Half Way to Cleopatra

Yellow Watermelon

Well...
Its a Watermelon!!!
Tha flavour is the same..
but its yellow!!!

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 10:07 AM 2 comments  

Do I feel my head cracking our something just cracked in my head???

Men and Kosmas in Hazem Sudanese Party.












2 Arabic Lessons so far, and the only thing I can remember is ask where, but since I don’t know the name of the things, whats the point!!!
I also know how to say " I want"

Review

*eh dah ? (what is this? Masculine gender)
Dah …. ( this is …)
* eh di ? ( what is this? Feminine gender)
* di …. ( this is…)

* 'Ismak 'eh? (what is your name? masculine gender)
* 'Ismik 'eh? (what is your name feminine gender)
* 'Ismuk 'eh ? ( what is your name? plural)

* Bism-illah ( in the name of God)

* 'ana aiyza shei aw ahwa ( I want tea or coffee, feminine gender )

* Mumtaz (excellent masc. gender)
*Mumtaza (excellent fem. Gender)
* Mumtazim (excellent Plural)

*'ayy-i-su'al? (any question?)
- aywa, fi su'al (yes, I have a question)
- la shokkran, mafia as ila ( no thanks, there are no questions)



Today is Thursday, Katlin and Ryan will go to sewa (again), I manage to convince Kosmas to make me a Greek dinner on Friday… oh, I never mentioned him… he's so crazy!!!
I want to horse back ridding again…I cant focus in nothing else…Im addicted to Horse Back Ridding…

Kind feel bored, another weekend in Cairo, and probably wont get out… oh my lazy bumb!!

Made 2 important decisions:

1st Start to have decent and healthy meals.. and the only way to do it, is cooking myself.. im feeling a home fairy!!

2nd starting on Sunday, do exercise…gym hardly and strong sweating and burn all the calories I had accumulate on my but in this past month! Also it’s a healthy way to release all the stress and prevented me to kill someone in a angry flash….

My goal is just return to my normal shape and lost these 6 kg I already gained (in one month, so, 6 kg per month, after 9 months…lets do some maths…)

otherwise I ll become in a obese and stressed girl…

Speaking off stressed… since Saturday I cant manage to sleep more than 4 hours a night… yesterday missed the Human Rights Session and stayed home, for sleep.. gosh. .i turned and turned in bed, and couldn’t sleep… and when the guys returned from the session… I looked drunk.. yeah. .sleepy stoned!!!!

Does my head's cracking or something's cracking my head???

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 12:34 PM 2 comments  

Camelos e Cavalos

I want to apology to everyone that cant read this post…
Later on I'll translate into English!

Fim de semana de 22 e 23 de julho 2005
Este fim de semana toda a gente foi para o oasis no meio do deserto, toda a gente exepto eu e a Katlin…Deram-me a 5 feira de folga extra, e supostamente era para ir para a costa norte com o shousha, o karim e mais uma ou duas pessoas amigas deles, mas na 5 o karim enviou-me um email a dizer que ja nao dava para ir, por mim tudo bom…

A noite nao sai…

Na sexta feira o Shousha veio-nos buscar ( eu e Katlin) para nos levar ao Mercado de camelos, no meio do nada, a 1 hora de caminho do cairo…
O mercado de camelos e um terreno de terra cheio de camelos, boa!!!
Bem, o cheiro e quase insuportavel, nao vivessemos nos no cairo, para ja estarmos habituados ao mau cheiro constante.
O sitio em questao tem apenas duas especies de seres vivos : homens beduinos na sua maioria, e camelos… eu e a Katlin eramos as unicas mulheres naquele sitio..eu loira, Katlin morena..ela levou a maquina fotografica, claro que alem dos 20 libras para la entrar, tambem teve que pagar 10 libras para poder tirar fotografias (sim, benvindos ao Egipto onde nada e de graca) estava a Katlin a tirar fotografias, e todos os homens queria tirar fotos conosco..ok..o primeiro ate aceitamos, mas os gajos nunca devem ter visto uma mulher, ou o raio que os parta, senti-me demasiado tocada por aquelas maos imundas..e so de ver aquelas caras sujas com aqueles dentes pretos, o meu estomago deu umas quantas voltas…senti-me mesmo desconfortavel..porque o homem com quem tiramos a primeira e unica foto, tocou-me demasiado, e deu-me um beijo na face…baaahhhhh

Foi a primeira vez que vi camelos tao perto, o ZOO nao conta !!

