The other day i got a call of my youngest uncle in Turkey, asking what i am getting up to on the 28th of July. Well of course my answer was: Writing my diploma thesis - just as every good student would answer. But then, when I heard what he had to tell me, I changed my plans in a second. I am flying to Turkey for a wedding - his wedding. Ata is getting married to Shukran (think you write her like this) on the 28th. What a great news. I am really happy for him. Great news - mabrouk atosch.
A friend of mine here would always tells me that i am very jumpy. I never really understood what he meant untill now i realise. Yes he is right i am jumpy and hyper flexible (as i would rename it). So should any one else plan to get married or plan a party - let me know... i am already getting two dresses tailored here in my last days in Cairo and i dont mind buying another one. Nadine - your wedding is already in my diary - so i am planning frankfurt in september.
The last week was really busy. I rented a car via a friend of mine and took my turkish mafia (Zuhal, Nihal + Mother and Oeznur) to the beach. Great time. Although the first day i was mainly sleeping. Second day was Oeznur´s B-day. So we had a smashing choco melon cake by the sea... what a lovely day.
Driving itself wasnt that bad - but once we hit the streets of cairo i just once again realised how bad egyptians drive - or should i say how different. So by humming to myself that i can drive however i want, I drove us home sound and safe.
Yesterday the girls left - all of them. So i am the only remaining German student here. Considering that i am leaving next week, i am now trying to see various people. Lets see if this works.
Schedule today:
- Wachs Lady 9:00 --> already got postphoned to tonight
- Furniture cleaner 11:00 --> Lets see if they come on time
- Meet Rascha Zakeria (Havent really seen her for a while - ups just got a text asking to postphone our meeting)
- Go for coffee with tati
- Go to fit on dress from Tailor nr. 1
- 9:30 second appointment for wachs lady
Tomorrow:
- Go to tailor nr. 2
- meet aida
- Actually had talked about meeting girls from work for lunch (not sure if it will work out)
- maybe go and buy cushion for amine and meriams baby in duesseldorf
- check out what kind of wedding present i can buy for my uncle
Tuesday:
- Meet the guys from University MIU around 6
- Go to After8 at night with Serene
Wednesday:
- go to pool
- Dinner with Tati in Taboule in Garden City
Thursday:
- if i find anybody - go to after8
Friday:
- Swiss Club with work (4-8)
Saturday:
- early flight off to Germany
I am sure i forgot the one or other thingy. Wow the days are short - time to make use of them.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Time to say good bye
Time is running and even if it is not me who is flying now, there are some other expats who are leaving the country. Paula, my flatmate, who has been here for 2 years left and the Schuhs (a lovely family) are also packing their bags.
Currently I have my two old friends here (Zuhal and Nihal) and their mother. So not only am i saying farewell to all but also doing the tour guide again. And it is soooooooooooo hot. I cant stand it. Of course the obligatory Khan Kalili was due yesterday and it killed me. My sweat was running down my body and i was getting more and more tense. I think my look made most people step back.
Tomorrow we will go to the beach again for 2 days - Moon Beach in Ras Sudre (Sinai). Cant wait to sit on the beach. The only prob are the Ritzer (fish with needles jumping at my feet - or my feet jumping on them).
Well and here is the other big news: I got my ticket. I am flying on the 7.7.2007 wow what a date. Yes i am going home earlier. It is too hot here and i ran out of money to travel. Sooo if anyone here in Egypt is reading this - make sure you meet me before i leave. And for the ones in Germany... get ready - i am coming back!!! The only thing is that i have 2 months to write my thesis... so maybe i wont be able to hang out as much as i would like to.
Thus I send you guys a big kiss from here - the city where the pavement is boiling, the air is vanishing and me... I am dying
Currently I have my two old friends here (Zuhal and Nihal) and their mother. So not only am i saying farewell to all but also doing the tour guide again. And it is soooooooooooo hot. I cant stand it. Of course the obligatory Khan Kalili was due yesterday and it killed me. My sweat was running down my body and i was getting more and more tense. I think my look made most people step back.
