Life in Egypt

If you're following me in Egypt or are coming to live here, check out the new blog of reviews, Cairo's Hits and Misses.

Getting Ready for THE BIG MOVE

I am packing my belongings to move them to... drumroll


EGYPT!

My departure date is uncertain, as we are waiting for the Egyptian government to issue my work visa. School starts around September 18th, so it should be within a few weeks.

I haven't updated my blog, well really, at all lately. I have a feeling that once I settle in Cairo, I'll be back to blogging. I'll need something to come back to that feels familiar and will also offer a chance to express myself.

After a month in Egypt with my dear Ahmed, I came back to NH for a week before heading to Boston to take the strangely exalted CELTA course (Certificate of English Teaching to Adults). For some reason, the CELTA is the most sought after qualification for teaching in the Middle East. I had never heard of it before I started looking into a teaching career in Egypt. The course proved to be, indeed, difficult, in many different ways. Perhaps I'll post more on that later, but I'll say now that if I knew what I would have to endure during the course before doing it, I wouldn't have done it. Certification or not.

Anyway, the school that hired me is run by a corporation which has companies in telecomunnication and construction, and is also active in charity.

Here's a little commercial:

I'm looking forward to meeting my students and all the teachers and administration. I'll have freedom with my lessons, and these kids will have lots of fun as well as be challenged. I can't wait.

Unsuccessful Dinner in Chinatown

I trekked back to Boston tonight after a long day of appealing the denial of my unemployment compensation. I decided to swing through Chinatown to get some dinner. I was there yesterday and got happily lost through all the restaurants, gift shops, aquarium fish stores... I wanted to get lunch but had zero appetite. So tonight was the night.

In 2004, someone I worked with at Fidelity Investments and had lived in China recommended Chau Chow City in Chinatown. He loved dim sum. I'm not into all the pork buns and stuff, but surely they could make some decent American-Chinese food.



I passed several restaurants on my way to Chau Chow, most filled with tourists. A ha! I won't go where the tourists go... I have the inside scoop!

I entered Chau Chow and saw I would be one of three tables full in the whole joint. The other two were Asian groups, one of which I think were employees. Ah well, I was there, might as well order up and see what happens.

It's pretty tough to screw up chicken egg foo yung. I make it at home! I ordered and it was brought out almost immediately... hmm... old foo yung, perhaps? I cut into the Chinese omelet and didn't see any chicken. I looked harder. What is that pink thing? That translucent thing, is that an onion, or...

Raw chicken.

I called the waiter over. "It's not cooked", I said. "Does the chef cook the chicken before adding it to the omelet?" Blank stare. I suddenly felt like I was back in Cairo. Keep the language simple, Beck. "Raw chicken".

"You don't like?"

"Meat is not cooked."

"Want something else from menu?" He rushed to grab a menu.

"Chicken. Pink. Cook longer."

"Ok we cook longer."

The second order took twice as long to come out as the first, so was hopeful. It was definitely cooked longer. Pretty much burnt on the edges. I sliced in and even the egg was cooked longer, so I continued. About halfway through the first omelet, I saw the raw chicken again. I went for the second omelet stacked in the middle, thinking just being sandwiched between two hot omelets would allow more time for internal cooking. It was better, but it still just wasn't tasty and the fear of food poisoning kind of ruined my appetite.

I asked for the bill and got my fortune cookie. The message: "Never give up".
I guess I'll try chicken egg foo yung in Chinatown another time. But I think I'll skip Chau Chow City.

Dates.

I love a good date.

Not the dinner and comedy club date (although I do love those, too), but a date.



I'd seen them before. They looked gross to me. Like an oversized raisin or prune. But while on vacation in Egypt, some were attractively displayed on the dessert buffet table on the cruise ship. I ate dessert with nearly every meal while cruising the Nile. Egyptians make some foods VERY good. Usually, it's Egyptian food. Others are a weak representation of another ethnicity's food. An effort, for sure, but almost never a success.

