mamamona

The Beautiful People vs Mr/Mrs. Personality

2009-11-09T00:23:00.006+02:00

Do you think that people who are not that good looking have better personalities? Remember that old song "They call you Mr. Personality because you're so ugly!" Well that was an extreme but you know the how people think when someone describes a person as having a "great personality" that automatically means they're not a looker? Of course beauty is in the eyes of the beholder but I'm talking about just general societal standards, so play along. I don't mean any offense to anyone so take this with a grain of salt.

You see, I have this theory: People who are of below average looks are forced to rely on other aspects of their self. They develop a good sense of humor, they're funny. They focus on studies/reading and therefore become better students/smarter. They are more unique. These traits are developed in childhood, more towards the tween/teen years. I also think people who are beautiful get ahead in life more easily. They get special treatment, more opportunities, and attention. When someone who is, let's say plain, doesn't have these advantages, it builds character. Less attractive people learn there is more to them than the outside and build that, while a lot of the time beautiful people depend on their looks to get by because it works. I'm referring to physical beauty here only. A sense of humor and intelligence is more important and more beautiful, I think.

I suppose beautiful people get preferential treatment because humans are visual. We're subconsciously drawn to good looking people. Also, people go by first impressions and think if something looks good, it must be good. It's like The Hunchback of Notre Dame. People hated him on his looks alone and it happens all the time in this world. While hotties get to skip lines, free stuff and better service. It's not fair but it's true.

The best is when you don't care what anyone thinks. I'll admit, I get intimidated around really beautiful women. Just nervous and self conscious. I'm working on it though.

What do you think? Do pretty people have it easier in life? Do less attractive people have better personalities?

Cairo

2009-11-06T20:57:00.011+02:00

So yesterday E had a meeting in Cairo and asked if we wanted to come for the day. I love a little spontaneity, so the kids took the day off school and we headed for Cairo. The drive was a long 5 hours but we're used tot he 8 hour drive to where my husband is from so it wasn't too bad. Most of the way is boring desert but there are some pretty sights driving through Ein el Sokhna.

We passed 2 stretch limo and trucks with sound equipment going the other way in the Red Sea direction and decided maybe it was Beyonce on her way to the concert she was giving in Porto Ghalib tonight.

Finally when we reached Cairo, and not 15 minutes into the city, I already was thankful I lived in Hurghada and not Cairo. Seriously? The city looks like there is a coat of black dust over everything. This is just going into Giza and passing through Tahrir. In Hurghada we have dust and litter but not like this. The air is cleaner of course. The traffic was bad and the fumes were gross. Here's my drive by shot of the Nile.

We thought the zoo would be a good place to spend some time. It's one pound to get in but it's really a sad place. I don't think it was this bad last time we were here a couple of years ago. We love animals but the conditions there were unspeakable. Most of the animals were not out because it was near closing time and some zoo guys kept wanting to show us some animals for tips. There were people trying to sell stuff and one woman came toward us and said to me "come here I want to tell you a secret!" I was like "Come on kids!" There are weirdos at every turn! I don't know what she wanted.

It's pretty big and there aren't any clear signs or directions. Lots of empty cages. They have cats and dogs in cages there, you guys. Long haired cats are a rarity here I suppose but not a zoo animal in my mind. There are more stray cats than anything. The cages were small and filthy. It's depressing. The only animals that We felt looked ok and actually got to see were these below.

Baboons...open the pic in a new window cause they are the same color as their habitat.

These little dessert foxes.

This elephant passed us on his way somewhere all I could say was "there's an elephant right in front of me"

There are some cool looking old trees there though.

So we got shooed out of the zoo half an hour before closing time and got some snacks from a street vendor and walked a bit while the kids finished eating them. Unfortunately the urine soaked floor of the zoo wasn't were this animal behavior ended. We saw a guy pee on the street. It was disgusting. The street is lined with trash and I refuse to throw trash on the ground. Dawood was like "what's the difference?" It's the principle! We kept walking. No trash can in sight. We finally came to the "Faculty of Engineering" I guess it's part of the Uni, and threw our snack wrappers/drink bottles in the dumpster inside.

