Eid Mubarak! We made it through another year of Ramadan. Insha allah, God will accept all the good deeds, fasting and prayers of the Muslims during this period of time. I was relieved to come to the end. I was growing tired and weary of the slow pace and being stuck to the house. The traffic was a nightmare, if you can only imagine it worse than a regular day. Everyone's moving like a mummy, and I start getting irritable prior to Iftar. By the time you break fast, one just wants to sleep. Thirty days is surely long enough for me, I don't know how Jesus and many others did it for longer periods. I finally got a chance to go out and search for my new laptop. I have decided to purchase a new laptop since mine is unable to support new software and other technological gadgets. I hate to spend the money, but sometimes we have to do so. Yesterday was the first day of our feast. We went to Carrfoure out on the desert road (Carrefoure is a French version of Walmart) and it was completely packed. I hate to shop in a crowd, and Egyptian families move in herds. If you wish to get a can of Tuna, you have to push into a family of at least 8 to get to what you need. They are not buying, just spending time and enjoying. We went to check out the computers and printers...and ended up buying everything else but that. I even came home with new pillows for our bed.....this was not in my plan. We got home around 2:00 am and I still do not have my new PC or printer. The frustrating part is that when I buy this PC with all the whizbang features, in a couple of months it will be outdated! This will be my third laptop since 1999. The first was a Toshiba, the current one is a Sony, and I guess after my survey last night, the next will be a Hewlett Packard. I will keep you posted to my shopping adventures for regarding electronics. Should be interesting!
Until next time,
A Woman of Egypt

This is the entrance to my building. Everyday when I walk out this door I take a taxi. I am sure I have a photo of a taxi somewhere in my photo collection, I just need to locate it. You can flag a taxi even before you step out of the entrance. As I am a Kwagga (foreigner) they are always ready to stop as they think they will get an increased fare. As soon as I speak to them in Arabic, they are all quite disappointed. They see their increased fare going out the window. I keep telling everyone my days will end in a taxi here in Cairo. No need for a terrorist attack. General transport is all that is necessary. Most of our taxis are over 20 years old and still have the manual steering. Along with the manual steering, most of the gears are located on the steering column. They are held together by some string, glue and lots of welding. The springs stick through the seats and they pick and tear your clothes. The vehicle is cooled by open windows, which during the summer allows nothing but hot, dusty, polluted air into your already congested lungs. During the trip, one can enjoy the smell of exhaust and gas fumes which are circulated through the return fan on the engine, not to mention sweat dripping down the back of your legs. My husband uses a taxi perhaps twice a year. He spends the rest of the year complaining about them and wonders how I can stand using them two or three times a day. It is strange what one person can adjust himself too, honestly. I find them to be quite handy. You walk out the door, tada..a taxi...you get picked up and dropped right in front of the building you wish to visit. No circling the block for a parking space for 40 minutes, no arguing when someone hits, scratches, dents, wrecks your car. I have been in several taxi accidents and I have witnessed some terrible things on these streets. I am sure to see my end in one of these vehicles, but until then....I will keep sweating it out, cursing under my breath, and arguing with them about fare. I will just keep praying that nothing will happen as we careen around the city, with loose bearings, no breaks, over heated engines, and a jerry rigged transmission.
until next time,
A Woman of Egypt

My husband had a very enlightening conversation with my mother-in-law the other day. It seems she was complaining about the fact that I am not very "entertaining" in the evenings when she comes over. My husbands explanation was so clear and concise, I feel I need to share it with you all. Emad told my MIL exactly this..."Stephanie is a foreigner, she does not bother herself with people. She takes care of her responsibilities and that is it. If she wants to sleep, she will sleep, if she wants to eat, she will eat, if she wants to taker her shower she will take her shower. She will not drop what she has to do, just to sit and entertain you, or me, or anyone else for that matter."
I wasn't surprised she had complained. I do go to bed very early as I love to read for about one hour prior to sleeping. I am normally asleep during school nights by 10:00. Most of the time, I fall asleep with the light on and Emad has to come in and shut it off. I was aware my husband knew me quite well, but I thought about what he said. Egyptians by nature, love people. They will make large efforts to entertain their guests in a grand fashion. If you go to their home, they will serve you to their maximum ability. I used to be somehow like this when I lived in South Carolina. I was a Martha Steward wannabe. Since living in Cairo, I have changed this position. I find that I am busy from 6:00 am until 9:00 pm and I am not sure exactly how I spent my time. I don't have the time for the small details and I just focus on what I deem to be most important. My MIL just shrugged her shoulders, and I am sure she cannot recall the conversation. I have tried to be a bit more attentive regarding her visits. I try not to jump up and start putting clothes away, or unloading the dishwasher, etc. I try to remind myself that the most important things in our life are the relationships we have with the people around us. Leaving a load of clothes, or the dishwasher loaded for an extra 30 minutes will not make any difference if the world stopped rotating. The "could have" and "should have " though, is more than I want to consider. I have to remind myself, I am living in a community that is very communal and led by emotional charges and they do take it personally. I need to respect their societal norms on all occasions and not just a few.
A Woman of Egypt

