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Life in Egypt
I created this as a place for me to gripe/share about things in Egypt that hinder me... things I either didn't have to deal with in Canada or were easily avoided. I might even have some nasty flashbacks to my year in China.
Rationale - to avoid every post in every other thread I make being blah blah blah...Egypt... there are things here that frustrate me/make me sad and otherwise affect my mood which affects my weight loss efforts. On that note, I would also be happy to answer any Egypt-related questions that come up. But mostly here I am starting out first hurdle - cooking. I used to love cooking. In University, I threw dinner parties with home-made everything. I am a decent cook, and I used to bake. Moving to Egypt presented me with my first hurdle- a gas stove. Now I know some of you might have and LOVE gas stoves. Good for you. I mean that. Your stoves probably have actual temperature gauges that work. Your stoves probably have working psuh button starts. My stove has niether. In fact the oven portion has not been on since my landlord showed me last year how to light it- by sticking my arm all the way inside. Yeah, no thanks. I also have to move a counter out of the way to open my oven. So I`ve never used my oven. I have done cooking stove top. But even that, the uncontrollable flame terrifies me. I do not like open flame, and this seems to either be raging high or off.... there is no medium... blah. That led to me not cooking, or occasionally making pasta (see boiling noodles). I have opened up to 2 of my friends here, and both are supportive and non-intrusive, and willing to assist. One was over yesterday and we made some beef stew. Which is currently what I am enjoying for dinner. I helped with prep, and dishes is totally my job... but I didn`t have to go near that evil flame. (tonight when I cook my lunches for the rest of the week I`ll have to do the flame thing, but I`ll live). So there you have it. The first issue and directly related to weight loss. Future issues might be a little more of a stretch, but cèst la vie. Egypt - 1 Melissa - 0 |
That stove sounds like a violation of some sort of code. If Egypt had those kinds of codes. Which I don't know if they do- alas, I am ignorant of the ways other countries do things sometimes. I cannot offer any solution, only a hug to you, as I am also terrified of fire. Roasting a marshmallow scares me, and using a bunsen burner was horrifying. Maybe buying a toaster oven and a good microwave is in order?
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Originally Posted by Brandis: my stove is pretty typcial Egypt... things are very different. It is a third world country (which will totally come up in a later post) That being said, I do have an okay toaster oven, and haven`t wanted to splurge on a microwave. But I think I`m going to move in with a friend next year and she does have a microwave (and she cooks deal is she cooks I do the dishes = both happy) thanks for the hug :) |
I would also be terrified of that stove. Love cooking with proper gas cooktops in the States (with a pilot light and ignition built in), but I am terrified of relighting pilot lights, et cetera. I don't blame you, and I think finding a roommate is the ideal solution!
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I had I manually light the oven in my college-days apartment. Freaked me out every time! Hope the roommate situation works out for you!!
Why are you living in Egypt? |
Originally Posted by juliana77: I mostly live here because I couldn't get a teaching job in Canada. I did work as a supply teacher for 1.5 years, but couldn't get more than a day or 2 at a time. Then I moved to China - did not like living there. SO I tried Egypt. I've always wanted to see the world, now I'm just teaching my way there. |
relatively mini-rant today.
Mosquitos. Not quite fair that I'm picking on Egypt you say? well let me explain... First and foremost, I am allergic to mosquito bites (and just about everything else on earth), they swell up and look icky. Mosquitos in Egypt do not make a sound, they are the ninja of insects (normally something that bothers you about them is the buzzing...oh the buzzing) not these suckers, you don't know they exist unless they fly onto your face OR you feel the red bump. This year summer has lasted longer (I think we are safely entering cooler weather, long sleeves might be needed soon) and I did not have this problem with them last year. But right now I have a good 20-30 bites on me... they get me mostly at night... I have some raid plug in, but it's just not good enough. I cannot get rid of them... I blame the 'vent' (see hole in the wall covered with a large holed metal thing) in my bathroom.... I actually have 2 but have kind of stuffed up the one I can reach. I hate them. Plus, my friend had to have surgery on her face because she had an infected gland from a mosquito.... hate them. Still they are not as bad as in China... I had 2 raid plug ins going nightly, (try not to think of how much poison I was inhaling) and at dusk they would SWARM.... I applied bug repellent at least 2 times a day and still had HUGE reddish/purple spots that oozed (sorry if TMI).... China wins the Mosquito award. Egypt comes in second. How does this relate to weight loss? Sadly, not too directly...except that I'm so itchy right now I can barely concentrate on weight loss...and cannot weight for winter. Egypt - 1 Melissa - 0 (China 1 - honorable mention) |
How long are you planning on staying in Egypt for?