We decided to spend the rest of the time at the Mall. A nice clean, non smelly place. Thankfully the first cab I hailed stopped. The new white checkered cabs are cleaner and have a working meter so we were so glad to sit for a while till we got to Nasr City. There was traffic but Tahrir has lots of sights to look at from the street vendors to the billboards so it was ok. I even got a pic of the Cairo tower on the way.

So from the dirtiest place in Cairo, to the cleanest, we got to City Stars Mall. I think it's the biggest one in Egypt. It's nice but most stuff is expensive. We had lunch in the food court and walked around looking at shops, people watched. I've never seen so many skinny jeans/ballet flats/carina top hijabi's in in one place.

We saw these tiny turtles for sale at a kiosk and I thought they were so cute. 75LE each. Too rich for my blood but so cute.

The kids thought the fountain was a good photo op.

There are no benches in the mall. The only way you are sitting down is by buying something. We even got scolded for sitting on this little bench-like ledge by the stairs. You're not allowed to lean on the glass railings that goes all around the center of the malls floors either. Later we stopped to get milk shakes at Mcd's just to sit for a while.

We played around in Toys R Us for a bit.

BIG Piglet!

Cute Lemur!

Finally we had dinner at Papa Johns. We were all tired.

I didn't even realize Dawood was making that face till I uploaded the pics!

All in all, a long day but a change of pace. It was really striking to see the big difference between the people at the zoo and the people at the mall. Makes you think about the haves and have nots.

To Tell or Not to Tell

2009-11-04T16:36:00.000+02:00

I'm always faced with the decision of if I should tell people here my background of growing up in the US or not.

When shopping or at, for example the hairdressers, I avoid it. People tend to think if you came from America you must be rich like on "Za bold and Za beautiful". They'll charge me more, it's not right but it happens. I also have to make sure the kids don't speak English in a cab or a shop for the same reason.

In social settings, when meeting someone new, I'd rather they know. My looks and Arabic can get me by as a born and bred Egyptian for a short convo, but when talking longer people start to notice. I feel like to someone who doesn't know, I'd sound pretty stupid messing up conjugations and tenses. So I'd rather they know than think me a simpleton who can't speak correctly.

Also, I guess I have a slight accent or say words differently even when speaking correct Egyptian dialect, because I always get the "Where are you from? You don't sound Egyptian.". Either way, people here, especially in Hurghada always ask each other where they are from because a lot of people move here from Cairo or other cities. They usually want to know what kind of area you came from, so I usually just give my standard answer: My parent's are from Cairo, but I was born and raised the US and moved here 7 years ago.

It's always a sort of awkward exchange and most of the time people ask if I wore hijab in the US and are surprised to learn that many women do. I always tell them how Muslims in the US don't take Islam for granted as is often the case here. They ask if I met and married my husband there and which of my kids were born there, etc. Some people go on to ask lots of questions about life in America and the people there. A lot of people assume all Americans hate us though but I tell them that there are so many intelligent, open minded people and the bad one's give American's a bad rap, just like bad Arabs give us a bad rap. On the other hand, some don't have any interest and treat me like everyone else, which is fine with me.

The odd thing is that most people still think of me as "coming back" to Egypt. Even though I was born in the United States. They assume America was a strange place for me or that Egypt is my real home. I guess they don't think it through. If they were to move to America after 25 years in Egypt would they feel the same? No, so I use that comparison and it usually makes things clear for most. But there's always some who don't get it.

Meme

2009-11-04T05:33:00.004+02:00

I was tagged by the lovely SabiWabi From OyHabibti for this Meme called 5 (Random) Things That I Love.

Well, of course I love my family and friends and above all, Allah. This tag is more like little pleasures, or at least that's how I'll take it.

Easy Peasy. In no particular order:

#1 LOST

There is no television show that I have ever followed with such fervor and dedication. It's that good. The writing is phenomenal. They always have you at the edge of your seat going WHAT THE?!?! The last season is a mere 77 days away and I only know this because I have a countdown on my LOST BLOG!

