I’ve seen life. I saw death.

Today as I was walking from the Library to my apartment, I passed over a concrete sidewalk. All of a sudden I looked down and there I gasped. I stopped there; stared for a second and looked around, wondering if anyone had seen what I had. There, lying on the floor was a dead bird; a dead baby bird. I don’t know how old it was, but I’m sure it’s family misses it.

I saw its poor lifeless body; it’s young soul. It never had a chance—or perhaps he was just sleeping.

It’s weird, you know, I’ve never thought about death this way. I’ve never had a pet growing up so I never experienced a death like this. I’ve seen dead animals all the time, but I don’t know what it was about this bird that made me sad—maybe because it was a baby.

It made me think, so birds go to heaven? What happens to them when they die? All sorts of questions came to mind.

I told my sister about the bird and she said not to worry, that she saw two dead birds last week and they’re keeping dad company in heaven. It made me smile. I remember a long time ago—I had to be 13 or 14 and he had come back from a walk around the park—but this time be brought a friend.

He had been walking around outside and he stepped on a bird—he was so sad that he hurt the bird that he brought it home and we took care of it for a while. I remember mom laughing at what he did, but I thought it was sweet. I don’t remember what ever happened to that bird, but I can’t help but smile when I think of my dead dad and that dead bird—together in heaven. I hope they’re at peace.

I know. I know. I’m cliché.

Sometimes I feel like a Miss Universe contestant. All I really want is world peace, but what steps must be taken to get there. Is it even possible anymore? Has society lost all morale? Has humanity lost all hope?

 

Unlike Gandhi and Martin Luther King, I don’t think just one person can really have make a huge impact for change and justice; at least not me.

 

There are just so many things I see in my daily life; things that trigger sadness, but what can I do to correct these injustices?

A poor janitor taking pride in his job; smiling with his crooked teeth;
just surviving another day of financial hardships.

A small emaciated boy overseas;
bloody images of war,
dead bodies.

A teenage child thrown into gang life,
with no escape, no hope
they say he won’t amount to a thing.

An honest Hispanic man
trying to provide the American dream for his children,
being followed by the police
simply,
because of his skin color.

A white man, plotting to kill a black man of power;
his mind poisoned by ignorance

A veiled woman, enduring stares of those she passes.
Her faith no different than theirs.

What can I do to put a smile on these people’s face?
What can I do to make every person I encounter feel special?
What can I do to make people understand we are all the same?
What has to be done so they don’t give up; so they know there’s always hope?

Peace.
Is it just a state of mind?
Will it ever exist?

My First…Cairo Adventures

So, my first moments in Cairo were quite the adventure! I was a little annoyed but now that I am some-what settled, it’s all good.

 

Our flight finally landed around 1 a.m-ish and then we had to wait in line forever to get our passports checked. And then pick up luggage, the usual—but of course I had more luggage than hands so that was a little difficult.

 

But anyway, to spare the details a group of about 14 people got on a bus provided by AUC and we made our way to the Zamalek dorms around 3:20 a.m. And we waited forever to finally get our bags checked in.

 

I was the only brown person and I think just about everyone that works for AUC, plus I was the only person that people kept on asking if I needed a taxi. It was all fun though.

 

Around 4-ish I finally found out who my roommate is and we are living on the fifth floor which is nice. We were burning HOT, and thirsty and I was looking everywhere for a way to call mi madre so she wouldn’t get worried! Finally I thought I’d try the internet for a change, and BAM we’ve got wireless so I texted weenie and Sadafie My comp. still goes nuts-o every once and a while, but it’s all good.

 

We’re still thirsty and it’s 5:30 am so we can’t really go out and buy drinks, or phone cards so we’re planning on waking up…or just staying up until 8 or 9 and getting some real foodies and drinks since we don’t really want to use the water here and get sick.

 

Anyways, I’m sad because I took some pictures so far about my trip here and my computer isn’t even recognizing my memory card!!! L But I will try and get pictures up eventually!!! Especially of Stan the man. J

 

And now, I am going to e-mail some people’s and maybe sleep, maybe not???

 

p.s. I was totally multi-tasking while I was writing this blog so it’s very scatter-brained. :-D

I’m No Longer Homeless!

Good News: I have a place to live in Cairo…a little place called Zamalek.

 

Bad news: it’s a million miles away from campus. approximately a 1.5 hour drive…so that’s like at least three hours on a bus Sunday through Thursday…At least it’ll be nice to look out the window and just enjoy the view and soak up the culture.

Can’t wait to set foot in Cairo and take it all in!!!

American University in Cairo Update

So, here’s an AUC update.

 

I am NOT registered for the classes I want to take…and the only way to change them is to wait until August 30, at which time I must meet my advisor in person….which I’m pretty sure she’s going to have a million other people complaining about this and that.

 

One of my main goals while I’m in Egypt is to publish some work, articles, photos, whatever but something. Without these courses I want to take I don’t know if that will be possible.

 

And, as if that’s not enough I have been waitlisted for my AUC housing meaning I gotta go apartment searching in Cairo which are just going to incur many more problems including I don’t speak Arabic, and I’ll have to find daily transportation to and from the AUC campus, and who knows if the place I live will be safe or not, etc., etc.

 

Plus I still have a huge laundry list of things to do before I leave…in less than one month.

 

EEEK. I guess I better hop to it.