masakin al shorta

This is the community I now call home.

My roommate Mary Carmen; she is from Queretaro (the most beautiful city), Mexico!


In front of Nama's shop on our street. Nama is the cutest lady there is; she speaks absolutely no English. The only thing I can really say to her is "shukran" (thank you); I've got that one down pat! I hope to have tea (shay) with her soon. There are often many people in front of her shop. This is where I buy water (mayya) and eggs (beid).











Many boys play football on the street, often oblivious of cars until the last second. Notice the tree to the left. In the middle of the night, we heard a loud crack; this is what we saw in the morning. I thought it was funny.











These tracks carry cars full of garbage (how it's collected here). There are often many men that roam these tracks. I walk this way to catch the metro.












This is our front gate to our home. My team leaders (and family) lives upstairs, while Mary Carmen and I live in the downstairs apartment. What is missing from these pictures are the millions of stray cats you will find on any given street. They are afraid of people... I am not too friendly with them... :S
















Our door is straight ahead, while our team leader family's door is above.
















This is my new kitchen! I love to do the cooking for Mary Carmen and I. Breakfast is really my thing, as Mary Carmen is not a morning person (and I really am here!). We have hot water (which is amazing), a small fridge to the right and our propane cooking stove (similar to a camping one) to the left.

Arabic coffee (ahwa arabie) is my new found favourite drink.