Reading the newspapers...

I've never been into politics ... or maybe I was in my teenage years, when i used to get into political debates with my friends; we just thought it was cool and it made us look smart! lol

I was reading a newspaper the other day, just to put myself up to date with what is going on at home in Romania. Apparently, Iranians seem to be bothered that Romania is hosting American military... We've been hosting them for years now!!! Obviously they do not like it and started saying childish things and making accusations such as my country had Russia (former URSS) as a master before 1989 (during the communist era) and now we have another, referring to the USA just because we are allies. They went on saying the US is just using my country to place its military forces and equipment and that they will ditch us the minute Romania won't be useful anymore. I won't get into that....

An Iranian blogger goes on to say that during Ceausescu's times we were friends of the Muslims and now the US has made us their colony. He is saying that after we killed Ceausescu, we got ourselves a society like the Americans with crime, drugs, corruption, nasty movies ...

People started posting comments on this article ... I couldn't be bothered!!!

Here's the link, for those of you who can read Romanian http://www.evz.ro/articole/detalii-articol/887273/Pana-in-1989-ati-avut-un-stapan---Rusia-acum-aveti-altul/

People around... the Mogamma

Saturday morning ... 7 am; looks like a wonderful day... smells like spring to me; that smell brings me back to my childhood, when I stopped and looked at the first blossom in the cherry tree in our garden. Well, the spring smell did not last long... as I left the house and got hit in the face by the pollution in Cairo!

I made my way downtown to Tahrir Square to collect my visa. I left the house thinking I am going to enjoy the day and observe the people around me. The metro ride was pretty busy - a lot of people heading to work, school or somewhere else. I turned my ipod on and listened to music. As I entered the Mogamma building I turned it off and full of confidence went straight to desk 38 and asked for my visa. It was not 9 o'clock yet, so they made me wait; finally, I managed to squeeze through the crowd of people already gathered there and handed in my passport. This time, there was a different lady - not the one with nice make-up on and lovely colours on, but another one - this particular lady was chewing gum and it made me think of my sheep on FarmVille, she had no make-up on and her clothes were dark green... a green that makes me think of the army.

Anyway, after the usual answer: "Come back in 2 hours", I left for breakfast. I usually go and have breakfast at mcDonalds, but decided to go to Cilantro this time, just for a change. Cilantro was very busy for that time of the day - a lot of loud people, loud music ... I put my headphones on, listened to my own music, ordered a Mocha (the only kind of coffee that I get at Cilantro's) and a croissant. I pulled a book out and started reading... I got immersed in my book and did not realise when everybody has left and the music was turned down. After the 2 hrs had passed, I went back to get my passport. To my surprise they didn't have it yet. I sat down and continued reading my book. I kept watching the people passing by, collecting their passports and wondered why mine was not ready. I started building scenarios in my mind that something might be wrong ... Then I looked around and noticed so many different people, so many different passports - usually you see 2 colours of passports: blue or dark red. I saw different shades of green passports, light blue, red passports and tried to figure out the countries ... It was a difficult exercise. This one lady who sat next to me pulled her passport out, as soon as I sat down ... it was an American passport; she looked Egyptian to me ... her features, the colour of her hair and soon I discovered she spoke Arabic and could read Arabic. Hmm... I should write a different entry about this particular gesture!

I saw the policeman that usually asks for my passport, the old lady with VERY thick glasses who sells stamps (last time i went, she was not there - I like her!!! she looks sweet), the lady who wears a lot of make-up that does not quite suit the colour of her clothes, especially that bright red lipstick, and of course, my favourite - the big fat blonde lady!!! That woman is bitter!!! I tried everything but I cant win her .. she just wouldnt smile!