What will be your next teaching destination? I wonder if this experience will help you get a full time teaching job in Canada? I live in Toronto and was going to go back to school for my BED. I have a Masters already and teach College. But getting a full time job is almost impossible so thought i might try public school. Yes pay cut blah blah but need something permanent at my age. Do you think hiring will get better in Ontario in the next few years?? Take care. |
Originally Posted by pluckypear: I haven't thought about my next destination.... other than Europe or Aus/New Zealand (although jobs there are scarce too) I don't think it will hurt since I am only working at accredited Canadian Schools, teaching Canadian Curriculum. I honestly don't see the jobs getting better in the next couple of years. Which is why I'm getting kind of settled overseas. It's possible, but out of everyone i know who's a teacher only 3 have full time jobs in Ontario. I hope it improves though, I'd like to move home one day and teach in Ontario one day.... or the States. I'm undecided but I do know I want to live in less of a third world country next time....my dream country would be France. |
alright enough time spent on my couch crying....time for a new installment of life in Egypt.
Walking - a wonderful past time that helps in weight loss, mood enhancement and socializing. In Egypt it's more complicated. The public transportation system is all but non existent where I live (there is a metro to do downtown/major parts of Cairo) but no real bus system. Except for the microbus. Which women are encouraged not to take if possible (even Egyptian women) as there is a chance for harrassment or more. So we are left with walking and taxis. Taxis are not expensive, to get pretty much anywhere in Maadi (where I live) is about 5-6 LE (or 1 CAD). But walking seems so easy, especially now that 'fall' has arrived and we are down to about 19 degrees Celsius compared with the mid-high 30's a few weeks ago. Problem, severe lack of sidewalks. Which means I walk in the middle of the road a lot. Drivers here, are very impatient and the rules of the road seem suggested at best. Lanes are optional, driving the wrong way on a road is common, in fact I have seen more fatal accidents in my time in Egypt then the rest of my life combined (and I did a 4 hour trek on the 401 quite a few times for 5 years). I have also been hit/bumped/nudged more by cars here than anywhere else. Other problem - not nearly as many street lights as back home. In fact some side streets/residential are pitch black and right now it's dark by about 5:45 pm. Problem number 2 - unwanted attention. As a Western woman, no matter what I wear or how 'ugly' I look (see pre-shower, hot and sweaty, messy hair grocery run at 9 am before getting the day started) we receive more than average attention. Case in point, I went to a friends house 2 weeks ago for a movie night wore long blak pants (fitted but not tight) a lose fitting black tank top (not too low) and a 3/4 sleeve black shrug. I also tied my hair in a bun (and took it down at my friends' house)..... 1 car of people stopped and hollered at me, another man stopped his car to ask me on a date. I've been lucky, most of my attention has been less than aggressive, some of my friends have not been so lucky. But because of this walking alone is not exactly enjoyable. So what do I do? walk during daylight or early evening. Never late at night. Try to meet with friends as early as possible in the walk. and I do not use walking as exercise. I do dance around my apartment though, and have several workout dvds. I'm calling this one in my favour, since I walk when I need to (and follow basic safety rules) and have work out alternatives. Egypt - 1 Melissa - 1 (China -1) |
throwing out a random post, why? because it literally ruined me for 30 minutes this morning until I got my teacher groove back...
