posted
My final days in Cairo have been hectic, relaxing, exciting, and tempestuous. Never, ever, ever have they been boring or subdued. In Cairo, I doubt that is even possible. Boredom in any form simply does not exist here! A good friend of mine (my Arabic tutor Mr. Ahmed) took us out one Friday morning to Faiyum -- a city located a good 100 km southwest of Cairo. We traveled through desert areas. We arrived at the Auberge du Lac, a former hunting lodge (now a 3-star hotel) used by King Farouk and his family, just in time for lunch. As one might guess from its title, the Auberge is located next to a salt lake, whose feeder is a branch of the Nile. Both of us found the dining room pleasantly decorated and quiet. Lovely conversation about life, solitude and friendship ensued. We ordered our meal, (sea food) and had hoped to continue with our pleasant, quiet conversation. Our food did arrive in good time, and was delicious. Their oriental rice -- a unique mixture of rice, vermicelli, raisins and chicken liver bits, was also delicious. Having been encouraged by Mr. Ahmed to see the city of Faiyum itself, we chose to leave the very comfortable surroundings at the hotel. On our way out, we were serenaded in loud, brash, typical Egyptian style by a trio of musicians. The shawm player was accompanied by a drum and tambourine. For those unfamiliar with the shawm, it looks like an oboe, and sounds like a very harsh clarinet-oboe-party-noisemaker combination. It does have its merits, however, when it comes to melody then, it was off to the town of Faiyum proper. Mr. Ahmed got a driver to drive us to the center of town to the most famous and largest water wheels in Egypt. We stopped by the touristy four water wheels, though a group of seven is located north of town. After looking at the wheels, and admiring the town -- quite clean by Cairo standards -- we drove around the block to a small street-side vendor of baskets. We bought a water-bottle basket (getting change from the 50 LE). Then off to another street side vendor less than half-a-block away. We decided to get out and look, as they seemed to have more interesting wares here. In the meantime, a police officer approached our car asking us why we didn't have an escort, and encouraged us to leave for safety reasons. We, by this time, had hopped back in the car. The vendors, even then, were trying to sell us things at ridiculously low rates. We chuckled to ourselves, again declining their offers. The driver then safely took us out of town, and back to Maadi.
[This message has been edited by r_wood (edited 19 May 2005).]
posted
My day on ES has been hectic, relaxing, exciting, and tempestuous. Never, ever, ever has it been been boring or subdued. On ES, I doubt that is even possible. Boredom in any form simply does not exist here! ..at least when Mr. Ahmed is around.
The thing above (above mine :), it's called product placement in English, right, folks? I advise Mr. Ahmed contact me and, for an appropriate fee reflecting his excellent professionalism and high level of service and friendship, I'll write for him a marketing text that maybe will not appear like a cheap bit of advertising from second 1. (?)
[This message has been edited by nevermind (edited 10 May 2005).]
quote:Originally posted by nevermind: My day on ES has been hectic, relaxing, exciting, and tempestuous. Never, ever, ever has it been been boring or subdued.[This message has been edited by nevermind (edited 10 May 2005).]
Of course you can't bored because you are posting on every topic......... ever heard of quality is better than quantity?
PS: You bought your ticket already?
Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by nevermind: I advise Mr. Ahmed contact me and, for an appropriate fee reflecting his excellent professionalism and high level of service and friendship, I'll write for him a marketing text that maybe will not appear like a cheap bit of advertising from second 1. (?)
Great idea, we could work on this together, I'll design a flyer in which he can advertise his services. He can pay me in cash or give me Arabic classes.
quote:Originally posted by Tigerlily: PS: You bought your ticket already?
Have it in my pocket my dear since yesterday . And you are absolutely right about quality/quantity but, hey, can't i have a vice, too???