#2 Magazines

I love 'em. The glossy paper. The smell of the perfume ads. I just love magazines. Even more so now that I can't get them easily. My mom brings some fromt he US when she comes so that's great. Oh, and online magazines will never be the same as the real thing, in your hands/bag.

#3 Hello Kitty

I love this cat! Not this much, but a lot. I'll buy stickers and notebooks with her image cause they make me happy. Can't find real Sanrio here but if it looks real, I'll buy it.

#4 Chocolate

I adore chocolate. Does anyone not? My favorite is dark chocolate with mint. MMmmmm. Lindt makes a good one. I'm an equal opportunity chocolate eater though. I like white Toblerone with the toffee bits and Cadbury dairy milk too!

#5 THE INTERNET!!!

The internet is the best, coolest most wonderful thing invented. It's amazing, really all it provides to us, information, entertainment, socializing. I keep in touch with my family mostly by way of the web. I met all of you fabulous people here too. It's fantastic! Any thought or question that crosses my mind, from...hmm I wonder why people hang shoes from telephone wires to what's my kid got? I can find out within seconds. I Love the internet!

Utter Chaos

2009-10-31T06:57:00.004+02:00

The other night I was in a situation that could only be described as insane. It was complete and utter chaos.

So Thursday nights are the most crowded at the promenade and the kids and I went for a walk that night and stopped at the supermarket there. It's a small market and it was really crowded. Filled with people buying drinks and snacks sold cheaper than at the cafe's that line the promenade. The kids chose a few candy treats and we got some drinks and got in the really long line. They only have 2 registers at this store and the lines were all the way down the aisles. There were some people who stood in a line but many others who just shoved their way to the front and stuck their items in the cashier's face, totally ignoring the line.

I've made a diagram to illustrate the situation.

At first I just mumbled under my breath how crazy this was. Then people in line started getting impatient and frustrated with the line cutters, voicing their objections in whatever language they spoke.

At one point some dude a few people behind me just shoved his basket on the register table, somehow thinking he was someone special. He must have thought the rules didn't apply to him for some reason and at that point I had just had it. I turned around and yelled "Mayenfa3sh kida!, Fee taboor hina" (You can't do that there is a line here!) to which he replied that he was in line and I said "Ana hina ableek" (I was here first!) He claimed he didn't see anyone in front of him. What? This huge crowd of people, you didn't see them? Why would I yell at this guy if I wasn't in fact, in line. I am not confrontational especially in public with strangers but I really reached my boiling point. The cashier guy was already scanning his stuff by now. Astaghfirullah, (God, forgive me) I was so angry.

I don't understand why he kept ringing up people who were just getting in the front of the line without waiting. One girl tried to cut in front of me and I told her, sweetie, you can't go in front, there's a line. She had one bottle of Coke so I told her I'd get it with my stuff since it was almost my turn. She gave me the money and waited outside. It was totally unfair and completely crazy. I really felt like I got a glimpse of how a mob of angry looters could form. It was that bad. I had the kids wait outside, holding hands. I wanted to leave the stupid basket and get out of there but I hadn't waited in line for nothing. I finally checked out and got out of there but what a nightmare.

I have questions. WHY do they think it's ok to do this. WHY didn't they learn about getting in a line in Kindergarten like we did. Will Egyptians ever be able to adhere to order and follow rules??

I know one thing. This would NEVER happen in America.

Hey

2009-10-30T15:35:00.002+02:00

Salams everyone. I've barely been online this past week. it's been a tough one for our family. My husband's brother passed away. Ina Lillah Wa Elahe Raje3oon (To Allah we belong and to him we shall return) InshaAllah May he be granted Paradise, he was a truly selfless man and always kind.

Motherhood

2009-10-18T16:59:00.001+02:00

Motherhood is a new film out staring a frumped up Uma Thurman. Who are they kidding? She's still more gorgeous than most. Even with a pacifier. As soon as I heard the title, I was interested. Then when I heard that she's a blogger, I knew it was my kinda movie. I don't know how popular a movie about a mommy blogger will be but I want to see it. You can even read a page of the character, Eliza's blog here.

