Two weeks down

Since I haven’t had internet at the house, I’ve been going to a coffee shop nearby that has wireless internet (practically daily). There’s a supermarket a block away (but I can’t seem to find the one thing I really need from a grocery store…;) ). I joined a gym (picture if you follow the link) that is a 5 minute walk from my place. Women’s hours are 9-2pm and then it’s mixed after that. My first time there I went in the evening and was the only woman there (though I saw one leaving as I came and another coming as I left), but no one bothered me. The place could certainly use a fan or two, but otherwise is nice.

I’ve been walking to and from work most days—it’s a 25 min walk in one direction. Yesterday I took a taxi for the first time and it costs a little less than $1. A woman brings lunch to the office, so I eat whatever she brings—usually either chicken/lamb/fish and rice with some salad—for about $3.

One of my favorite moments this week was walking home from work at the same time schoolgirls were walking home. Each group I passed smiled or said hello. They wear long olive green dress uniforms and most were young enough that they weren’t wearing the headscarf yet. At one point, three girls were headed in my direction, so I slowed my pace to walk with them as they practiced their English and I spoke some Arabic with them. They asked my name and where I was from. This is the first country in which I’ve lied about being American. These girls seemed harmless enough, but other people on the street could overhear, so I again said Canadian. They told me they were 10 and 11 and gasped when I told them my age. The whole scene brought a smile to my face.

My movements have really been pretty limited between my house, a three block radius (encompassing the café, supermarket and gym), and the route to and from work. I have yet to go to the Old City, a traditional part with the big market, but figure that I’ll have plenty of weekends to make it there since I doubt I’ll be traveling outside the city. Yesterday the weather was awful—sandy/dusty, like the harmattan in Ghana or the hamzeen in Egypt. Otherwise it’s been really nice. It’s sometimes warm in the sun in the mid afternoon when I’m wearing my long, black sweater, but still manageable. In the evenings it cools down quite a bit. The weather is really dry and the oxygen levels are low since it’s over a mile high (which apparently may be why I had a bit of trouble sleeping at first despite being really tired). When I start running back at home again, it means it’ll be a whole lot easier with all the extra oxygen ya’ll have!