I decided to have an early start of the day so i met up with Helen to get some work done, although we are still on holiday. We decided to start "in style"and we went for a delicious breakfast at Lucille's on Rd 9. I was very pleased and stuffed!
But the day didnt quite start as pleasantly as it sounds; since i had no Egyptian pounds i decided to go to the Grand Mall first to get some money exchanged. I took a taxi from Kimo market and asked him to wait for me at the Mall.
Well, as soon as i got on the taxi the driver kept going on and on about how beautiful i am. I should be blushing now! LOL Then he went on asking personal questions (which i usually do not mind - especially coming from the children in my class): am i married?, do i have a boyfriend?, do i work in Egypt? etc. It was rather uncomfortable, especially when he started saying that he is single.
At one point he lit up a cigarette asking me if i smoke; my "No"led to another question: Why?
I was puzzled and didnt know what he means; he kept going: "you are beautiful, you do not have a boyfriend, you do not smoke ... you have everything!" He said me and him should be together ...
Hmmm, i pretended i didnt hear that.
Thank God my phone started ringing right when he started saying that he wants to see me again. But he made sure i get that info, so when i got out of the taxi he said it again! I said: "I'm not sure about that!"
So, according to this man, i "have everything" - i guess this is what they look in a woman when they want to get married - single, beautiful, not smoking.... Hmm, i wonder how many eligible women are there for this guy? Probably thousands!lol
Showing posts with label cultural shock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cultural shock. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Ramadan Kareem/Karim!!
Well, not so kareem to me ....!
It is that time of the year when all the Muslims fast for 40 days ... hats off to them! In the business of getting ready for the school year to start, i hardly noticed that Ramadan has started (apart from yesterday when Kristen went to the shop and came back saying it was closed for iftar).
I left school late today, around 5 o'clock - half an hour before iftar (breaking of fast); i had an apple and i took two bites. I started walking home (i hardly ever walk, i usually take a taxi) ... well, as i was walking on the side of the road and there was a traffic jam, the drivers have noticed the apple i was holding in my hand... So, one man started shouting and cursing me for eating during the fast, another one shouted something, another one passed by saying "Haram!", and another one on whose face i could read anger apart from his voice....
That is when i decided that walking was not such a good idea and i got into a taxi!
It is that time of the year when all the Muslims fast for 40 days ... hats off to them! In the business of getting ready for the school year to start, i hardly noticed that Ramadan has started (apart from yesterday when Kristen went to the shop and came back saying it was closed for iftar).
I left school late today, around 5 o'clock - half an hour before iftar (breaking of fast); i had an apple and i took two bites. I started walking home (i hardly ever walk, i usually take a taxi) ... well, as i was walking on the side of the road and there was a traffic jam, the drivers have noticed the apple i was holding in my hand... So, one man started shouting and cursing me for eating during the fast, another one shouted something, another one passed by saying "Haram!", and another one on whose face i could read anger apart from his voice....
That is when i decided that walking was not such a good idea and i got into a taxi!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
"Fighting with the windmills"
Life in Egypt is never boring... although according to Nichole we had a boring week; we did not do anything apart from going to school and back home (actually Kathy's home, as we've been house sitting). I was exhausted this week and didnt do much; just work and home. So, just to compensate, we went to McDonalds onThursday evening for dinner, just because we didnt know where else to go. :(
So, as i was saying... Egypt is not boring; i was suppose to go to a race today ... one that i've been looking forward to go since the beginning of March. Don't get me wrong, i was not planning on running for the big prize, but just being there with all the people only to be able to say i was in a race. In was a fundraising event for CCS. Anyway, i had to cancel that and go to my "favourite" place in Cairo - Mogamma ... again!!!!!!
I had arranged with Ehab to have an Egyptian man coming with me this time. So, Hany came- he does not speak any English, but this time i had a less traumatic experience that the previous ones. I just handed the papers and i'll have to go back in 10 days.
When i left the building (which btw, depresses me) i was at peace and i had a picture of Don Quijote/Quixote fighting with the windmills. Don't know if you've ever read the book or know the story; we have a saying in Romanian when you're fighting against something that is not worth fighting for because there is no way of winning and that is "fighting with the windmills" - just like Don Quijote.
