Cairo is "Indescribable"

Hi everyone! I have just begun reading the book recommended to us by Nassef, Cairo, The Mother of the World, and from what I have read so far, I highly recommend it. The author, Herbert Smith, an English teacher who spent three years there mentoring Egyptian English teachers, observes lots of great tidbits of life that differ from American assumptions about daily life. For example, time and space reveal a new dimension of understanding from an Egyptian point of view. When someone says class is at 8, when should you show up? He learned from experience that his assumption didn't work.

I also noticed an interesting article about the "floundering fleshpots" of Egypt, an article by two Associated Press journalists that was published in the Daily Breeze last Sunday--p. A22--I tried to provide a link but didn't succeed. Anyway, the article included a comment by the Yacoubian Building author, Alaa Al Aswany, that the old is fading away--not as upbeat as the ending of his novel where loveable old lost Zaki and the young, loveable, vibrant, yet independent Moslem woman Busayna found love and the will to share life together.

I also found another article today that shows another side of modern Egypt. On page 19 of theDec 17 Daily Breeze, a report says that "An Egyptian telecom giant launched an advanced mobile phone network in North Korea on Monday," ..."a widely publicized $400 million deal,..."

We have a lot to look forward to in our own observations and experience starting at 4 am Jan. 7, yes?
In speaking of Cairo, Smith says, "Everything adds up to a city that can't possibly exist as it is, but does." Perhaps we will be able to voice similar incredulous but
awestruck musings as we travel the country!

Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Dr. D