I would like to begin by pointing out that there is absolutely nothing romantic in hearing the azaan. Nothing. Maybe I’m just being over-analytical, as both an Arab-American and a liberal-arts student, but whenever one sees a movie/newsreel/radio broadcast/anything audio-visual pertaining to the Middle East, you inevitably hear the azaan. It’s either meant to sound alien and creepy, or lofty and beautiful, depending on the purpose.
Frankly, it is neither.
It’s rather annoying after not having slept two nights in a row. I don’t mean that I slept poorly. I mean that I did not sleep at all. And hearing a badly recorded recitation of the azaan broadcast on poor speaker equipment doesn’t help. It also doesn’t help that each mosque does this, at different times and in different recordings, so that when it is prayer time, you hear a cacophony of bad sound from everywhere. If there were just one, and it actually sounded nice, I wouldn’t mind. But it’s even worse when whoever made the recording liked his voice so much he would record for long periods of time, mostly blank save for an intermittent ‘allah!’. Argh. Maybe it’s because I’m a heathen now, or something.
The past few days have been uneventful, because I’m still sick (and by default still frustrated). If I’m not better tomorrow I’m going to a doctor, because I’m tired of having so little energy while in a foreign city that I have yet to explore. Hopefully my body will take the hint.
Classes aren’t that hard, though a little because I’m so sick. I tested a half a level too high in FusHa, so I have to catch up on a fair number of things. Luckily we only meet once a week in the class, giving me some space in which I can study the interceding lessons by myself/with other people, hopefully. The grammar isn’t really that important, it’s more a question of vocabulary.
We finally have stable internet. I was so happy to wake up this afternoon (no classes today) and find a strong internet connection still present. I decided to spend my downtime photographing the apartment and out its windows. I hope to begin photographing the streets some more, because while there is little beauty in Alex that isn’t marred by garbage of some sort (real or metaphorically), it’s still worth delving into. Luckily enough, there’s a Coptic church just down the street – a rather large one – that I intend to go investigate later.
I’m feeling a little irked with my situation here at the moment, so perhaps that’s why I sound kind of bitter. In truth, I am bitter that I have none of the advantages the other Americans have: people have been less able to recognize me as a foreigner (or at least, non-Arab) and help me out when I’m obviously confused. I had a shopgirl get angry with me because I was apparently saying ‘eggs’ wrong, though I noticed no difference in what she said. Also, I just miss the Northeast: the cold wind that should be hitting it right around now (but not too cold), the leaves, the church bells, and knowing how to move through the culture.
That’s it for now. I’ll hopefully write again when I’m less sick and more cheerful. It isn’t that bad here. I think. I’m hoping it’s just the adjustment period.
On Apathy
12 years ago
1 comment:
I hope you feel better, Ali! Sickness can't be any fun when you're abroad (or, in general, but especially then).
I like that you call the city Alex; it gives is a certain familiarness, which is cool.
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