Well, I’m here!  My travel journal already has several pages filled–I’d’ve updated earlier but I had some problems with my so-called universal power adapter.  After some fiddling with intermediary connectors finagled from the hotel desk, I managed to cobble something together–lets all just hope the computer doesn’t explode…  I think I’ll start with something that … Continue reading →

Well, here I am in the airport, having taken the first step in this journey of a thousand miles.  My feelings are complicated, rushing over each other: excited, nervous, annoyed with myself for arriving at the gate about two hours before my flight will be called up, grateful for the help I’ve received to get … Continue reading →

When I get to Cairo, I’ll begin a research fellowship at the Institute of Gender and Women’s Studies (IGWS) at the American University in Cairo (AUC).  For those of you who aren’t familiar with academic jargon, basically this means that I’m not registered as a student there and I don’t have to attend classes, but … Continue reading →

Exciting as going to live on a houseboat in Cairo is, there are several things about returning to Egypt that cause me some trepidation.  The first of these is the seriously problematic issue of sexual harassment on Egyptian streets.  This is a difficulty experienced by virtually all local women and foreigners, and though I’ve never … Continue reading →

I’ve been trying to look for quotes to use as chapter headings for my thesis.  So far I have two: It may be possible to do without dancing entirely. Instances have been known of young people passing many, many months successively, without being at any ball of any description, and no material injury accrue either … Continue reading →

Have you ever been driving along and witnessed (or been at the receiving end of) some truly bad driving?  Like somebody weaving in and out of lanes without using their turn signal (which is there FOR A REASON), or following you WAY TOO CLOSE.  These, my friends, are incidents that call for the Harpoon of … Continue reading →

While in Egypt, I’ll be living on a houseboat in the Nile.  That’s right.  A houseboat(!), in the Nile. It’s got two levels with two separate apartments, a large garden, and a washing machine that a previous occupant describes as ‘looking like R2-D2.’  Unassailably cool. Making housing arrangements from overseas is a bit of a trial.  … Continue reading →

I’m currently on the opposite side of Florida from where I usually live.  I agreed to come over to this side with my dad, not knowing that tropical storm Fay would effectively be following us across the state.  When we left it seemed like it would be going up the west side of Florida; by … Continue reading →