Censorship and Intimidation/Arrest

As much as I want to, I am unable to blog about the current events in Egypt.

Things I Miss

Things I Miss in the USA

I miss the crappy Polynesian food that makes you fat and bloated.

I miss walking into a Wal*Mart and knowing that whatever I need (anything at all), I can most likely find there. And if not, I can drive a block to a Target and get it there. At the same time, I am now acutely aware of the consumerism and materialism that pervades daily life in the US. Things like that just aren't important here. But, I miss knowing where to go to get slippers, ponytail holders and cheap but good shoes. I haven't found any of these here.

I miss things that work more often than are broken. Like trusting if I buy something in a store, it's most likely going to work at home. And if not, no problem returning it. Here, you take any electronic out of its box and a clerk will plug it in for you, to make sure it works before buying it.

I miss not caring where something was made, because it'll most likely work for a long time. Here, pricing signs list the country of origin. If it's made in China, expect it to break quickly. I think the China exports to the US are first quality, while we get close to last. A selling point of a scale I bought was that it's made in Germany. Who cares? It actually matters here.

I miss fresh chicken and vegetables that don't go bad in a few days. CONVERSELY, I'm shocked at how US food is loaded with preservatives so it doesn't go bad so soon. That's a real wake up call about the US food supply. Even bread will get moldy if you leave it out of the fridge for two days. No preservatives.

CHINATOWN

I miss having options. Sure, you can find face wash. Pick any of the four brands available. And it's the same four brands no matter where you go.

Oh, how I miss Mexican food. I make it at home when I can find most of the ingredients, but it would be nice to get a reliable fajita at a restaurant. Even the nachos are weird.

I miss washing my clothes normally.

I miss having fairly clean shoes after walking downtown.

Things I Would Miss about Egypt

Feeling safe, no matter where I am.

Being valued as a woman. Or rather, my value isn't based on how much cleavage or ass I show to the general public, in fact, it's the exact opposite.

A man is a man here. He will always offer his seat, carry your bags, speak gently to you, never let you pay for anything, is the proud provider for his family and treats you tenderly, as if you were his sister or mom.

A sense of community that just doesn't exist in the US. People reach out to one another, even strangers. If there's a car crash, several people (strangers) will pull over to help. If there's a physical altercation between two men, a crowd will form, not to watch, but to break it up and keep the peace.

There are many, many common ties between Egyptians, and no matter your social status, you will have things in common, some of which may surprise you.

There is a proud solidarity amongst Egyptians (and any foreigner they've taken under their wing) that is very different than American unity. Personal relationships mean so much more here, and the pride doesn't come from a strong military or personal buying power.

When something tragic happens in the US, the general consensus is what the news tells Americans. When something tragic happens here, we have an innate sense of what REALLY happened.

I'd miss all the cats, and how they have no idea what I'm throwing near them when I give them cat food. I'd miss the kittens, who are getting bigger, that hang out at Gold's Gym.

I'd miss all the specialized shops. There's one store for plastic bags, another for lamps, another for mirrors, or socks.

I'd miss the call to prayer five times daily, that reminds everyone what is most important: GOD.