Sorry I haven't updated in quite awhile. Truth is...there's not really much to update on. I have become a master sleeper and jump-roper. Some of us have managed to memorize all the lyrics to Vanilla Ice's "Ice, Ice, Baby". I'm sticking more to learning all of David Bowie's works. I think I also might master every card game known to mankind. Who needs college when I can just become a professional poker player? Classwork isn't exactly a challenge here. And by that I mean I don't have any work to do. At all...ever. I haven't quite decided if its awful or beautiful. Probably the latter. My International Dance Forms class is really American Hip Hop. I'm gonna be a master krumper when I get back to the states, and I'm more than fairly excited about that.
I dreaded my hair. Looks a lot better than expected. Added bonus: the guy that did it was a beautiful Spanish man. My roommates made sure they looked their best whenever he was here. It was a seven hour ordeal after all. Most people think I rock it well..Joe the marine thinks I look like I have a spider over my head. The myth about them being easy to take care of is really nothing but a myth, and inventing creative ways to wash them is testing my mental endurance more than anything else so far.
The marines sadly are the ones keeping us from going insane. They have come to occupy our time when we're not sleeping, in class, watching movies, or in my case reading depressing books about situations in Africa. One of the good ones is leaving for St. Petersburg, Russia this week though. It's a bit sad...he was one that could actually carry on a real conversation with us. They bring us on picnics where we can play with babies and puppies...obviously the best combination ever.
I don't mean to complain a lot...it's great having such an easy semester. Unfortunately, Cyprus is an overpriced island that doesn't have much other than bars and clubs to offer to people. It's getting a little old lately. Not to mention, expensive. At least I get to travel...like the plane tickets to Vienna I just bought. My roommate and I will be seeing Vienna, Prague, and Budapest. Fabulous. I also get to eat really really cheap kiwis all the time. Produce is the only cheap thing here.
Our program made another day trip. There wasn't really a lot to see though. We didn't even have a tour guide for it, because there really were no sites to visit. We were in the mountains and got to play in snow. I guess that's cool. Mostly we drove and ate. And then drove some more.
In other news I have found something to do this summer. I will be spending it in San Francisco working with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. I was also accepted into the SIT program, and will hopefully be going to Kenya as long as I don't have tuberculosis (which I'm almost certain I do not have), and they stop their silly fighting and become friends again (which I sadly have no idea about).
That's about it. Enjoy my dreads. These pictures actually aren't very good of them at all...I swear they look better. Don't tell me if you hate them...that would just be rude.
Love you all. And miss you. Emails from friends and family wouldn't go unappreciated. Also, all of you getting Skype and calling me would be fabulous. Not that I'm hinting at anything- I would never do such a thing.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Walk Like an Egyptian
Well Egypt was quite the adventure. Our hostel was great, especially when we could run to it after being chased by 1500 Egyptian men. Within two hours of arriving in Egypt, we were out on the Nile River on a small tiny boat they played the same Lil Jon song over and over and over again. Before we could get on the boat tho, we had to cross several highways. I'm talking Cairo's versions of the Long Island Expressway....with ten American girls running across shrieking at the top of their lungs. Insane. All in all, I witnessed three car accidents in my 3 days, including a car hitting a horse drawn carriage.
Saturday we spent seeing the Pyramids and surrounding sites. I lot of very very old and very very large statues. I hopped up on a camel to see Giza...which was as amazing as you would expect. Even got to speak some Arabic to the camel guy. Our guide was a little crazy, and liked to inform us that women only follow their heart, and men use their heads, and therefore this is why women are terrible leaders. Maybe this is why Hillary is losing...should set her up with this guy.
Unfortunately our tour guide neglected to bring us anywhere we could eat lunch, and by the night we were an awful, miserable group of girls. We went on a Nile Dinner Cruise (we felt that being absolute tourists would be fantastic for the weekend), and just glared at each other, glared at our waiters, and glared at the happy couple behind us that was celebrating both a birthday and their new engagement. At one point I was certain that this would be the end of Maro House Two and we would hate each other from then on. Luckily, we were given food eventually, and started liking one another, and life, yet again.
Sunday we spent at Alexandria. It's not the most interesting of cities, but it was a nice change of pace. It set us up well for the evening to follow. Even got lunch this time, and we were much more of an enjoyable group.
Sunday was also the night of the Africa Cup. Egypt just happened to be playing against Cameroon in the final. Four of us went with our tour guide, and watched the match in a somewhat sketchy alleyway in the center of Cairo. Fantastic fun as we were surrounded by tons of people waiting for Egypt to win. Egypt won 1-0, and I was awarded with roses and a new head wrap for my hair. The streets filled with every Egyptian in the nation all screaming, clapping, playing drums, lighting torches, and all honking their horns in a synchronized rhythm. It was probably one of the most amazing experiences of my life, running through Cairo cheering for everyone. The four of us thought it was the coolest thing ever...the Egyptian men thought taking pictures with American girls was the coolest and therefore about 100 different men have a picture of me on their phones.