That is how i felt like this morning - there was no point in fighting with them anymore or getting frustrated, because they still have their system, which is "no system" (quoting an Egyptian).
I chose to do it their way and left without any comments. I went to Road 9 for a bagel, met Luke then headed to Cilantro for coffee. Now i am at school, although it is the weekend ... i have loads of work to do! Nearly done...
So, as i was saying... Egypt is not boring; i was suppose to go to a race today ... one that i've been looking forward to go since the beginning of March. Don't get me wrong, i was not planning on running for the big prize, but just being there with all the people only to be able to say i was in a race. In was a fundraising event for CCS. Anyway, i had to cancel that and go to my "favourite" place in Cairo - Mogamma ... again!!!!!!
I had arranged with Ehab to have an Egyptian man coming with me this time. So, Hany came- he does not speak any English, but this time i had a less traumatic experience that the previous ones. I just handed the papers and i'll have to go back in 10 days.
When i left the building (which btw, depresses me) i was at peace and i had a picture of Don Quijote/Quixote fighting with the windmills. Don't know if you've ever read the book or know the story; we have a saying in Romanian when you're fighting against something that is not worth fighting for because there is no way of winning and that is "fighting with the windmills" - just like Don Quijote.
That is how i felt like this morning - there was no point in fighting with them anymore or getting frustrated, because they still have their system, which is "no system" (quoting an Egyptian).
I chose to do it their way and left without any comments. I went to Road 9 for a bagel, met Luke then headed to Cilantro for coffee. Now i am at school, although it is the weekend ... i have loads of work to do! Nearly done...
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Trip to Aswan - Day 1
We had a short break, for the December Eid, so we decided to go to Aswan. the whole group was suppose to go, but people changed theird mind - so in the end it was just me, Nichole, Rachel and Esther. After a busy week, Esther and Rach went to the train station to get tickets the day before we left. Surprise: there were no more tickets. We decided to go early in the morning - maybe they will add another car to the train.
Early in the morning - we wake up - NIchole is sick. We make it to the metro station ... Nichole throws up. My oppinion - she will get better once she's thrown up. We manage to buy our tickets for 136 LE, French class (whatever that was suppose to mean) while NIchole keeps throwing up.
We were told to go to car 7, where 1st class was - we get on through the crowd of people, find our seats taken. Rach talks to them, NIchole is still sick, telling me she wants to go back home. I feel bad and try to convince her to stay. At the same time, men on the train laugh and make jokes. Angry, i turn around and shout - then the crowd starts calming down.
We found some empty seats, surrounded by Egyptian men. Nichole decides to get off. I accompany her. When i returned, there's a new scenario: our seats might be at the end of the train.
Let me try and describe you how the train looked: PACKED!!!!!!!There were people on the seats, under the seats, on top where you put your luggage, in between seats, on the aisle, pilled up on top of each other like a pyramid.... etc
Me and Rach adventure ourselves to the end of the train, passing from car to car, to see if we can find our places, telling Esther to keep the seats that we already occupied. We get to the end of the train and to ur surprise there was no 1st class there. We come back. Meanwhile, new people claim our seats - the ones we were sitting on. Esther willingly gives them our tickets. At this point we are all standing, led by a man who claims to know what he is doing. He tries to tell us that we have seats at the back of the train, so there we go again. We take our bags and carry it through the train, through the crowd of people. The man didnt even give us the chance to tell him that we've already checked the back of the train. We get to the end of the train - car 12
At this stage we dont knwo what to do ... We talk about getting off the train and heading back to Cairo. Hardly anyody spoke English on that train - our Arabic was limited ... and all around us there are oppionionated people - some say our seats are at the front of the train - car 1. At this point all i wanted was to get off the train and go home. I almost had tears in my eyes. After many debates, plus finding out that the next stop is in 2 hours, we decide to adventure ourselves and walk back - this time through the whole train to get to 1st class.
I an't describe how people were sitting, standing ... unbelieveable!! We managed to get to 1st class, but other people were sitting our on seats. At this point we are standing. I texted Nichole and told her she should be happy, that she returned, coz i was almost in tears.
Many people tried to help - Egyptian help - but htey had no idea what to do. We managed to get two seats - after an old man stood up and let us sit down. I felt so bad and tried to explain that i am ok and i feel bad having him standing. Rach is on the floor...
