summer

This morning I woke up early to go on a run...outside....fresh air...in shorts...

This summer I'm working as a law clerk doing legal research at an immigration law firm in the Chicago loop. Really, an unexpected dream come true. Three brilliant female attorneys, four wonderful female legal assistants and me. Strong, driven, hard-working women making a world a difference for our immigrant clients and their families. No men needed. No questions asked.

Today after another 8 hrs in the overly air conditioned law firm, I met a close friend for "happy hour." On a budget and wanting some fresh air we decided to meet for a picnic happy hour in Millennium Park. There we sat, in the middle of grass, two women in skirts above our knees, my shoulders were showing and we shared a bottle of a dry, robust, red wine- in public! Nobody cared. Nobody stared. We didn't have to hide the wine bottle. Or struggle to keep our scarfs wrapped around our shoulders. Fresh air.

As I rode "home" on the train I realized as I looked through the window into the next car-- there was a man squeezed up against a woman. No gendered cars. No one cared. No one stared.

I'm neither homesick nor very comfortable. The normal cultural adjustment phase has once again faded-- at least until I go back to Cairo in 2 months. I'm just noticing and appreciating the differences.