I love movies about parenting. There's Mr. Mom, Parenthood, Step Mom, and a recent fave, Baby Mama, to name a few. Isn't that funny?Movies should be an escape from everyday life. But it really helps to know it's normal to be frazzled and be doing 10 things at once while looking, well...not like Uma but less than your best. Anyway the trailer is kinda cute.

Yea, I Just ate...And??

2009-10-17T13:25:00.008+02:00

Last night we had to run a few errands and the kids were studying all day for exams (already) so I didn't cook and we went out to dinner. The restaurant has a TV on all the time which isn't a problem usually. Most of the time it's some obscure movie and no one's paying attention. Yesterday Eye for an Eye was on. I felt really uneasy because I know this is a violent film and before I knew it, there was Kiefer Sutherland attacking a woman. I had to tell the kids not to look. We wanted to tell the guy to change the channel but there were other people there and I didn't know if we had the right. The kids didn't watch and were fine but it was awkward for a while. The have the best pizza there and I just had the left over for lunch.

After dinner we went to buy some navy blue school pants for D, he only had 1 so we got a pair and I stopped by the book man. I was quickly browsing titles and the summaries on the back, when I hear the guy go "didn't you just eat?" I turned around like ummm yea. So? Ha, he was talking to a big white and gray cat. She was so sweet, she let me pet her. Someone cut her whiskers short, poor thing. Anyway I picked out a couple of paperbacks and he gave me 10LE credit for giving him a book I didn't want. Which one should I read first?

Then we had to have a couple of shoes repaired. Zayneb's school shoe ripped when she tripped and the thong part of my flip flop broke so this guy fixed both on the spot for just 2LE. That's a good thing about Egypt. They will fix anything. They don't throw stuff out so easily.

While he did that, I stopped in little store to see if they had lunch bags. No luck but I got some socks for the kids, stickers and this cute little ring.

It's the little things, really. I know it's materialistic, but small purchases like these make me happy.

Yummy Dinner!

2009-10-14T17:55:00.003+02:00

Today I was looking at recipes for this veal that I had and found this recipe and decided it was simple enough. It turned out great. Tender and delicious. I didn't have capers and I used apple juice instead of white wine. It's not everyday that I feel inspired about cooking, you know.

We had it with some salad, sauteed carrots and cheesy orzo.

Casual Cool

2009-10-12T12:10:00.000+02:00

I recently found out that IslamicDesignHouse.com is now in Egypt. I was exited for about 2 minutes till I found out their delivery is in Cairo only and their sizes are up to Large. Anyway, anyone in Egypt looking for nice casual abayas should check them out.

MyUmmah is coming out with new items next month, and they ship world wide! So look out for that, inshaAllah.

Tonight

2009-10-10T22:57:00.004+02:00

Tonight we went out to meet with my girl, J and her family. We've become really good friends now, talking on msn each day and stuff. She's awesome, we totally get each other. Anyway we thought we'd introduce the Misters to each and let the kids play together. They've been asking to see them ever since last time. Our sons have a little bit of a blooming bromance going on. The The kids were stalking a cute little kitten, but she kept hiding in the bushes. J and co. were gonna take her home, but no luck with her coming out. I'll totally use her to get to her cat.

On the way home we stopped so Safiyah could spend her b-daymoney (She's 5 today!). She chose these:

After she bought them, I had enough stamps on my card at that shop to get a free 50LE so I picked these nice make up brushes. I asked if I could feel them and they are SO soft and the bristles stay put.

The engrish on the package is hilarious and completely nonsensical!

Hahahahhahahahahahah! But the brushes are really nice!