There was one man, in his 20's that tried to help us - his English was good and he said those are our seats, we paid for them bla bla .... while i was trying to tell him how bad i feel. Later, during our journey, he came back to check on us. After many smiles, he turned to me and said: "you know, earlier, your behavior was totally unacceptable here". Luckily, for him, i kept calm, smiled but inside i was burning .... Don't you tell me what is acceptable, or not acceptable!!!! It is not acceptable for me to argue that i cant have an older man standing, but it is acceptable for men to grab my ass while i go through the train!! Whatever... But, once again, i live in a country that is not my own, so i guess i should live according to their rules.
If you hadnt been through all the hassle and classes, we wouldnt have appreciated as much our 1st class seats.
The train ride was 16 hours, btw ... we got to Aswan at 11 pm... completely tired!!
Early in the morning - we wake up - NIchole is sick. We make it to the metro station ... Nichole throws up. My oppinion - she will get better once she's thrown up. We manage to buy our tickets for 136 LE, French class (whatever that was suppose to mean) while NIchole keeps throwing up.
We were told to go to car 7, where 1st class was - we get on through the crowd of people, find our seats taken. Rach talks to them, NIchole is still sick, telling me she wants to go back home. I feel bad and try to convince her to stay. At the same time, men on the train laugh and make jokes. Angry, i turn around and shout - then the crowd starts calming down.
We found some empty seats, surrounded by Egyptian men. Nichole decides to get off. I accompany her. When i returned, there's a new scenario: our seats might be at the end of the train.
Let me try and describe you how the train looked: PACKED!!!!!!!There were people on the seats, under the seats, on top where you put your luggage, in between seats, on the aisle, pilled up on top of each other like a pyramid.... etc
Me and Rach adventure ourselves to the end of the train, passing from car to car, to see if we can find our places, telling Esther to keep the seats that we already occupied. We get to the end of the train and to ur surprise there was no 1st class there. We come back. Meanwhile, new people claim our seats - the ones we were sitting on. Esther willingly gives them our tickets. At this point we are all standing, led by a man who claims to know what he is doing. He tries to tell us that we have seats at the back of the train, so there we go again. We take our bags and carry it through the train, through the crowd of people. The man didnt even give us the chance to tell him that we've already checked the back of the train. We get to the end of the train - car 12
At this stage we dont knwo what to do ... We talk about getting off the train and heading back to Cairo. Hardly anyody spoke English on that train - our Arabic was limited ... and all around us there are oppionionated people - some say our seats are at the front of the train - car 1. At this point all i wanted was to get off the train and go home. I almost had tears in my eyes. After many debates, plus finding out that the next stop is in 2 hours, we decide to adventure ourselves and walk back - this time through the whole train to get to 1st class.
I an't describe how people were sitting, standing ... unbelieveable!! We managed to get to 1st class, but other people were sitting our on seats. At this point we are standing. I texted Nichole and told her she should be happy, that she returned, coz i was almost in tears.
Many people tried to help - Egyptian help - but htey had no idea what to do. We managed to get two seats - after an old man stood up and let us sit down. I felt so bad and tried to explain that i am ok and i feel bad having him standing. Rach is on the floor...
There was one man, in his 20's that tried to help us - his English was good and he said those are our seats, we paid for them bla bla .... while i was trying to tell him how bad i feel. Later, during our journey, he came back to check on us. After many smiles, he turned to me and said: "you know, earlier, your behavior was totally unacceptable here". Luckily, for him, i kept calm, smiled but inside i was burning .... Don't you tell me what is acceptable, or not acceptable!!!! It is not acceptable for me to argue that i cant have an older man standing, but it is acceptable for men to grab my ass while i go through the train!! Whatever... But, once again, i live in a country that is not my own, so i guess i should live according to their rules.
If you hadnt been through all the hassle and classes, we wouldnt have appreciated as much our 1st class seats.