Tomorrow we will go to the beach again for 2 days - Moon Beach in Ras Sudre (Sinai). Cant wait to sit on the beach. The only prob are the Ritzer (fish with needles jumping at my feet - or my feet jumping on them).
Well and here is the other big news: I got my ticket. I am flying on the 7.7.2007 wow what a date. Yes i am going home earlier. It is too hot here and i ran out of money to travel. Sooo if anyone here in Egypt is reading this - make sure you meet me before i leave. And for the ones in Germany... get ready - i am coming back!!! The only thing is that i have 2 months to write my thesis... so maybe i wont be able to hang out as much as i would like to.
Thus I send you guys a big kiss from here - the city where the pavement is boiling, the air is vanishing and me... I am dying
Monday, June 11, 2007
Total Denial
Some actions in life make me realise that growing up is still far far away from me.
And the following phone call will prove that.
Background: A friend of mine lives with his mother (which is not unusual here ;o) and thus every now and then I call him at home. Usually he answers the phone or I just ask his mum to pass me Ahmed. No big deal one would think. But sometimes I do just put the phone down when she answers. Stupid I know - but it happened. And so it was last week. I dial the number - she answers and I put the phone down and focus on my work again.
Telephone rings (Conversation all in Arabic!!!):
- Good Evening (Nadia)
- Good Evening, Who is with me?
- Who is with me?
- You tell me who is with me, because you just now dialed my number and shut the phone
- No i didnt, who are you (turning red and feeling hot already although this is only the second sentence)
- Well you tell me who i am because you dialed this number
- No i didnt
- My dear lady tell me who you wanted to speak to
- Nobody
- Are you sure?
- Yes yes...
- whats your name?
- Fatma
- Fatma?
- Yes. Fatma.
- But you dialed this number Fatma. Who did you want to speak to?
- Well isnt this the number of Mohamed?
- Mohamed, no. Do you mean Mohamed or Ahmed(=her son)?
- No Mohamed.
- Are you sure? (Laughing) You dont want Ahmed?
- No.
- Tell me what number you dialed to reach Mohamed
- (Brain is working hard thinking what nr to give, coming to the conclusion that giving the right number is best... and so i do i tell her number by number)
- Well considering that that is this number here - I must be Mohamed
- He?
- I am Mohamed. You dont want Ahmed so you want Mohamed - so i am Mohamed (Laughing)
- (What does this women want?) No you arent.
- But you dialed this number. Where are you from my dear, you are not Egyptian (Background voice is telling her that i have an English accent and must be English)
So my answer:
- I am French
- Fatma from France?
- Yes yes Why?
- No nothing.So Fatma from France, you called to talk to Mohamed?
- Ahm yes (hesitating coz this is the longest chain of lies i ever had on a phone)
- laughing: Well i am sorry but Mohamed isnt here. I am here. So i am Mohamed. Where do you live Dokki or Mohandeseen
- (Damn how does she know this - denial denial it bangs in my head) Aguza (A district next to Dokki)
- Sure?
- Yeah sure of course
- Okay. Well...
- I am sorry
- Laughing... No i am sorry. Mohamed isnt here
- No problem, thats fine. Good bye?
- Bye my dear!
Wow... I survived this conversation in Arabic and then felt like getting drunk - what did i just now do? Why did i denial everything? And what did my brain do - take time off or what??? Come on... this women knows my voice and we have been talking on the phone many times, laughing coz we didnt understand each other. Ohhhhh my god. The most embarrassing phone call since i was 14 or ever in my life?.
Explanation: 1. I suddenly got all shy (dont ask me why) 2. I felt overrun by the sudden phone call and only could think of denying everything 3. My vocab in Arabic was too limited to just say i am sorry for the hassle 4. I dont know... my brain was switched off totally... And just to let you know... the women know exactly who i was the whole time ;o)
Well after laughing and turning red of embarrassment, I can now stand above it and share this beautiful denial conversation with you.