School Daze

2009-10-10T11:35:00.004+02:00

Oh my God. I took Safiyah to her first day of KG1 today and it was utter chaos. There was no semblance of order or organization at all. It was one huge mass of parents and kids in baby-class, KG1 and KG2, crammed together. The Headmistress spoke into a mic no one could hear calling off names of which kids were in which class and people tried to squeeze by to get through, I'm telling you it was insane. I kept looking around me for anyone else who thought this was crazy but it seemed like everyone was used to this.

Why couldn't they just let each of us take the kids to their class and be done? The names were printed outside the classes so I don't see why we had to stand in the heat and make the kids stand there with their backpacks and... ugh it was truly a nightmare. I finally got Safiyah in her class and met her teacher, then double checked the bus driver knew she was going with him. Everyone brought the bag of items they asked for, Dettol, tissues, etc and when we asked they said..Monday. Why could the kids have to carry a bag to school Monday when we have it here now? I asked the Headmistress so she said I could write Safiyah's name on the bag and then leave it in her office. So I had to go to the office to get Safy's bus name tag thingy anyway so I went and was spoken to rudely by the woman there. I just stood by the door waiting to be ackknowledged and she was rude, telling me what to write on the tag. I was almost gonna cry so I just took my sad little self out of there and left.

On the bright side I went to breakfast with E. It was really nice!

It's Funny, Now.

2009-10-08T09:17:00.003+02:00

So the weather has been nice lately, cool breeze and we haven't turned the AC on in a week, so we have the windows open all the time. We should get screens put in! I think the entire building got an earful yesterday. Let me paint the scene.

Salwa was in the bathroom washing her hands, and about to go out when I hear a high pitch, blood curdling scream. She's freaking out and jumping and pointing at something and I can't understand what she's saying because she's cry-screaming. OK, so I figure out that there's a spider by the bathroom door and she wont run past it so she's backed up against the back wall of the bathroom standing on the edge of the shower, still screaming and pointing. I try to get her to stop screaming and tell me where it is because I can't see it and well, to be honest I was scared too. I am a huge arachnophobe. So I go and get the bug spray, I find some mosquito stuff but it's empty. By now, the other two girls are standing on chairs in the living room. I find a roach and ant spray and I spray it in the direction of the bathroom door. The spider moves and all three girls scream like banshees. A fly goes by Salwa and she jumps and screams even louder. Dawood is laughing his butt off. I'm like "everybody QUIET!!" I try to spray it again and the spider runs behind the laundry basket. So I gather my courage and run past it and get Salwa out of the bathroom and to safety. She's all tears and snot saying "IT WAS RIGHT NEXT TO MEEEE!!!"

We lost him by then and they all said they were never going in the bathroom again. Salwa suggested we close the bathroom door to trap him, haha, I asked her, "should we lock it?" When E came home he found the spider curled up and dead by the bathroom. He picked it up with a tissue and showed it to them so they would know it was really gone. They stood 5 feet away going, "OK OK"! It was no bigger than a nickle but it was a fat one. UGH ::::shudder:::

The School Could Be Bathed In Dettol

2009-10-06T20:50:00.005+02:00

Zayneb, Dawood & Salwa on their first day. (the girls had gym that day) Dawood looks just thrilled.

This whole thing is such a headache. Tonight we went to buy the stuff the school asked for in a list each student has to bring to prevent the spread of H1N1. The only thing we couldn't find was Dettol "air freshener" which I guess is like Lysol spray. Some of the stuff on the list has nothing to do with swine flu, it's just the parents buying supplies for the school. Like toilet paper. Most likely these items have been requested because the school has to have them when they get the government inspection. So more of our money goes to the school, but whatever. It's just typical.

The school administration also included in the list that we are not "allowed" to go to the promenade. Can you believe that? She thinks she can tell us what to do outside of school. It's an open walk way. I roll my eyes at that. No one's gonna adhere to that. There's nothing else to do here!