Am now trying to strick e-conversation with some real estate agents but they seem to think the best property is empty property furnished with dreams of sky-high future incomes . I guess the closer-to-the-ground agents are just not presented in web, or in its English realm. And we cannot flee to any cheaper areas outside Sharm until my love needs to work. To rent 2 weeks here and 2 weeks there is almost more expensive than renting for a month both here and there then actually only using both only half of the time... A dead end.
yes, Dalia, i was just thinking what his real best target group might be? I guess most people who have time for daytime classes are married or otherwise cohabiting women? and would you normally consider having a private male tutor then? Maybe with view on neighbours and/or your jealous other half, you'd rather skip? And maybe people perfer group lessons even, because you are also keenly interested in new contacts if are new to the country, plus some social life? Maybe arabic classes served as way of entertainment, a coffee salon type of thing, or any group lessons would be a much greater "hit"? Group lessons are really risk-proof--first you gather a group, gather money from them then only you rent a place and hire tutors, if needed. No advance recources required! It used to be the favourite starting business for females in my country just because is so easy to set up. No demand--no course, no costs.
Am just ad hoc speculating, of course.
[This message has been edited by nevermind (edited 11 May 2005).]
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Nevermind, I thought your boyfriend is working as a waiter? He could find work anywhere. And you could find a job too with your English skills (the Arabic is hopefully coming soon; . And as I said before to puppy, don't be afraid of the writing. I learned the whole alphabet in a good three weeks. Well it took me to overcome my damons a good 9 years! And only because I hope that we might have a chance to return to Egypt next summer. I heard its kind of hard to find a female Arabic teacher in the resort areas. Well, hardly women working in these hotels (if you compare f.e. with Tunisia). Do exchange with someone, like you offer English or Russian and no money involved.
Personally I could not be locked in Hurghada or Sharm, sure its nice places but only for the holidays. I really liked living in big Cairo and only going off for the vacation to the Red Sea.
Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Tigerlily: Found this on the net but I don't have an idea if they are still open or how much the charge for classes.
They just opened a while ago (and they also advertise on here quite a lot). They are very nice and the prices are reasonable. I can't really comment on the quality of the teaching yet as I've only taken a few classes so far, but I do have a good impression.
quote:Originally posted by Tigerlily: Nevermind, I thought your boyfriend is working as a waiter? He could find work anywhere. And you could find a job too with your English skills (the Arabic is hopefully coming soon; :).
Oh please slowly Tiger, am not used to such surges of kindness on this forum here :D.
Yes, exactly what I'm telling him that he could safely leave his job and try something more worthwhile, exept I avoid telling him the "more wothwhile" :D a man must have a job and income and be able be proud of it and give his share of support, would be a huge blow to his ego if he lost all this and became dependable. At the same time hospitality work, though perspectiveless, is a good for soul as work can be, I believe--at least you are doing something clearly useful, are helping somebody start his/her day in a good mood :) or something. As compared to sitting in a dusty office someplace wall street & helping to sell air.
So, for long term I'd think of Cairo, or Alex, too but since i only have my imagination now, I want to visit and explore hands-on before planning and deciding, maybe even rent initially, because basically we have all freedom to do anything we want. I'll keep my job tasks in my own country over internet as much as practicable, it is easier income and I wouldn't take work from egyptians.
So, I was just describing the situation now when i go while i still haven't sold my apartment here and with all travelling 3 times since january already and the effect from this on my professional productivity, i'm not exactly a millionaire and my love shelled out everything he had to get me there.
Yes, I definitely want pick up Arabic, I did master russian a long while ago after all, which also has an alphabet and gramamr of its own so probably it is not totally impossible :) though feels so :). And with EU enlargening all the time and touching up with Middle Asia already, sure there will be increased exchange in all areas. Except of course there must be so many bilingual Arab-English, Arab-German etc speakers that it hardly would help provide a lasting competitive edge i guess, my own country being too small for much interest or investment though maybe some. Legalised translations of marriage documents... now this is a flow of income to watch for :D.
Actually, I speak my own language then English, Finnish, Swedish, Russian, but none of these are languages of first importance in Egypt the way e.g. Italian and German are, I believe :). My German and French are very dormant though on the proud level of discussing "Ma Familie". Ayway if anyone have any passing suggestions on new modern demands of E. social and business environment then I'll gladly listen to. Maybe could put up an old people's home or something, for imported old people, of course (there must be a noticeable flow because i noticed a special visa excemption for them) then talk ma mere, mama dorogaya, rakas äitini, min mor snälla, liebe Mutti... to them in all their respective tongues and have all melt like butter and donate their wills to me and my socially educated and oh-so-darling love. Brilliant, or what? :D
[This message has been edited by nevermind (edited 11 May 2005).]
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. And you are absolutely right about quality/quantity but, hey, can't i have a vice, too???
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