I found a wonderful Chinese proverb that I just love. It goes...."If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world."

A Woman of Egypt

I finally had a chance to read my September 2006 Oprah Magazine I bought at the JFK airport. Very nice magazine and quite inexpensive. I found a wonderful poem inside and I feel the need to share it with someone. It is found on the cover of the September calendar located on the inside of the magazine.

Live Your Best Life

I will not die an unlived life.

I will not live in fear

of falling or catching fire.

I chose to inhabit my days,

to allow my living to open me,

to make me less afraid,

more accessible,

to loosen my heart

until it becomes a wing,

a torch, a promise.

I choose to risk my significance,

to live so that which came to me as seed

goes to the next as blossom,

and that which came to me as blossom,

goes on as fruit.

Dawna Markova

Until next time,

A Woman of Egypt

I heard a very good suggestion on how to end the problems between Palestine and Israel. The United States should buy Palestine. It probably wouldn't take much money to buy the country. America would then fly the American flag alongside the Palestinian flag. We would provide the same services to Palestinians as are provided to Americans. The education system would improve, we could install American teachers. The problems with Israel will stop immediately as their closest ally has just bought the house next door. I am sure they would never argue with us about border problems. This in turn would eliminate Hezbollah's and Hamas influence in Palestine, since their would be no need for them any longer as Palestinians would receive the same services provided to Americans. No need for suicide bombers, as the quality of Palestinian life would improve. No need for Israel to meddle around the borders, as we are his best friend and ally that bought the house next door. No need for Americans to worry, as we can implement freedom and democracy as we deem to be proper and true. No middle man, no UN, no hidden agendas. We just buy the country, and start running it like a business. I say why not? I have to admit when I first heard the idea I thought...You have to be kidding, buy Palestine, that cesspool, that lost place with with its lost people. BUT, then I saw a picture of some campers lined up in rows in New Orleans where people have been living in them for a year now. I thought...really, what is the difference between those poor lost people in New Orleans compared to the ones living in Palestine. The ones in New Orleans are living better with better services and have access to an education and are never far from a free meal. I say why not buy Palestine?? I think it would be a better investment of money than Iraq. That is a no brainer...just look at the benefits if we bought the country. If Hamas or Hezbollah's social services network could reach it's long, loaded tentacles down to New Orleans and provide what it does to the ones living in campers in New Orleans...who do you think all those campers, squatters, and homeless individuals would be crying for??? I don't think they would be crying out for the US government. Would you??

