Donkey Carts

Here in Cairo we see donkeys everyday.  In the area where we live I would say you see a donkey cart for every 10 cars you see.  In the souq they are all over.  The other day I was shopping and I saw this donkey just plop down in the middle of the street.  His owner tried to get him to move by pulling him and yelling but the donkey wouldn't budge.  It was obvious that he was not going to move.  So his owner, who I'm sure can read his moods better than anyone decide to set up shop right there.  

People usually sell things off the back of the donkey carts.  Just the other day we bought 2 ottomans off the back of one of these.  We also buy tomatoes and dates or whatever else they might be selling.  We ended up having to throw out the ottomans because they had mold but the bawab is using them outside.  I guess outside it doesn't matter so much if there is mold since you are outdoors. 

I like to tell the kids that I bought this or that off the back of a donkey cart, it sounds funny to everybody. 

6 Weeks in Egypt

Today we have been in Egypt for 6 weeks and this is my first post.  I wanted to post before but I didn't know what to say. Egypt is very different from the US.  I sometimes love it and sometimes I really hate it.  I don't know where to begin.  I love the Islam and by that I mean all the Muslims and Masjids.  I love going outside and seeing people reading the Quran as they are walking or doing dhikr.   I hate how dirty it is and how difficult it is to walk outside.  When you go back home your feet are dirty, and when you are walking you are about to get run over.

Sometimes I feel more at home here than I did in the US and that is because (almost) everyone here is Muslim.  They believe La illaha illallah, so therefore they are my brothers and sisters.  

I feel more comfortable here everyday. At the end of the first week I was ready to go back home.  I wanted my house with my yard and pool.  We live in an apartment here and the kids can't run or make too much noise because we have neighbors downstairs.  They are very nice but I know that it must bother them to hear the noise so we have to try to keep the kids quiet.  That can be very stressful.  These kids are used to making all the noise they want.  6 weeks later they are getting better.  

We don't have a cleaning lady here but one of the bawaab's daughters comes and helps out.  She does the dishes and sweeps and mops.  She also puts things away so good that we can't find them.  The bawaab is the doorman/security guard/helper.  Most of the buildings have one and he can go to the store for you and help you carry your bags upstairs.  It's really cool.  His daughter is 19 and she comes up most days and helps out.  She doesn't speak English so it is fun trying to communicate with her but we seem to get most things across ok. 

I think that the hardest thing about being here is not understanding how things work.  In the US if you don't know something you can usually call someone and find out.  Here, when I need some information I don't even know who to call or where to look it up.  I know that as I spend more time here all these things will work out.  

All in all, things are getting better and better, each and everyday.  Inshallah.

Ramadan Mubarak!!

Ramadan Muburak to everyone, family and friends alike!! 

All of Egypt is decorated for Ramadan. So far we have prayed three nights of tarawaeeh and fasted for two days, today being our third. Here in Egypt Taraweeh is eight rakats. After four rakats there is a twenty minutes speech then the last four rakats and witr. Isha is at 7:45 and we are finished by 10:00.  I was afraid that because we are in Egypt Taraweeh would take forever but it does not.  Both the men's and ladies' sides are filled to the max. The masjid is very large with two floors for both the men's and ladies' side.  

Something amazing happened during the speech... everyone stayed and listened. Yes, some people got up to get some water and some people were talking but the Imam could be heard.  As for the water, there are three or four cups that everyone drinks out of. I saw people getting up and bringing a cup of water back to where they were sitting. Along the way they would ask if anyone wanted some. From the same cup. 

Here in Egypt we do not leave our shoes outside or even by the door. Shoes getting taken is a problem here (but not for us).  There are shoe racks in the masjid but it is not enough for everyone who comes for Taraweeh.  The entire stairwell on the ladies' side is littered with shoes. I am suprised that no one gets hurt from slipping on a shoe and falling down the stairs. 

After witr there is a lot of pushing and shoving to get to the door. The sister's side has only one entrance for two crowded floors of people. So there is a swarm of people trying to get out thru one set of double doors.   Last night I was near the front so I thought if I hurry I could get out quickly. Big mistake.  I could feel people from behind trying to go and the people in front were not moving so I was getting very squished.  About seven people violated my personal space at the same time.  My bubble has long been popped.

People try to talk to me and most of the time I can't understand what in the world they are telling me but I am slowly starting get a grip on the language. Tonight at the masjid I was able to answer a few questions in Arabic.   It is frustrating at times not being able to speak to people but the pros of being here outweigh the cons by far.  

Dad and the boys go to the masjid for Maghrib so they have iftar(break fast only) there. At home we know when suhoor is over and when iftar begins by hearing the Azan.  

I realized a while ago that the Azan and the Ikamat are meant to be called in the streets of a city  not thru the halls of a masjid.  It is supposed to be so that all the believers near and far may come and pray, not just people who are already in the masjid.

All of us in Egypt wants to say a big congratulations to Hamaad. He is a young man in our hometown in Florida who led Taraweeh for the first time this year.  Congratulations Hamaad!!! We are all so happy for you. May Allah make it easy for you to become a Hafiz.  Ameen.