Egypt in the summer... What was I thinking?

[doodlebugg 10]

Maybe it depends where in Egypt you are. For example, if I were to stay in a condo that was fully airconditioned, had a lreserved car with air conditioning to drive me to and fro, took other precautions like not going out in the sunlight, etc. it wouldn't be too too bad. At the time I had no idea that the bulk of the cabbies there didn't have air conditioning that was full blast like we have here and we did get a flat with air conditioning but it blew up after five minutes of turning the thing on. Plus we didn't plan on getting food poisoning. It guess it was just a bad trip.

I agree about where you are makes a difference with many things: bugs, AC, access to stores, etc. I wish we had a fully airconditioned flat! But all and all it was not so bad...we had 2 ac units and thank god they worked. I think the cab ride w/ the hot air blowing on my face and the wind burn was a ton of fun! But mostly we ventured out a lot at night and relaxed at home or hit the mall/stores/sport club during the day.

Plus I'm from Boston. Ideal temp for me is in October in the fall when it's in the mid 60's.

[amysaid 9]

Wow, I am now officially terrified. I don't know whether to be more scared of the mosquitos or the heat or the amoebas? I've been there to visit twice, but once was in the winter and once in the spring. I guess I will bring a ton of mosquito repellant (they have scent-free kinds, Melly, you want me to bring you some? I guess you would have to wait a while for it, though!)

i got sick the first time i went to egypt, had some awful diarrhea for three or four days, but i took some anti-infectives for it and it went away. the next time i go i'm going stocked with a couple courses of Cipro, just in case. the previous times i've been there, i drank only bottled water, with the exception of some mango juice from Farghaly, after which is when the ######-fest started, so i'm guessing that's where it came from...

Anyway, this summer i was going to take a Brita filter with me, and boil the water, let it cool, then filter it, and hopefully that will be effective enough, because Ahmed can't afford to keep my daughter and i in bottled water for six weeks

Man, I am kind of dreading this trip now a little. The heat, the bugs, the worry about getting sick. The 20 hour flight with a five-year-old... Again, what was I thinking? The things we do for love... or out of temporary insanity.

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

They say that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.... I realized that as I get older I have less patience for "camping" in Egypt. (That's what it reminds me of...)

H knows now that it won't be that much cheaper for us to retire in Egypt because I will insist on a fully American style home with a Simmons Pillowtop King Size bed... ... and a/c in every room, (3 in the kitchen)... I'll actually want SCREENS on the windows, a clothes dryer, dishwasher and other such novelties....

I had to laugh about leaving the food out.. my husband turned off the fridge once in Egypt because we didn't have "that much" inside it!!!! But what really got to me was when he got here he went through my cupboards and threw out every thing that was one day past the "best used by" date... but leaves meat out on the counter to thaw, will eat left over meat that's been in the back of the fridge for Lord knows how long... and doesn't think anything of "double dipping"...

I considered moving to Egypt with my ex (also Egyptian) when my son was about 10. Now I can't imagine what that would have been like for him... not speaking the language, etc.... I can't get him to even VISIT Egypt with me these days...

It's definately an adventure. More so if you are trying to live on an Egyptian income. I have 2 Canadian friends who live in Alex year round and don't have a/c and claim they don't need it... so I guess maybe it's not as bad for some as it is for others... Of course both of them have been deathly ill at least once a year (blood poisoning from an insect bite that required antibiotics by injection for 2 months, bouts of Pharoh's revenge that lasted for weeks at a time, worms, etc. ) since I've known them.. but the pharmacy is just down stairs.... and Social Security checks go further there...

Time to go kiss H for finally agreeing to live here rather than making me live there...

[amysaid 9]

They say that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.... I realized that as I get older I have less patience for "camping" in Egypt. (That's what it reminds me of...)

H knows now that it won't be that much cheaper for us to retire in Egypt because I will insist on a fully American style home with a Simmons Pillowtop King Size bed... ... and a/c in every room, (3 in the kitchen)... I'll actually want SCREENS on the windows, a clothes dryer, dishwasher and other such novelties....

I had to laugh about leaving the food out.. my husband turned off the fridge once in Egypt because we didn't have "that much" inside it!!!! But what really got to me was when he got here he went through my cupboards and threw out every thing that was one day past the "best used by" date... but leaves meat out on the counter to thaw, will eat left over meat that's been in the back of the fridge for Lord knows how long... and doesn't think anything of "double dipping"...

