Yesterday (18.10) I boarded the tram, like I do at least once every day, and posted up adjacent to the doors so that I could catch a nice breeze to counter the not-so-cool October weather. I was minding my own business behind my aviators (this way I can be ubber alert to the people around me without them noticing my shifty eyes!), when I notice that a gaggle of high school boys have their cell phones out to "sneak" pictures of me. Are you kidding me?!?! Have they never seen a blond chick in a baggy t-shirt and loose-fitting khakis!?!? I mean I wasn't doing anything impressive or embarrassing that would merit a cell phone pic or tweet and I def was not looking too cute since I had just returned from my weekend in Siwa and still reeked of a long bus ride.
I am not a freak show, but I sure as heck am treated as one! I get welcomed to Egypt multiple times a day and I just want to scream, "I live here, please I have been thoroughly welcomed. Enough!" I cannot go anywhere without being stared at or some guy hollering something ridiculously lame in the grand scheme of pick-up lines. I want to feel a part of this city and this culture so badly, but it is impossible, partially because I am picking up the language at a snail's pace, but mostly because I look foreign. I do not cover my hair and I have light skin, green eyes, and blond hair. And newsflash, those things are not going to change, so I guess all this is left is to adjust. Maybe I will just start acting like I belong in the zoo....
No comments:
Post a Comment