Where is Freedom? And Other Birthday Tales

As many of you might have guessed, precious little has happened since my trip to that glorious place known as Dahab. I returned to Cairo and continued classes, including the newest addition to my schedule: State and Society in the Middle East from 1699-1914. I spent Tuesday cleaning and shopping (for food). Grocery shopping here is kind of an all day ordeal because of my location. The nearest grocery store is about 5 metro stops away, so I go there for meats and cheeses and things like that (ice cream), but for vegetables and bread its infinitely cheaper to just go to the souq (open air market), which is about 10ish blocks away (I just walk).

On Wednesday evening disaster struck and my laptop charger went rope, so I actually had to pull out a book and read. The same evening I received a kind invitation to attend a small get together at an Egyptian friends house after classes the next day, I like Egyptians, friends, and get togethers, so of course I agreed. In anticipation of this event I brought along a leftover bottle of wine from Dahab, because its not like I'm going to sit at home and finish it myself. Idiot that I am though, I kind of forgot that whenever you enter you enter the University you have to go through security and stick your bag through an x-ray. It wasn't until I stuck my bag in that it occurred to me they might actually be looking for students trying to sneak in alcohol. This was never my intention of course, I was just holding on to it until after classes to be enjoyed in the comfort of another's home, but they confiscated it and, because I wasn't Egyptian told me I could pick it up after classes. Silly teetotaling Egyptian security guards asked me if it was medicine, I probably should have just said yes... After classes they returned it to me wrapped carefully in a plastic bag heh

With the bottle in tow Amr 1 drove us to Amr 2's house where we ate cookies and made merry for about an hour or so, three more people showed up around that time and much to my surprise the lights went off and a cake popped out of nowhere, Surprise party for me!! I was very much not expecting this and had actually spent most of the time thinking it was someone else's birthday since I had caught a glimpse of the cake box early on.

Here's a quick intro to all those in attendance + their cake

(from R-L, because we speak Arabic) Alaa (Egyptian), Ihsaan (Georgetown), Amr 2 (His house)

(R-L) Michelle (Gtown), Seth (TxTech), and Katherine (Elon)

Katherine again, not sure..., Amr 1, and Jacob (Gtown)

(Left) Nitasha(Indiana), and Kelsey (Elon); (Right) Me! And my cake yum

Everyone! (We put the camera on timer)

As was to be expected, this was a crazy and irresponsible night full of video games..

Fifa ftw!

And Bhangra (taught by the white jewish kid)

On the way back to the busses we took the liberty of posing for a picture in the middle of the street (there's no traffic in New Cairo, because there are no people in New Cairo)

I headed back to Zamalek with the dorm kids instead of downtown so we could ring in my birthday with some food and shisha from Goal (Italian restaurant introduced a few nights ago). No pictures from here, sorry, but the food was delicious. Afterward I caught a cab back for about 7 pounds and tucked myself in for some well deserved zzz's.

Next day was spent shopping for a birthday dress with Anna. It was a Friday so people were spilling onto the sidewalks from the Mosque right next to our apartment

Boy howdy.

This is where I walk every morning to get to the metro by the way.

Anna and I caught a bus to City Stars, a gigantic mall in Nasr city:

One of the many entrances to the mall

After some very tiring work I came away with the cheapest dress I could find, a $30 piece from H&M. Interestingly (and frustratingly) nice things in Egypt like clothes or jewelry are way more expensive than in the US. It may because some things are imported, but its more likely that its because the only people that go to buy these items are so filthy rich anyway that the sellers know they can charge an arm and a leg and they'll still get their product off the shelves. Damn you shrinking Egyptian middle class! So to sooth the pain of my lightening wallet, I accompanied Anna on her very first trip to Starbucks. She is a coffee fiend so its amazing that she's never been there, but she enjoyed it very much and can't wait to return. Ridiculous costs aside.

Coffees plus Brownie and croissant

Unfortunately Anna and Alison were unable to join me for dinner that night. Anna had to work early the next day, Alison was sick, and both had a wedding pre-cocktail party to attend the next night. At their suggestion however I went to Abu al-Sid, a restaurant in Zamalek, accompanied by a few faithful friends, none of whom, unfortunately, were girls. It seems all the female friends I've made here thus far were plagued by prior engagements, food poisoning or transportation issues. At three weeks in though, I'm not too picky, plus the previous night was kind of the party. Asking for two parties with good attendance is getting greedy.

The grand doors to Abu alSid

Bored waiting for the food, but the place was beautiful

Amr 1 and a lovely backdrop

Taking our picture was the only decent thing the waiter did all night

After dinner (which was delicious) Seth crapped out because he had to wake up early, but the rest of us went off to downtown in Amr's car to further entertain ourselves. Our first stop was After 8, a club and bar place frequented by foreigners and Egyptians alike, but because our male to female ratio was more than a little off, they wouldn't let us in. So we settled for Horeya Bar, a huge cafe (not a bar) where they just happen to serve Alcohol. I hear that politicians and famous people like to hang out here and place chess, but there weren't many chess players there after midnight. We couldn't find the place at first so I took the liberty of using my amazing Arabic to ask a nearby police office "fayn Horeya?". Well a couple things, Horeya means freedom in Arabic, second, you don't ask Egyptian police officers where bars are. So in essence I asked the office "where is freedom?!" before being dragged off by my wiser Egyptian friends. Once in Horeya though they kind of throw drinks at you as you walk in, but the prices are good and the people are friendly. A few more Egyptians joined us for what was to ultimately be a memorable night.. My intention is to refrain from putting up any pictures that will come back to haunt me, if I fail in this endeavor somehow, please let me know!

The final count

Some people who showed up in the middle

Amr1 devilishly encouraging Ihsaan to lose Muslim points

Afterward we wandered around the streets, found some more food, then headed back to my apartment since I'm the only one that lives nearby. After some ice cream and a few failed attempts at card games (Dark Room is NOT a card game) everyone left and I finally got some delicious sleep.

Happy Birthday to me.