Alright period 1 for me is Grade 9 English....good time of day and I have the class pretty much in control (to my standards) Today was presentation day because a project was due...then the rest of class would be spent reviewing for the midterm on Tuesday. Simple? Yes. About 1/2 way into the first powerpoint I smell burning, then hear a loud "POP" and see the orange glow coming from my PC tower... yeah there was fire inside it, briefly... So I'm kind of lost, I have an ELA support teacher, she goes and tells my Principal and they call the IT department...I['m just kind of wandering around my room looking sad... (thinking I lost everything that wasn't backed up and my marks and that the projector might have blown too)... I just sit in a random chair... holler some random direction at my students to keep studying... and talk to my ELA teacher... Finally about 30 mintues later, as 3 people are working on my computer I come back to life and give real instructions for students to follow and stuff.... turns out it was only a power surge (I think I blew a fuse) and nothing on my computer was lost, and everything still works.,... of course now I consider my computer a death trap located right next to my legs... and it makes me nervous... that was my day starting at about 8:55 am.... not a good way to start. |
Hey! Just saw this thread now. I lived in Saudi Arabia for a year, so I'm familiar with some of the things you are talking about. It doesn't matter how you are dressed or how hideous you look - it's like they can SMELL you are a Westerner from 100 miles away!!
For me, the best thing I could ever do was wear a scarf over my head. I hated it, it was hot, but man oh man did it keep the attention off of me. And men are not allowed to talk to you first if they think you are a muslim woman (with your hair covered they will assume that) so it's great for shopping and going anywhere! Way less hassle. Even with my pale white face and super blonde hair, just covering up my hair worked. If you hated China and Egypt isn't all that great but you want to stay overseas, have you thought about Taiwan? My brother taught there for 2 years, and I have visited there myself. My brother lived in Khaosiung (south of the island) and it was pretty sweet. They had a beautiful apartment with no mosquitos for cheap. My brother had a good job too, although they kids were badly behaved (but you're probably used to that). |
Hey there fellow traveller!
I have visited Taiwan (Keelung) and thought it was awesome! But I am pretty happy in Egypt, mostly because of what I'm doing professionally that I couldn't do in Canada... and I am super appreciated at my job. I think I've done the Asia thing, and if I do more overseas teaching afte Egypt (hoping to stay here 2-3 more years) I'd like to try Europe or Aussie. But I need to do more travelling around Asia... At some point too I want to take a year or two off to get my Masters.... Yeah big plans... not sure when/if marriage/settling down fall into place.... but meh I'm happy. Like the idea of the scarf...might do that when I go to more traditional places.... right now I live in a pretty western rich area and harrassment is fairly minimal... today actually my cab driver thought I was Egyptian until he asked me where I was from... I almost took a job in Saudi (Jeddah) but the more I read, the less I wanted to go (this was before I worked in China)... my mum hated the word 'compond' in relation to where I would live... she thought it sounded like I would be in prison... I also know someone else who worked at a school and left after 3 months because the school was so disorganised.... but then I know other people who enjoyed Saudi... ANd I know people who enjoyed CHina ;) so it's all relative. Right now, I just love travelling and getting paid to teach Drama... we are actually gearing up to take a group to London in May to do some workshops and sightseeing... I'm stoked for that! |
I love reading your posts about your experiences. :D
Like we have discussed before, we are both overseas Canadian teachers! Except I am in London. :) I give you credit - I don't think I could do some of the Eastern/Asian countries you've done/been to. I would be too culture shocked! England suits me well. :) |
Originally Posted by time4me2change: Saudi was an experience, that's for sure. Some called it a beautiful prison before I went there, and I didn't fully understand what that meant until I started living there. Not prison in the way that you think, but imagine daily life in prison. Your every move is watched and judged, you don't have freedom to roam around, people watch who you hang around with and you are actually "not allowed" to hang out with another man unless you are related or married. They take your passport in exchange for an "igama" which is sort of like a passport, but the color of it determines which religion you are (seriously). Well, according to Saudi there are only 3 true religions so there are only 3 colors lol. After about 3 months stuck in the Kingdom you start to go a little nuts and probably should take a little vacation outside of Saudi. No exageration. So that's how it's like a beautiful prison. I still liked it though. There's something about it being sunny every single day, beautiful scenery and weather and sky, the slow pace of life, the call to prayer that made me fall even more in love with the middle east. Saudi people are very generous and kind. Would I go back? Only with a husband. You have way more freedom, and at least he can drive you everywhere. As a single female you are not allowed to drive, and in 50 degree weather and a black abbaya (robe) and scarf on your head it gets a little much even to just walk down the street. I loved my compound by the way, it was beautiful! okay, sorry, I kinda hijacked your thread. I visited Egypt by the way, I've been traveling around the world and I have to say, Egypt scared the crap out of me! I've seen some pretty insane driving, but in all my travels, Egypt takes the cake! |
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