And the following phone call will prove that.
Background: A friend of mine lives with his mother (which is not unusual here ;o) and thus every now and then I call him at home. Usually he answers the phone or I just ask his mum to pass me Ahmed. No big deal one would think. But sometimes I do just put the phone down when she answers. Stupid I know - but it happened. And so it was last week. I dial the number - she answers and I put the phone down and focus on my work again.
Telephone rings (Conversation all in Arabic!!!):
- Good Evening (Nadia)
- Good Evening, Who is with me?
- Who is with me?
- You tell me who is with me, because you just now dialed my number and shut the phone
- No i didnt, who are you (turning red and feeling hot already although this is only the second sentence)
- Well you tell me who i am because you dialed this number
- No i didnt
- My dear lady tell me who you wanted to speak to
- Nobody
- Are you sure?
- Yes yes...
- whats your name?
- Fatma
- Fatma?
- Yes. Fatma.
- But you dialed this number Fatma. Who did you want to speak to?
- Well isnt this the number of Mohamed?
- Mohamed, no. Do you mean Mohamed or Ahmed(=her son)?
- No Mohamed.
- Are you sure? (Laughing) You dont want Ahmed?
- No.
- Tell me what number you dialed to reach Mohamed
- (Brain is working hard thinking what nr to give, coming to the conclusion that giving the right number is best... and so i do i tell her number by number)
- Well considering that that is this number here - I must be Mohamed
- He?
- I am Mohamed. You dont want Ahmed so you want Mohamed - so i am Mohamed (Laughing)
- (What does this women want?) No you arent.
- But you dialed this number. Where are you from my dear, you are not Egyptian (Background voice is telling her that i have an English accent and must be English)
So my answer:
- I am French
- Fatma from France?
- Yes yes Why?
- No nothing.So Fatma from France, you called to talk to Mohamed?
- Ahm yes (hesitating coz this is the longest chain of lies i ever had on a phone)
- laughing: Well i am sorry but Mohamed isnt here. I am here. So i am Mohamed. Where do you live Dokki or Mohandeseen
- (Damn how does she know this - denial denial it bangs in my head) Aguza (A district next to Dokki)
- Sure?
- Yeah sure of course
- Okay. Well...
- I am sorry
- Laughing... No i am sorry. Mohamed isnt here
- No problem, thats fine. Good bye?
- Bye my dear!
Wow... I survived this conversation in Arabic and then felt like getting drunk - what did i just now do? Why did i denial everything? And what did my brain do - take time off or what??? Come on... this women knows my voice and we have been talking on the phone many times, laughing coz we didnt understand each other. Ohhhhh my god. The most embarrassing phone call since i was 14 or ever in my life?.
Explanation: 1. I suddenly got all shy (dont ask me why) 2. I felt overrun by the sudden phone call and only could think of denying everything 3. My vocab in Arabic was too limited to just say i am sorry for the hassle 4. I dont know... my brain was switched off totally... And just to let you know... the women know exactly who i was the whole time ;o)
Well after laughing and turning red of embarrassment, I can now stand above it and share this beautiful denial conversation with you.
Another Nadia Action Day
Well before i get my guts together and start typing interview nr. 9, I thought I should give you a brief download on my day today. If i don't do it now, it will remain another one of these memories that is somewhere far far behind in my head. And we dont want that, right?
So, another visitor announced his arrival - Nadine, a dear friend from good old Frankfurt times. And she even brought another surprise. A little diamond on her finger and with that Christian - her new old boyfriend and now fiancee. But best of all she brought lots of goodies - champagne, sausages, bacon and gummibaerchen - yeahhhhh uhhhhh...