It was great and fabulous, but we decided to go back to the hostel to meet up with the other girls. Once everyone was back, we decided that we would go back out. Turned out to be a poor decision, as we all ended up running through the streets of Cairo being chased by several hundred Egyptian men. Luckily we had three bodyguards to take on our cause- one of them went down with a bloody face unfortunately. Not the greatest experience...but a great story at the end of it. Never again do I ever want to spring that much in my life...ever ever again. I thought walking up the flights of stairs in our hostel was hard- outright sprinting was nearly impossible.
Nothing could top the intensity of the night....but I did get to haggle in Arabic at the market (to no avail, sadly), and went into a beautiful mosque in the center of Old Cairo before we left on Monday afternoon.
Enjoy the pictures!
Saturday we spent seeing the Pyramids and surrounding sites. I lot of very very old and very very large statues. I hopped up on a camel to see Giza...which was as amazing as you would expect. Even got to speak some Arabic to the camel guy. Our guide was a little crazy, and liked to inform us that women only follow their heart, and men use their heads, and therefore this is why women are terrible leaders. Maybe this is why Hillary is losing...should set her up with this guy.
Unfortunately our tour guide neglected to bring us anywhere we could eat lunch, and by the night we were an awful, miserable group of girls. We went on a Nile Dinner Cruise (we felt that being absolute tourists would be fantastic for the weekend), and just glared at each other, glared at our waiters, and glared at the happy couple behind us that was celebrating both a birthday and their new engagement. At one point I was certain that this would be the end of Maro House Two and we would hate each other from then on. Luckily, we were given food eventually, and started liking one another, and life, yet again.
Sunday we spent at Alexandria. It's not the most interesting of cities, but it was a nice change of pace. It set us up well for the evening to follow. Even got lunch this time, and we were much more of an enjoyable group.
Sunday was also the night of the Africa Cup. Egypt just happened to be playing against Cameroon in the final. Four of us went with our tour guide, and watched the match in a somewhat sketchy alleyway in the center of Cairo. Fantastic fun as we were surrounded by tons of people waiting for Egypt to win. Egypt won 1-0, and I was awarded with roses and a new head wrap for my hair. The streets filled with every Egyptian in the nation all screaming, clapping, playing drums, lighting torches, and all honking their horns in a synchronized rhythm. It was probably one of the most amazing experiences of my life, running through Cairo cheering for everyone. The four of us thought it was the coolest thing ever...the Egyptian men thought taking pictures with American girls was the coolest and therefore about 100 different men have a picture of me on their phones.
It was great and fabulous, but we decided to go back to the hostel to meet up with the other girls. Once everyone was back, we decided that we would go back out. Turned out to be a poor decision, as we all ended up running through the streets of Cairo being chased by several hundred Egyptian men. Luckily we had three bodyguards to take on our cause- one of them went down with a bloody face unfortunately. Not the greatest experience...but a great story at the end of it. Never again do I ever want to spring that much in my life...ever ever again. I thought walking up the flights of stairs in our hostel was hard- outright sprinting was nearly impossible.
Nothing could top the intensity of the night....but I did get to haggle in Arabic at the market (to no avail, sadly), and went into a beautiful mosque in the center of Old Cairo before we left on Monday afternoon.
Enjoy the pictures!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
The Germans are About to take Over the World...At Least we Have the Marines to Protect Us
So the academics here aren't exactly high quality. Fine with me, as I can putz around this entire semester, enjoy life, travel the world, and write about 3 papers this entire semester (which don't need proper grammar or spelling). I do have a crazy leftist professor who has repeatedly told us that America is about to implode in upcoming months, and that Germany will lead a Catholic European Superpower...there will also be a Chinese and a Pan-Arab superpower.
Well if that's true....I can assure you that the Marines stationed here in Cyprus will be able to come to the rescue, as they certainly have no real purpose here. They're pretty desperate for some American friends, and the good ole girls from Maro House 2 (mine) have stepped up to the plate. If you would like to know what your tax money is going to, it's going to the seven marines here who have four drivers on call at all time to take them anywhere, and pick anybody up, a personal chef every day, and a palace to live in.
