My new Italian neighbour and also a friend

Sarah, my neighbour became more like a close friend to me lately. We knew each other when her daughter Angela started playing with my son Gabriel. Eversince then onward, we started seeing each other every night even for a short while just to take cig together and talk bullshit for a while. Her husband was in Italy when we became close and my husband was in Saudi. We went out couple of times for coffee, dinner at Chilies and KFC and also shopping in Cairo. She have been of much help lately since I was afraid to drive here in these crazy cairo city. I am sure I will built up the confidence to drive someday but at least not now. Now sarah is learning to start blogging and I am guiding her whatever possible capabilities I know. She is a fast learner and easy to guide.



Sarah, Gabriel and me at Jazz Cafe in Al Rehab compound mall.

Our final destination Cairo, Egypt

Moving from country to another country can be very stressful especially to get all things settled down. Somehow it was indeed a great experience for our family. I left Singapore to Sweden and was living in Sweden for many years. Just love the people, culture and experiencing the new weather was just amazing. The kids and I learnt how to ski, going to school and learnt their language and make new friends. After 6 years, we decided to moved to Ireland where both my husband and I was working there for a year. Weather in Ireland is suck, the traffic is just unbelievable. It rain all the time even in the summer. We got tired of the weather and decided to move to Spain where we were there for almost one year. Somehow this year in 2007, we moved again and now we end up in Cairo Egypt. It was indeed an amazing big city. The culture are so different from all the rest of the countries I have lived in before. People are scattered everywhere and it is full of life all day long, public transportation are not well maintained, the streets are dirty and the place are so polluted. Somehow I just love the mixture of everything here. Instead moving to Egypt was not stressing at all for me. All have been handled and arranged to make our move a very smooth one.

Elrener and Veldiner are in Swedish International School in Spain and we were waiting for them to finishes their final school term before we move to Cairo. On the 15th June, Friday, was their last day of school. Elrener had her class dinner with her teachers, principle and classmate, saying goodbye to everyone. Veldiner was out with her classmate to Baskin Cafe on the last day of school. We flew to Cairo the day after.


Elrener and her classmate on the last day of school.


Carita and her son Philip sent us to the airport.





Upon arriving Cairo airport, Peter and the driver Ahmad were there waiting for us. Gabriel as usual was very excited to meet his Daddy again. We had lots of luggage with us as we moved from Spain to Cairo. That include 5 big luggage, 3 golf bags and a hand carry. Surprisingly, we were not charge a single cent with so much over weight. I had sent 5 Jumbo boxes of our personal things by Alitalia days before we left Spain.

Upon arriving at our new home in Al Rehab new Cairo city, the kids got very excited to see how their room have been design and decorated by Mohamad Jaad. The first thing, they ran up to choose their bedroom. We were indeed very satisfied and pleased with all the interior decoration.

We settled down for a while and Peter suggested that we should drive to a nearby place and get something to eat. There were lots of people going out after the last prayer here as it is when the sun goes down and not too hot as during the day will be too hot to be outdoor.

Al Rehab is a nice big and well developed greenery lovely compound. We were told there are lots of expatriates living in the compound. It is one of the biggest compound in whole of New Cairo city. I wouldn't have to drive out of the compound for anything as they have 2 big shopping mall with supermarkets. Plenty of different Restaurants, fast food, Zouk, Sports Club, children carousel and fun rides.

We had a nice Italian neighbour. They had a little girl called Angela who is exactly the same age as Gabriel. Angela and Gabriel got along pretty well. They played together whenever she's home. Angela is a very social sweet Italian girl, so she gave Gabriel a hug and a kiss on the cheek the first time they met. Gabriel got very shy that he moved away from her. They look so cute. Now that Angela had left for Italy for her summer holiday with her grandmother, Gabriel won't be having any playmate for the time being. Sarah, mother to Angela is still around and she is a wonderful lady. We meet up almost every night for a chat. I am so glad to have such a nice wonderful neighbour.

This is Angela.

The next day we decided to go for a swim in the sport club. It took us 5 continous days to be able to get inside the sport club. The first day we came after 3pm and were told by the guard that we should come back tomorrow before 3pm to the office. We were there again before 3pm the next day and were again told to come next day again before 1pm. The next day we arrived before 1 but was told again to come next day. Somehow after days of coming forward and back, Peter got frustrated, he told them to stop saying next day, he asked for the administration office. Finally, we were later showed to the administration office. Still in the administration, they told us to come next day as they are close on Tuesday. AND they even said Insya allah they will open tomorrow. On the 5th day somehow, we finally manage to go to the administration to enquire about the membership.
Trying to join the sport club membership, is like to join the military force. They need so much documentation such as birth cert, marriage cert etcs etcs. Phew we give up. WE JUST WANT TO GO SWIMMING FOR GOD SAKE.
We finally met an Egyptian guy who live here in the compound and he has a membership to the sport club which he could sign us in. Finally, we were all very happy, pack our towels, sun lotion and we had our bikini on, ready to jump into the water when we get there.

