Floods. Sunburn. Ice. One Weekend.

Last week as usual was good, busy, and full of stories, but I’ll skip to the most interesting part. While I was excitedly packing my bag for a hike up Sinai last Thursday, Egypt decided to change our plans and have its annual storm. Personally, I always love good thunderstorms. Cairo, however, cannot handle one. Due to its lack of a drainage system, the streets were intensely flooded, and while we knew Mt. Sinai would be in no condition to climb, we decided to venture out in our bus and try to make it straight to Dahab. The streets were about imposible for driving and we ended up sleeping overnight in the bus, reaching Dahab TWELVE hours after we left. Once we arrived we realized it was well worth it. If heaven looks anything like earth, I think it might just look like Dahab. I spent Friday snorkeling in the beautiful, blue water of the Gulf of Aqaba (The Red Sea!!). It was my first time to snorkel, and it was amazing (after I got over the initial “I think I’m suffocating” feeling). The coral was beautiful and the fish were fascinating and colorful. I laid in some sun, and ate at delicious restaurants by the water. Doesn’t it sound like paradise? Saturday was the same story. We went to “The Blue Hole” where we snorkeled some more and soaked up some sun. It was so nice to just relax and be and forget about the ominous papers,quizzes, and assignments sneaking up on us all. That night we left our hotel around 11:30 and arrived at St. Catherine’s/Mt. Sinai around 2:00 a.m. to begin our trek up the mountain. It was beautiful. And freezing. We bundled ourselves up and faced the extreme winds up the path, dodging camels on the way up. We reached the peak in time for the sunrise around 5 (?), enjoyed the view (even in the frigid temperature), and made our way back down. On the way back to Cairo, we made a pit stop and saw the supposed place where the Red Sea was parted (!) and where Moses turned the bitter water of Marah sweet. It was truly a great weekend. My camera unfortunately decided to die right before I reached the top of Sinai, but many others have pictures I will eventually steal. I wish you all could fit in my pocket so you could experience it all with me!

Now I'm back in Cairo, and it's back to classes and homework. We only have 2 1/2 weeks left here before our travel component begins! I have no idea how time flew so quickly. Two weeks from today I'll have completed the three papers I have due (Isha'Allah) and will be packing my bags for Turkey! I can't get too ahead of myself, as I could easily feel overwhelmed with how much there is to cram in these next few weeks. I'm still loving my time here and have to stop myself sometimes several times a day just to say, "This is my life!" :).

Random Facts:

The “Big Blue Hole” is really…a big blue hole.

I could see Saudi Arabia from Dahab!

When I go back to Johnson next semester, I plan on keeping my desk at its lowest level and sitting on a floor cushion. I like this.

It’s time for me to make another visit to the chocolate-covered-peanuts man…