By this time I'd been waiting for over 3 hrs .... an old lady comes and sits next to me ... I guess she is from Norway or a Scandinavian country ... She smells like an old person... I've noticed that most old people have a particular smell... I am feeling rather sick, needing a bathroom and wanting to be home in my bed. She talks to this Egyptian young woman who is helping her with the paperwork. I hear she had divorced her husband (an Egyptian) a long time ago. Then, a young man, asks for permission to sit next to the young woman; she compliments him on his Arabic and she asks where he's from. He says his mom is American and his dad is Lebanese (btw, he looked very blonde and very white!) and that he goes back and forth from here to the States. This conversation is in Arabic, so I am impressed with myself - I understood!!! :D Then they switch to English and talk about Lebanon ... The old lady joins their conversation; it is revealed that she is actually from Denmark and moved back to Cairo where she's bought a flat to be closer to her grandchildren. They end up talking about the States - very bluntly (like most Scandinavians), the old lady says she has lived in the US and hates it! she says she did not like it at all ... she did not like the people and how ignorant they are. The young man tries telling her that "America is beautiful" and "there are many lovely people there!"... She goes: "NO!! I dont like America, I dont like the people!" He goes: "Well, I am American!" The old lady interrupts him: "I dont care!". That is where that conversation stopped; no one said anything ...

It was funny for me to watch this old lady, not willing to listen to anything the young man was trying to tell her... she was really decided she does not like America and nothing he could say or do could make her change her mind.

I turn around, keep watching the people ... when I decide to ask for my passport again (4th time). I guess the lady with the chewing gum felt sorry for me and directs me to her colleague on her right; yep!!! she had my passport this whole time!!!! I decide it is not worth getting upset over it, I say thank you and leave.

One last interesting thing was on the metro - this one lady with her black burka, big glitzy shades and ..... a PINK pair of trainers with a chain that went across it with charms. The trainers were brand new .... I liked them (I think I should get a pair), but for some reason they did just not fit the black burka and the shades!

Picking nose ...

My children, like any children like to pick their nose... the worst part is that they eat whatever they find inside!! :D One little boy, even said with a mischievious smile on his face that boogers are his second favourite food.

I don't blame them, as I used to do the same when I was little; but I am still trying to do my job and tell them it is not appropriate, that dust gets collected in the nose and "monsters" (our word for germs); so, I keep telling them that the monsters are going to go into our body and make us sick. At that point one boy stands up and looking very serious, says: "Well then I will drink a lot of water and the monsters will drown!"

I started laughing and thought that was very smart coming from a 5 year old.

On cultures and standard of living

"The world in which you were born is just one model of reality. OTHER CULTURES ARE NOT FAILED ATTEMPTS AT BEING YOU, they are unique manifestations of the human spirit." Wade Davis

I found this poster at a friend's house.... I liked it the first time I saw it and thought: "It really speaks to my soul!".
I've always thought of myself as a very open person ... open to culture, to diversity ... thinking I accept the South-American tribes and their nakedness, I accept the Asian culture with the weird cuisine, I accept the Muslim world with their burkas....
however, I seem to get annoyed when I hear people living in a different culture than theirs complain over one thing or another. I guess that is one sign that I do not accept those people because they do not have the same understanding that I have, the same perspectives that I have... therefore, it somehow puts me in the same boat as them: complaining over other cultures and the way they perceive life. I am not sure if it makes sense ... but it does to me!
I learned a lesson this week: "other people are not failed attempts at being me!" and I am not better because I do not wear a burka, or on the contrary go naked thinking the proper way to go dressed in public is to wear the clothes that I am wearing;
I am not better because I live in a nice flat with running water and a toilet that flushes instead of a hut with no insulation.
I am not better because I have a toaster, washing machine, a dish-washer instead of an open fire or the river to wash my clothes.
I am not better because I eat what I call proper food like chilli, bbq chicken, apple pie instead of tarantulas, rice and beans, cats!
I am not better because I drive a car compared to a horse and cart.
I am not better because I am educated ...
I am not better because I can use a computer and have access to information...
I am not better because I have a bank account and I organise my savings...
I am not better because I can speak 4 languages .... one should be enough!

