'Just start walking and pray to Allah you do not get hit'
- An arabic man upon seeing the confusion/hysteria of 5 teachers trying to cross the street in Tahrir square
This pretty much sums up how life in Eygpt will be for the next few years. Take your chances, dive in, and pray that everything works out on the other side. This goes for the metro(train), taxi cab, streets, any type of produce, and water of any kind.
That being said, Cairo is an amazing place, with amazing food, amazing people and a culture that i'm not sure i can ever get used to. In heavily populated areas, you are walking between a woman who is fully covered (including gloves, socks, and a strip of fabric between her eyes) and a british tourist who looks...well....not-so-covered.
I should begin with the first day. Luther and I had already befriended the 7-8 teachers enroute to Cairo (all new teachers, i should add) which made our flight much easier. Once landing in Cairo we were picked up from the gate via those cool little white signs that NEVER have my name on them. (These ones did!) After this, we were each taken to our apartments in Maadi. Maadi is best described as an 'area' of Cairo more than a 'quaint expat neighbourhood'. I can compare Maadi to Winnipeg by saying its larger and bigger than St. Boniface but if i said to someone, 'i live in St.Boniface' you would immediately know what i'm talking about. By metro, Maadi is 6 stops from Tahihr sqaure. In between is the stop for 'Coptic Cairo' and we lucked out by being on the main 'red' line which costs a whole 5LE. (Egyptian Pounds or 'Leiry') In CDN. funds that is about .75. AMAZING.
Our apartment is amazing. We have all appliances but are currently lacking a toaster but otherwise we are slowly deveoping an inventory of kitchenware and food. Its been hard because we are constantly going out and therefore getting home around 11pm where we just end up ordering in for convenience. (Everything can be delivered here. McDonalds, Arabic food and grocery stores all deliver via bicycle with no extra fee)
Our street has been a bit crazy due to Ramadan and Eid. As most peope are aware, Ramadan practices involve fasting until dusk where there are many large feasts throughout the night. After dusk the city comes alive and stores open until after midnight. This makes running errands like hooking up cell phones INCREDIBLY difficult. Once Ramadan ended, we were told it was now Eid-el-Fur. This is the 4-day celebration that takes place after Ramadan. There is no fasting but instead, a 4-day holiday with eating, dancing and music. (muslims do not drink alcohol)
While it has taken 6-7 days for the city to finally resume to its normal pace, i am glad that i had the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of the holiday. There are strands of 'ramadan' lights and every home has a large lantern that is lighted each night. Ours is in the lobby and is pretty nice. :)
Sleeping has come quite easily. Blankets are not needed. Air conditing is a must and the mosques are all the way down the street so when they call for prayer at 4am we are able to sleep right through it. Sand is everywhere, but not in the bedsheets!! (yet!)
Write soon!
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| happy Ramadan! |
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