One Egyptian's Perspective

I interviewed Ahmed for my blog in June, then posted it to the wrong blog. Oops! Here's my man's perspective on questions he is frequently asked by tourists. Leave a comment if you have any questions you'd like to ask and I'll post his answer!

Becky:
Ahmed, thanks for opening up your world of travel and tourism to share with us your perspectives on Egypt.

Ahmed:
You're welcome... but bear my bitter sarcasm.

Becky:
Why are you bitter?

Ahmed:
I'm not. My sarcasm is.

Becky:
Ok, let's get started then.

Ahmed:
Sure thing, Miss Bean.

Becky:
As a tour director, you must field lots of questions from travelers.

Ahmed:
I do... some are valid.

Becky:
What is the strangest question you've heard?

Ahmed:
Well, there are a bunch actually. Here are a few of my all time favourites:

Q. How many months do Egyptian women & Arab women in general stay pregnant for?
A: They don't get pregnant. They lay eggs.

Becky:
You actually received that question?

Ahmed:
She actually believed my answer.

Becky:
Where was she from?

Ahmed:
USA. She was pissed off big time next day because she found out that women here give birth. She felt, and I quote, "offended".

Becky:
What's another strange question you've received?

Ahmed:
What is the name of the "unknown soldier" at the Alexandria KIA memorial? How did the ancient Egyptians know that Jesus Christ would be born in 2300 years?

Becky:
Great. People have also asked you, "Why are there people standing on the streets? What are they waiting for?"

Ahmed:
Oh yeah... that's a very frequent question, especially from the USA. My answer always differs.

Becky:
What is the real answer?

Ahmed:
The real answer is... Go ask them. Here are a few insights: Waiting for transportation, waiting in the shade instead of queuing up on a scorching hot tarmac to buy something, or at a governmental office, maybe hanging out till somebody meets them, or simply they could be shop owners stretching their legs.

Becky:
Another question you are asked is, "Why do men kiss and hold hands?"

Ahmed:
Yeah... it is a Mediterranean thing. They kiss in Paris, Rome, Greece, Spain.
I guess they are not homophobes here. Men are comfortable with their masculinity.

Becky:
When I was there with you, I noticed two men walking arm in arm. I assumed they were very comfortable with their homosexuality.

Ahmed:
No harm in kissing cheek to cheek or hold hands like a groom walks a bride down the isle, in the same style of locking arms. I think in Arab culture, there is nothing sexual about holding hands... it is friendship, human connection and comradery.

Becky:
"Why do women wear veils covering the hair? Do men force them to do this?"

Ahmed:
Women wear veils as a matter of choice. It starts with the tribes of Arabia... thousands of years ago, measuring their wealth based on cattle head, gold and how many slaves they own of both genders. Men were for labor. Women for sexual use. So every night women would be raped, until the prophet came along and established that all "man" is equal before the eyes of G (God), regardless of skin tone, social background or ethnic origin. It was equal to today someone asking everybody to give up their materialistic wealth, so of course they mocked him and gave him a hard time.

One of the things that distinguished mistresses from slaves was the dress code. Women in bondage were either topless, nude or barely covered, whereas noble woman covered up in long gowns and scarfs. It was the order of G that all women be dignified the same, so all women were given the right to dress up the same and cover the same, based on all men equal before the Almighty's eyes.

If it is the word of G that a woman be covered, NO MAN can uncover her against her will. In modern day some women choose to cover. Some feel safe not covering up.
It's personal choice in 96% of the places where Islam is the prevailing religious practice. But some non Arab countries... deeply steeped in other forms of binding religious practices, like Afghanistan or Iran or Pakistan or Malaysia... force women to wear the veil by the force of law or society, which takes women right back to bondage. Because now they are dressing in a code against their will.

Becky:
Why do women in small villages wear black?

Ahmed:
Conservative societies get very self conscious. Any color than black would reveal the figure in a bright country like Egypt, especially from a distance in an open field. So black conceals the figure of a woman... same idea. She has the right to not be revealed against her will.