I considered moving to Egypt with my ex (also Egyptian) when my son was about 10. Now I can't imagine what that would have been like for him... not speaking the language, etc.... I can't get him to even VISIT Egypt with me these days...

It's definately an adventure. More so if you are trying to live on an Egyptian income. I have 2 Canadian friends who live in Alex year round and don't have a/c and claim they don't need it... so I guess maybe it's not as bad for some as it is for others... Of course both of them have been deathly ill at least once a year (blood poisoning from an insect bite that required antibiotics by injection for 2 months, bouts of Pharoh's revenge that lasted for weeks at a time, worms, etc. ) since I've known them.. but the pharmacy is just down stairs.... and Social Security checks go further there...

Time to go kiss H for finally agreeing to live here rather than making me live there...

yeah, I really could not live in Cairo. I haven't been outside of the Cairo/Giza area, so I can't speak for all of Egypt, but I definitely couldn't live in most of the places I've been to. I have talked to A about that and he agrees that I wouldn't be happy there, and if his visa is not approved for whatever reason, we'll look into moving somewhere that I can work as a nurse, and where he can still work in ATC. It would probably be somewhere like Qatar or UAE.

[Melly 2 0]

Bridget, I couldn't believe it when I read your post about the food. I thought my husband's family was the only ones who did it. lol

I've talked with hubby about it and he says that if you re-heat the food it kills the bacteria. I'm not taking my chances, thank you very much.

After lunch, the food is left out on the table until dinner time, and even when we go to bed, like last night at 3 a.m., it was still sitting out.

He said no one is forcing me to eat the leftovers from lunch. *sigh*

We had the fridge go out on us once in the apartment we were staying at temporarily, and we were here at the in-laws when it went out. When we got back and found it had gone out, he went through and was trying to decide what food was okay. I had to force him to throw almost everything out. There was stuff he was going to keep because he just didn't understand that some foods can't be left out.

Or that as KH said, you can't eat meat after a certain period of time. He eats meat that is so old it just freaks me the heck out. I stay away from it.

It's great that they don't want to waste food, but then don't make so much ya know? Or stick the pot in the fridge if you're too lazy to put it in a dish before refrigerating it. And then just stick the pot back on the stove to re-heat the food. Maybe this wouldn't be as much of an issue if they had microwaves?

Hubby is fully intent on buying me anything I want and making me as comfortable as he thinks I should be. You'd think I was some demanding princess or something. I told him I don't need a dishwasher, or some of the other things he thinks we should get. I just want a/c, and I am now refusing to live somewhere that does not have screens on the windows. He said that was fine. (we will see what happens when we look for apartments!)

It is unfortunate we don't live closer to the bigger stores and that it's such a hassle to get to them, but really aside from the current mosquito issue, and my food issues, I actually am really happy to be here. I love it here. The heat is livable, and with screens, the mosquitoes shouldn't be a problem.

I'm not saying it's easy to live here. It's definitely easier to live in the States in many respects, but I am happy I moved here.

[doodlebugg 10]

Bridget, I couldn't believe it when I read your post about the food. I thought my husband's family was the only ones who did it. lol

I've talked with hubby about it and he says that if you re-heat the food it kills the bacteria. I'm not taking my chances, thank you very much.

After lunch, the food is left out on the table until dinner time, and even when we go to bed, like last night at 3 a.m., it was still sitting out.

He said no one is forcing me to eat the leftovers from lunch. *sigh*

We had the fridge go out on us once in the apartment we were staying at temporarily, and we were here at the in-laws when it went out. When we got back and found it had gone out, he went through and was trying to decide what food was okay. I had to force him to throw almost everything out. There was stuff he was going to keep because he just didn't understand that some foods can't be left out.

Or that as KH said, you can't eat meat after a certain period of time. He eats meat that is so old it just freaks me the heck out. I stay away from it.

It's great that they don't want to waste food, but then don't make so much ya know? Or stick the pot in the fridge if you're too lazy to put it in a dish before refrigerating it. And then just stick the pot back on the stove to re-heat the food. Maybe this wouldn't be as much of an issue if they had microwaves?

Hubby is fully intent on buying me anything I want and making me as comfortable as he thinks I should be. You'd think I was some demanding princess or something. I told him I don't need a dishwasher, or some of the other things he thinks we should get. I just want a/c, and I am now refusing to live somewhere that does not have screens on the windows. He said that was fine. (we will see what happens when we look for apartments!)

