We seceded from the Union!!!

This weekend, yet again, was a whirlwind and I will do my best to recount for you the highlights.

First, Grace and I seceded from the Union (the name of our hostel) and finally got to move into our apartment, and it is the most amazing space I have ever been able to call my own!!  I gave Jayme and my parents a virtual tour, so if you want details, ask them.  Just know, that this place is sweet… we have a gorgeous dinning room table that seats 8 should we decide to entertain, an adorable and extremely clean kitchen, our own bedrooms, a spacious living room complete with guest beds, couches, and an armoire large enough to be its own room!  Pretty much, I have to come up with a really good reason to leave this place.  Just kidding, between work and Arabic classes, I stay rather busy out and about in the city.

Megan was our first official guest to Alex.  She came down to see us this weekend from Ismailia.  It was so great to see her; I have missed her very much since leaving Cairo, and thankfully I get to see the rest of the group in a little over a week for our trip to Siwa.  Grace and I had a lot of errands to run Friday, looking for apartment necessities, and so Megan met us at the mall I would like to rename America from here on out (it is called City Center officially).  This place was gargantuan!!!  It had every store you could think of from H&M to Starbucks to Fudruckers (and yes, we ate here for dinner and I consumed the most delicious cheese burger, EVER!) to the Egyptian version of Walmart.  In a matter of 5 hours, we were able to cross off most of the items on our list, eat dinner, and do a little fashionable retail therapy ( I bought leggings and a headband which I rocked in class Sunday!).  It was exhausting, but a relief to get moved into our apartment.  This place is beginning to feel like home, at last.

Yesterday (3.10.10) was one of the longest days I have had yet.  I woke up at 6am because Adel (our supervisor’s son) picked up me and Megan to get her to the bus station by 7am to head back to Ismailia.  I was sad to see her go; I wish she was living here in Alex, but I guess I will just have to go visit her to check out her side of the country soon.  Then Adel took me to the university because my teaching chaos starts at 8am on Sundays.  I arrived to the university by 7:15 and it was locked down.  Let’s just say, teachers and students hardly arrive to the university and class on time, especially for the 8am blocks.  Then, after 6 hours of teaching and one office hour, I hopped a cab in the middle of rush hour to get down to my Arabic class. It was my first Egyptian lesson and I like my tutor sooooooo much.  She is this adorable, yet nosy, Egyptian woman who has deemed it her role  to be my teacher and mother.  She is wonderful, though; she is very patient and encouraging, yet challenging.  I think I will progress in my ability to speak significantly this year, and even by Christmas!

I stumbled home by 8pm with groceries (there is a small grocery store with all the essentials two blocks from my apartment, and fresh little fruit and veggie stands nearby as well).  Instead of going to bed or making a dent on the 200+ papers I have to grade, I decided to stay up late skyping with my friend.   He is serving in Baghdad right now, and it was wonderful to catch up with him.  We spent most of the time laughing about my students and the ridiculous celebrity status Grace and I hold at the university.  For instance, after every class there is a swarm of students around me and at least 5 find it necessary to walk me wherever I might be going next.  I receive at least 3 invitations to something after every class such as go to an amusement park, museum, or to the cinema.  The most humorous, and frightening, invitation came yesterday.  This certain student asked me to her parents’ home for dinner; I didn’t think this was appropriate since I am her teacher, but she shamed me into accepting.  I figured she was just being hospitable (Egyptians are actually very hospitable and welcoming- score one for Egyptians), and I did not want to be rude.  It took a turn for the worst, however, when I discovered she is a Stage 5 Clinger (see Wedding Crashers for an elaboration on this concept).  On MSN Messenger, she asked me to spend the entire day with her, not just dinner, and then to spend the night.  Red flag.  Then she said she wanted to spend every moment possible with me because she has to share me in class.  Red flag.  Then she insisted she loves me very much and persistently called me "dear."  Red Flag.  As I began to explain to her that I could not possibly spend the entire day with her because I have a lot of work to do and am very busy, she pulled the “you promised” card.  Red Flag.  Now, I am doing everything I can to get out of dinner.  I said we could go somewhere for lunch closer to campus, with some other students so that it is more appropriate given the fact I am her teacher.  That made her cry.  Red flag.  Well, she scares me and I cannot possibly put myself in a situation to get stuck at her house because she lives an hour from campus.  I know I could risk upsetting her greatly, but her obsession isn’t healthy.  While I am kinda a big deal, I am not THAT big of a deal. :)  Hopefully, she will understand that it is important to maintain a professional relationship despite our close proximity in age (oh, I refuse to tell my students my age just to add a little distance).  Keep your fingers crossed that nothing ridiculous happens… like she kidnaps me after our next class.