Can't let Nance have all the fun so I had to do the next post before she beat me to it!
Yes, I'm now more than half way through the Egyptian Arabic language CD and can now confirm (for all those who I'm sure were wondering) that Bill the Cat was indeed speaking Arabic ("Ack!!"). The CD is by Pimsleur and of the various language tapes I've listened to in the past I like this ones approach the best. Nancy's exagerating a bit (No you say? not her?) when she says I'm picking it up easily, I just have more time in my car going back and forth to NH. It's great fun though and it helps that it's such a foreign language to me so nothing sounds much like anything else.
Nancy's doing very well herself and we're having fun quizzing each other, except when I throw in a word she hasn't gotten to yet....I think her favorite word so far is Lamo'Ack Za (sp?) which she says, in the words of her co-worker Tyler, "with such venom!" amusing only because the word itself means "excuse me" or "pardon me". Must be the Worcester accent.....
The sale of the house is still moving forward, inspections are complete and we're basically just waiting on the closing now. Nancy's been waging war against the hordes of stuff we've amassed and after a few epic battles, where it was anyone's guess who was winning, is finally starting to see some progress I think. We've ordered our extra strong boxes that we're using to ship our stuff to Egypt on the slow boat and the now infamous green tape that we have to use (but I'll let Nancy tell that story). Should be in any day now and the madness can continue.
Oh yeah, and in case anyone was wondering...I chose the massage....
Ma'Salaam!!
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Monday, April 17, 2006
Arabic and Handbooks
Mike bought the beginning set of learning "Egyptian Arabic" so we have been listening to those.
We can confidently say: I Don't Understand Arabic: Ana betif ahem`Arabi and Excuse me? Lamuaxza? No clue about the spelling of either. There is a million ways to say things and I do not have the books, Mike does. I will update the errors when I get the books.
We have a long way to go before we can converse. Mike is picking up on it very easily. He enjoys the glottal stops and the hair ball sounds they use. He is a much more dedicated student than I. He has read almost all of the books we have bought and is doing research as well. I am spending my time packing the house, purging the house, and arranging the time between eviction and flight. So I guess we are both keeping busy just on very different topics. We do make a great team, between me getting us and our stuff there and Mike making sure we can speak to someone when we get off the flight.
As I read my 46 page handbook from CAC I notice all the items that you cannot get in Egypt for one reason or another. Interestingly I cannot bring in any consumables. So here are my top five consumables I will learn to live without in Cairo:
5. Marachinos Cherries (no upside down pineapple cake, no cherries in Maggie's juice, no cherry on top of the banana split, where have I decided to go)
4. Cranberry sauce (there goes Thanksgiving!)
3. Pam (no cooking spray, I hope the smoke detectors do not have batteries)
2. Chocolate chips and baking powder (How is Mike going to make his famous cookies?)
1. Garlic Powder (this is the only spice I use, Argh!)
They also do not have a vast selection of greeting cards so all of you who thought you would still receive or finally get a birthday card you are wrong! Postcards will have to be acceptable providing they have those.
Also I know our mailing address so anyone who wants that (so they can send me stamps, greeting cards, donations, etc...) let me know and I will email it you.
Salaam
We can confidently say: I Don't Understand Arabic: Ana betif ahem`Arabi and Excuse me? Lamuaxza? No clue about the spelling of either. There is a million ways to say things and I do not have the books, Mike does. I will update the errors when I get the books.
We have a long way to go before we can converse. Mike is picking up on it very easily. He enjoys the glottal stops and the hair ball sounds they use. He is a much more dedicated student than I. He has read almost all of the books we have bought and is doing research as well. I am spending my time packing the house, purging the house, and arranging the time between eviction and flight. So I guess we are both keeping busy just on very different topics. We do make a great team, between me getting us and our stuff there and Mike making sure we can speak to someone when we get off the flight.
As I read my 46 page handbook from CAC I notice all the items that you cannot get in Egypt for one reason or another. Interestingly I cannot bring in any consumables. So here are my top five consumables I will learn to live without in Cairo:
5. Marachinos Cherries (no upside down pineapple cake, no cherries in Maggie's juice, no cherry on top of the banana split, where have I decided to go)
4. Cranberry sauce (there goes Thanksgiving!)
3. Pam (no cooking spray, I hope the smoke detectors do not have batteries)
2. Chocolate chips and baking powder (How is Mike going to make his famous cookies?)
1. Garlic Powder (this is the only spice I use, Argh!)
They also do not have a vast selection of greeting cards so all of you who thought you would still receive or finally get a birthday card you are wrong! Postcards will have to be acceptable providing they have those.
Also I know our mailing address so anyone who wants that (so they can send me stamps, greeting cards, donations, etc...) let me know and I will email it you.
