How is it like to be a teacher with no voice?

Answer: TERRIBLE!!!!!!!
It's been a long week ... i can't even remember the things i did!! :)) One thing that happened was that on Tuesday i completely lost my voice; i guess i caught a cold and it has affected my voice. I was ok, only voice missing ...

Of course, i couldn't take the day off, as there was nobody to sub for me! I had to teach!! Luckily my children had Arabic that day and Design and Technology, so that saved part of my day.

The children have not been very supportive either - they kept chattering all day and i tried using a bell, to get their attention .. it didnt really work! For a minute i thought i am loosing it and going crazy!! We had a Science project - making the planets - papier-mache and painting them. So, we were at the stage of painting them, when one of the girls took one planet (wet paint) and starting wandering around the classroom with it .... so all the kids got blue paint on their shirts on Sunday. I was busy with other children .. i tried calling out her name, but nothing came out of my mouth, so i had to go and take the planet out of her hands. Now, that i look back, it seems funny!! It wasnt then!!

Wednesday it was much better!! They were all happy! "Miss Mocanu, you have your voice back!". I was like: "Yeap, you guys took it with you on Monday afternoon... now i am happy you brought it back!".

Random thoughts about the weekend

I am not in the mood for a new post ... don't even know what to write... I am just waiting for some pictures to upload on Facebook, so i thought i'd give a shot to a new post.
This weekend has been semi-relaxed. I finally managed to frame some pictures and put them on the empy wall in our living. It looks alright to me! I love them as i had the same ones in one of the flats i lived in before.
So, as i was saying, i didnt do much this weekend - just some emails, facebook, coffee. I went to sign up for Arabic classes at CSA (5 min away from my flat) but they were closed; that means i have to go there tomorrow - as it is the last day!
Ohh... major thing this weekend! I went to the gym!! Bronwyn took me with her; she is my personal trainer! LOL!! For those who know me, they will admit it is kind of unbelievable that Gaby is actually going to the gym! Hmm.. i was talking to a friend last night and i told him i went to the gym; he said: "Bravo!! Keep going, so that when you come home this summer, you'll leave everyone with their mouths open!". LOL!! I really dont care!!

Unseen, unsought and uncertain (?)

Back to an old post from a couple of days ago ... back to "Captivating". This following passage is probably the main reason i do not relate to this book that much.
"I know i am not alone in this nagging sense of failing to measure up, a feeling of not being good enough as a woman. Every woman i've met feels it - something deeper than just the sense of failing at what she does. An underlying, gut feeling of failing at who she is. I am not good enough and, i am too much at the same time. Not pretty enough, not thin enough, not kind enough, not gracious enough, not disciplined enough. But too emotional, too needy, too sensitive, too strong, too opinionated, too messy. The result is Shame, the universal companion of women. It haunts us, nipping at our heels, feeding at our deepest fear that we will end up abandoned and alone."
I do not want to say that i am 100% confident about myself, but probably not as bad as the authors describe women. So, probably they should come and meet me!! :) I know i talk too much, laugh too loud, i am too blunt at times ... but still, this does not bring me to the result of Shame, as they describe it.
I am not afraid i will end up abandoned and alone ... i am confident enough that i will do well, from this point of view.
Don't know if this is the way most American women feel - because i said in a previous post the book addresses to an American public. I am sure there are women in the States, just like everywhere, that are comfortable with themselves - their bodies, feelings, jobs etc.

Hilarious!!

One of our Social Studies topic is Pocahontas (looking at the history behind it actually and the way people used to live back in the old days). So, as an introduction to the topic, i thought it would be good to watch the movie. I have to admit though, that i do like the Disney versions of many stories, although they are not 100% accurate. I opted for the Disney version this time too, as

there was no other available. So i got everything ready, the children were all excited ... Disney always tries to point out the romance in a story (which was not really the case in the story of Pocahontas), and that little detail slipped my mind.

