Heeeeere.

I'm in Cairo but it hasn't really hit me yet.

Landed at the airport around 4ish. Waited for my checked bag until 4:40ish. Realized it wasn't gonna be there at about 4:45ish. Filled out forms about it until 5ish. Found the people who were waiting for me at 5:15ish.

After everyone was collected from the airport, three other people and I were shuttled to our apartment in Dokki by the housing guy, Tamer, and were given an introductory talk by the guy Matthew in charge of the program, who lives down the street. Both seemed super cool. (Total number of students in the program, btw: 12.)

Anyway, the apartment: wow.

So when we filled out the roommate form, they asked us a question about how desperately we needed comfortable things in our apartment -- which they defined as hot water and western-style toilets, among other things. In retrospect it seems like a pretty ridiculous question. Our apartment is probably the biggest/nicest one evarrrr. Three (enormous) bedrooms, two (enormous) living rooms with five (really comfortable) couches, one (enormous) balcony, one (enormous) kitchen, one and a half bathrooms (with, yes, western-style toilets and hot water), one of which includes an actual bathtub and shower. Calling this "upper middle class" is maaaaybe pushing it. Plenty of dishes, a fridge and freezer and toaster and microwave and blender and coffee maker and stove and oven and washing machine and Wi-Fi (!!!) and really all I mean to say is crazy nice. I will have to force myself to ever leave this place. Ha.

I have not yet really spoken Arabic with anyone but I am determined to do so. I think I've taken more Arabic than most people on the program but we'll see. Omg Cairo!!!!! I will update with photos and stuff later. Cairo!!!!!!!!!!