Life...
January 27th 2010 07:41
I asked the students today 'Where in the world they would like to travel and why?'
I like to try to open their minds and bring in creativity as the system here is very much based on book work and exams. So when I give them something to think about they sometimes sit and stare and ask again and again, 'What do we have to do?' You can do whatever you like as long on its about the question. Hmmm... I see them thinking, clocking it over in their minds. When always given a task, you seem to want to do your own thing, but here they want the task to make their minds up for them.
I have now been teaching in a small school in a small town in the South Sinai area of Egypt for over 1 year. I have learnt almost as much as my students learn while being here. Everyday I am learning whether its some new words in egyptian arabic, or new letters, or new cultural norms, or new ways of living that is different from mine. I feel tried all the time but in the best way possible. I am challenging myself and being challenged.
And yes sometimes I sit and cry and just think of the small things I miss.
Cheese on toast that my mum makes.
Sunny days in summer lying on the beach where nobody looks at you.
Chatting endlessly with girlfriends.
Sitting and watching television with my family.
Hearing a new song on the radio I love.
Driving anywhere I like to go.
Going to the library and getting as many books as I can find.
Dressing up in a nice dress and shoes.
Dancing.
Trees.
Rain.
These things are what Egypt lacks but there is a huge amounts of things this place has to offer as well. The desert is so desolate and bare, but yet so beautiful. You think it is a painting done by Monet and you can look but not touch. Out in the desert at night the stars are so fierce that you think that one might land next to you. You try to pull your eyes away but there is nothing you can do to escape the wonder. The seas are full of tropical fish any part of the coast you swim at. And for this to be my backyard I can not even try to complain about my hard life. It is not hard at all... it is just different.
When I walk the streets or get a taxi yes some people stare at me, but nothing in comparison to Cairo where everybody wants to be you friend and take photos of you.
Here in Dahab there are foreigners that live here for the diving trade and therefore I can mesh into the scenary and slowly slowly work my way into being a local.
And the other thing is that my partner is Egyptian. He is what keeps me smiling everyday and I realise I have no worries here in Egypt. Life is good.
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Comment by sumaya rahman
Paradigm of Melange
Comment by Anna Cameron
AnnaBanana
Real World Stories
An Aussie in Egypt
Its wonderful in lots of small ways.
A treasure to be opened.
With each day there are more surprises.
Comment by sumaya rahman
Paradigm of Melange
Comment by Anna Cameron
AnnaBanana
Real World Stories
An Aussie in Egypt