Grade school have to bring it in a bag, Just cheapo ones I got at the 3.50 store. Safiyah's is just sent in plastic bag. OH YEA! I now heard that the 11 am dismissal for KG is just the first week so, let's hope that's true. I need that time! Safiyah starts Saturday so she's just home with me these days, hanging out, watching Dora. You know, Dora here, is in Arabic and instead of teaching a few Spanish words she teaches a few English words instead. It's cute but can get on your nerves, the repetition! Also, a kid's show question...what the HELL is DOMO? What is he? Why does he have lockjaw? The other day 2 DOMOs were having a farting contest! haha.

Random Ramblings

2009-10-04T22:10:00.005+02:00

I was informed today by a certain someone that I've been slacking on my blog. This is true. There just hasn't been anything going on lately. So I thought I'd just write a rambling post.

Tonight we went to dinner at a seafood place, and it was pretty good. That's saying a lot cause I'm not a big seafood person but they have this amazing soup. The place is called Star Fish if anyone's curious. Then we went to get some groceries and after we loaded up the car and we were driving back, I happened to look at the receipt and noticed that instead of charging us for 2 Danette pudding cups, they charged us for 23! So we turned around and went back to get a refund of nearly 40LE. I usually just throw the receipt out, so, subhanAllah I'm glad I looked at it when I did.

The kids start school tomorrow and it's a relief. Not because I want to be rid of them really, just because this summer was so long what with Ramadan and the delays. It will be good to get back into a routine. Safiyah who's in KG1 starts on Saturday. I heard a rumor that KG was going to be half day this year. ALL YEAR. 3 hours at school instead of 5. I used to be able to go out to coffee with a friend or breakfast with E and have till 1:30 before Safy gets home but if this is true, it will cut that time short. I was planning on starting a gym membership while they are at school so I hope they have early classes at the gym, inshaAllah.

The school has asked for everyone to bring their own antibacterial gel and wipes and paper towels etc. They'll get the full list tomorrow so we'll need to get all that x 4. The kids are excited to go back to school, it reminds me of the new school year and how exiting it was. The prospect of a fresh, new year.

I have to go iron their uniforms and get to bed. Later!

Top Five Things I Hate In Movies

2009-09-27T12:57:00.005+02:00

1. When there's a huge mess being made. I think of the poor person who will have to clean it up. We recently watched Alvin and the Chipmunks and they made the worst messes. On the other hand I love magical cleaning sequences like in Mary Poppins when they snap the room clean or in Enchanted when the animals clean up.

2. When people drive in movies and barely look at the road! Amelie stated she hated that too in that movie. Seriously, they need to at least make it look like they are really driving. They're always looking at the person next to them, talking to them, almost never glancing at the road. This has gotten better over the years but it still happens.

3. This one's more of a personal thing. When people stand on a ledge or cliff. Like at the end of Vanilla Sky when Tom Cruise's character is on the top of that building. I don't know why it makes me so nervous, I actually notice that I'm leaning back myself while watching.

4. When people are in a diner or restaurant and they don't even drink or eat what they just ordered. Or pay sometimes.

5. When someone is running away from the bad guy and where do they run? UP stairs. Why? To make it more dramatic, but it makes zero sense. Also the action stars always get shot in the upper arm. How conveniently non lethal yet sympathy grabbing.

What about you guys?

Memories

2009-09-27T11:51:00.007+02:00

Why do we remember the things we remember? What makes certain memories stand out in our minds while others are gone forever?

I'm a pretty nostalgic person in general, but I have very little recollection of my early childhood. Do most people remember stuff from age 5 through say..9? I have bits and pieces. Vague images or little clips in my mind. My earliest memory is being three years old and going to see my brother when he was born. I remember wearing a red furry coat and standing on my tippy toes trying to see in the glass. I barely remember anything nearly that early. Sometimes I wonder how much of my memories I've made up. I wonder what my kids will remember.
Me, I guess I was about 4

A girl in one of my classes in college swore she had memories, in utero. Yea. I used to wish I could remember full days and re-live them in my mind but I think sometimes forgetting is a blessing. Do you think our subconscious blocks certain things out to protect us? What's your earliest memory?

This is a good article about personal memories that can "help to guide your explorations of your earliest recollections".

Yummy Fudgy Cookies!