The train ride was 16 hours, btw ... we got to Aswan at 11 pm... completely tired!!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Attacked on the street
Today, during lunch time, me and Nichole decided to go to a nearby shop and get chocolate!! That is the worst idea we could have gotten!!!!!! You might wonder why ...
well, there is a boys' school next to our school, so i dont know their schedule, but it appears that there are always boys out. So, once they saw us, they started whistling, shouting and worst throwing stones at us. I turned around and said in Arabic "what is the matter?"; now they were all backing off, but when i started walking off again, they came after us again!! One of the teachers in our school was just coming out, so she chased them away.
My knees were shaking and i promised myself that if they would do the same on our way back i'd grab hold of one of them and smack him!
We made it safely back to school, though one threw a stone and hurt Nichole's foot. When we got back, one of my kids' parents was at school and she said she scolded them, because she's seen the whole incident! Now i understand when Sarah said she's been through the same incident last year.
Anyway, now we know we shouldnt go out anymore during our break!
It makes me very mad and upset at the same time, and it seems that these boys have no manners! I dont know what they teach them in school...or their parents....
Maybe this explains to a certain extent why there are so many private schools here. the system seems to be quite "unique".
I do have in plan to go and visit an Egyptian school one day and i do have a contact .. i just need time!
well, there is a boys' school next to our school, so i dont know their schedule, but it appears that there are always boys out. So, once they saw us, they started whistling, shouting and worst throwing stones at us. I turned around and said in Arabic "what is the matter?"; now they were all backing off, but when i started walking off again, they came after us again!! One of the teachers in our school was just coming out, so she chased them away.
My knees were shaking and i promised myself that if they would do the same on our way back i'd grab hold of one of them and smack him!
We made it safely back to school, though one threw a stone and hurt Nichole's foot. When we got back, one of my kids' parents was at school and she said she scolded them, because she's seen the whole incident! Now i understand when Sarah said she's been through the same incident last year.
Anyway, now we know we shouldnt go out anymore during our break!
It makes me very mad and upset at the same time, and it seems that these boys have no manners! I dont know what they teach them in school...or their parents....
Maybe this explains to a certain extent why there are so many private schools here. the system seems to be quite "unique".
I do have in plan to go and visit an Egyptian school one day and i do have a contact .. i just need time!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Cultural shock ... Round no ..?
I have not been myself for the past few days ... and this evening i thought i am recovered .. but i am not! I painted my nails, thinking i will feel better, had a chat wt the girls, painted their nails just to make them feel better ... but who's taking care of me?
I now realize how much i miss being home, how much i miss friends who call to say hello and check i am ok, that insist when it comes to details ... I miss that so much!!! I feel lonely although i have met a lot of people here and i socialized a lot ... but it is all so different! It is just a surface, as it is not quite "quality interaction", but more of "forced interaction" as i call it. I bump into people everywhere, so i cant really avoid them .. i have to chat with them and they have to chat with me ...
I do miss Romania and Romanians .. people i can be myself around and not having to think twice before i do or say something (which i kind of started doing here in the past week); it is not until you leave your culture and environment that you realize how different you are and what a pain in the ass you can be for the people around you ... who dont really understand you.
I got a bit upset the other day, thinking that everybody around me is so different and so American/British and i thought i should change, coz i am a circle that doesnt fit in their square shape; but then i thought: hold on a minute, why should i change?? We are all foreigners in a country that is not ours; why should i give up my culture and my individuality for one that is not mine, and more important, not of the country i live in?
I already speak a language that is not my native language, so that is a compromise for me; why should i compromise more? Dont think i am willing to do that! I feel i am getting a bit stubborn now and maybe inflexible ... but this is how i feel.
I have lived abroad before, but never encountered such struggles. I was even in an environment with more cultures than here, but i havent felt, not even a single time, that i had to abandon my culture or be someone i am not!
I admit, i am not perfect, but nobody is!!! I admit there are things about me that i dont like either ... i admit i can be very annoying to certain people ... i admit there are people who might not like me (not at home!!! i know u love me, guys!!! LOL) ... i admit i am not the smartest person (although i tend to think that my way of doing things is the best way - that is why i tend to take full responsability of things and i dont delegate);
BUT i know who i am, i know my identity, i know where i belong, whom i belong to ... and in the end, i should care less about my culture and my country because my citizenship is somewhere else!
I like to say i am from everywhere! I could say i am from Romania, but i dont feel my home is there; in the past 6 yrs my home was wherever i was, in whatever country/city i was in; i was like a snail - carrying her house with her, but i do know where my real home is.