Salaam
Monday, April 03, 2006
Side Trips
Mike went in to the doctor's today to have his shots. He lied and said it did not hurt but then changed it to it only hurt for a few minutes. We will see when he gets home tonight and I punch him in the arm. Did you know that the yellow fever vaccine can only be given by certain clinics? No you say, why would I? Duh, neither did I but the things you learn... Ed got that one right I am sure.
We are off to North Carolina, Outer banks for April vacation to see the Gill clan. I am pretty excited I cannot wait to gather for a happy occasion and hang out with my brothers and sisters, Dad, Aunt Peg, my nieces and nephews, and my hubby. Hopefully the weather will be nice and we can go sailing, walk the beach or have an outrageous game of tackle football like when we were kids in Rita's yard, or at least a good game of spot, anyone up for Red Rover. Well I guess not, we are a little too "big" to be trying to burst between each other's old, frail arms...speaking for myself of course. Golf is on the agenda as well as massages. Which will Mike chose to do? I will let you know when we get back.
I am assuming that a late night Ben and Jerry's party will occur too. Just to update the rest of you. We went to a wedding in VT, home of Ben and Jerry's, and Ed suggested we should get a pint or so of ice cream to celebrate the moment. So of course we all have our favorites. We enter the store and 7 of us pick out our own pint, Ed took 2 and Steph thought the idea was horrendous and did not participate. We then go back to the house, get out bowls and spoons, and pass the ice cream around. Cherry Garcia for Ed (1 for the freezer for breakfast tomorrow), Karamel Sutra for Mar, Everything But The for me, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough for Mike, and several other flavors. Well you would find a flavor you REALLY liked that you would never try on your own and when you went back for more you would find it gone.
Questions of the deep intellectual nature were discussed by all. I do believe altruism was the topic of debate. We then noticed that Steph had not contributed to the conversation and looked to the end of the table to find that she has just put a huge spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. We started to give her a hard time about her thinking this was a ridiculous idea. We asked what flavor she had, she answered meekly, a bunch of us responded "I did not try that flavor pass it down". She said there was none left. We asked, "Did anyone get to try it?" "No", was the response. She had finished eating a WHOLE pint of ice cream by herself! She did not share and she did not feel guilty. She had remained quiet so we would not notice her gobbling up the pint. It worked. I guess she really fits in well with this clan. I am sure that we will all get a run for our spoons when Maureen joins us. Chocolate flavored anything will not last into the house.
We had the house inspection on Friday and are holding our breath waiting for the results. I really do not think they can find anything wrong but who knows. Amy and John have graciously agreed to let us crash for a while at their house so we will continue to work through June.
We are off to North Carolina, Outer banks for April vacation to see the Gill clan. I am pretty excited I cannot wait to gather for a happy occasion and hang out with my brothers and sisters, Dad, Aunt Peg, my nieces and nephews, and my hubby. Hopefully the weather will be nice and we can go sailing, walk the beach or have an outrageous game of tackle football like when we were kids in Rita's yard, or at least a good game of spot, anyone up for Red Rover. Well I guess not, we are a little too "big" to be trying to burst between each other's old, frail arms...speaking for myself of course. Golf is on the agenda as well as massages. Which will Mike chose to do? I will let you know when we get back.
I am assuming that a late night Ben and Jerry's party will occur too. Just to update the rest of you. We went to a wedding in VT, home of Ben and Jerry's, and Ed suggested we should get a pint or so of ice cream to celebrate the moment. So of course we all have our favorites. We enter the store and 7 of us pick out our own pint, Ed took 2 and Steph thought the idea was horrendous and did not participate. We then go back to the house, get out bowls and spoons, and pass the ice cream around. Cherry Garcia for Ed (1 for the freezer for breakfast tomorrow), Karamel Sutra for Mar, Everything But The for me, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough for Mike, and several other flavors. Well you would find a flavor you REALLY liked that you would never try on your own and when you went back for more you would find it gone.
Questions of the deep intellectual nature were discussed by all. I do believe altruism was the topic of debate. We then noticed that Steph had not contributed to the conversation and looked to the end of the table to find that she has just put a huge spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. We started to give her a hard time about her thinking this was a ridiculous idea. We asked what flavor she had, she answered meekly, a bunch of us responded "I did not try that flavor pass it down". She said there was none left. We asked, "Did anyone get to try it?" "No", was the response. She had finished eating a WHOLE pint of ice cream by herself! She did not share and she did not feel guilty. She had remained quiet so we would not notice her gobbling up the pint. It worked. I guess she really fits in well with this clan. I am sure that we will all get a run for our spoons when Maureen joins us. Chocolate flavored anything will not last into the house.
We had the house inspection on Friday and are holding our breath waiting for the results. I really do not think they can find anything wrong but who knows. Amy and John have graciously agreed to let us crash for a while at their house so we will continue to work through June.
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