2009-09-25T01:35:00.004+02:00

I just made these amazingly easy, delicious cookies. They're just a box of cake mix, 2 eggs and 1/2 a cup of vegetable oil. The recipe says the Betty Crocker mix is 18.25 oz but the one here is 500grams which is a little under 18 oz so I added a bit of flour. You roll them into balls and roll them in sugar and bake for 10 mins at 350. They are so chocolaty and yummy, you have to try this recipe.

The Meeting

2009-09-24T06:27:00.003+02:00

So I met my internet friend, J and lived to tell the story. She's so easy to talk to and really down to earth. We clicked immediately. The kids were a little shy at first, (we both have 4, a boy and 3 girls, mashaAllah) but they were getting along great later on. It was so funny, the 2 boys were all standoffish at first and neither wanted to make the first move. By the time we parted they had a handshake down and they were asking when we'd meet again.

Alhamdulillah, we were talking about how Allah does everything for a reason. I was just thinking maybe the reason I had that whole snafu about Safiyah & school was so that I would do the Google search that led me to find J! It's really great to have a friend who's on the same page with you on a lot of things. She's Canadian born and raised with Arab parents and the US and Canada are kinda like the same so we get eachother. Alhamdulillah I'm really glad to have met her.

More Eid Fun!

2009-09-22T23:39:00.006+02:00

So most people here in Egypt celebrate the Eid for 3 days. I pretty sure that's just a cultural thing though. Anyway the second day we took the kids to play at the mall's overpriced play place.
Here's Zayneb as one of the magician's volunteers.
Dawood beat salwas 7 -0 at Air Hockey.
Zayneb shooting hoops.
Safiyah ridin' the chopper
Hi Salwa!
This was the biggest rip off, 10LE and she fell off after 3 seconds. Ride over.
Trampoline fun.
Gee, Smile would ya?

Yesterday we went on a boat trip, it was pretty nice even if we didn't go swimming. The fresh air was good, and the water was beautiful.
Safiyah caught off guard.
Salwa and Zayneb
Dawood

In other news, I recently met a new friend online,sort of by coincidence, subhanAllah. She lives in hurghada, but we haven't actually met yet. We're meeting today inshaAllah so If I go missing you'll know I was kidnapped/killed by her. Kidding, really I was the one to contact her so if anyone should be worried, it would be her. We've kinda become friends already via emails, phone calls and msn. We have a lot in common, she's really cool and cracks me up. When calling about our meeting she goes "don't forget your axe" hahahahahah. Well played, J. Well played.

EID

2009-09-21T10:07:00.008+02:00

EID was good, alhamdulillah. The prayer at the mosque in front of me had way less people than usual, people are scared of crowds cause of swine flu. Whatever, after breakfast we went to sleep for a bit cause we were up late and up early. E brought the kids a bunch of candy and we gave them money so they could choose their own gifts. I think next time we'll do one gift exchange and money cause it's fun to open gifts! We thought of having a party but a lot of people are out of town or busy so whatever. We went to dinner at our favorite restaurant, then had Ice cream at the promenade. We then stopped at a toy/gift shop so the kids could pick out some toys and I got a wannabe-fake kipling bag for free cause the shop has this card that you get stamped and then you get a free 50LE. Heh heh heh, (<---evil laugh)Using my kid's purchases for my own gain! The bag had this stupid ape keychain that I gave Dawood. I had the same bag in black but the zipper broke so that tells you how poorly made it is. Whatever, it was free.

Here are some pics from yesterday. I went with a coppery brown hijab cause the green one I had lined up was too small when I wore it, looked weird.

Zayneb also got a diary with lock (ooooh!) and Dawood got a Yugi Watch. S&S got a lame doll with the annoying noisy toys pictured here. You can't see it but they say "Benign Girl" hahahahahahaha.

HAPPY EID!

2009-09-19T19:55:00.002+02:00

Eid is tomorrow inshaAllah! Have a great holiday, everyone!