A date torte, for example, was so impressive I asked Ahmed to get the recipe from the chef. It would be a perfect dessert for our wedding reception, even. It was THAT good. Squares of "chocolate mousse", on the other hand, had an odd taste and texture. No thanks.

So I placed a few dates on my plate. My first time tasting a date, I did not expect the pit in the center. I chewed around the pit and was surprised at how sweet and effin' succulent this ugly fruit was. I ate dates with every meal following.

When I got home, I searched for my new found exotic food. Here, we have California medjool dates. They're pretty wrinkly and sometimes dry. Not what I remembered! I found some Algerian dates at the "middle eastern market" in Manchester, but they weren't as good either, but a decent substitute.

I returned to Egypt last May, just weeks before my dad passed away. Dates were not in season. Ahmed came to America in July and I asked for one thing, and one thing only. Dates. Dates were not in season. I've gone one year and two months without an Egyptian date. Will I have one next week? And maybe a dinner and comedy show date, too? I hope so!

A Man Worthy of Marriage

Finally, I am with a man who is worthy of marriage.

I've been with nice guys, exciting guys, fun guys, addict guys, asshole guys, guys who liked the idea of me but not the real me, 13 year old boy in a 30 year old body guys, you name it. But in the end, they were all boys. Boys who were unable or unwilling to grow up and become men.

I felt committed to previous guys, but there was always a catch. He's great except that he drinks too much, is addicted to porn, can't verbally express himself, doesn't spend enough time with me, puts me low on his list of priorities, wants me to be someone I'm not... I could go on and on.

My man is the first man I've been with. Before Ahmed, I'd never been with a man who I could unequivocally see as my husband. He is responsible, emotionally expressive, secure with who he is and knows what he offers.

He is also nice, exciting and very fun. He is emotionally mature and supportive, and mentally healthy with no hang ups. He cares for me in a way I've never been cared for before. He breaks down the walls I didn't even know I had, and does it lovingly and patiently.

Ten days after meeting him, I thought of him as my husband. Not a guy who I clicked with and wanted to see where it would go, not a boyfriend, not a guy who fulfilled some of my needs but not all. I thought of him as my husband.

We've been delayed about a year in our journey, but I think it's impeccable timing. We've been able to catch our breath before moving on to the next big step. Actually, it's more like a leap. I'm giving up my apartment in Hooksett for a flat in Cairo. We'll date like we would here until it's time to make it official. I'm fine with it all, because I'm finally with a man who is worth it.

Still Waiting

The house sold. I'm more than ready to go, but now we are waiting on probate court, which will take at least another 30 days. I worked my ass off getting my father's estate in order, but by the time it is finished, it will be nearly a year since his passing.

Probate is a bitch. Even with a specific will and organized documents, being an executor is very hard work and extremely time consuming. When this is all over, my life will begin again. I won't have the full time job of being sole executrix (female version of executor) and I can resume some normalcy - if normalcy means living in the Arab Republic of Egypt. Which for me, it does.

I really can't wait. I can't wait to pack up our sofa and go. My clothes are all ready. Everything else will go in storage or will be given away. It's almost time!

Moving Soon. Not across town... across the globe.

Standing at the top of Cairo Tower, overlooking Cairo. Below is the River Nile.

The house has been listed for 4 days and has been shown twice already. It's priced right and should sell quickly, even in this market. Once I receive the funds, I am off to Egypt, permanently!

The sofa will come, but everything else... eh. Can't bring electronics, unless I want to buy converters for each one. Some things may go in storage, others will be given away or donated.

I'll list some things up for grab when I'm ready to go.

I'm looking forward to the Egyptian lifestyle where everything is delivered and there is always time for cinnamon tea. Oh, and no snow. Thankfully.

TV can be very motivating

Hoarders makes me want to clean my apartment

Half Ton Dad makes me want to eat only celery

What Not to Wear makes me want to go shopping

and Down Home with the Neelys makes me want to cook a feast with Ahmed