Got a solid night’s sleep. Woke up just before noon. Rolled out of bed and started to sort my laundry for washing.
I’ve decided to wash my shirts and jeans by hand so that our washing machine doesn’t ruin them like it did my ultimate jersey. The machine doesn’t use hot water, but the machine itself gets super hot (due to being old or friction or something…). So I put my socks and boxers into the washer and did the rest by hand.
Listened to a sermon by Paul Washer, a pastor suggested to me by JJ. JJ and Henry have listened to the faith series and said it was really good. So far I would agree. The first sermon was really good and challenging.
Finished my laundry by two and went out with Evan to grab some food. Hit the atm first and then went over to El Baghl to grab some sandwiches. We took our sandwiches over to a café and had some tea and ate. I don’t know why but the cafés here are always relaxing.
After lunch we walked over to the fatiir shop and purchased a fatiir. We decided on the honey/powdered sugar. It was good, but a bit too sweet for my tastes. While we waited for it to be made I got a call from Mike telling me that they were meeting at his place at five and catching the bus to the concert at 6. I told him I’d head over in an hour to meet them.
Walked back to the apartment and ate the fatiir with Evan. Changed into clothes for the concert and headed out. Got in a taxi and made my way towards Zamalek. The traffic by my apartment was extremely light, so I figured it would be a short ride. However, we got to tahriir square and hit a solid wall of cars. We spent the next hour and twenty minutes driving to Zamalek. I’m pretty sure we could have walked faster…
After finally getting to Zamalek I called Mike and found out they had already walked over to the dorms to catch the bus. I asked my taxi driver to take me to the dorms… of course he had no clue where they were, and neither did I. We frantically looked for the dorms… I found the dorms and called Mike. The bus had just left.
I had already paid for the ticket but I really didn’t want to deal with another long taxi ride. Called Max and decided to go over to his place. He was feeling sick yesterday and still wasn’t looking too good today. I’m really glad I didn’t eat that koshri from poker night…. Everyone that ate it seems to have gotten sick…
Anyways I had two beers with Max and decided I had already purchased the ticket… I might as well catch a cab. Flagged down three cabs before I found one that was willing to drive to New Cairo for a decent price… usually you can pay fifty or sixty pounds, but the first two wanted minimum one hundred.
The third guy was an elderly driver from Giza. Really nice guy who wanted to know everything about America. He wouldn’t stop asking questions about my opinions and thoughts on the Middle East. It was hilarious, albeit occasionally awkward. When an Arab asks you your opinion on Israel you better answer correctly and carefully…
Got to campus fairly quickly and headed towards the loud music. I got there just in time to hear the opening band finish. Called Henry and found out they were located front center… guess it’s time to wade through the crowd. Slowly worked my way forward until I made it to the middle. However there was really nowhere to go from there. I decided to enjoy the concert from there and work my way forward as the opportunity presented itself.
The concert was good. However, you know you’re listening to a one hit wonder when they play their most popular song 4 times… ya…. It was stereo love, two other songs, stereo love remix, two other songs… .etc etc. There was also a really bad guy to girl ratio. We were estimating 80% male. Not that I was really looking to dance (wouldn’t feel right dancing with anyone other than Sara), I just found it suitably awkward to be at a techno concert with so many guys dancing/grinding around me.
Another surprising thing was the popularity of the songs entitled ‘weed helps me sleep’ and ‘sexy b****’. I figured that would be taboo. Apparently I was wrong. By the end of the concert I had worked my way to the front and was united with my companions. We were all disappointed that no amount of chanting got a encore… very un-American.
We hustled back to the busses to make sure we got seats. The bus we were taking headed back on the Tahriir route and I got the driver to drop me off near my apartment.
Got up to my apartment just before midnight. I called Evan to see if he still wanted to go to the Citadel the next morning…. And again I am the only one able to go… looks like I’m putting it off another week.
Sara gets out of class at 5 pm (3 am my time) so I decided to wait for three hours and give her a call. While I waited I did some catching up in my journal and finished the book of Exodus.
At three I gave Sara a call. She is having a real hard time with me being away. Especially as we are both looking towards the future. She has a more defined plan for his life whereas I am still searching… it’s a tough conversation.
Talked until late into the morning. Finally fell asleep at 5.
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