So today after sitting down and typing for 3 hours on the interview of this crap guy who speaks bad German with a southern German accent, I went off and met Nadine and Christian at the Citadell. Once buying my ticket (yeah i got it again for 2 Pounds - this is like a personal challenge every time to get through as Egyptian ;o) I showed them the beautiful little mosque far far back in the citadel compound. Beautiful paintings on the inner side of the mosque. Of course we had to check the Mohamed Ali mosque and then the Khan Kalili (Bazar). While looking for wedding rings, I of course couldnt resist buying leather sandals and pic up a nice necklace. Well of course we had to get food, so i took them to this old Egyptian restaurant in the Khan.
Well stuffed and tired of the people and dust, we then headed to the nile to take the felucca. As the taxi driver wanted far too much money - i made him do some shopping (water and pepsi) - which Nadine and Christian thought was great.
So once at the nile... we jump out of taxi and an inner voice tells me to check my bag. I stare into it for 3 seconds and then realise the reason why it is half empty is because i dropped my purse in the taxi. Throwing my stuff onto Christian and taking the flip flops off I start doing the sprint of my life (oh no - there was another one on the way to Marocco - remember tina ;o). I run and hope there is traffic - but of course for once in cairo the cars are rolling. I see the policeman and shout at him to stop the taxi. All i get is a hopeless look. I hear him whistle... and keep running. The taxi moves on and on... i cant breath any more. Well you all know that i am not a blessed runner. Again I think for a sec: Do i let my purse drive off or try to catch up??? Oh noooo i just lost my mobil - i cant also loose my purse. I continue running - barefooted and with full attention of the street.
The taxi stops and people get in. A motorbike drives past me - stop... take me and follow the taxi. The motorbikedriver sees my despair and offers help. Far down the road i see another guy stopping the car. I run and run and finally reach the cab. I shout my filus filus (and they understand that word!). The driver gets out - checks under the seat - the new passenger laughs at me and says how lucky i am and all i can think of is - damn no shoes and all the street is watching me.
So victoriously i walk down the street and show the asking people my purse!
For sure, i had to swallow a fly and choked for another half an hour on the felucca. And had to wet my pants coz this cough was sooooo bad. Even the felucca boat guy was continuously clapping my back. This fly is still in my throat.
Oh by the way - just to keep up the line of coincidences - on our way back in the felucca (=little nutshell) I suddenly saw this huge yacht pulling in at the same time and recognised my old office team. A big hello from one boat to the little nutshell. What a small world cairo is!
So time to stop coz little miss unhappy is next to me - telling me to stop.
So, another visitor announced his arrival - Nadine, a dear friend from good old Frankfurt times. And she even brought another surprise. A little diamond on her finger and with that Christian - her new old boyfriend and now fiancee. But best of all she brought lots of goodies - champagne, sausages, bacon and gummibaerchen - yeahhhhh uhhhhh...
So today after sitting down and typing for 3 hours on the interview of this crap guy who speaks bad German with a southern German accent, I went off and met Nadine and Christian at the Citadell. Once buying my ticket (yeah i got it again for 2 Pounds - this is like a personal challenge every time to get through as Egyptian ;o) I showed them the beautiful little mosque far far back in the citadel compound. Beautiful paintings on the inner side of the mosque. Of course we had to check the Mohamed Ali mosque and then the Khan Kalili (Bazar). While looking for wedding rings, I of course couldnt resist buying leather sandals and pic up a nice necklace. Well of course we had to get food, so i took them to this old Egyptian restaurant in the Khan.
Well stuffed and tired of the people and dust, we then headed to the nile to take the felucca. As the taxi driver wanted far too much money - i made him do some shopping (water and pepsi) - which Nadine and Christian thought was great.