Where is yours?
I now realize how much i miss being home, how much i miss friends who call to say hello and check i am ok, that insist when it comes to details ... I miss that so much!!! I feel lonely although i have met a lot of people here and i socialized a lot ... but it is all so different! It is just a surface, as it is not quite "quality interaction", but more of "forced interaction" as i call it. I bump into people everywhere, so i cant really avoid them .. i have to chat with them and they have to chat with me ...
I do miss Romania and Romanians .. people i can be myself around and not having to think twice before i do or say something (which i kind of started doing here in the past week); it is not until you leave your culture and environment that you realize how different you are and what a pain in the ass you can be for the people around you ... who dont really understand you.
I got a bit upset the other day, thinking that everybody around me is so different and so American/British and i thought i should change, coz i am a circle that doesnt fit in their square shape; but then i thought: hold on a minute, why should i change?? We are all foreigners in a country that is not ours; why should i give up my culture and my individuality for one that is not mine, and more important, not of the country i live in?
I already speak a language that is not my native language, so that is a compromise for me; why should i compromise more? Dont think i am willing to do that! I feel i am getting a bit stubborn now and maybe inflexible ... but this is how i feel.
I have lived abroad before, but never encountered such struggles. I was even in an environment with more cultures than here, but i havent felt, not even a single time, that i had to abandon my culture or be someone i am not!
I admit, i am not perfect, but nobody is!!! I admit there are things about me that i dont like either ... i admit i can be very annoying to certain people ... i admit there are people who might not like me (not at home!!! i know u love me, guys!!! LOL) ... i admit i am not the smartest person (although i tend to think that my way of doing things is the best way - that is why i tend to take full responsability of things and i dont delegate);
BUT i know who i am, i know my identity, i know where i belong, whom i belong to ... and in the end, i should care less about my culture and my country because my citizenship is somewhere else!
I like to say i am from everywhere! I could say i am from Romania, but i dont feel my home is there; in the past 6 yrs my home was wherever i was, in whatever country/city i was in; i was like a snail - carrying her house with her, but i do know where my real home is.
Where is yours?
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Living in Egypt
Just wanted to say that life in Egypt is cool!!! ..at least to me!! Of course, it is not easy, but i think i like it. I always find myself having fun with the shop keepers, trying to communicate... i just love it!! Besides that, i am good at bargaining... maybe better than some Egyptians (definitely better than John!!! Gosh, did i say that? oops!) I went with John and Sarah to Khan el Khalili some time ago and i managed to get a rug for the price of 15 LE, when they were initially asking 35 LE; i also got a bag for 20 LE, when they were asking for 50 LE. I think this is my favorite part of Egypt - bargaining!!! One thing all the people have to keep in mind when coming here, is: don't pay what they ask!! ALWAYS BARGAIN and pay half of what they are asking, if not less.
It is rather difficult, being away from home, from friends in a new place .... having to deal with so many cultures at a time, when working in an international environment (like me) and living in an international flat.
I like people, i get my energy from being surrounded by them, but sometimes it is just too much for me, and as Wendy says, we all need "cave time". For eg, we had a felluca (still dont know which is the right way to spell that word) ride on Thursday with a bunch of new people - i hated it!!!!! too many new people at a time!!! i cant interract with new people!!! and we were on the Nile for 2 hours!!! it was dark and cold... i wanted to go back!!! Luckily i sat next to Bronwyn and her friend, Tracy and we kept making jokes about certain food that was on the table!! LOL
This weekend i painted the pipes in our bathroom and kitchen; actually i need to do it again, so that it will look better ... probably next weekend, as this week is already full. I just wanted to be in my own world, on "planet Gaby" and i love painting (not pipes, painting beautiful sceneries, but sometimes pipes are good to paint too!) ... so i thought that is a good way to be in my own world. Thoughts and thoughts kept running through my mind about various things, about Egypt, flat, work, home, Christmas ... China, summer etc.
After being in my own world for most of the day, Wendy called and invited me over. So, i went to her place, had a nice glass of white wine, got a bit dizzy ... and socialized; Sarah and John came plus Kathy ... so, even though i didnt feel like having company, it turned out to be a relaxing evening.
