Oh, and we leave, inshallah, exactly two months today. Oh I don't want to go home. I'd really much rather stay.

We just had the end-of-level exam on Wednesday, and they told us the day before (in our 2.30 AFTERNOON class), that the exam time was changed to 8am for us - so wham goes the I'll-revise-all-morning plan...or rather, it mutated to 'omg-I-have-to-revise-all-night-mummyyyy'.

You know what is really REALLY sucky about coffee? And tea, for that matter? I can have a sip of coffee, and it'll keep me awake all night. A simple cup of ordinary tea knocks me into the land of insomnia for at least three days; more than a glass of any caffeinated drink = at least four days; a can of Mountain Dew = please God, helpmeIneedtosleepbutIcan't; the first (and only) casual taste of coffee = an entire week. Since then, it has only been drunk on occasions of severe need (such as before a dissertation deadline) - but I haven't got to the really sucky part yet XD - which is, when I NEED it to keep me awake, it just...fails. Just like that.

I have one little Egypt-scar, on my ankle, from that day Mez and Heidi were going to the doctor's and I cut it on the glass. I didn't realise it scarred until months later. My burns vanish fairly quickly, and I burn a bit more than I cut.

...that sounded wrong. XD

It is hot here now. It hovers around the mid thirties outdoors, and indoor temperature fluctuates between about 27 at night to 32/33 in the day (which is actually rather unusual - the temp. tends to change very slowly degree to degree). Temperature-watching is oddly satisfying - when you watch the degrees fall.

We discovered the Siraj Mall the other day! And the Technology Mall - which is a computery-person heaven. I bought a mini-tripod for my camera for 25.00LE - a bit painful to my Egyptian economy (no single thing can cost more than about 8ish quid, okay?), but in English terms it is less than 2.50...anyone want me to bring one back for them?

Oh and the Siraj Mall had this big pool full of bumper cars - how cool is that?? Dodgems in WATER.

Okay, so next is Level 9 - this is where we finally begin to look at actual primary works, like Ibn Kathir, and Ibn Khaldun (how cool!!!), and other notable scholars and writers - and also poetry. I've been looking forward to poetry for nearly EVER.

I watched a programme on Iqra' (a satellite channel) yesterday, and I pretty much understood it all - without having to go through the mechanism of translating it into English in my head first. It was so interesting. I understand a lot more than I can actually speak - I just can't remember these things when I'm talking, so I'm a bit dumb with it.

I've been reading Abdul Hakim Murad recently, particularly this one on gender identity. He kind of does in writing what Hamza Yusuf does speaking.

...I am afraid this rather has become 'merely an electronic record of my existence.' XD