So once at the nile... we jump out of taxi and an inner voice tells me to check my bag. I stare into it for 3 seconds and then realise the reason why it is half empty is because i dropped my purse in the taxi. Throwing my stuff onto Christian and taking the flip flops off I start doing the sprint of my life (oh no - there was another one on the way to Marocco - remember tina ;o). I run and hope there is traffic - but of course for once in cairo the cars are rolling. I see the policeman and shout at him to stop the taxi. All i get is a hopeless look. I hear him whistle... and keep running. The taxi moves on and on... i cant breath any more. Well you all know that i am not a blessed runner. Again I think for a sec: Do i let my purse drive off or try to catch up??? Oh noooo i just lost my mobil - i cant also loose my purse. I continue running - barefooted and with full attention of the street.
The taxi stops and people get in. A motorbike drives past me - stop... take me and follow the taxi. The motorbikedriver sees my despair and offers help. Far down the road i see another guy stopping the car. I run and run and finally reach the cab. I shout my filus filus (and they understand that word!). The driver gets out - checks under the seat - the new passenger laughs at me and says how lucky i am and all i can think of is - damn no shoes and all the street is watching me.
So victoriously i walk down the street and show the asking people my purse!
For sure, i had to swallow a fly and choked for another half an hour on the felucca. And had to wet my pants coz this cough was sooooo bad. Even the felucca boat guy was continuously clapping my back. This fly is still in my throat.
Oh by the way - just to keep up the line of coincidences - on our way back in the felucca (=little nutshell) I suddenly saw this huge yacht pulling in at the same time and recognised my old office team. A big hello from one boat to the little nutshell. What a small world cairo is!
So time to stop coz little miss unhappy is next to me - telling me to stop.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
The countdown started
or at least it started in my head... not that i already bought a flight ticket, or even started with my diploma thesis, but never the less my stay in Egypt is slowly but surely coming to an end as I now know that I want to be back home around the 12th of July. Amazing how time runs. Before looking to the future ,let me check what i got up to last week.
Well let me try to remember...
- My professor was here working in the project in the field of team building and org. dev.
- I went to the fabulous concert of Mohamed Mounir and after that joined Wust el Balad in the Jazz club (great night with nice people and lots of great music)
- Saw the same band in the Sakia (culture centre) on Thursday. Very cool - ppl sang along and it was a great athmosphere. The only thing i dont get, is how people can leave the concert with the last song and not even clap their hands as thanks for the band's entertainment.
- Friday, hmm friday what did i do??? Stay home and work??? think so. Sounds like me doesnt it??
Oh yeah, Saturday i had the pleasure of taking my professor shopping. Did some good bargaining which made him feel a little uncomfortable. Hihi. but hey, thats the way it goes here. After shopping for hours i went and joined ellen in the azhar park and once for a long time again, it was one of those days that you spend here with meeting frinds, drinking loads of ice chocolate shakes, and chit chatting.
I had some great and fun talks with my flatmates till late in the night and actually spent most of my time typing down the interviews. So that's what i have been up to...
All is fine...Big kiss to all of you
Well let me try to remember...
- My professor was here working in the project in the field of team building and org. dev.
- I went to the fabulous concert of Mohamed Mounir and after that joined Wust el Balad in the Jazz club (great night with nice people and lots of great music)
- Saw the same band in the Sakia (culture centre) on Thursday. Very cool - ppl sang along and it was a great athmosphere. The only thing i dont get, is how people can leave the concert with the last song and not even clap their hands as thanks for the band's entertainment.
- Friday, hmm friday what did i do??? Stay home and work??? think so. Sounds like me doesnt it??
Oh yeah, Saturday i had the pleasure of taking my professor shopping. Did some good bargaining which made him feel a little uncomfortable. Hihi. but hey, thats the way it goes here. After shopping for hours i went and joined ellen in the azhar park and once for a long time again, it was one of those days that you spend here with meeting frinds, drinking loads of ice chocolate shakes, and chit chatting.
I had some great and fun talks with my flatmates till late in the night and actually spent most of my time typing down the interviews. So that's what i have been up to...
All is fine...Big kiss to all of you
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