I Heart Hijab Pins

2009-09-16T20:34:00.001+02:00

Maids in Egypt

2009-09-15T02:12:00.004+02:00

Tonight I was privy to or, I guess, I was part of a weird conversation about maids. (In Arabic of course)

I know that having a cleaning lady in this part of the world is way more common than it is in the west and it's a good thing sometimes. It gives jobs to women who need them and helps households keep up with all the dust here. I think a woman coming to help do the heavier jobs once or twice a week is a help to a lot of homes. One of these women currently has a woman come clean her apartment every other day. She brings her daughter and cleans everything but isn't allowed to make the bed. When I heard this I asked why not and she said she just doesn't want her touching and breathing on her bed/pillows. I was like um, lady, she's at your house every other day breathing all over the place. EYEROLL

I was kinda disturbed by the casual conversation where one woman was asking if the other knew where she could find a young one. "Around 12 years old?" She asked. I was like "why?", they both went on to talk about how a young girl would be great because then she could live with them!

I've gotta say I don't get live in maids, let alone, live in child maids at that! They talked about how she'd have to be younger than 15 or she could be a threat to the marriage. But not younger than 10, or they'd feel bad giving her too much work and it would be more like an extra kid than a servant. I wondered why an 11 or 12 year old was OK and guilt free!?

Wouldn't you feel odd having a stranger live in your homes,I asked. They insisted she'd be like one of the family. I argued that she would not, and asked if said maid would sit with them at dinner. One of them laughed and said, of course not! She'll eat in the kitchen. I'd just proved my point and shot her a look like "see"?

One recounted a great little girl she had in Cairo who was so wonderful, "She'd finish her work and sit quietly on the floor without my asking." She said. She'd go visit her family once a month and give them the money she'd earned. These maids also double as nannies and look after the children at home and when out, and more educated ones even help with homework. What's mom doing? I'm sorry, I'm all for getting some help but when some womanchild is raising your kid for you, that's a problem.

They went on to talk about the different nationalities of maids and which ones were better. "Filipino maids are the best" one says. The other told a story of the African maid in Cairo who'd eaten a baby. Yes, I just typed that, and yes, they were serious. I started to laugh and they quickly said, no, it's true! One said how black people scare her and how she just isn't comfortable around them. I told them they can't generalize and that what they heard is surely a rumor. I asked them how they felt about people painting all Muslims or Arabs with the same brush but they blew off the comparison. These are average, middle class, college educated women. It completely floors me how people can be this dense.

I really had to keep my cool because I wanted to yell "IT'S NOT OK TO HAVE A CHILD CLEAN UP AFTER YOU AND YOUR KIDS AND YOU'RE BOTH IGNORANT, RACISTS!" But I didn't.
I've seen some kids that have maids living in their home and they treat them like crap and pick it up from their parents. They get a sense of superiority over them. It's messed up.

If you have a live in maid, that's fine as long as she is an adult and is treated kindly and fairly. What's your take?

Eid Outfit!

2009-09-11T23:57:00.008+02:00

I really love what I got, mashaAllah and the abaya, I found in the first shop I went into. Just what I was looking for. Something cool and casual. I told the girl to hold it while I looked around and I didn't find anything else so I went back and picked this one up.

I love that it has pockets!

It needed a few minor alterations so I took it to the tailor and he shortened it, sewed up the slits in the sides, and put a peice of the excess from the bottom in the V-neck like I requested. They also hemmed Zayneb's new jeans really nicely all for just 8LE! That's about a buck and a half! A couple of before and afters.

I chose this hijab to match the darker embroidery detail on the abaya but I could wear it with a brown one too. I couldn't find the mint green color but I like the darker green with it anyway. I even got a couple green hijab pins.

I also got these new shoes, I love them so! Same brand and shop where I got the ones earlier this summer. These are lower and more comfy. I had this bag E got me but no shoes to match so it's perfect.

I picked up this hijab just cause it's cute and it will look nice with any black abaya, plus 2 underscarfs.

I don't even know what we'll do but We'll probably go out to dinner and take the kids to play somewhere. What's everyone wearing/doing for Eid?