Eles tratam mesmo mal os camelos, violencia gratuita contra animais que ja estao a sofrer por estarem amarrados, e eles, como o Shousha nos disse, para chamar a nossa atencao, estrangeiros e mulheres, batiam neles com paus enormes… o que considerei desumano e cruel…

Tiramos algumas fotos no meio dos camelos, a Katlin e uma aventureira, eu fui mais cobarde…estava cheia de medo que me dessem um coice, ou pior !!!
Escolhi o camelo com melhor aspecto que estava no mercado, o que me pareceu mais bem nutrido, e em melhor forma fisica, e pedi ao Shousha para perguntar quanto custa..o vendedor disse 5000 libras egipcias, claro que so pode ser preco para turista, pois de certeza que e mais barato…
O Shousha nao nos disse precisamente se houve licitacoes sobre nos…por isso, fiquei sem saber quantos camelos valho !!! espero que valha muitos, pois 5000 libras e pouco mais que 740 euros !!
Depois do mercado de camelos, o Shousha levou-nos a um café para tomarmos o pequeno almoco…optimo!! Divinal!!
Thanks Shousha
A tarde dormi… foi relaxante… fui para o quarto do ryan, por ser o mais fresquinho, ler um livro, e quando dei por mim estava a dormir… a Katlin acordou-me as 8 horas, pois o Talat estava ca e ia-nos fazer o jantar…Boa!!!
Apos umas horinhas a preparar a que foi a minha melhor refeicao caseira desde que ca estou, uma bela receita Indiana preparada pelo Talat, comi que nem uma porca..e claro…nem se eperava outra coisa de mim!!
Convidamos tambem para jantar conosco o Samy e o Sama.
Acabamos de jantar a meia noite, hora perfeita de irmos para uma festa privada em Zamelek, em casa de uma rapariga chamada Sonia…quem tinha o Sms com a informacao da festa era o Talat, e , nem ele conhecia a anfitria!
Por bincadeira comecamos a dizer que talvez seja portuguesa…
Ao chegarmos a festa..uau…mais de 30 pessoas num minusculo apartamento..maioria ingleses… perdidos na multidao vimos o Bryon, e um dos trainees de Heliopolis… a anfitria, Sonia, e de facto portuguesa !!
fizemos uma festa quando nos apercebemos, e claro !! esta ca desde setembro a dar aulas de ingles no British Council…apresentou-me um outro portugues, dos Acores, mas que cresceu no canada, este esta ca ha 10 anos, e trabalha para a bolsa !
Trocamos numeros com o intuito de nos juntarmos e falarmos portugues, pois portugueses aqui sao escassos…
Pela primeira vez senti o espirito emigrante..consegui perceber o que os nossos emigrantes sentem quando vem algo portugues, a sua terra..facto que enquanto estava em Portugal considerava ridiculo..tanta alma, tanta paixao , tanto sentimento… consegui compreender, mas nao me considero emigrante..sou uma estagiaria, e como tal vou manter-me assim, sem cair en nostalgias… eu sei que estou longe, portugues e a minha lingua materna, mas vim para ca embutida num programa de troca de culturas, e como tal vou tentar inserir-me e aprender com outras culturas, ao mesmo tempo que ensino os outros aspectos da minha… este e o unico proposito do programa que me trouxe aqui ! o que nao invalida o facto de socializar e conviver com a Sonia, pois pareceu-me uma pessoa muito simpatica e e claro que ter alguem portugues para falar e sempre bom !
A festa estava sem duvida animada, os ingleses, como ja e sabido, estavam podres de bebados, senti-me quase no algarve..ehehehehe…
Eu, a Katlin, o Talat e o Samy saimos da festa e dirigimo-nos ao Jazz Club, tambem em Zamalek… nunca la tinha ido, e adorei…desde Portugal que nao dancava tao a vontade como la ! senti-me feliz ! a musica era uma mistura de funk com ritmos arabes, o que proporcionava uma danca frenetica de hip hop e belly dance… o dress code de la e a vontade… senti-me como se estivesse em Portugal..alias, senti-me mais vestida do que muitas egipcias la !

Sabado, dia 23 acordei com a noticia das bombas em Sharm-el-sheik…4 bombas rebentaram 80 pessoas mortas e mais de 200 feridas…
Depois dos antentados em londres…agora aqui… sabem a sensacao que algo esta a aproximar-se…nao seria a primeira vez que cairo sofreria um ataque bombista, e pelo que sei, um dos sitios afectados foi o mercado de Khan-el-halili, um dos maiores mercados e tambem um importante ponto turistico nesta altura do ano !

