I worked 3 weekends in May, 2 doing good deeds with our kids which I am more than happy to brag about (the kids, not me - I just supervised).
At the beginning of the month, we took about 7 students to the
El Safa Center in Heliopolis. In America we would call this a 'retirement home'. In Egypt, it's a little bit different, but basically the same idea. The men were on one side of the center, the women on the other. The men, especially, had meticulously well-kept rooms, many with little vases of flowers and were anxious to show their housekeeping skills.The men and women of the center were very excited to see us. While I can speak very little Arabic, I was equipped with my camera and men and women at the center were more than happy to pose for me. In the meantime, our students had lengthy conversations with a former politician, a former English teacher (who is going to start tutoring children in the neighborhood to give himself something to do), and the lovely women, all Om (mother) with long life stories to share with our kids who were both struck by their candidness and their stories, which were often full of pain and drama. (Egyptians are incredibly talented storytellers which was evidenced that day!)
In addition, I've been coordinating moving house. No more expat suburb for me - no. I will be moving to an Egyptian neighborhood closer to downtown. The new place has a beautiful view of the Nile (below) and has loads of space!
Fortunately, my Arabic IS getting better, if slowly, and I can, with some amount of confidence buy: Strawberries, Water, and Milk. As long as my bill is 100 LE or less, I can also figure out how much I owe without having to see it written down.
Right. Guess I'll need to get on some Arabic lessons as soon as I get back from Summer vacation!
