"Put me a list with the really necessary things we need in our place."

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

For sure AC is on the list but he said he could only get one instead of two.

[Nothing1234 2]

I'm getting excited for you. It's like I'm leaving soon

The AC is important! We had two in our flat....one in the bedroom and one in our main living room/reception area. One time the bedroom one broke down OMG we moved our mattress to the floor in the living room! No way in H3LL was I sleeping in our bedroom in that hellish summer heat!

I think you will find all you need in Spineys, Carrefour and other places like that in and near Cairo. I don't think you will have a need to be shipping all your kitchen/bathroom things with you. It's not necessary. Ask HLM, she could compare and share now that she's here. As for shib shib....they are all over Egypt! No need to even pack those either....even cheaper in Egy!

Hmmm....Egypt sounds all to good right now. Just stressin

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

He says it's starting to get hot there now. When I said two AC's were needed he said where would be put them. Thx Nawal now I have an answer. lolz! One in the living room and one in the bedroom. For some reason he thinks there will only be one window. Not sure what to think about that as we haven't got a flat yet but he said he found a semi-furnished one. I asked him to get pix for us. I guess it is some deal he is making. I am a little worried though about the quality and area. He said it was a nice area. Not sure what nice means to them there though as everyone has different standards.

[Nothing1234 2]

Before I left here, my hubby found our flat. He actually made a video of the entire place. Each room, bathroom, bedroom, A/C, what was furnished, etc...even the neighborhood. It was actually pretty awesome and I felt more comfy with that. I'm sure if its a decent sized flat your livingroom area and at least one bedroom will have a window. Each of our bedrooms did and our livingroom and a small sitting room too.

PM me the area when you know it...I will ask hubby and my gf (American) living there what she thinks.... I cared about how close we were to transportation (although his family had a car and was always around), close to stores (we had a cute shop below us, dry cleaners, and awesome coffee shop (men and women), bank (ATM), and a mid sized grocery store all in walking distance. That was terrific!

[ya hayat alby ♥ 0]

Ditto on the liquid vanilla. (

Something I had a hard time finding was measuring cups, spoons. I did manage to find a liquid measuring cup but it was SUPER expensive! Get some cheap ones at the dollar store before you leave and you'll have a much easier time!

Another random note: Cream cheese is almost impossible to find here, and if you do happen to find it in Carrefour its very expensive. Don't be fooled by them selling 'gibna creme' or full cream cheese... its not!!!

Sad fact realized... lol

I bring a big thing of Tylenol too because its much cheaper back home. All the American medicines will be super expensive here as well.

[Nothing1234 2]

With the Tylenol....you can stop by a pharmacy in Egypt and ask for hydracodone. It's the same thing as tylenol. They have many of our medicines...just make sure to find out the proper medical names for them (ask a pharmacist here at home) and you can pick them up for dirt cheap over there.

I know some of the things are not the same but you're not staying forever and you can get used to it. I had to use Kiri cheese (in the jar not the cheese sections) in my lasagna/ziti for making a cheesy consistancy. It worked ok...not the same but I dealt with it. Also, I started using the kiri and laughing cow type cheeses on toast as a replacement for cream cheese...again, not the same but it works and to be honest, now at home its all we use. I don't know the last time I have purchased cream cheese.

You simply get used to what you have around you. Just as my mother in law had to get used to me buying her canned tomato puree instead of 20lbs of tomatoes for her to puree. You have to adapt to your environment...unless you are super picky...you will survive. It's all temporary, remember that.

[Sandrila 1]

WOW I am surprised cream cheese is hard to find in Egypt.

I saw it just about everywhere in Morocco.

Even the real Philadelphia kind.

My husband loved it there, but here, he doesn't use it much.

[Ihavequestions 419]

Salt and pepper shakers: Check.

Cream cheese: Check.

We've got all that.

Velveeta cheese? Nope. We don't have that.

No spatulas and if there's a measuring cup or spoon, I have yet to see it.

Yes, Olivia, winter's almost over. Cairo gets BEASTLY hot in the summer. Insist on an air conditioning unit in both your living room/salon and bedroom. You don't have to have a window for an air conditioner, either. They sell wall units.

Bras. Bring all the bras you think you'll need. Egytpian bras are horrid (read: bullet shells). The underwear isn't much better. Come to think of it, I've never seen a slip that doesn't drag the floor. Yeah, you'll want to get your underthings there and bring them here. Except the "bedroom stuff." You'll find a shop for that on every block.

[Nothing1234 2]

Salt and pepper shakers: Check.