I can't really complain...the trips in their cars are pretty priceless. The drivers have to take convoluted paths through Cyprus, as to make sure that nobody can follow them. Old Nicosia is a maze of alleyways, that can fit about one car in them at any given time. We take them like champs, and go about 70 mph through them. Occasionally when it's a large group of people, we get treated to the armored car. I'm probably not supposed to speak about their house, just in case any of you were thinking about coming and attacking Cyprus. It's huge tho. Giant screen tvs, comfy couches, a pool table, lots of rooms, blah blah blah. They complain about not having a pool tho....and here I am just wanting a bit of heat. US Military Service tv doesn't have American commercials tho...so instead of seeing the superbowl commercials we saw military propoganda and other various information.
My favorites:
Re-enlist or America will crumble.
Babies cry....don't shake them.
The dinosaur that tramples around the world eating various cities with the message at the end "Skipping meals leads to overheating!"
FAB FAB FAB!!!!!
Other lesson I have learned in Cyprus:
Skip the tequila shots, as they make me fall in love with the marine named Chad, and then lie hysterically crying in my house mates bed when I find out he has a girlfriend.
Let me explain Chad to you:
First, he's from Oklahoma, which is obviously strikes against him.
Secondly, he's several inches shorter me.
Third, he's a damn Marine which is an obvious sign that I would never be attracted to him if I were still in America and had an ocean of boys to choose from.
Fourth, he is continuously wearing hollister. What twenty-five year old wears hollister?
Fifth...he shaves his arms and legs more often, than any girl that I know.
He's an extremely nice guy....but in no other world would I ever be attracted to him. It does however provide amusing stories for me, and Maro House 2.
Well I'm off to class right now...and Egypt TOMORROW!!!!!! So excited.
Love you all.
Well if that's true....I can assure you that the Marines stationed here in Cyprus will be able to come to the rescue, as they certainly have no real purpose here. They're pretty desperate for some American friends, and the good ole girls from Maro House 2 (mine) have stepped up to the plate. If you would like to know what your tax money is going to, it's going to the seven marines here who have four drivers on call at all time to take them anywhere, and pick anybody up, a personal chef every day, and a palace to live in.
I can't really complain...the trips in their cars are pretty priceless. The drivers have to take convoluted paths through Cyprus, as to make sure that nobody can follow them. Old Nicosia is a maze of alleyways, that can fit about one car in them at any given time. We take them like champs, and go about 70 mph through them. Occasionally when it's a large group of people, we get treated to the armored car. I'm probably not supposed to speak about their house, just in case any of you were thinking about coming and attacking Cyprus. It's huge tho. Giant screen tvs, comfy couches, a pool table, lots of rooms, blah blah blah. They complain about not having a pool tho....and here I am just wanting a bit of heat. US Military Service tv doesn't have American commercials tho...so instead of seeing the superbowl commercials we saw military propoganda and other various information.
My favorites:
Re-enlist or America will crumble.
Babies cry....don't shake them.
The dinosaur that tramples around the world eating various cities with the message at the end "Skipping meals leads to overheating!"
FAB FAB FAB!!!!!
Other lesson I have learned in Cyprus:
Skip the tequila shots, as they make me fall in love with the marine named Chad, and then lie hysterically crying in my house mates bed when I find out he has a girlfriend.
Let me explain Chad to you:
First, he's from Oklahoma, which is obviously strikes against him.
Secondly, he's several inches shorter me.
Third, he's a damn Marine which is an obvious sign that I would never be attracted to him if I were still in America and had an ocean of boys to choose from.
Fourth, he is continuously wearing hollister. What twenty-five year old wears hollister?
Fifth...he shaves his arms and legs more often, than any girl that I know.
He's an extremely nice guy....but in no other world would I ever be attracted to him. It does however provide amusing stories for me, and Maro House 2.
Well I'm off to class right now...and Egypt TOMORROW!!!!!! So excited.
Love you all.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
There is Nothing Greater in Life than Being a Turk
This (somewhat obnoxious) title is imprinted on the northern Turkish (sort of) mountains facing down to the Greek southern side. It's right under the Turkish flag that lights up at night. Well, it lights up when there is enough electricity for it....which goes in and out on any given night. I personally think it’s fabulous...the Cypriots not so much. In fact, the Cypriots don’t think there is anything better than themselves. We went for a tour of the Cyprus Archeological museum and I’m fairly certain our tour guide would like us to believe that Greek Cypriots are the cradle of all civilization, and have found/.invented everything on this earth. When they haven’t been able to invent something, they most certainly have perfected it.
Over the past week I’ve engaged in multiple orientation programs....most of them including several hours of Turk bashing. It’s been fun, but I think if I hear one more thing about how great the Cypriots are, and how terrible the Turks are...I may join the Turkish army and join in a campaign to make the Northern Turkish Republic of Cyprus a legit nation recognized by more than just Turkey.
