So finals are over...I had 5 to take and none of them were fun...some were harder than the others, but I survived. I decided that today was going to be the day to go get my passport, but God had other plans for my mode of transportation, namely a broken radiator. I spent my entire afternoon at the mechanic until it was fixed...took a nap on the bench outside in between airplane landings because my mechanic is right next to the runway of Dobbins AFB. So after that whole debacle, I went to dinner with Rob, and we walked around Piedmont Park for a bit. Came back and updated my website, but did not check for the 10+ bugs that I need to correct...

ANYWHOO all these events led up to what I like to call 'dream surfing' ...web surfing all you can about your life's goals and dreams. As I sit at my desk in Atlanta, Georgia just wishing for the night life in Cairo, I turn my head around what my life will be like in September. I have to get in touch with my oriental dancer again and its wonderful. Youtube after youtube after youtube after youtube to just try and soak in all that is Cairo...get's me to thinking as to why I shouldn't try to do this for a year. I have the ability...

And by the way, Randa Kamal is amazing and I can't wait to see her live: www.youtube.com/watch

My study abroad adviser FINALLY got in touch with the American University in Cairo and e-mailed to tell me I've been accepted!!!!!! This is a dream come true...I'll basically be in Cairo from late August to January...I just can't comprehend it all right now. I've basically been waiting for almost a year to hear this news, OMG OMG OMG OMG.....I'M GOING TO CAIRO!!!!!

Note: this picture is very accurate of my facial expression at the moment, minus the rollers...!!!

Ansuya in Athens

The Ansuya workshop was fun. Anuysa's style is very different to what I am currently studying and it was a breath of fresh air to go back to a style that reminded me of my early beginnings in the dance. While she is not notably Egyptian or of the Arabic style, her cabaret style is very freeing. I really liked her explanation of the cabarets where her mom would dance in the 60's and 70's. Bands were constructed of an eclectic mix of musicians of different nationalities and dancers were always the fusion artist to make their dance and show unique and personal to them. We got a lot of material, almost to the point where specifics had to be glazed over to cover everything. The only thing about the workshop that didn't settle with me was the lack of warm up before stretching...that really hurt my muscles the first day, but I managed to get to the venue early on days 2 and 3 and do my own warm up.

The show was fun. It was at the 40 Watt in downtown Athens...my panel got stuck on my bra for a second, but I caught it pretty quick. I FINALLY got to meet Mashati (hey girl!) and some other dancers around the belly dance scene in the Southeast and it was very nice to do so! One thing I did not realize about downtown Athens was how cheap the liquor is! I had three drinks for a grand total of 6 bucks...I thought it was a miscalculation and giggled at myself for my luck. Someone then explained to me later that Athens is a college town, so booze is cheap...damn you Atlanta!

Ziah in Asheville

This past weekend was still fun...for the parts I was conscious for. I followed Ziah to Onca's house where we then traveled up into the beautiful Asheville mountains for a natural hot tub in Hot Springs. The evening was lovely and beautiful, Onca is such a hospitable host. On our way back we stopped by Jerusalem Garden to pick up some food. I ran in just to see half a set performed by Lisa Z and ran out so we cold get home for some food and sleep. This is where everything gets hazy...for the rest of the weekend I was stuck in bed with a stomach virus, so no smack down and no performance! I sat through the first half of the workshop and when it was clear I wasn't getting up anytime soon, I left to take a nap until the show where I could sit in a chair and with eyes glazed over watch the hafla show. I was able to drive back okay from Asheville with little stops thanks to a gothic book tape Ziah lent me, and here I am now sitting at my computer in bed hoping this is a 24-48 hour thing and not a longer than that sort of bug...