June 22, 2009    Page 3

Anyway, each time I go, I always order the same thing, just one regular shwerma. Yet, each time, I pay something different. Since I can’t read the Arabic menu, I didn’t know the exact price. I never pay too much more, just five or ten piasters here and there. But it is annoying. The other day however, having spent two weeks learning the alphabet, I could finally read the menu and the correct price. I felt accomplished, since I am finally making headway into this part of the world.

I can read, and as a result, have become more independent. And with this independence, undoubtedly, I will begin to engage this culture not as a tourist, but as a student.