As I emerged from my room yesterday, I was surprised to find the wife or our simsar (the apartment broker)’s wife asleep on our living room couch. Zaynab is like a character out of a muselsel or Egyptian soap opera... I’d cast her as the crazy aunt from the reef (countryside). She’s constantly screaming, hugging someone, or pausing to pray. Zaynab has been very involved in solving our apartment problems and always arrives with a miscellaneous entourage of helpers in toe. Whether they be plumbers, carpenters, or landline installers, they always seem to answer to her. This weekend our water is mysteriously cut off once again though no one else in our apartment building seems to have any plumbing trouble. While plumbers are able to turn the water back on temporarily, we’re still hoping for a more permanent fix (though permanent fixes don’t seem to be all that common around here…).
A few days ago I went to an Egyptian movie called “Sarakh al-nimla” or The Scream of the Ant, a story of a man who helps encourage his neighbors to protest against rising prices and corruption in the local and national government. Though it was an interesting language experience, the melodrama was pretty unbearable. Picture an entire cast of characters just like Zaynab. Plus movie going in the Middle East tends to have much higher levels of “audience participation” than I’m used to including chatting on cell phones, crying babies, and lots of movement around the theater. The popcorn was good though!
Each week CASA brings a lecturer to talk to us on Thursday afternoons. The first lecturer was a taxi driver who was full of interesting stories including a tale of a woman who gave birth inside his cab! While he didn’t have the best advice on how to avoid getting ripped off, it was interesting to hear his thoughts on the Revolution, Egyptian traffic laws (or lack there of) etc.
This week we heard from a female activist from the Kefaya movement who had been heavily involved in the Revolution. Although she discussed her goals for the new government and constitution and the need to combat corruption, she didn’t really specify how these goals could be achieved or what the appropriate path for Egyptian democracy and political reform might be. As new political offshoots seem to be formed almost daily and each Friday different groups continue to gather in Tahrir Square, it seems that electing leaders who will adequately represent all the competing interest groups in Egypt will be a formidable task.
Other Happenings:
- Trying Sudanese food for the first time which was delicious! (a little bit like Ethiopian)
- Consuming a “Boreo” (Egyptian Oreo) milkshake (YUM)
- Actually grocery shopping/ market hopping for the first time following the arrival of our new fridge (it’s actually 9 feet tall!)
- Bought my plane ticket to Spain for my summer break!
- Still working on getting internet in our apartment…..we’ve finally bought a plan and actually have a landline now though so hopefully I can Skype with you all soon!
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