Pocket Vests and Hot Days in Cairo

Well I leave for the states in a few days.  Its such a strange feeling.  I didn't think I would be returning for such a long time, and suddenly its happening.  Sorta jarring really.  But everything is cool for now.  I had some financial problems for a bit, but those seem to be a little more stabilized now, or are track to be anyway.  I also had a telephone interview with UNESCO Paris, which was completely unexpected although not too bad.  I was nervous but was able to provide succint and confident answers.  I believe the recommendation for the position is to be passed on today, so I will probably find out in the next week or two.  I admit that I will be happy to move to Paris if the oppurtunity comes along, but I will also be rather sad.  I've come to like it here in Cairo, and while I have limited oppurtunities to do the things I really care about and would probably need to move sometime next year anyway, I cringe at the thought of going further away from Africa.  There are several positives about the prospect of moving to Paris though, as I have always been a big fan of UNESCO, and am really committed to the prospect of working within the capacity of education and post-conflict reconstruction. 

Yesterday I was walking through Zamalek, the expat heavy neighborhood I had lived in when I first moved to Cairo (the island in the Nile, visible in the photo).  Mallory and I were walking down the street when some old ladies wearing khaki pocket vests asked us directions for a pizza place often advertised in the tourist guide books. It was sorta funny to hear their mid-western accents and I couldn't help but ask where they were from, which turns out to be "Washington Pennslyvania."  They thought it quite unusual that Mallory and I actually live in Cairo, but it was nice talking to them nonetheless. 

I'm always amused by people wearing pocket vests. Aid workers and journalists always seem to be wearing these things on television and in the movies.  If you watch the movie "Hotel Rwanda," its always these foks running around in khaki, like they are going fly fishing or something.  But really, what do you do with a pocket vest?  I couldn't help but wonder what an aid worker would need all these pockets for... and more curious what the average tourist in Cairo is going to do with a day bag, a fanny pack, and 27 pockets? 

The other funny thing I've noticed among aid workers and journalists in Cairo is the "uniform." It was only after a couple months of being in Egypt that I noticed white folks always wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans whenever they "go into the field."  I noticed this at a meeting in Ain Shemz, when I was to meet all the gang leaders and all of us foriegners (I think there were four of us total) were all dressed in the same outfit.  Then a couple months later, I watchd a report from a journalist on CNN who was speaking about conditions in a Pakistani refugee camp - yep, he was wearing the same uniform.  The funny thing is that this isn't common attire in African countries... so is this what aid workers wear in the middle east?  The big question is, why?  How does a black t-shirt, blue jeans, and/or a pocket vest make you fit into Islamic society.  Now I admit, I sometimes continue to dress like this - and am even dressed like this right now (sans vest) - but mostly because the girlfriend thinks I look cute with my "aid worker uniform."  I'm not sure if there much dignity with this reason, but at least it is some sort of basis for my actions. 

Lastly, there is one other major aid worker/journalist/tourist fashion.  The Indiana Jones outfit.  If you go to the pyrmids in Giza, its funny just how many men and women are wearing a white oxford, khaki pants, and a fedora.  Too many times in Cairo I've looked down the street - a street bursting with mobile phone dealers, electronic shops, and American fast food venues - only to see a lone British explorer from c. 1904 walking up the street, as if venturing forthe into unknown on some expedition or safari.  I keep wanting to ask these guys, anywhere between the age of 20 and 80, "Dude, whats up with the outfit? Did McDonalds not have the chicken sandwhich you wanted so you now need to hunt 'big game' ?" 

I will admit that the first time I went to the pyramids, I dressed like Indiana Jones.  No hat, jsut khakis and cotton.  It was a good time, as I picked up lots of cool rocks and trinkets while walking around, but in the end, I had to leave them because there wasn't a way to carry them all.

If only I had worn a pocket vest.

Status Quo

I need to pick up my Diploma in Forced Migration and Refugee Studies as I believe it should be printed by now, but I've been a little busy with some other projects.  I friend of mine is starting a daycare center for refugees within Cairo, so I've been helping him construct the buildings.  At least some other guys already constructed the foundation, so all we have left is... everything else.  I took the day off today, but tomorrow will be back at the site, bright and early.  Apparently all the architecture studies helped out a bit though.  Things are decent otherwise.  I'm having some banking problems, but I hope that everything gets sorted out soon.  Its just so much easier to deal with things in America, it makes me really looking forward to dealing with these sort of problems when I return as I know a  couple 10 minute phone calls will resolve a problem that has been plaguing me for weeks.  That will be good.

Still no internet at my apartment.  Grrr....

Lots been happening

Now that school is finished, a whole mess of changes are taking place.  I had to find a new apartment, presently do not have an internet connection, and am trying to make arrangements for the next 6 days to 6 months of my life.  I'm still waiting to hear from UNESCO, and don't expect any news until the end of the month.  Tonight I'm back to making hip hop with some Sudanese guys.

I did manage to find a good apartment, but it is in a different neighborhood and my landlord doesn't speak any english, so I'm having to learn more arabic to get simple things done.  The flat had a handful of problems such as no hot water, but the landlord seems really excited to have me in his building and he has been very willing to take care of these problems as best he can.  Now I have the water fixed, and the washing machine fixed, and the carpet removed, but I am still cleaning nonstop.  It appears that the apartment had been vacant for a long time, so I've had to deal with a lot of big nasty Egyptian bugs and such.  Anyway, its coming along. Exhausting though.

The good side is that I've gotten an excellent deal and the apartment is quite beautiful.  The neighborhood is wonderful as well, with quiet tree line streets.  It is only about 5 minutes from Cafe Tobasco and the phone company, and 2 minutes from the local market place.  I already have a vegetable lady, a bread lady, a cleaning product guy...   I'm also only 2 blocks from the Metro line, so I'm within 20 minutes of everything in the city, which is great since I still have a gym membership downtown.  I hope later this week to have an internet connection.  When I do, I'll post some pictures etc. 

In other news, my Fulbright is over, so I'm no longer living on the dime of the US gov.  How unfortuanate.  So for the rest of the time here, I'm just living on some money that I've saved.  I've started applying to USAID, although it is a very long application process, so the soonest I can get a job would be December, although I hope that it would give me the chance to visit in the US around Christmas, and hopefully for a much longer period of time.

In the meanwhile, I'll do my best to take care of some things here, and hopefully make some other projects happen.  Correspondence might be weak for the next 10 days, but I'll do my best to be in touch.