Week one

I can't believe I have been here a week already. I can tell this summer is going to go so quickly as the days are so exciting and full that time flys by. Actually I am finally more adjusted to the schedule here. I might be repeating myself but because of the heat the day starts much later here and then goes on late into the night when it is cooler. This means that I don't start work until 11am and breakfast is at noon, lunch is at 7pm and dinner is like midnight. Even families are up into the early hours of the morning. For example, two days ago I went walking in a shopping district at 9pm and the streets were packed. It makes sense though when the temperature is at 106 F!
I am getting more into the work for Optima and making friends with my co-workers. The office is relatively small with Haneea, the secretary, and only 5 other employees. Today during lunch we talked mostly in Arabic and I learned more about each of them. Of course, like everyone I've met here, they want to take me to all the famous places. There was even talk of going together to Luxor ( a city further south) for the weekend! Everyone here is so willing to help visitors and so generous with their time, it is actually overwhelming because as of now I have about 5 different people offering to take me to the Giza, Coptic Cairo, and the Museum. It is great to be so popular but I'm going to have to let some of them down!
Regardless, one topic I feel I should mention is that of food and eating. I'm sure most Egpytians would not mind me saying this, and it is another example of their generosity, but every meal here is like a feast, no joke! I mean my host mother is offended I think because Akanksha and I can't ever finish her portions. However, I have been eating some great dishes including ful (fava beans mashed), grape leaves, tahini, tabbouleh, kofta, and shawerma. Also, a la Senegal, they are fond of juices, really really sweet juices. Mango, Canataloupe, watermelon, guava, which is all really fresh but reminds me of the hibiscus juice in Senegal that was unbelievably sugary.
Well I am looking forward to this week and to whatever the weekend brings. Luxor, the pyramids, old Cairo, who knows!