When we arrived, I saw lots of women sitting around the pool and they were fully covered from head to toe under the hot hot sun. In the water were only men, boys and many many many boys of all ages. Women in water NONE. Small tiny girls were seen but very very few. Everyone stares at us as if we were some kind of an alien. Well, I said what the hack, I don't care. I was sweating like a pig. I want to go into that water. My two girls felt embarrassed as everyone was staring at us and the girls wondered how could they ever took off their clothes when everyone are staring. I decided to do it first. I took of my dress and all the men and boys came swimming nearer to where we were sitting. I jump into the water immediately to avoid exposing my body to the alien who have not seen women in bikini before. To my surprised, lots of head dive into the water. They're GONE,, gone, gone.... they dive in the water so they could see me. YUKKKKKKKKK I felt disgusted. Soon after, the guard came and asked me to put on a swimming cap. Ahhhhhh? I was surprised. I had my hair bun up neatly and not a single hair is hanging down. My husband insisted to the guard that they cannot force me to put on a swimming cap on. If it is a rules of the pool, then everyone including all the men should do the same as some men are also with long hair even worst not tied up. The point is, they never respect ladies especially ladies who exposed herself openly like I did in bikini. I decided to leave the place immediately. We were there maximum 20 second in the water.

We're joining the Katamaya Golf and country club instead. 10 Min's drive from our compound. Much more exclusive and westernise. The members of the club comes from all different wealthy Egyptian, expatriates and highly educated government bodies such as Minister and Ambassador. I felt comfortable there. At least I dont have to put on a cap when I swim and all ladies are in their different design of swim wear around the pool. Finally it all solved.

We went to Al Gouna to visit our swedish friends there. It took us 4 hrs drive from Cairo to Al Gouna. Throughout all the driving we only see desert and sand. Sooo beautiful. I have seen and lived in the cold white snowy country and now seeing something new, it is just amazing. Per and his wife Anna have been living in Egypt for 6 years. They had a beautiful little baby girl call Anita who will be soon 3. They runs 3 beautiful exclusive restaurant there. We were invited to his fine dining restautant located in one of the hotel in Al Gouna. Al Gouna is a very nice touristic place. In some places at Al Gouna, you just felt like you are in Italy.
It was too hot when we were there. Temperature goes up daily around 47 degree. TOOO too hot. We swim all the 3 days when we were there. At least in Al Gouna is a place where you can be yourself without anyone stares at you for being different. Short skirts, bikini is ALLOWED. That was nice for a change.

We also manage to get the children registered to the American International College. Elrener will be going to the last year of college and she will then be in the University next summer. School systems here are totally different from where we were in Sweden. I dont worry much about Elrener as she is soon 17 and she always does well in school. I hope her dreams of becoming a lawyer someday will come true. Veldiner will go to the 10th grade and she will have 3 years in the American school before she enters Uni while little Gabriel is excited to start schooling. He will start his KG1 after the summer in September.

Being in Egypt you have to understand different places and culture. As in most touristic places here, you will find people are much more open and dressing is not an issues. BUT if you end up in their local places, please dress properly or you will not feel comfortable throughout your time there. Short skirts and sleeveless are not allowed so forget them and leave your micro mini dress and mini skirt back home if you are visiting Egypt unless you are going to stay in a tourist resort all the time.
I know with the temperature of 40 degree is usual, and going around with long sleeves is just impossible. I normally had my loose beggy long pant or a 3 quater pants with my sleeveless but less showing and opening top. Well, we just have to respect their culture.

One day when we were out driving into main busy Cairo city, my husband got lost and we end up in a very very poor community area. That was also another experience and I got panic. The lane were so small and people are walking all over and kids running. Once we came to a stop to look for direction, kids came running squeezing their faces on the car window. My kids got scared. People standing right at your window begging. It doesnt happen in Europe and of course we felt really lost. After a long drive of almost 2 hrs lost in that zone area, we came out to a highway again. What a big relieved.

Well we are now here in Cairo for a month, how time flies. Peter left to Jeddah last Friday and I am left alove with the children. I will manage as I have always been travelling and moving places and different country all these years, so I dont feel nervous or panic to manage all these myself here while he is gone.