Em discussao com a Katlin e com o Talat sobre este evento, ficou claro que nao nos podemos deixar afectar por esta situacao… pois significaria deixar de viver e de tentar a integracao e a troca de culturas entre os paises…
AInda nao sai de casa, e como tal ainda nao discuti sobre este assunto com mais ninguem, mas tenho uma grande vontade de debater esta questao com um egipcio…
Nestas alturas so nos apetece dizer malditos fundamentalistas… malditos mulculmanos..mas a questao nao se prende soc om isso… preciso perceber a real posicao do egipto…
Tomamos um mega pequeno almoco que durou ate as 4, enquanto debatiamos as politicas no nosso pais, principalmente discutimos a educacao e alguns grupos de emigrantes nos nossos paises e os problemas sociais que trazem..
O Talat e turco, mas nasceu na Alemanha, logo, foi bom ter uma discussao\troca de ideias com alguem Europeu, pois as discussoes politicas sao sempre conduzidas por americanos, pois estao sempre em maioria.
No Sabado a noite eu, a Katlin e o Samy fomos Horse Back Ridding no deserto perto das Piramides..foi lindo para mim..imaginen..meia noite de uma lua quase cheia, deserto, cavalgar
( a serio) entre as dunas. com as piramides no horizonte... o cavalo supostamente era um dos intermedios, nem lento, nem rapido, mas e claro que depende do cavaleiro..
e da primeira vez que o animal disparou por entre as dunas tive um medo descomunal..pois....quem tem cu tem medo ( a boa maneira portuguesa) mas depois acho que consegui entrar em sintonia com ele, e ele disparou novamente por entre as dunas...
foi lindo..
uma sensacao fantastica que espero poder repetir muitas mais vezes...
Mas desenganeme se pensam que o cavalo era daqueles arabes, pujantes e imponentes...naaaaa..era um escanzelado..quase que tive medo de lhe partir a espinha com o peso do meu rabo!!
Podia escrever aqui mais folha e meia sobre a cavalgada no deserto a lua cheia...mas devem imaginar !!
Thanks Samy and Sama!!!

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 8:30 AM 3 comments  

S**** happen

believe what just happened to me! Everyone went to the Oasis yesterday night, in order to pass the weekend… except me and Katlin…
During all yesterday I had a enormous head hake…at night I just couldn’t held it..
Katlin gave me a strong pain killer…and it kill the pain..
Kill the pain…and make me had one of the most wonderful night sleep…
Today I didn’t ear the alarm clock at 6…
Yes…wake up at 8!!!
So, went to pick the 9 o’clock bus…missed…
When I call the company to ask where is the next one..they said I can take the day off…
Ok!!
Cool…
Except im going to the North Coast and today I wanted to ask if they could give me the Sunday of…
Wherever…
So, always take the bright side of the situations..
I went to the AUC gym..
Me and my lazy bumb …

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 12:57 PM 2 comments  

What makes me happy right now!

Since im with a lack of imagination, I decided to toke Ana Elisa's idea of a post….
That's only means that your ideas are great!!


The view from my bedroom balcony over the Nile. Professional compliments. Trying to talk to Katlin in Spanish. Gym. Jacuzzi. Leave work at 4. Talking to Katlin any hour of the day, even during the night. Receive phone calls from my father just to say "hi, I miss you". Cook in my kitchen. Arabic classes. Fresh Vegetables. Good fruit. Walk around. Order food at any hour. The truly honest smile of the doorman. Phone calls. Text Messages. Peppermint tea. Coffee! Take a walk over the Nile in a Faluca at 3 am. Watermelon juice.Receive emails from my friends.

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 4:25 PM 2 comments  

Arabic Classes

Yesterday had my first Arabic Classe...

felt lost....

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 8:42 AM 0 comments  

Productive weekend

On Thursday, the decision of go or not to Alexandria has came naturally….
Daan planed a small party on Penthouse…cool!!
Was a small gathering, me, Daan, Kosmas, Efi, Katlin, Bryon, Jessica, Mike and Kyle.
I escaped the party for a couple of hours and met with Shousha and some friends.
Although I return home at 1.30, the party was rocking!!
On Friday me, Katlin and Chriss G. made a American Breakfast for the ones who remained on the Penthouse this weekend, and invited the Sugar Pad's.
Later at night met with Shousha and a friend and went to the Al-Azhar Park…very nice…then to the mountain, and then to the City Stars to the Movie (Batman) well…not my kind, but it worth for the company.
Saturday, Simona and Sarah from Heli made a nice and delicious pancake party!!!
Thanks girls!!! everything was divine!!!
Resumed and shorted, that's my weekend!
After this fulfilled weekend, I realize that I made the best choice, not only I listened my intuition, as I had a great fun, meeting new people, and increased the attachment between me and Katlin, Nadia, and Simona, witch I barely see! went to nice places, and that strange feeling on my heart has disappear!
Yeah, can consider this weekend productive!!!