It is unfortunate we don't live closer to the bigger stores and that it's such a hassle to get to them, but really aside from the current mosquito issue, and my food issues, I actually am really happy to be here. I love it here. The heat is livable, and with screens, the mosquitoes shouldn't be a problem.

I'm not saying it's easy to live here. It's definitely easier to live in the States in many respects, but I am happy I moved here.

That's another thing I never understood....what's with windows and no screens??? Have they not heard of screens there yet to keep the bugs out? I'll have to ask Usama when he wakes up. Also, sure they don't want to waste food but then I get "the look" when I suggest that tonight's dinner will be leftovers. Apparently his sisters never fed him leftovers for a real meal. Makes me dizzy when I try to make sense of it all.

Maybe we should list the good points so as not to totally scare anyone away? What I miss about Egypt:

his sisters and the way they just fawn over me

the sound of the anthan

the fact that when I wear hijaab I don't get stared down like I'm some evil terrorist

how nice everyone is, even strangers

seeing good friends walk hand in hand. of course you see two men walking hand in hand here in Boston but that's entirely different

the noise. I lived in Boston while in college and actually liked all of the traffic noise, et. so sometimes I dream of all the noise in Cairo.

being able to go out at 2am to go to a cafe or just walk around and there's still tons of people up and about

the feeling of knowing you are in a place with so much deep deep history. gives me goosebumps sometimes!

There. Oh and I could NEVER get my kids to go with me. The first time I went it was eid and I brought pics home of meat hanging in the streets and that was enough for them to be grossed out for life. Maybe when they're out of college and can truly appreciate the experience but even then it'd have to be in a 5 star hotel with room service. lol

[Mahdor 0]

I stayed a few times in Cairo during the summer and it is hot, but if you always bring water and an umbrella when you go out and wear thin and baggy clothes then you'll be fine.

Try to go to bed late and wake up late, then you'll miss some of the sunny hours.

I don't know the area that you'll be living in, but I just took a look in my Lonely Planet and here are some activities for kids (the places are all over town, but it doesn't take that long to get around):

Fun Planet: (Corniche el-Nil, Bulaq) Offers loads of rides and games

Cairo Zoo: (Midan al-Gamaa, Giza) Kids can feed the animals.

Crazy Water: (I'm not sure where it is, but maybe near 6th of October City) Water slides and so on

Dream Park: (Oasis road, 6th of October City) Offers 32 rides

Dr. Ragab's Pharonic Village: (Sharia al-Bahr al-Azam, Corniche, Giza) ancient life in pharonic Egypt

Fagnoon Art School: (In the fields between Giza and Saqqara) painting, model clay, paint/print on textile and so on

Gabalaya Park and Aquarium/ "Fish Garden" (Sharia Umm Kolthum, Zamalek) gardens with aquariums

My Lonely Planet is from 2005/2006 so maybe some of the places are closed now... and maybe some new places opened, but a good idea is to ask the locals and they can tell you where to find parks and so on.

[amysaid 9]

Thank you for this list I would like to take her to the Cairo Zoo, but I am kinda dreading it. It was stinky and bug-ridden when I was there in December, I can only imagine it in August. Ughhh. But really, that'll probably be the only time she has that opportunity, and Allah knows I got a kick out of hand-feeding an elephant and holding a baby lion, so I know she will too

I stayed a few times in Cairo during the summer and it is hot, but if you always bring water and an umbrella when you go out and wear thin and baggy clothes then you'll be fine.

Try to go to bed late and wake up late, then you'll miss some of the sunny hours.

I don't know the area that you'll be living in, but I just took a look in my Lonely Planet and here are some activities for kids (the places are all over town, but it doesn't take that long to get around):

Fun Planet: (Corniche el-Nil, Bulaq) Offers loads of rides and games

Cairo Zoo: (Midan al-Gamaa, Giza) Kids can feed the animals.

Crazy Water: (I'm not sure where it is, but maybe near 6th of October City) Water slides and so on

Dream Park: (Oasis road, 6th of October City) Offers 32 rides

Dr. Ragab's Pharonic Village: (Sharia al-Bahr al-Azam, Corniche, Giza) ancient life in pharonic Egypt

Fagnoon Art School: (In the fields between Giza and Saqqara) painting, model clay, paint/print on textile and so on

Gabalaya Park and Aquarium/ "Fish Garden" (Sharia Umm Kolthum, Zamalek) gardens with aquariums

My Lonely Planet is from 2005/2006 so maybe some of the places are closed now... and maybe some new places opened, but a good idea is to ask the locals and they can tell you where to find parks and so on.