I remember growing up during the communism and not having satellite, Internet, toaster or dish-washer ... but my world was ok and I was happy because I DID NOT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE! I can look back and say: "How on earth did we manage without cell phones or even landline?" I guess the sense of community was stronger, people were more attentive to their neighbour's needs, concerns, joys ....
While the world felt sorry for my country, the common man/woman was ok, because they did not know any better... Now, was that better BETTER? From some points of view, yes .... from others, no. Not that I regret the communism... God forbid! But the simplicity of that life was so much better!!
Now we think we can do it on our own and we become individualistic, self-centred ... I hear people say that in their country, they do not even know their neighbours ... because we don't need them! We can do things OURSELVES! We have a TV to keep us company, a cell phone if we need to order food, a car to go places ...

Is the one or the other life-style better? My answer: NO! I am not to judge any person for their way of living ... A very wise man told me last week that I have been fortunate to experience both ... I have witnessed history!
Indeed ... I guess I have been blessed and I hope I can pass this to my children and grandchildren.

Just a day

I burnt the porridge this morning (that is because I was reading some exciting emails) ... But I ate it anyway - or what was left of it! I don't like throwing away food - it was not too bad.. what was left of it... I added maple syrup to it!
Anyway I decided to leave the house and go to Rd 9 and get some things done... nothing exciting about that... What I like to do when I have time, is to go into the Pharaonic Flowers Shop and look at the flowers. They had my favourites: calla lillies - even in different colours - white, yellow and dark red!!! I was tempted to buy some, then I heard the price and it put me off! That shop tends to be very expensive...
Anyway, I made friends with the guy from the carpentry shop next to El Greco Coffee and he gave me a piece of wood that I need to stretch paper. :)
My little getaway had to end up the same way it started - I got a taxi back home and apart from the fact the guy took me all over Maadi he had "problems" with his meter. I've been watching it the whole ride (due to previous experiences); it was stil 2.50 LE, then 30 seconds later it was 4.90 LE. I pointed it out to him and immediately he pressed the start button again, that brought us back to 2.50 LE.
I was reading an article in the CSA magazine some time ago and they were talking about the white taxis that have meters etc and what a brilliant idea that is!!! Well, some drivers still try to rip you off and they have found methods to do that...

"Don't cry over the spilt ...YOGURT!!!"

How a yogurt can spoil your day
Usually, it shouldn't... but if your name is Gaby and it is the 27th of January it surely will! So, while flying to South Africa in December we were served with a delicious yogurt for breakfast. I loved it and i was sad i couldn't get it in Cairo. Well, i went to the supermaket this week and there it was!! So i bought a couple.
I took one to school thinking i will have it for snack. I walked into the kitchen around 10 thinking I will have my delicious yogurt; there was a note on the wall about this yogurt that fell out of the fridge and was all spilt on the floor. As soon as i read that i thought: I hope it is not mine!! Well, lucky me, IT WAS!!!!!!!! (this happened after another yogurt has misteriously vanished).
Well at that point i felt i had had enough of the "yogurt story", so like most women do, i shouted!! (bad thought, i guess ... actually not thought, but more of an impulse!).
Yogurt therapy followed with Gina.
Yogurt therapy 2 with boss (:O).
Yogurt therapy 3 with Cristina (sort of - or different kind of therapy).
Yogurt therapy 4 with Gina.
Yogurt therapy 5 with blogger.
How fun! (wish there was a sarcasm font!)
Don't cry over spilt yogurt ....
- it's just a yogurt
- I have another one at home
- it's just 2 LE
Well it is Wednesday and it is nearly the end of the week ... my nerves can't be stretched any more!

South Africa .... just thoughts

I have recently returned from South Africa ... i spent 3 weeks there. It has been long with many exciting things to do and see, but i have richly enjoyed it. When you say

South Africa, you immediately think of the continent and expect it to be a shady country with not much to offer (I do have to say that a lot of people do not know it is actually a country and not an area of the continent. There are still people who say: "ohh, South of Africa... where exactly in the South of Africa?"). As soon as I said South Africa to a friend, she said: Charlize Theron! That is good to know, isnt it? Anyway ... back to my trip.... I traveled Ethiopian Airlines .. not bad, not bad at all!! We first stopped in Khartoum (Sudan) to get more people, and then took off again to land in Addis Ababa where i changed planes. Another 8 hrs of flying from Addis to Johannesburg.