A Woman of Egypt

I noticed that the new fall TV programs are being advertised on television. It seems in a couple of weeks we will have lots of new "reality" TV shows. It seems that we will have a survival show with people divided into ethnic groups, some families will be allowing the world to see their lack of parenting skills, and a nice show called "Bridzillas" has joined our new fall lineup. I can only imagine what this one is about. Sarcasm aside, I am glad that Dubai is airing these programs as it is much better than watching local television stations and 10 year old movies. It also helps me to retain my humor, as in all honesty I see reality on a daily basis here. One of the things that I noticed while in the states was the fact that I felt completely cut of from the rest of the world. It wasn't merely the fact that the news is lacking in some areas, but primarily I feel it is because Americans are so insulated from the rest of the world. I really have no idea how we created this cocoon around ourselves there, but we managed to do so. I wish we could create that atmosphere here, honestly. Most assuredly it has a lot to do with the fact that the US is a huge continent bordered mainly by water. You do not leave one state and enter into another culture or language. Consider that Italy is about the size of North Carolina. To go from North Carolina to South Carolina, is not a big deal. To leave Italy and go to France is a major change. In the states, you are never far from a free meal. There is a church, or a soup kitchen, or mission open to make sure people eat. We even have Meals on Wheels to feed and serve the elderly. In Egypt, you can step outside of your door and find at least 6 people around you that haven't the money to eat. This is my reality TV show and I see it consistently every day. I NEVER throw food away. If I have a spoon of food left, I put it in a styrofoam container and give it to my bowab to give to someone on the street. Egyptians are not known to doggie bag, but I do. I have asked for doggie bags in restaurants, which is HIGHLY unusual here, and as soon as I exit the restaurant I always find someone to give it to and they are eating it before I can go three steps down the street. I think reality TV should come and do "A day on the life of..." here in Egypt. That would be an eye opener. They do not have to search for a contestant. The first person they meet would be a good contender. Alas, I will soon see what the new fall programs have to offer for entertainment. Checking into someone else's reality for an hour will be a nice change.
Until next time,
A Woman of Egypt

I am spending time with my MIL (mother-in-law) this evening. We are having popcorn and watching an old Egyptian film. My MIL is suffering from Cardiovascular disease, which is unfortunately exacerbated by Alzheimers. Egyptians do not put their elderly into nursing homes. They feel that to not take care of their elderly would be dishonorable. I do understand this concept, but I am not sure it is practical. For instance, many times my MIL leaves the gas on her stove and has burned many pots and pans. We have been fortunate, as we can always smell the gas or the acrid smell of a pot or the rubber handle of a pan. Sometimes my MIL sleeps until noon, which means her morning medicines are given to her late. Just two days ago, my bowab (porter of the building) came to me and said that the "Hajja" had called him and that she had fallen in her home. I was the only one in the building at the time, and I had no key to get in. I called my husband who came as quickly as he could. El homdulela, she was ok and hadn't broken anything. If she was in a nursing home, or a long term care facility the same incident could have happened, but the reaction time would have been better. I do understand that to not care for your elderly relatives is a shame, as well it should be. I am just not sure if families during this time period are able to do so to the advantage of the elderly. As I sit and enjoy my popcorn and film with my MIL, I can't help but wonder what will happen to my husband and my in-law's when they get older. Will their children dedicate their days to accommodate their aging and needy parents? Somehow, I do doubt that seriously. As for myself, if I live to be that old, which I seriously doubt, I am going to go back to the US and join one of those old age homes in Washington, N.C., so that I can play Canasta all day and gossip about the other oldie goldies in the place. If they don't let me in, I will just hang out in the reception until they get frustrated and give me a bed! I mean, what else will they do with an old, aggravating lady??
Until next time,
A Woman of Egypt

Asalemuaillekum! It has been a long time for me to post. I have decided this is truly the best way for me to stay in touch with everyone. It took me about 5 days to remember my sign in name and password. El Homdulela, I did manage. We are back into the swing of things in Cairo since returning from the states. We had a great time although due to time restrictions, we could not see everyone. I am sad for this, and insha allah, I will be able to contact those we were unable to see during our time in North Carolina. Emad's children really loved North Carolina, and wished we had spent the whole time there. I honestly did not think they would be cool and relaxed the whole time and thus the trip to Florida. Next time, we will stay in North Carolina the whole holiday. As for myself, I was happy to be back home in a normal and clean environment for a couple of weeks. I loaded up on clothes and other items so I am now set for another few years here. We came back home to our grey cloud of pollution with hot and humid days. I missed my central air conditioning in the resorts, but after a few days was back into my regular 3 showers a day and drinking plenty of water. It is amazing, but I am actually glad to be back home in Egypt. Many of my friends and colleagues come back from the UK or the States and remain depressed for a couple of weeks. El Homdulela, I have not suffered from this situation. I was glad to be there and I am am happy to be back here, as well.
I am starting at a new elementary school in Egypt this academic year. The high school is already established, but the elementary and middle school will begin this academic year. I am looking forward to the move, but am sad as I am leaving the school I have been with since I moved here in 2002. Change is always good and so I will see what the academic year holds.
I will close this post for now, and insha allah, I will be more regular with my entry's in the future.
Until the next time,
A Woman of Egypt