Eid Holiday

Well, I've finally succumbed to the pressures of my generation and have decided to give this whole blog thing a whirl. I debated whether to give a little background information on myself and whatnot, but came to the conclusion that it would probably be more interesting for me to write, and if anyone really cares at all to read this, it would be more interesting to read if I just jumped right in. And that is why I am going to tell you today about the odd events of last night and this morning.

I suppose when it comes down to it, things weren't really all that odd. But in that dreamlike state to which one awakes after an interruption to a healthy REM cycle, everything just seemed disjointed.

Yesterday marked the beginning of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, a holiday that celebrates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Abraham and Issac in Jewish and Christian traditions). I went to bed at at a fairly decent hour after just finishing the book, Three Cups of Tea, which I recommend to everyone. Exactly at midnight, however, my sleep was interrupted by what I first thought were strong winds blowing through the trees of my village area. It seemed the leaves were rustling against one another in the rush of the wind and was really quite a pleasant sound. But soon I heard all the neighborhood children and even adults yelling praises and generally expressing excitement in the streets. Apparently it was not wind I was hearing, but the first rains of Egypt's rainy season. This was cause for celebration and the dancing in the streets continued for some time. But what made the event seem so out of place in my mind is that all of a sudden I could hear countless sheep and goats baaing across the village and in my neighborhood. These sounds were unfamiliar as normally in my neighborhood area there wouldn't be so many sheep and goats. But, in commemorating the sacrifice of Ibrahim, on this holiday families with the monetary capabilities make a sacrifice similar to that of Ibrahim. Then they share the meat of their sacrifice with the poor. And so I was surrounded by the living animals who would become sacrifices in the morning.

Eventually I fell back asleep to the lulling sounds of baaing sheep. I awoke briefly around six in the morning and enjoyed the peaceful sounds of prayer, on this morning not being broadcast over speakers from various mosques. Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar...I heard chanted in natural and sonorous tones. I drifted off again, lost in whatever dreams I never seem to remember, to finally awake at 7:30. This time, the sounds that pulled me into my day were the sounds of sheep and goats again, only this time, I awoke to their slaughter.

It is a beautiful day here in Agami, the rain of the night having pressed the dust and sand back to the ground. The sun warms my skin and the smell of cooking meat with various spices piques the interest of my salivation glands .(I'm pretty sure that is not what they are actually called, but alas, it has been a long time since I took anatomy.) I will do laundry today and study for an upcoming test. Tomorrow I will go back to Alexandria and visit the library there, as well as other historic sites. In the meantime, I wish everyone well and welcome you to my personal blog.

By the way, in case anyone in wondering, Cama'i is the Yupic word for a warm hearty welcome.