One conclusion after the multitude of thoughts today: i might need to change!
It is rather difficult, being away from home, from friends in a new place .... having to deal with so many cultures at a time, when working in an international environment (like me) and living in an international flat.
I like people, i get my energy from being surrounded by them, but sometimes it is just too much for me, and as Wendy says, we all need "cave time". For eg, we had a felluca (still dont know which is the right way to spell that word) ride on Thursday with a bunch of new people - i hated it!!!!! too many new people at a time!!! i cant interract with new people!!! and we were on the Nile for 2 hours!!! it was dark and cold... i wanted to go back!!! Luckily i sat next to Bronwyn and her friend, Tracy and we kept making jokes about certain food that was on the table!! LOL
This weekend i painted the pipes in our bathroom and kitchen; actually i need to do it again, so that it will look better ... probably next weekend, as this week is already full. I just wanted to be in my own world, on "planet Gaby" and i love painting (not pipes, painting beautiful sceneries, but sometimes pipes are good to paint too!) ... so i thought that is a good way to be in my own world. Thoughts and thoughts kept running through my mind about various things, about Egypt, flat, work, home, Christmas ... China, summer etc.
After being in my own world for most of the day, Wendy called and invited me over. So, i went to her place, had a nice glass of white wine, got a bit dizzy ... and socialized; Sarah and John came plus Kathy ... so, even though i didnt feel like having company, it turned out to be a relaxing evening.
One conclusion after the multitude of thoughts today: i might need to change!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Wha do you do when...?
What to do when ...
- you had a bad, long day at work wt endless meetings
- you are trying to teach smth and the kids don't get it
- you think you will enjoy a nice walk home, but every single man that passes you stares at you
- you think you will go home and relax but you won't because...
- you come home and the garbage is still in front of the door just like 3 days ago when you took it out, waiting to be collected
- you have people coming to you just to complain about smth, without coming up with a solution
- you realise that the new stove you just got is not working properly and you can't have baked potatoes tonight, just as you planned
- your cat is still wild and dirty (especially after you cleaned him the day before)
- the supermarket is closed at 5 pm, just because it is Ramadan and people need to go and eat, travelling for 1.5 hours home and then coming back (i wonder why they don't pack some food and stick it in the fridge)
- you have huge ants everywhere in your kitchen
- you are craving for some goodies/chocholate/sweeties/biscuits but you have nothing in the cupboard
- you can't help the tears coming out
- ... you don't know what to do...
- ........
- .................
Well, i guess i can't answer any of the questions above; as a friend would say, you just have to ignore everything and get on with ur life or whatever you're doing. This was my life in Egypt today .... I might agree with John and say i will end up hating the country and the people, thought i don't want to...
At this point, i am struggling to love them ... but it is a bit impossible... I need a break away from this place, away from Cairo, Maadi, expats ....
What i could do is to put on some nice music hoping that will calm me down and praying for peace to rule in my heart.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
More relaxing days ...Aqua Park
We started work at school and after 3 days of training our boss thought we need to relax, so he took us all to the Aqua Park.
Aqua Park is about 45 min drive from Maadi but it is an incredible place to go swimming and enjoy the different types of slides, including the "black hole". 
We stayed until 2:30 when the bus came to pick us up; the entrance fee was about 45 LE, which included a drink and lunch (either a chicken sandwhich or fish and rice/chips and veggies). Nichole went for the chicken sandwhich which she did not like at all, so it all went into the bin. My veggies were fried in butter, the rice had a lot of oil and the chicked was deep fried, but i ate it anyway; it was not that bad!
The most amazing thing was to see the way the women go into the swimming pool, completely covered, just as they go out on the streets. 
I bet it is not too comfy to swim with all those clothes on!! Both me and Nichole were wearing a one-piece swimsuit and i felt naked; usually at home, girls wear two-piece swimsuit and that is normal, but here, i guess i was the naked one.
A strange things happened, while i was under water trying to do one of the tricks Nichole taught me - a man pinched my bottom and i felt so bad!! I felt violated, but at the same time a feeling of guilt came along, as i was one of the few persons "naked" - according to the Egyptian culture.
All in all, i had a great time there ... i love swimming!!!!!!
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