There is one scene where John Smith kisses Pocahontas. One of my little boys jumped up with surprise/shock saying: "LOOK, MISS MOCANU, HE IS BITING HER LIPS!!!!!"Poor little thing, he was really concerned!! My reaction: speechless. Oops!!

Well, that is what adults do (i was just about to type "unfortunately" - mistake!!) ...

I have many "wait until you grow up!" moments almost every day but this one is #1.

Alexandria

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Pictures from Israel

Make a Smilebox photobook

Lighthouse

For some reason, i love lighthouses! I am actually looking for a cross stitch pattern of a lighthouse.

It brings so much calm, just to look at one! Part of me wants to explain the reasons i like it ... when i shouldn't. I love the simplicity of just liking something, without any particular reason.

There is an entire symbolism in this word ... but still, i will not try and write about it, as i choose today, at least for once, to like something just ... because!

Have a look and just enjoy it, without thinking too deep for reasons ...

Visiting Cairo

Nichole's friends were here visiting for 5 days and we were all tourists. I joined them for some things that i did not get to see in Cairo yet.We went to Coptic Cairo - visited the Museum there, went to the Hanging church. I was impressed that there was no entrance fee for the church. But what shocked me the most was this young man who approached us and offered to give us a tour of the church. He said he volunteers for the church and that it is all for free - we do not have to pay; he emphasized that! Once he finished he just left, without waiting around for a tip. You don't see that very often here.

We also took a felucca ride and the guys joined us. The sunset was gorgeous!!! These are the things worth taking time for - it is so easy to just get a taxi to the corniche and jump on a felucca to get away from the noisy city!Of course we took the girls to Khan el Khalili - it was crazy there, but the girls got scarves for a really good price - 20-25 Le. We had to stop for Egyptian pancakes at the end of all the craziness. Ben was the one who showed me and Nichole that place. Not bad!

We also went to see Cairo Tower - 187 metres, it is 43 metres higher than the pyramid of Giza. I freaked out as it was way too high for me! I stepped out and tried to walk around it but got too scared, so i called Leah to take me back to the door.

Funny

Well, if you didnt know, I have my own Dance studio now in Cairo! :)

Of course it is a joke! I cant dance at all!! We were going to the metro station one day and Rachel pointed out to this

It is funny to me, as no Egyptian so far could pronounce the name Gaby, so i have to introduce myself as Gabriela all the time. It is a bit weird to actually see the name Gaby used for a bussiness. It might be a foreigner...

Day trip to Alexandria

This year, there was nothing fancy going on on New Year's Eve; we actually went out for dinner at Spectra (i think it is my favorite restaurant here) + it is very close to our house. After dinner we went to Kathy's flat, played a few rounds of Dutch Blitz and had a cup of .... at midnight. I was in bed at 1 o'clock. But it was alright, as we had to wake up early in the morning to catch a train to Alexandria.
The train ride was only 2 hours; i slept for 1 hour while everyone else was reading.

We didnt quite have a plan of what we're going to do there; luckily, I had the lonely planet guide with me. When we got there it was all a bit muddy, as it rained the day before. We started walking; direction - nowhere. We stopped at one food stand for breakfast - foul and tameya. Don't know how good that was for breakfast (another update on Egyptian food some other time). We have all agreed that we want to see the Mediteranean Sea, so that was our first stop. After the impossible mission of crossing a 4 lane motorway, trying to find a bathroom, sneaking through the crowded narrow streets of the souk we got there. The sea is absolutely beautiful!!!!! I loved it!!

At one point it started raining - we were totally unprepaired for it! It never rains in Egypt! Well, it did this time! Rachel and Leah had an umbrella in their bag - lucky them! It was funny how we've been all complaining that it never rains and we want some rain, but then we all ran to shelter. We took taxis to go to the Library. The Royal Library in Alexandria was once the largest library in the world. It was founded at the beginning of the 3rd century BC, during the reign of Ptolemy II of Egypt. We didnt go inside - just had a warm drink in a cafeteria, just to warm up. The waitresses were hitting on Dave and we kept laughing about it. They were very pretty - i still think Dave should've gotten their numbers.