Becky:
Are there any other questions that foreigners ask that you feel need real answers?

Ahmed:
Yes. Unfinished buildings are not finished because the people that live there are obviously poor. Driving rules are not there as there are more pressing issues than regulating traffic, when the population is big and the governmental offices are over loaded.

The 10:15 pm phone interview with three doctors in Nepal was an interesting experience, to say the least. They really need a pharmacist. I'm not a pharmacist. I told that to the recruiter in Bonn, Germany, but they must have had a lack of interested parties, since my name was thrown in the hat.

So now I am back to work with a humanitarian organization. It hasn't been a very pleasant or positive experience, but I like the health insurance and vacation time. I'll keep working until all my minor medical issues are addressed and until my father's estate is settled. I'm sure by then I'll be at a boiling point in this organization and more than ready to leave. Hopefully Egypt will be ready for me at that time as well.


Ahmed came to NH and we spent three weeks of wonderful one on one time. We both had the distinct impression that we are meant to be together in Egypt, not the States. It feels far more "right" and natural for us to be in Egypt.

While he was here, we hung out with friends and my mom. A few things about the US surprised him. He was impressed how everyone does their job, how green it is here and how people are fairly laid back. Americans on vacation in Egypt can be a little high strung. In our own environment where we know what to expect, we're pretty calm.

I brought him to a few classic American spots and we did some pretty average things. I wanted him to experience every day life here. When we were in Maadi, we also did average things, and it was great to experience grocery shopping in Egypt.

We saw a 3D IMAX film at Jordan's Furniture. After lunch at Fuddrucker's, we checked out all the furniture and Bose systems. Ahmed and I have almost the same exact taste in furniture. We both fell in love with a leather sofa. It was perfect for us. We could both lay down and look at each other. We spend a lot of our time talking, so it was great. As we reclined on the floor model, a woman walked by and commented that the sofa looked like "us". It's definitely us.



All my furniture was handed down and I didn't have any "adult" furniture. Ahmed and I thought this was a great first piece for me, but more importantly, a great symbol of our future together. Ahmed bought the sofa for us, and it will come to Egypt.

I think we'll find other must haves as we travel the world together. I love all the chandeliers in Egypt. I wonder what we'll find in Tanzania or Morocco, two places we're considering for our honeymoon. We have so much to explore together and I can't wait to get started.

A detour to Nepal before Egypt?

Somehow the UN (United Nations) found me and now I am being interviewed for a mission in Nepal. Actually, I think they first heard about me via UNICEF, as I signed up for volunteerism a while back.

Our first contact was via a phone call from Bonn, Germany. The woman who called me had a high pitched voice, sounded Asian, and announced she was calling from the UN. My first reaction was, "yeah, RIGHT!" Thankfully that was silent. I swore it was a prank call. We initially discussed a six month mission in Kabul, Afghanistan. I said I was interested, and they emailed the details. It included information about hardship in relation to living conditions, and hazard pay would be added to the normal pay.

I'd been trying to find a job in Cairo with the UN or one of its organizations. I applied for a campaign with the WHO (World Health Organization) a while back but haven't heard anything to date.

I briefly considered the Kabul post so I could get in with the UN and be available for Egypt assignments. After researching the current security status of Kabul and talking it over with Ahmed, I declined further interest.

The same lady in Bonn called me in July about another mission that fit my profile. This one is in Kathmandu, Nepal. I am qualified for the job in many ways, but I'm unsure if I'm what they're looking for. Nepal has undergone a change in government in the past few years. The UN is there for a peace keeping mission, but there hasn't been much unrest or violence recently. There was a protest a few days ago, but it seemed contained. I indicated my availability and interest, and heard nothing until a week ago. I was contacted by the mission in Nepal, and after negotiating the time difference, I will be interview on the phone tomorrow night.

The mission in Nepal is short term - only three months. I am in the middle of handling my father's estate and just started a new job, so it will be tricky. But if offered, I think it'll be an opportunity I can't pass up.