and i had the famous texas briskett. that was awesome too.
she's the one that helped me out with the blog.
now i'm back at home and its a little weird because i'm alone. my parents are at work, my brother's at school, and my sister is randomly doing things. cedarville starts back up this tuesday, so i've only got a couple of days left. but i've been filling my time with reading and research... sweet huh? i'm working on getting myself up to date on venezuela because i'm representing them at the regional model UN in february. i also just finished going through the iraq study group report. one lady on the plane asked if it was a "good book." hmm...its not really the thing i'd rejoice in literarily, but i told her that i thought it was important. it did a little to add to my discouragement and frustration towards US action and policy in the middle east, but also presented some thought through solutions that are a bit more informed than current action (or lack of it), in my opinion.
i've talked about egypt A LOT since coming back... like even had people over the to house and set up a bunch of slideshows for my pictures. there have been more chances to share and more interest in my listeners that i originally thought. i hope i don't get burnt out on it--which i can see happening. i know that the things that i've learned and have decided to talk about are important and i feel that i have some responsibility to take advantage of those times. there for awhile we kept asking a bunch of our speakers the question of what we could do or what we could bring back with us. most of them told us to talk about what we had seen and heard and done. i'm trying to. sometimes it just feels really incomplete...
well... i guess you could say that this is the typical intial post--the short update and check in on everyone. i'll keep posting on some other things as time goes by.
i'm glad i'm finally on here though. i miss you guys a lot.
wow. so we're back in the usa, huh? how are you all doing with that. i can honestly say that overall, its been really positive for me. there was definitely some adjusting to be done, but really, i've lived in america most of my life--i felt like i just wasn't really surprised at what was waiting for me back here, both good and bad. one of those really good things was christmastime with my family. who remembers the little rest stop in jordan when a bunch of us were talking about our different christmas traditions and what would be happening when we got back? that was fun... but getting back and actually doing all of those things was even... funner.
also, one of the highlights of getting back was walking up the atlanta baggage claim and seeing lauren for the first time. lucky eunice got to be there. haha, i'll spare all the details (as everyone breathes a al-humdulillah) but it was amazing to see her again and spend some time with her that week. we were at my house a few days before she had to leave, and then i flew down to houston over new year's to go to her big family reunion. and, by the way, alissa was right about that stupid 25,000 mile base for a free flight. i just can't believe that flying halfway across the globe doens't equal out to enough damn miles for a little domestic flight. anyways...while in texas, our favorite malcolm family invited both lauren and i over for a new years dinner and i got to hang out with becca for the afternoon. it was awesome. oh, and i had the famous texas briskett. that was awesome too.
she's the one that helped me out with the blog.
now i'm back at home and its a little weird because i'm alone. my parents are at work, my brother's at school, and my sister is randomly doing things. cedarville starts back up this tuesday, so i've only got a couple of days left. but i've been filling my time with reading and research... sweet huh? i'm working on getting myself up to date on venezuela because i'm representing them at the regional model UN in february. i also just finished going through the iraq study group report. one lady on the plane asked if it was a "good book." hmm...its not really the thing i'd rejoice in literarily, but i told her that i thought it was important. it did a little to add to my discouragement and frustration towards US action and policy in the middle east, but also presented some thought through solutions that are a bit more informed than current action (or lack of it), in my opinion.
i've talked about egypt A LOT since coming back... like even had people over the to house and set up a bunch of slideshows for my pictures. there have been more chances to share and more interest in my listeners that i originally thought. i hope i don't get burnt out on it--which i can see happening. i know that the things that i've learned and have decided to talk about are important and i feel that i have some responsibility to take advantage of those times. there for awhile we kept asking a bunch of our speakers the question of what we could do or what we could bring back with us. most of them told us to talk about what we had seen and heard and done. i'm trying to. sometimes it just feels really incomplete...
well... i guess you could say that this is the typical intial post--the short update and check in on everyone. i'll keep posting on some other things as time goes by.
i'm glad i'm finally on here though. i miss you guys a lot.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
My New Baby
I would just like to announce that, as of yesterday, I am the proud father of...
A 2001 Ford Escort!
Yes, indeed, I have finally purchased my first car...and we love each other very much. I've been spending as much quality time as possible with my new baby, and while we're still getting to know each other, I'd say that as of now the future relationship looks very bright and encouraging. I can't wait to grow old with this car. Pictures will be forthcoming.
A 2001 Ford Escort!
Yes, indeed, I have finally purchased my first car...and we love each other very much. I've been spending as much quality time as possible with my new baby, and while we're still getting to know each other, I'd say that as of now the future relationship looks very bright and encouraging. I can't wait to grow old with this car. Pictures will be forthcoming.
Monday, January 1, 2007
Hello People
Hey all - I figured I had better post again because I have to go back to school tomorrow (boo). I am not exactly looking forward to it, but what do ya do? If you think about it, you can pray for me - I am moving in with new roommates and starting up work again, and I just don't know what the heck to do with everything I experienced on MESP, ya know? Anyway, I have loved reading everyone's blog - I miss you guys. Here's my advice: don't become too bitter toward churches here in the U.S. or toward the U.S. - while neither is perfect, they can do amazingly good things and our job is to make sure they do. Also, I heard Shakira on the radio the other day and I thought of you guys and I smiled to myself - unfortunately I couldn't dance the way I like to because I was in the car, but don't worry, I did shake what I could - what can I say, it speaks to my soul. Life has been pretty good these days, I've been hanging with the fam and with some friends - I'm a little melancholy now and then, but I suppose that is to be expected. Oh and by the way, I am addicted to "The Office," so if anyone else shares my feelings, we should discuss how great it is. Okay people, I hope everyone had a great holiday season - I'd love to hear an update on how everyone is doing now that school is fast approaching.
Abbie
Abbie
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