Cairo: Part 2

Every day life...

The posts are a bit sporadic here of late.  Sorry about that.  The first reason was due to our travel for our friend's wedding.  The second is the continuing saga of getting internet installed in our flat.  Yes, it's still continuing.  When we first arrived in July we immediately began the process for phone/internet installation.  However, it was Ramadan and schedules are off a bit during that time.  Okay, schedules are off a LOT during that time.  We were told after Ramadan.  Then the Eid (holiday) to celebrate the end of Ramadan arrived and well…schedules were now tired from all the celebration.

I'll skip forward and say that on Monday of this week (September) we had a visit from a man from Cen-TRAHL who created a working phone line for us.  Once that was in place, we could then go to the internet company and request DSL (which we did).  The sales lady smiled at us and told us 7-10 working days.  We are on Day 2, but we are in the cue!

Now that you know why our updates may be here and there, I'll pick up where I left off after our friend's wedding in Cairo.  We had another day in the city so we arranged with a taxi driver to "be our guy" for all our errands.  "Our guy" was busy so he sent a friend.  We climbed into the car and I smiled at the interior.  It was blingin'.  This isn't unusual.  A lot of taxi drivers cover the interior of their cars with all kinds of beautifications.  This driver however was making a statement by his choice of political dolls placed conspicuously from the center of the roof and the back window.  

He has handcuffs...

 Since the tensions in the country still continue, I decided that it wouldn't be prudent to ask him who they represented or what side he was on.  John sat in the front so he hadn't even noticed them.

Our first stop was to a place called Carre Foure.  This can be compared to a Super WalMart or Meijer.  It's set in a complex surrounded by smaller shops making it like a small mall.  John and I walked passed some of the stores toward the main entrance of Carre Foure and what did my eyes behold?  (Insert angels singing…)  Bath & Body Works!!!  This was not a mirage.  It was a full scale store complete with a 75% off banner hanging from the ceiling.  John said, "I can't believe it."  I couldn't either.  He immediately grabbed a basket because he knew we were going in.

I wandered from shelf to shelf checking prices and sniffing candles.  A 3-wick candle was on sale for 55 LE!  That works out to be $7.20!  Market Peach went into the bag followed by Leaves and Winter.  (Not big sellers on the last two…I imagine I can guess why…)  This was to be sort of a birthday mini-getaway for me so John let me shop with abandon.  I did keep it in check though.  I reminded myself that it would still be here upon a return trip.  Please let it still be here… Shopping there made me feel so normal.

We still had a lot of time so we walked up and down the aisles looking at computer printers, plastic bowls and soy sauces.  This was the first time that I didn't feel weird for having a full cart.  In fact, some people had 2 carts they were pulling/dragging through the store.  I finally called it good and we prepared for our final stop in the building…Chili's.  That's right.  Bring on the chips and salsa AND free refills.  

Not sure who this guy is...didn't ask.

I ordered a salad and John ordered a steak.  Both items we don't find in our town so we thought we'd go all out.  We enjoyed each other's company reminiscing of the times we had come to this same place with Emileigh and Aria.  It was still great.

We were happy to know that several of our friends from S* were now in Cairo.  We had made plans to meet them at a get together in the early evening.  Our driver whipped us across town back to our hotel where we repacked our stuff and made our way to our old neighborhood of Mohandiseen.  We could see remnants of the recent protests such as graffiti and posters, but really nothing else.  No gathering groups, no damaged buildings…It seemed quite calm.

A wonderful couple who had been on our team opened their home so we could all meet together.  As our former S colleagues arrived one by one we began catching up with their lives and all that had happened since we had been disbursed.  How good it was to see each of them!  When you live in a difficult environment away from family, those you work with become far more than colleagues.  They, too, become family because you share so many wonderful/difficult/weird experiences together.

We ate pizza, laughed, told stories until we had all decided that we were pretty worn out from the day and departed with hugs and invitations to come visit.  Our friends (the host couple) presented us with a pumpkin candle they had found and I almost cried.  They were speaking my love language.

After, we stayed up late talking with a dear friend who had graciously opened his home and finally going to sleep thankful for the people God allows to cross our paths.

The next morning we prepared for our trip back and did a final weight check on our luggage.  20 pounds under!  (I wonder how many candles that works out to be?) That's a crime!  We usually use every single ounce, but we simply ran out of money before we ran out of room.  

One of the many, many high-rises

We made the flight uneventfully and were overwhelmed by our reception.  Our taxi driver, Sadik, was there with a huge smile.  He took one of our bags and began asking us how our trip was.  John told him and then asked about him, his family and any news.  He reported that all was calm. Al Humdillalah! (Praise God!)

He drove us to through the Nubian village where we live and were greeted by friends who came out of their homes to hug us, kiss our cheeks and shake our hands.  They all began talking at once welcoming us back, asking about our trip and saying that they were glad to see us.  I have to say we were overwhelmed.  We have been doing "new" for so long that to return to some place and be known is an amazing feeling.

Yes, Cairo holds many friends, special memories and it's own flavor, but today it was good to be back in our little country home by the Nile.

Over the bridge

New mosque