That was when we decided to make a plan and agree on what we want to see. So, our first major attraction was Fort Qaitbay - it is a fortress built upon/from the ruins of the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

We had koshari for lunch and went to see the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (one of the seven wonders of the middle ages). It consists of a series of Alexandrian tombs, statues and archaeological objects of the Pharaonic funeral cult with Greek and early Roman influences. It was rediscovered in 1900 when a donkey accidentally fell into the access shaft. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take our cameras inside.Pompey Pillar - by the time we got there, there were closing, so we saw it from the gate. It is an approximately 25m red Aswan granite column with a circumference of 9m, which was constructed in honor of the Emperor Diocletain. Originally from the temple of the Serapis, it was once a magnificent structure rivaling the Soma and the Caesareum. The Pillar is the tallest ancient monument in Alexandria. it was all worth visiting! I enjoyed it very much - i think i could actually live there!

"When I am an old woman" - food for the thought

When I am an old woman

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired
and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
and run my stick along the public railings
and make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
and pick the flowers in other people's gardens
and learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
and eat three pounds of sausages at a go
or only bread and pickles for a week
and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
and pay our rent and not swear in the street
and set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Have a think about that!

"Captivating"

I havent' been very good at updating this blog lately, as i am still waiting for a new chord for my computer. It's been more than a month since they "repaired" it, but obviously they didnt' do such a great job, as it worked only for 2 days.
Maybe it is a good thing in the end, as i am reading more now. I have 3 books that i have started reading plus 1 more at Bronwyn's place. by the way, Bron just moved in to this new place that is close to us - it is such a nice flat!! we've been freezing in ours, as there is no heat, no insolation - it is warmer outside than inside. The only way to warm up in the morning is to take a hot shower.
Anyway, i am reading this book now, Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge; i was not that impressed with it in the beggining and quite reluctant on continuing to read it, but for some reason i didnt stop. It is written from a very American perspective and mindset; as a Eastern European woman, i do not really relate to many of the things there, but it still has some useful things. It tries to build up one's self-esteem, giving examples of heart-broken women. I, then, discovered that i am pretty ok when it comes to my self-esteem. I have no major issues - i am content with the way i am, but at the same time i aknowledge my limitations and faults.
It talks a lot about a loving God and Stasi is very open on talking about her rough past. I would not be that comfortable sharing such deep things with the whole planet. The authors keep mentioning characters from movies and stories - many of them that i have never heard of.
i still think it was written for mainly an American audience - i do not know how the book was received in other countries. I guess i should look into that!
Anyway, enough with my "review"! I should go and put that dragon display up!

Christmas Pageant

Since the very first day i arrived to Cairo i was told about MCC's Christmas pageant. Everybody talked about real camels being involved, bright lights, sheep, donkey, a real baby and so on.

I've been looking forward to it and the time came! Nichole was actually part of it - she joined the choir.

Apart from the story that we all know, there were comic episodes that brought up everybody's laugh, starting with 3 funny wise men and the best of all, the King - Elvis!! Nobody actually anticipated that!! Travis, the youth pastor played Elvis and got to sing one of his songs as well.

i have to say i enjoyed it a lot and i did not regret that i got tickets for both shows (there were two).

Nichole had a whole row of supporters - me, Chase, Luke, Karabo, Ben, Rachel - we were all there and Chase even shouted her name at the end, just to embarass her. :D

There were some Irish dancing angels involved as well... very beautiful!!

Happy New Year

This year's New Years' Eve was different than any other i've had before... together with the gang we went to SPectra for dinner and then to kathy's house for a glass of "...". Right after that, everyone went to their house and slept. It was 1 am when i went to bed. But in the end it was worth it, as we woke up early to catch the morning train to Alexandria.
It is weird how, as you grow up/mature you dont' stay up for the whole night on New Years' Eve. Anyways, i promised myself that next year i will celebrate it in another country. Looking forward to see how that goes! :P