Taqeef (Air conditioning)! It's a Ramadan miracle!

I have air conditioning.  It's Tuesday night (technically Wednesday morning), I arrived on Sunday, and tonight is the first night I have air conditioning in my room.  I arrived to my flat Sunday night after a long trip and met my roommate--she seems super nice. The flat is incredibly central, off of Talaat Harb, which, for those unfamiliar with Cairo, is about three minutes walk from Tahrir Square, of the revolutionary fame.  I wanted to live Downtown, as opposed to the areas that are more "expat-y" because I wanted to break out of the expat bubble.  If I'm going to live in Egypt, then damnit, I'm going to live in Egypt.

But the AC in my room did not work.  I was so tired the first night I just aimed a (not working-well) fan at my face and passed out, sweating the whole night.  I woke up around noon, thinking something along the lines of, "WTF did I get myself into?" I went to see the landlord, who said a repairman would come tomorrow to fix it. Meanwhile, he gave me the keys to another flat, whose AC wasn't working either.  I texted him telling him this is unacceptable and I'm moving unless the AC is fixed tomorrow. He called, apologized profusely for the "disrespect" (you were disrespecting me?? Badeen), and said if it was not fixed tonight he would buy me another.

I did not mention to him that now my roommate and I want to move into the other flat, provided they fix the AC. It is a little more expensive, but still cheap for the area and has these amazing balconies. And shower curtains. And garbage cans. And coffee cups! All things this flat is lacking.

The guy literally gave my AC unit a shower. My room feels cool right now, so hey, I guess whatever works.

Our doorman was helping the repairman.  Seeing the interaction between the two really made the social distinctions in Egypt evident.  The repairman was wearing nice Western clothes (not like in the States--in fact, here the job title translates to "engineer"), nice hair cut, generally well-put together. Spoke no English but I could understand his Arabic. Our doorman wears traditional garb, I think something is wrong with his eyes, and I can't for the life of me understand what he's saying. But the repairman made the doorman carry the AC in and out of my room on his back. The doorman also was carrying all of his tools, and generally acting very subservient.   

Yesterday, my one free day between arrival and work, was hot and stressful. I was trying to work out the AC, went to another neighborhood for a proper grocery store, and visited a few gyms.  That night I met up with my friend Hiba, who I met on a flight to Beirut. She coincidentally was in Cairo this week--definitely one of those people who you meet and just click with. That's why I love traveling and crossing paths with people whom you would never meet otherwise, sharing experiences and stories and keeping in touch long after.

And today--my first day at work! So far I really enjoy it. I'm sitting in a room with three other girls, all Egyptian, doing similar work.  They said after a month or so I can move to a separate office, which I find kind of weird.  They have all been there longer, know the ropes better--why should I get the separate office? Makes me uneasy. I joined a Gold's Gym on a permanent boat on the Nile--SO NICE! I love it and am so excited. I think there is even Zumba! After the gym I met up with a SAISer at her friend's houseboat. Yes, a houseboat.

Now it is past 1am and it is time for bed. Goodnight!

"This is our religion. We cannot leave our religion for one man."

Sunday afternoon, white supremacist Wade Michael Page entered a sikh temple outside Milwaukee and opened fire, leaving at least seven people dead, including himself.

Page was a neo-Nazi extremist, involved in a group called End Apathy to spur whites to action and a member of two bands, called "Blue Eyed Devils" and "Definite Hate."  Their lyrics include songs about killing Jews, blacks, gays, and other minorities.

Much of the media focus has been on how Sikhs, practitioners of a monotheistic religion that originated in South Asia, are often confused for conservative (in stupid media parlance: "extremist") Muslims who wear head dresses and have long beards (Sikhs have beards and wear turbans).  In the years following the September 11 attacks, they have been targets for hate crimes.  In February, a Sikh temple was defaced and in late 2010 a Sikh cabdriver beaten.  In both instances, the perpetrators made false allegations of connections to al-Qaeda and militant Islam.

Missing in this conversation: are all Muslims that wear headwear and have long beards "extremists?" No. I know many who are good people, conservative, yes, but would not turn to violence.

Even more disturbing, would the attack have been more acceptable had it been against conservative Mulisms? As if their headwear-beards-beliefs would somewhat excuse Page's attack?

MEK: Still on the List

Despite pressure from shady and influential individuals in US politics, the State Department kept the MEK on the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. 

Saudi Olympian's father to sue those who insulted daughter

Props.

The father of 16-year-old Wojdan Shaherkani, a member of the Saudi Olympic team and judo participant, vowed to sue those who insulted his daughter for challenging the Kingdom's conservative traditions that keep women from participating in sports.

"I have sent an urgent letter to the Minister of the Interior Prince Ahmed bin Nayef bin Abdul Aziz with copies of all attacks made on Twitter," said Ali Seraj Shaherkani.

Wojdan was one of two women in the Saudi team this year and a first for women in the Kingdom.  She gained worldwide attention despite lasting 82 seconds on the mat and received a standing ovation as she left.

Wojdan almost did not participate after the IOC ruled she could not compete without wearing a headscarf for "safety" reasons.  After intense negotiations she was allowed to wear special headgear akin to a swimming cap.

Saudi's Twittersphere lit up during the competition.  Some observers criticized her participation, saying she did "not represent the chaste Muslim woman."  Others use racial slurs referring to her Asian background, calling her "Tarsh Bahar," or "Sea Remnants."

Wojdan's supporters quickly took over the offensive Twitter hashtag.

"We are so proud of you Wojdan," said journalist Asma al-Sharif. "It takes a lot of courage to do what you did."

Manal al-Sharif, who blogs at Saudiwoman, said, "For us Saudi women judoka Wojdan Siraj is a champion."

Wojdan and her family's courage is notable. I could not imagine being a sixteen year old and having half of my country attack me and my family, especially in a society like Saudi.  Despite her participation, however, many are ambivalent regarding the impact of her particpation, noting little if anything changed in Saudi.  Conservatives are unmoved in their opposition to women participating in sports, and women are still unable to participate in sports or physical education.

"This is not a step forward for women's rights," said Aziza al-Yousef, a professor and leader in the Saudi women's right-to-drive movement.  "We've been asking for girls to play sports in school for years; here they give Saudi women a spot on the Olympics, but not the right to earn a place on the team.  This doesn't add anything, and it won't change anything."