There is so much to say ... i do not even know where to start. As soon as you land, you think you're in Europe. At least, that was my first impression. The country itself is very developed with very good infrastructure and then ..... the scenery is breathtaking!! No wonder Lonely Planet has declared Cape Town the most wonderful city in the world! Coming from Egypt, where green is not a colour that you see very often (unless you live in Maadi, like me!) i was delighted to see the fresh green everywhere.

From getting locked in the bathroom somewhere near George to trying snails, it has been quite an exciting adventure!

I was able to experience a couple of days in a safari, chasing after leopards, looking for the elephants, seeing the rhinos, zebras, looking for the lions in the middle of the night ... being waken up in the morning by the sound of hippos bathing in the river...

I was quite blessed to get a diverse experience of what South Africa is: not just wild life and safaris, but city life in Johannesburg and Cape Town; going to see "Cats", the musical in Cape Town and watching "Cinderela on Ice" in Johanneburg.

Stopping at Plattenburg for a breath taking view was unforgettable ... Just as we were driving from George on N1 (or 2?) towards Cape Town on the Garden Route, you see the townships (places where the non-whites used to live during the apartheid (and some of them still live there)... it is such a contrast!! Some of them have their huts on a hill where you can get a gorgeous view of the ocean, but i am sure they do not appreciate that, and there is nothing wrong with it! While Westerners go for the view, some people are just happy to have a place to lay their heads at night.

Meeting old friends from Cairo in Bloemfontein has been wonderful!! You kind of get the feeling that you finally know someone or a place ... and it brings a sense of comfort in a way. You get to meet new people as well and with it come all the facebook friend request (lol).

I spent 5 days in Cape Town ... the weather was terrible during the whole time .... Table

Mountain was constantly covered with a cloud and i thought i will not be able to go up there and view the whole city. I had already bought a ticket for the cable car, so i had no choice but to go. Anyway, i took the hop on-hop off bus and that too me all over the city; one of the stops was the cable car to the mountain. Guess what? That day, the cloud was gone and i was able to get a very good view of the city and take some cool shots!!!

Food... well, when it comes to food ... i've tried some South African stuff (billtong and a poikje -

still not sure of that spelling), but i got to hate sushi and fish even more than i did already! lol. I still like my mum's fish best, though (it is the only fish that i would eat now!). Litchis were my favourite!!!!!!!!!!!!! I recall i had them once before, but they were canned... now i got to taste the real thing!! I wish i had a tree at my house! :)

Spending Christmas by the Indian Ocean, in a cottage by Riet River has definitely calmed my troubled spirit ... walking on the beach has never been more peaceful than then!

One of my favourite things was seeing the Kappse Klopse - it is a traditional festival of the coloured population, to celebrate the New Year, on January 2nd.

People in bright coloured costumes, with their faces painted, holding umbrellas and playing different instruments take over the streets of Cape Town. They are organised in troupes, each of them representing something (a minority, as far as i understood).

Now there is a whole dynamic of the white and non-white population ... i will not got into that, for political reasons ... i do have my opinion, but i guess it is better to keep it to myself.

I got to meet Keisha, Harry and Sally, 3 elephants that conquered my heart (plus a few more others) - i got to touch them and talk to them! Holding a lion cub's paw has been another amazing thing!!!

These things and the feelings that come with them, cannot be put into words nor shared, so i was content to just absorb everything and hold it inside, hoping that it will stay there forever! These are things one should experience, not just read about. As we were driving i was just content to look around, take everything in, like a deep breath and keep it in ... maybe until next time, because there will be a next time for sure!

PS: I am starting to hate blogspot as it messes a lot with the post and pictures!