I spent my whole Thanksgiving weekend decorating my home for Christmas. I decided to post these photos as everyone is always curious as to whether we celebrate Christmas here in Egypt. Yes, we have Christians in Egypt as well as Muslims. Most of the Christians here are Coptic and they celebrate on January 7. I live in a Muslim household and I decorate for all holidays. I spent most of the day working on this tree which is located in my reception area. I hope that I will complete this area tomorrow.

This is a nativity scene. It is hard to see everything, but it has Mary, and Joseph, the baby Jesus, Wise men, and all. This nativity scene belonged to my maternal grandmother. It is made of porcelain and I do cherish it.

I have a smaller Christmas tree in my living room (TV room). We spend most of our time here so we have to have some Christmas spirit here, too.

I love to hang garland on top of my TV center. I gotta have the garland going on, otherwise it is just not Christmas.

I hope now that some of the stereotypical ideas of Muslim households within Egypt have been circumvented. I know many Muslims that decorate their homes with trees and garland during this time of year. Not all Muslims will do so, but many do. Muslims also celebrate with nonmuslims. Egyptians are social creatures, any feast or celebration is a good time for us to get together.

I will keep you posted on my decorating . It normally takes me a good five days to get everything done that I need to do.

Until next time,

A Woman of Egypt

This blog entry is dedicated to all those wonderful, frustrating, and lovable creatures that we refer to as "the men in our lives." Yes, I am sure you know who I am talking about....the ones that share the same closet, towels, and living space that we do. I once heard someone say that no matter where men are from, India, Arabia, Europe, Chile, or North American...if you put them all in a box, shake them up, and dump them out....they all fall out the same way. This is such a profound statement, and I have found it to be so true. I am a creature of habit. I perform the same routine daily. Each morning I wake up, collect all the tea cups, glasses, left over cookie wrappers, empty the ash trays, load the dishwasher, and throw in a load of clothes. I then get ready for work. It never ceases to amaze me as to WHY I have to be the one to always pick up these items since I don't drink tea, or smoke late at night. Why do I have to be the one to put water in the iron EVERY day?! Anyone that has read my blog, or knows me on a personal basis has full knowledge that I am not a domesticated female. I don't like cooking, and baking, and child rearing. I like working, traveling, and reading. I only spend one to two minutes a day ironing my clothing. I use public transportation in Egypt. Once I get out of a taxi, my clothes are either torn, wrinkled or having spots from someones leftover candy bar or foul sandwich. Practicality wins over fashion and appearances for me on a daily basis. My husband can spend an hour ironing one shirt. I am sure he uses the steam button. Why doesn't he refill the iron? While I am on my soapbox, why is it that I am the only one to observe that the toilet paper roll, the paper towel roll, and the table napkins are empty? I can assure each of you, if the toilet paper roll is empty, then the moment you step into the kitchen, the paper towel roll will need to be refilled. Everything empties at the same time. Why do men have to leave cabinet doors and drawers open? Don't they know how to shut anything? And how can men pour water out of a pitcher and not NOTICE that it needs to be refilled, and they put it back in the fridge empty? I am always amazed at their uncanny ability to observe and note only what they WISH to take note of. Recently, my husband made a statement that he TRULY believes in his heart. He said that most of the clothes that get washed are mine, so I am not really that bothered or busy with taking care of him???!!!! Besides, his theory is that the washing machine, dishwasher, dryer, and the vacuum do all the work???!!! So, what is the problem?

Many times, I am left without words. I just sit, my mind completely void of any brain matter, wondering if I will trip over his shoes during the night in the darkness on the way to the toilet.

Until next time,

A Woman of Egypt