Day Four

January 24th

Yes I realize its actually the 25th, but I got around to blogging a little late. Since it's like 2:00 in the morning here, I'll give a short blog, hopefully.
The day started off with us going down to AUC to deal with our Visa again. Needless to say, we didn't get them again. We got the run around and eventually everything closed before we could finish. However, we did go to the Egyptian Museum once everything at AUC closed. This was really different from the rest of Cairo I saw. First, Egyptians were a minority. This place was a tourist zoo. Which explains why there tons of security forces outside the building. There were not many inside, oddly enough. The majority of people were old white people. Americans stuck out because they were fat. They could have been European, but I doubt it. Also when some spoke it was in English. Generally another good clue. However we did a bunch of younger white folk too. I didn't like it. It made me realize that I was just another tourist. It reminds me now, of the movie Fight Club, where the narrator goes to support groups and isn't sick and then get mad when another "tourist" shows up, making him realize that he is just a tourist as well. I liked thinking that I was better then the stereotypical student, but really I don't know that much ameea and I go to the same sites, so I am a tourist. I still take pleasure in that I would dare to cross the crazy streets while the others have to take buses right up to the gates of the Museum.
I also want to reflect on my dinner last night. It was in one the nicest restaurants I have been in. It was filled with Europeans and Wealthy Egyptians. It was upscale to say the least. Our meal cost about $85 for all seven of us. So granted it wasn't expensive in comparison to America, where at that kind of restaurant we would be paying over $500. But Its still weird to have people turn on the water for you in the bathroom. I have gotten accustomed to the wealth and status that goes along with Notre Dame, but this was just too much. There are nice perks for being rich and famous, but just think of all the more important things that require money. I am sure I will some in Cairo, once we get out of the fancy neighborhoods. Maybe this weekend.
Which brings me to my next point. Its the weekend. I know you are saying, "this guy is an idiot" its only thursday night over there, get over the jetlag already." But you would be wrong to say that. The weekends are Friday and Saturday. The workweek starts on Sunday. Crazy, I know.
Well, on Thursday I could have gone to a hookah bar with a bunch of GeorgeTown people, but they were already smoking, I really didn't want to hang out with them. I have heard rumors that George Town kids are snobs. I hope the people I meet don't live up to that. We'll see.
Instead I stayed in and played Chess and Cribbage with my roommate. Pretty lame, I know, but I don't know what to do on Friday nights here. Maybe when more people show up and I get to meet some Egyptians, things will get exciting.
One final note. At the Museum, I saw people wearing shorts. Clearly Tourists. We secretly laughed and joked that they were gay. Some were in the same group with guys who tried to wear head-dresses. No one really wears those in Cairo, especially in this cool weather. N00bs. They looked ridiculous.
Anyways the Egyptian museum was just overflowing with stuff. Only some of it was marked and clearly they just had more stuff then they could deal with. I also enjoyed when our tour guide said Britain stole the "real Rosetta stone" and blamed other European Countries for stealing other Egyptian artifacts. Next time, we are not getting a tour guide and are just going to go exploring. Its cheaper and you get to see all the stuff that isn't on the tour. King Tut was elaborate, but I don't think I truly appreciated it as much as an Egypt history nut would. I'll do some research and go back and see if I like it more.

cheers,