ana henna! (I'm here!)

So Kirsten is now, for real "fi Masr."

I slept like the entire way from LAX to London. I found Alissa. We got on our flight (I managed to get a seat two rows behind her). I was sitting next to this girl my age from Belfast who was going to visit her Egyptian dad that she hadn't seen in 5 years. She was all nervous he wouldn't recognize her and his family would judge her, it was pretty cute.

We made it to Cairo and as soon as we got off the plane I could smell Egypt. Its this hot, tangy, desert, BO, garbage smell that is impossible to replicate or describe. We eventually shoved our way through customs with 500 adorable pushy kids and their more impatient parents, but very friendly parents, after kind of accidently discovering we needed to buy our entry Visa first. Alissa noted that maybe white is this summers color for Muslim dress. It did seem to figure more prominently in robes and headscarves than I had remembered... We found all our luggage, and the guy picking us up from the hotel.

So on our ride back to the hotel we heard all about how our driver was tired and grumpy because of all the crazy people at the airport. He proceeded to tell us also that drivers are crazy here, while he, along with everyone else, has no idea what lane dividers or speed limits would mean. Here's part of the conversation (Oh I missed Egypt!)

Alissa: so what's your name?
Farek: my name is Farek
Kirsten: doesn't Farek mean chicken?
Farek: hahaha, Farekhh means chicken. I wish I were a chicken, then you could eat me, you look hungry

People here are so great. I'm already being reminded of their humour, friendliness, laid-backness and givingness (if that's a word) that make this place so amazing. He then took us to see the outside of this apartment that his friend owns and knocked on her window at 2 AM (of course everyone's awake). He then drove a block, stopped to buy fruit while apologizing profusely for it, and then took us to the hotel.

So 4 AM, its about time for Egypt to go to sleep, and so must I... Tomorrow life begins... with complimentary breakfast...mmm.