I’ve also learned just how ugly Americans can be. In fact, my entire group is full of them, except for the group of girls I live with, which I am extremely lucky to live with. It’s a very nice surprise that eleven girls can get along so well. However, the rest of the group here apparently can’t get through a day without getting drunk, whining, and jumping over gates to sneak into buildings.
Today, we made a trip to the North. It excited me when there were statues of Attaturk everywhere, especially after my crazy sociology class with my crazy Turkish professor. We visited the northern part of Nicosia and then went to Kyrenia, which described by the Greek Cypriots was “the most picturesque Cypriot town until 1974 when the Turks invaded and forced all Greek Cypriots out of there homes”. This happens to be one of several “most picturesque towns” that are now under Turkish occupation. I realize that it’s terrible what happened to the island, but I’m fairly certain that there is a lot more going on than they would like everyone to believe in.
It was really gorgeous on the way to Kyrenia. We saw the Saint Hilarion Castle which is high up in the mountains and provides amazing views. We then went to the actual city of Kyrenia, where we ate lunch and visited a castle. I decided that since I was sitting next to the Mediterranean Sea, that I would order fish at the restaurant. I must say that I was a little embarrassed when I made a completely horrified face when the fish arrived with a full head, tail, scales, and fins. I survived, but probably won’t be ordering fish from any more restaurants over here anytime in the near future. We saw the Castle of Kyrenia, and then left the city for a visit an abbey a few minutes outside of the city.
It was amazingly beautiful, and pictures don’t do it justice...but here are some anyway.
Other than that, things have been going well. Getting to know all of the girls here, getting to know the city, all that stuff. Although we aren’t becoming friends with other American students, we have befriended the US Marines that are stationed here (how we did this...not sure), and have found our new favorite restaurant in Nicosia that has waiters that will take us to be VIPs in Cypriot clubs. Tomorrow we’ll have the Superbowl (Let’s go New York!!!!!!!), classes start on Tuesday, and on Friday I’ll be going off to Egypt for a four day trip!!!!!! The power in our house doesn’t stay on, and we’ve been informed we can’t run the heat at night. We also don’t have a shower head, so showers are a bit of a guessing game of where the water will shoot out, with what pressure, and what temperature. Always an adventure.
Love you all!
Over the past week I’ve engaged in multiple orientation programs....most of them including several hours of Turk bashing. It’s been fun, but I think if I hear one more thing about how great the Cypriots are, and how terrible the Turks are...I may join the Turkish army and join in a campaign to make the Northern Turkish Republic of Cyprus a legit nation recognized by more than just Turkey.
I’ve also learned just how ugly Americans can be. In fact, my entire group is full of them, except for the group of girls I live with, which I am extremely lucky to live with. It’s a very nice surprise that eleven girls can get along so well. However, the rest of the group here apparently can’t get through a day without getting drunk, whining, and jumping over gates to sneak into buildings.
Today, we made a trip to the North. It excited me when there were statues of Attaturk everywhere, especially after my crazy sociology class with my crazy Turkish professor. We visited the northern part of Nicosia and then went to Kyrenia, which described by the Greek Cypriots was “the most picturesque Cypriot town until 1974 when the Turks invaded and forced all Greek Cypriots out of there homes”. This happens to be one of several “most picturesque towns” that are now under Turkish occupation. I realize that it’s terrible what happened to the island, but I’m fairly certain that there is a lot more going on than they would like everyone to believe in.
It was really gorgeous on the way to Kyrenia. We saw the Saint Hilarion Castle which is high up in the mountains and provides amazing views. We then went to the actual city of Kyrenia, where we ate lunch and visited a castle. I decided that since I was sitting next to the Mediterranean Sea, that I would order fish at the restaurant. I must say that I was a little embarrassed when I made a completely horrified face when the fish arrived with a full head, tail, scales, and fins. I survived, but probably won’t be ordering fish from any more restaurants over here anytime in the near future. We saw the Castle of Kyrenia, and then left the city for a visit an abbey a few minutes outside of the city.
It was amazingly beautiful, and pictures don’t do it justice...but here are some anyway.
Other than that, things have been going well. Getting to know all of the girls here, getting to know the city, all that stuff. Although we aren’t becoming friends with other American students, we have befriended the US Marines that are stationed here (how we did this...not sure), and have found our new favorite restaurant in Nicosia that has waiters that will take us to be VIPs in Cypriot clubs. Tomorrow we’ll have the Superbowl (Let’s go New York!!!!!!!), classes start on Tuesday, and on Friday I’ll be going off to Egypt for a four day trip!!!!!! The power in our house doesn’t stay on, and we’ve been informed we can’t run the heat at night. We also don’t have a shower head, so showers are a bit of a guessing game of where the water will shoot out, with what pressure, and what temperature. Always an adventure.
Love you all!
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