Oh. .no I can't… my camera has just broke… dam.. why cant everything go well??

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 8:31 AM 0 comments  

Im Confuse!!!!

Yesterday went to a Sudan party at Hazzam’s house…divine!! Although I get there a quite late, still had a taste of Sudan typical food..oh..la la… very tasty!!
Once again Hazzan, thanks for the invitation!!


Today I met with Fawzy for get extent my Visas…gosh…and I thought Portuguese bureaucracy was bad! After 4 hours finally have a nice stamp on my passport… for one year!!!

Today im so confuse, Elise, Augusto, Kosmas, Efi, Andre, will be going to Alex this weekend, and I think I will go as well, but I don’t know… I want to go…but don’t know if I really want to go...i want catch some sun, lay down on the sand and watch a nice sunset…but don’t know…and don’t know why I don’t know!!! Iam really confuse!!! Have until this afternoon to decide!!!

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 2:07 PM 3 comments  

More reptils

For show how brave Iam… some nights ago, I had the enormous courage to hold on a snake!!
Yeah.. a real snake!!!!
The pic doesn’t show my best profile….

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 8:54 AM 0 comments  

Reptil eggs

Finally manage to upload some pictures.
Let me start for these one… last weekend when everybody was in the National Planning Meeting, I found in my bathroom 10 bolls…well...just for fun I said was alien eggs…but the truth is that were some nasty reptile eggs…baaaaaaaahhhhh…

Later on, Adham came with the guys, lucky for me, he's quite a handy man…can do almost everything...and as a guy, surely didn’t mind to check those mysterious eggs…bahhhh…
After a detailed inspection, he smashed them...what a horrible smell….baaaaaaahhhhh

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 8:38 AM 0 comments  

On Sunday I almost died!
(The things I can do for don’t work!!! )
As soon I left the Penthouse I felt my legs shaking, and it wasn’t a hearth quake!!
When I arrive Xceed Nadia spend a nice 20 minutes with me in the bathroom while I was trying to puke!!
After 2 peppermint teas and half a Chocolat Cinemon (OH, its divine!) finally went to the Smart Village Dr…The doctor thing is divinity his 2nd job, and the first probably is a butcher!! Looking at my arm today with a enormous bruise…if my mother could saw me, she will thing I was on drugs!!
Yeah..i admit...i cried a lot…cried like a little child!!
After 30 minutes with a elephant needle stuck in my left hand receiving EV (Soro) started to feel much better… my blood pressure erase from 5/8 ( yeah, I was dead but didn’t knew about!) to 7/11…..
The good, ou perhaps not, was that they give me one day off..and it suites me like honey!!!
Im working , again. Although I still feel my head cracking, there's no reason for stay at house! Penthouse has a new member, Effigenia, from Greece…

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 1:42 PM 0 comments  

Sinto-me sozinha

After 15 days without doing anything, im finally working…
Finally start to understand Ryan, Katlin and Elise…the only thing I feel like doing each day I arrive is sleep, or just lie down and close my eyes for some hours…
For two night I stay alone at Penthouse…the first night, I didn’t gave much of a thought on it, but yesterday was one of those days I was really felt alone, and needing some company…I was hungry, without credits on my cellular, and completely alone, just want to go out for some swarma, but not alone…. Its sucked!!!
After some hours resisting, finally ordered from MacDonald's a shity mac Arabia…dam…hate this thing!!!
As it if wasn’t so bad, I heard lots of weird noises in the house…great…
No credits to phone anyone for an SOS!!!
Yep. .yesterday sucked!!!!!

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 9:20 AM 6 comments  

Fortune

Two days ago, after a nice turkish coffee
( not as good as a Delta Diamante expresso coffee, made in portugal!!!)
Heny saw my fortune in the cup...
Basic line, my life is easy, and i easely adapte all sort of situations..(what so ever)...
Also mentioned something about eating chicken an a conecction to an older and evil man that could make me get sick... ( not as good)
and, saw a jouney to the red sea..of course!!!

Although i believe that we make our destiny, with our actions, i believe that there is always a secret power that "leads" us to our destiny...

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 1:51 PM 1 comments  

Now its for real

Yeap, my lazzy days in Egypt came into an end, today is my first intership day in Xceed...
Wake up at 6am, call sleeping Guido, and meet with Augusto and Nadia at 7.05... gosh...im in terrible pain!!!
Arrive here at 8, had an one hour introducing meeting at 11, and observe Nadia interview with 2 candidates...She is highly professional.
Although its 1.26, im still sleeping...
ill came back later on...

posted by Half Way to Cleopatra @ 1:13 PM 2 comments