Post (Semester) Surprise!
Posted December 20, 2006Just when I think my week can't really get much better, today comes along and smacks me around with good tidings.
I discovered yesterday that I scored a 34 on the ALI Unified exam, which places me into the High Beginner level of Arabic (skipping one class completely) with the option to jump to the Low Intermediate if I feel the pace of High Beginner is too slow. When you consider that I came to this country and program without being able to write my name in Arabic or even tell where one letter ends and another begins, that 34 looks damn good.
Then, this morning, I took my final exams. I had two, one focused on grammar and another on vocabulary. Both were easier than I expected. In truth, I studied a bit too hard for them, though it didn't feel like that at the time! I was feeling quite good when I came home from the last day of the semester, and decided to reward myself with a nap. I only got an hour of sleep, though, because the phone rang and a desk clerk informed me that I had a package.
A package? For me?
It turns out that you have to pay to receive your packages here in Egypt. Don't ask me why. It's sort of a cash on delivery thing. Oh, and the delivery guys have no change. He gladly took my 85 pounds for the 82 pound delivery and went on his merry way. Bastard. Also, I guess the Egyptian postal system opened the package to rummage around a bit, because it looked a bit mangled. And before I could actually take it to my room, the guards here at the dorms looked through it, too. By the time I got it to my room, it looked like this:
What could be inside?
Turns out I was the third (and final) person to open the box with my name on it, but any sour thoughts I had melted away when I saw what came out of it. Here's a handy little display:
A cornucopia of delight!
There's too much good stuff here for just one picture. Let's go item by item.
The blue card is from Jessica, one
of my best friends this side of the Milky Way, and the bird card is
from Megan, former housing coordinator and current CRE at Porter
College. Let me take this opportunity to say: I love you both! My face
lit up when I read the cards, and they will be displayed prominently in
my room.
Megan sent me these priceless items: real, American, crunchy peanut butter and strawberry jam. Megan, you really have no idea how badly I've been missing actual peanut butter. The Egyptian stuff leaves much to be desired. And crunchy! To say that I love crunchy peanut butter is like saying a fish loves water. When I saw these gifts my stomach did a bit of a somersault in my abdomen. If I get the opportunity to do something as nice for you as you've done for me, I will, and you can count on that!
This is Delta-V, a movie produced by the Moxie Production Group, co-founded by Rob Rex and Gene Maggio. These guys are cool cats. I worked with them back in college, and both of them are smart as they come. Rob and Gene, this is a great gift. I tried to watch it but my laptop decided not to play any sound, so I'll borrow my roommate's machine for a proper viewing. Since this is the only movie I have in Egypt, I'll probably watch it many times!
Jessica sent me Lloyd Alexander's The Foundling because she knows me better than I know myself sometimes. This version, the hardcover with the map of Prydain and pronunciation guide and snazzy dust jacket, completes my collection of the Prydain Chronicles. I can't express how grateful I am, Jessica, for this gift and how much it means to me.
Megan sent me these priceless items: real, American, crunchy peanut butter and strawberry jam. Megan, you really have no idea how badly I've been missing actual peanut butter. The Egyptian stuff leaves much to be desired. And crunchy! To say that I love crunchy peanut butter is like saying a fish loves water. When I saw these gifts my stomach did a bit of a somersault in my abdomen. If I get the opportunity to do something as nice for you as you've done for me, I will, and you can count on that!
This is Delta-V, a movie produced by the Moxie Production Group, co-founded by Rob Rex and Gene Maggio. These guys are cool cats. I worked with them back in college, and both of them are smart as they come. Rob and Gene, this is a great gift. I tried to watch it but my laptop decided not to play any sound, so I'll borrow my roommate's machine for a proper viewing. Since this is the only movie I have in Egypt, I'll probably watch it many times!
Jessica sent me Lloyd Alexander's The Foundling because she knows me better than I know myself sometimes. This version, the hardcover with the map of Prydain and pronunciation guide and snazzy dust jacket, completes my collection of the Prydain Chronicles. I can't express how grateful I am, Jessica, for this gift and how much it means to me.
Clockwise from the top: a crocheted bootie; a pterodactyl I named Rawr; and a two-headed, fire-breathing finger puppet. These guys rock, and bring some color to my desk and room. The bootie, in particular, is just in time to serve as a mini stocking, since Christmas is just around the corner.
Special thanks go out to Jessica, since I know she planned this. You never cease to amaze me. Everyone should have a friend like you.
Tomorrow or the day after that, Colin and I will move into an apartment. We ended up getting a three bedroom place and will be living with our friend Danielle. Our apartment is located above a large grocery store, fifteen floors up. There is little to no chance of our survival in the event of an earthquake, but on the plus side every bedroom as a gorgeous Nile view. And as we move into our place, many of the friends we have made here this term are leaving Egypt for good. It's sad to see them fly away, but we had some great times this quarter, like when Nick broke his arm in the great pyramid, or when Maha and I formed VOTQOTSA but never actually played. Memories!
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to prepare for a chocolate fondant eating contest, to be held in honor of other friends who are leaving.
