You Have Watches, We Have Time.

Hello Dear Reader!

The title of this blog is a wonderful saying the Egyptians have regarding their concept of time. Althought this is a very busy city, I have noticed that people always have time to stop and talk (or invite you in for dinner, coffee, dessert, or all of the above!)

Hospitality and overflowing gratitude are common here and a heart could easily get used to it.

The days here are longer. Not the sunlight, but from rising to sleeping is about 16 to 17 hours. Sometimes more. The businesses here open at 9 or 10 am and don't close until at least 10 pm. This includes everything from larger tourist shops to the smallest allyway bakery.

The prices here would be something of great interest to any outsider. Here is the current currency conversion:

$1 (USD) = 5 Egyptian Pound (EgLE) so 1EgLE = $0.20 USD

Most things here are very cheap, especially food and services. I got a full French manicure and pedicure for a little under $4. We are able to get full meals from local eaterys for around $0.40-$0.60 each.

However, things like homes, cars, and any imported goods are much more pricey. Even though they end up still being a little cheaper than they are in the U.S., the average person here make about 600-1,000 pounds a month. Public workers (government) are paid much less than that.

Here are some examples of prices:

McRoyal with Cheese Meal at McDs: $5.00

Redbull: $2.00

1 kilo of Oranges: $0.50

1 gallon of Premium gasoline: $1.24 (this is incredibly high for Egypt)

Starbucks tall mocha: $3.50


When I meet someone who speaks English well, their first question is one of the two:

How is your family surving the economic bailout?

-or-

What do you think of Barack Obama?


Regarding the first question: There seems to be an idea that the Americans are suddenly poor and struggling to make ends meet. This might be true for some, but I tell people that a majority of the people suffering from this recession are the ones who have been living way outside of their means. However, I know that as the layoffs keep coming, more and more innocent people with been deeply affected.


The second question is the one I find the most interesting. I am often cautiously asked who I voted for. When I respond I voted for Obama, I am met with excitement in their voice as they express their happiness for America.

I feel it is not because they strongly dislike George Bush, but they associate all of the economic trouble and wanton war with his administration.


That's all for now.

Love,

Sara in Egypt


P.S.- At the old market I was asked very broken English: "You American?"
I replied I was, and the man shouted, "oh, Howdy!!!"