I alternatively write too much or not at all.

Semester has gotten into full swing, and slowly but surely my life is filling up with classes, homework, too many hours spent putzing around the library and distracting friends from intensive language homework, and now, volunteer activities.

I'm never sure what to write here, and what to leave out. Cairo, to its credit, is always interesting (even if I'm boring).

It has been a trying week.

Last wednesday I lost my phone, and hours later, my entire wallet was pickpocketed from my purse on the Metro, and 3 police stations at 2 different Metro stops later, I emerged, exhausted by speaking Arabic, slightly terrified at sitting next to the window where they dispense bullets and guns to soliers, with only 5 borrowed pounds to my name. Bank-cards-less, ID-less, cash-less, even eraser&favouritepen-less (yeah I carry those in my wallet >_>) and internet-less in my apartment, I turned up at a good friend's apartment looking for internet so I could email my parents to cancel my cards, waking up his roommate in the process. Only to find dubious news in the inbox.

Upsides: the next morning I found phone - thanks bus company - and having friends I could count on was infinitely comforting.

I have come to live in Cairo more fully this semester, as opposed to being a transient. Not every weekend needs to be a travel or fieldtrip. Some may call it hiding out in my apartment avoiding the city, and maybe it is, but it's also settling down. Falling into patterns - Thursday night dinners followed by drinking with buddies, Saturday afternoon grocery shopping, Tuesday mid-afternoon gym, and Wednesday's long Metro rides. There's definitely a certain comfort to routines, but we'll see how long it takes before I get bored.

My tickets are booked; I'll be heading back to California on May 22nd, which is gives me a little over 2 months left here. Spring break will be in the first world comforts of Paris and the French Riviera. I'm super excited to see Robin and Deven, though my bank account is unsurprisedly less happy with my decisions. And to eat fancy macarons! And HAM. and BAGUETTES. and CHEESE. ohboyohboyohboy.