Some more observation on Swedes

1. Adopting Asian kids:

I have always thought Asians are immigrants in western countries. But if you see Asians here, they were actually mostly adopted by white Swedish parents. So often that an Asian girl have white parents then you are wondering - hello, why your kids have black hair and different eyes?! It makes sense to me because in Asia (at least I can speak for China) that people prefer boys more than girls. Espcially when you can only have 1 kid (or you are too poor to afford many kids), then you would like to give away your baby girls until you get/to keep a boy. If you do not kill your baby girls, then send them to Sweden!

Obviously, I exaggerates a bit here. However, on a serious note, how is it to grow up in a completely alien land, with parents looking completely different? They feel they are Swedish or Asians? Someone should write a book about those adopted Asian people! If there is one book existing already, please let me know.

2. Fashion is a pressure:

Anton once watched a documentary about Swedes which was saying that Swedes have the highest percentage of individual households (one person living/owning one apartment) because Swedes are so independent and individualistic that they attach their values on the physical things they own. (Oh my god!)

This is apparently true if you are able to notice how crazy people (men and women!) are for fashion and shopping!!! I never mark myself as the fashionable group. I did not bother to wear the most fashionable clothes either. However, I am under such pressure to be trendy while living here (excuses?!) because:1) The fashion is very good (unlike Holland!!!); 2) Everyone is so bloody in fashion!!! It is hard not to notice what is trendy right now! Simply overwhelming!

3. You think Swedes speak good English? You are WRONG!

It was interesting to realize that Swedes actually do not speak/understand English so well. While I was living in Holland, I had the impression that Dutch speak very good English. (Btw, they are very proud of their accent because they think it is American-ish accent. However, Dutch English accent is very DUTCH!)

Regardless it was true or not with Holland, not that I was heavily interacting with locals anyhow, Swedes surprised me with their English level. Quite often, you need to work or communicate with a Swede who cannot understand you if you speak fast or use complicated words in English. Then how much they can express themselves in English is also very limited.

4. Homeless people are writing magazines?!

Though Swedes do not speak fluent English, however their homeless people are obviously highly educated. Yesterday, when Aron and me were walking out of the subway station, I once again saw this 'retarded looking' (dirty clothes, halfly drunk, halfly crazy) guy standing there selling a magazine called 'Situation', I asked Aron: Babe, why it is always retarded people selling this magazine? Aron said, because this magazine is written by homeless people.

WOW! The homeless in China might not even speak Mandarin! Here they write magazines and sell for living! I told myself, welcome to the developed world (or it is just Sweden - a socialist democracy?)

Egypt - my affection

Part II - My affection

My trip to Egypt has confirmed to me that I do not belong to the developed world. Too much order makes me feel living in a clean and organized jail. However, Egypt (esp. Cairo) is the other end of the spectrum.

I developed my affection to Egypt is largely due to the contrast between Dahab and Cairo. One is extremely calm and peaceful. The other is chaotic and full of energy. Speaking of contrast, Cairo is the king of it:

I am still amazed by how rushed the traffic is. Drivers drive like being chased by cops. Padestrians have no patience to wait for the green lights. Even the green light is one, it does not mean the cars will let you pass! (No point of waiting then!) Meanwhile, when I saw business men sitting down in a cafe with their bags next to them (obviously in the middle of running erands), ordering a tea and a shisha, I could not help smiling - this is the way of life! How cool it is to have the mood to chill in such a crazy town! =)

In Cairo, you can see a bit of everything: buildings built when the country was economically strong 50 years ago, traces of French colony, Arabic architectures, English billboards, modern skyscrapers, even Pyramids and Sphinx! It is a muslim country but it is also midterranean. Educated people speak English today but French used to be the posh language. (So you see French signs from time to time.) There are quite some fancy shiny cars as well as poor old ladies sitting on the floor selling packages of tissues. Fancy restaurants are as filled as street side tables. There are hot Arabic chicks with western apperance driving a car as well as men with black marks (due to praying 5 times/day for many years) and fully vailed women walking around. Most interestingly, it is a dictatorship country (it always means strict censorship) but you can go with a landing visa!!!

This really amazed and made me wonder - where is this country heading? How it will look like in another 50 years time? Will it grow strong economically? Will it be less religious? Will it be more westernized? Why the oldest countries are not economic super powers today? How can we capitalize on the old wisdom and heritage?

Anyhow, I was stunned by Egypt. I wish I can go back again to check out Alexandria and a bit more of Cairo since it was such a rush this time. Being a shopping maniac, I still feel a pity that I did not get a good souvenior shopping tour by Gara. It seems there are reasons to go back. =)

Egypt - The Trip

Part I - the trip

Dahab is the 'back-packer' version of Sharm El Shiek, a city built along the coast of Red Sea, not more than a few hundred meters. One side of the street is full of cafes and restaurants facing Saudi Arabia acrossed the Red Sea - just imagine lying there with sunny blue sky and sound of the water, smoking shisha, drinking fresh mango juice, reading a book or writing journals. Daytime, the city is a bit lazy. Partly because tourists went away for different activities. Those who stayed just enjoy the slow pace and the sunshine. During the night, the party is ON. People are back for nice dinners and some chilling-out with shisha and Arabic music.

On the other side of the street, there are shops and hotels lined up. I loved to look at the shops one by one each time passing by. All the lamps, jewleries, paintings look so Arabic (equals to exotic) to me. I am totally in love with the art. Dahab is a bit touristy and a bit westernized. However, definitely chilled.

Sinai is a very incredible area, with desert, mountains and sea at the same time. When I was on a quad bike dashing through the sand, I saw the most peaceful view of the Red Sea with sailing boats on it and white resorts along its coast, as well as mountains and deserts all around. Sinai is also very interesting because of the christianity touch. No wonder it attracted some 250 Nigerian missionaries coming to visit the monasterary and climb the Mt. Sinai.

After a relaxing 4 days in Dahab, Aron and me went back to Cairo again. Gara's the best guide for Cairo. I loved those street side Egyptian food, be it grilled meat or vegetarian breakfast. What adds to the 'taste' is sitting in between 2 cars, under a tree, on plastic chairs with 6 cats around you and bits of leftovers on the plastic table. The experience itself was a mixture of yummy food, get squashed because of the space and chilled out in the middle of a chaotic city.

I also loved to bum around in the street side cafe, with a cup of tea and shisha, watching cats, cars and people going crazy on the street. If you look around, you can see all sorts of people. Those amazed me the most are the businessmen sitting down with a tea and a shisha in the middle of the day in between the erands they are running.

The peak of all those experiences was sitting at a cafe opened 24/7 since 200 years back, at midnight, still crowded as hell especially with locals intending to sell all sorts of craps to you: from a plastic helicopter toy to tatoos on the back of my hand. After ignoring most of them, I bought a beautiful side table for my bedroom - black with detailed Arabic pattern. Can't wait to put it up and show off to my friends visiting me.

Bargaining is another hell of an experience visiting Egypt. Guess it's because this was the first time I looked obviously like a foreigner. After observing Gara, I got the key to master bargaining:
- If I take a cab, I either set the price before I get on. Or I throw the money at the drive, open the door and jump off.
- If I am picking up souveniors at the market, I need to be unattached and ready to walk away. The shop owner usually chases you and sell it to you anyway.

On the very last day in Cairo, we checked out the Pyramids and Sphinx, visited the most important mosque - Sayidnaa Al Hussein and went on a boat trip on the Nile in the night. I loved the mosque experience the most. The beauty and magnificance of the architecture and interior design made me more curious about the religion and its faithful followers.