Cream cheese: Check.

We've got all that.

Velveeta cheese? Nope. We don't have that.

No spatulas and if there's a measuring cup or spoon, I have yet to see it.

Yes, Olivia, winter's almost over. Cairo gets BEASTLY hot in the summer. Insist on an air conditioning unit in both your living room/salon and bedroom. You don't have to have a window for an air conditioner, either. They sell wall units.

Bras. Bring all the bras you think you'll need. Egytpian bras are horrid (read: bullet shells). The underwear isn't much better. Come to think of it, I've never seen a slip that doesn't drag the floor. Yeah, you'll want to get your underthings there and bring them here. Except the "bedroom stuff." You'll find a shop for that on every block.

Those bras should only be used as torture devices

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Great I haaaaaate bra shopping coz I have big chacha's. I need an over the shoulder boulder holder most of the time. I'm serious. I don't even have kids and we're talking triple F here and all natural. Yes they make a triple F. Bet you all wanted to know that huh? LOLZ! Anyways I'm hesitant to order more bras here cos they're expensive like $35-$45 a pop for a quality one. I hate spending that kind of money on something I may not be able to use very long because I'm on a diet. I lose and gain weight proportionally unilaterally so I wear it well most of the time. Not sure what to do about that while over there because I'm sure I'll lose weight living there for 8 months and not having access to what I like here. It really is a life style change going there.

[~Jess~ 0]

Im suprised about the cream cheese issue too, even in Lebanon they had philly cream cheese...they have it here in Saudi too

It is more expensive as is most western things.

Bras---and undies---seriously ive never been to Egypt but if its like Lebanon yes youll want to bring your own or find sites that will ship internationally lol

[Henna Rose 0]

66 days! I'm afraid to try those netti pot things.

It's just salt water and really helps keep the sinuses cleansed and lubricated

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

WOW I am surprised cream cheese is hard to find in Egypt.

I saw it just about everywhere in Morocco.

Even the real Philadelphia kind.

My husband loved it there, but here, he doesn't use it much.

I did see Philly Cream Cheese at Metro or was it Kher Zaman???? Not sure which, but it was expensive... decided not to make a cheese cake afterall...

I just had H take a bite of some Philly Cream Cheese in the fridge and he said "you can get that anywhere... " I said, what is it called" He said "cheese"... I guess it's pretty much the same as their standard white soft cheese... (Of course he then said, it's the same as laughing cow... NOT!!!!! so maybe his taste buds are broken...)

I'm willing to bet there is an Egyptian equivalent, but haven't a clue what it's called... good question for WOMEG members.. HyperOne should have it in Cairo for sure... Those of us who are Alex dwellers have much less access to western goods...

And when I read your chacha description I thought, she's gonna be in deep yogurt if she thinks she will find anything above a size 36B that she would even consider wearing... Think snow cone holders... tehehehehehehehehehehe

I've often had busty relatives ask me to bring bras from here. Didn't even care if they were a perfect fit, anything from here was better than their choices there! Don't ask me why.. plenty of big chachas there... and nothing to put them in... Go figure...

[Nothing1234 2]

WOW I am surprised cream cheese is hard to find in Egypt.

I saw it just about everywhere in Morocco.

Even the real Philadelphia kind.

My husband loved it there, but here, he doesn't use it much.

I did see Philly Cream Cheese at Metro or was it Kher Zaman???? Not sure which, but it was expensive... decided not to make a cheese cake afterall...

I just had H take a bite of some Philly Cream Cheese in the fridge and he said "you can get that anywhere... " I said, what is it called" He said "cheese"... I guess it's pretty much the same as their standard white soft cheese... (Of course he then said, it's the same as laughing cow... NOT!!!!! so maybe his taste buds are broken...)

I'm willing to bet there is an Egyptian equivalent, but haven't a clue what it's called... good question for WOMEG members.. HyperOne should have it in Cairo for sure... Those of us who are Alex dwellers have much less access to western goods...

And when I read your chacha description I thought, she's gonna be in deep yogurt if she thinks she will find anything above a size 36B that she would even consider wearing... Think snow cone holders... tehehehehehehehehehehe

I've often had busty relatives ask me to bring bras from here. Didn't even care if they were a perfect fit, anything from here was better than their choices there! Don't ask me why.. plenty of big chachas there... and nothing to put them in... Go figure...

OMG so true and it grosses me out when they just let them hang in those stretchy sporty type ones. That might be a good business idea...would save my eyes a bit!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

hee