Featured Articles - Community Services Association

Transcription

Welcome
to Oasis
Entertainment
& Recreation
Table of Contents
64
Every Month
36
5 Editor’s Note
46 Diner’s Delight
7Sponsors
55 Cinema Chatter
9 Welcome to CSA
57 Reading Corner
11 CSA Programs and
73 The Life Coach
Services
13 CSA Partner Vendors
15 Information and
Referral Desk
17 Village Gift Shop
19 La Boutique
30
23 Events
25 Showroom
81 A Cognitive Adventure
85 Mind Blast
94 Puzzles
95 Mum & Baby
features
20 Tongue Tied:
Conversing in Arabic
27 Outreach
30 Qusier, An Upper
29 New to Egypt
36 A Conversation with
32 Activities
88
Columns
Egyptian Gem
Agamy
35 REPS Fitness Center
64 Dahab Underwater
48 Calendar of Events
69 The Happiness
98 Community
76 Cairo Then & Now
Announcements
Challenge
82 Farm Life
88 Salt, Sugar, Fat
92
92 Life of a Diplo Wife
The articles and views expressed in this publication are entirely those of the authors and are not endorsed by CSA.
September 16 CSA 3
Welcome
to Oasis
Entertainment
& Recreation
Editor’s Note
EDITOR’S NOTE
September represents not only the end of summer, but a shift of energy towards possible
renewal in many aspects. Our city also seems to go through its own transformation.
As the weather cools, kids and adults get back into the rhythm of school and work
as all the summer breaks fade away and the streets get more congested with everyone
back in town from their summer holidays. It is a busy time, but also a productive time
full of possibility and creative growth.
In this issue, our Life Coach gives us some tips on staying in the natural rhythm
of vacation mode. Dahab Underwater takes us on a plunge into the deep blue,
showcasing some amazing underwater photography. Cairo Then & Now shows us
how much this city has changed in three decades, and Tongue Tied is the first in a
three part series that takes a look at learning Arabic by immersion.
It has been a busy summer for us at Oasis. I am proud of the work that our designer Claudia Dencker has poured
into the redesign of the magazine. We are also launching and revamping some of our columns. Cinema Chatter and
Mind Blast are new additions which will discuss film and trivia. Diner’s Delight expands its focus to encompass
reviews, world cuisine and recipes. We’re also excited to launch our social media channels on Facebook and
Instagram, follow Oasis Magazine - Egypt on both services for some extra content and notifications throughout
the month!
Hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed creating it. Suggestions, comments, and contributions are always
welcome: [email protected]
Zainab AbdulAziz
Editor, Oasis Magazine
OASIS SUBMISSIONS AND FEEDBACK
Oasis Staff
Editor: Zainab AbdulAziz
Advertising Coordinator: Dina Fouda
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at writing? Ever dreamed of
seeing your name in print? Do you have funny, interesting or valuable
insight to share with expats in Egypt? Oasis Magazine is always looking
for writers! Drop a line to [email protected] with a short bio and
topics you enjoy writing about, we’ll add you to our bank of scribes.
Please send any concerns or feedback regarding the current issue to the
same email address.
Information Designer: Claudia Dencker
Contributors
Janie Abdulaziz, Zainab Abdulaziz,
Amirah Ahmed, Jehan Agha, Leita
Boucicaut, Supriya Chawla, Vibha DasSingh, Maryanne Stroud Gabbani, Lynne
Gillis, Trevor Naylor, Julie-ann Odell, Amy
N. Pugsley
Oasis printed by:
ADVERTISING DEADLINE
The deadline for accepting the Ads
for October issue is Thursday,
September 8, 2016. Please book early
as space is limited.
Follow us now for special announcements, extra content, and more!
Oasis Magazine - Egypt
ADVERTISING
Oasis is a premier magazine for the international expatriate community
living and working in Greater Cairo. With a distribution of 5000 free
copies throughout Cairo, we offer exciting opportunities to advertisers
wishing to reach a large segment of the expat community.
⅛ page 9cm x 6cm: 450 LE, ¼ page 9cm x 12,5cm: 600 LE
½ page horizontal 19cm x 12,5cm: 1100 LE
½ page vertical 9cm x 26cm: 1100 LE
Full page 21cm x 29,7cm + 3mm bleed: 2100 LE
Full page advertorial 21cm x 29,7cm + 3mm bleed: 2500 LE
Full page front cover (fold-out) 19cm x 29,7cm + 3mm bleed: 3400 LE
Full page front cover (inside) 21cm x 29,7cm + 3mm bleed: 3500 LE
Acceptance of Advertorials is entirely the discretion of CSA.
CSA offers custom packages with maximum publicity for your business
at discounted prices, along with on-site/online advertising services.
Ads must be presented by email or on CD with all fonts and pictures
included; resolution 300dpi; tiff format.
For placement of advertisements and more information please contact our
Advertising Coordinator, Dina Fouda at:
Tel.: 2358 5284, Mobile: 010 688 28 537, [email protected]
September 16 CSA 5
CSA
Sponsors
Entertainment &
Recreation
Thank you!
CSA offers a heartfelt “Thank You” to all our sponsors. Your continued support allows us to offer events,
programs and services to expats living and working in Egypt. As a non-profit organization, we exist through
the support of the local business community and organizations. It is with these partnerships that CSA is able
to continue to grow and maintain our commitment to long-term services, as well as fulfill our obligation to
support numerous charities. Thank you for your support!
CSA Sponsors
A special thank you to Mr. Manish Mehra, Regional Head of SCIB Paints in
the Middle East & Egypt! As our newest sponsor, they helped us revitalize and
repaint CSA’s premises over summer break.
Become a CSA sponsor and receive all the beneficial exposure. If you care to help and would like
to become involved, please email us at [email protected] or contact Denden Alcantara at
[email protected]. We look forward to establishing a fruitful collaboration with you.
September 16 CSA 7
EntertainmentCSA
& Community
Recreation
Join us!
Welcome to your local CSA Community Center
The place to be for information and support, to learn and connect
with your local community, and to relax and meet friends
Our well-trained staff and volunteers are here to help you find your way around
the confusing yet exciting city of Cairo. Whether you are in need of a great
cup of coffee, a good book, that perfect gift, fitness classes, booking the perfect
holiday, or just general information about Cairo, the CSA is here to provide the
expatriate and local community with everything needed to make time spent in
Egypt an enjoyable experience.
REPS Fitness Center
The place to be.
Executive Director
Flavia Makram-Ebeid
General Manager
Denden Alcantara
On-Site Services
On-Site Service Manager
Heba Azzam
Information Referral Specialist
Sara Salem, Disna Wijemuni,
Kateryna Troino
Manager
Francesca D’Andrea
Fitness Supervisor
Kim Hampton
REPS Coordinators
Krishanthi Ekanayake, Rana
Kang
REPS Annex Coordinator
Maha Salem
Join Now! We have over 100 nationalities and are
growing. Individual and family memberships available.
Some of the great benefits include discounts to our paid
events and free guest passes for visiting family and friends.
For more information visit our front desk or download
an application at http://membership.livinginegypt.org
Communications Department
Communications Manager
Riham R. El-Mograby
Gift Shop Supervisor
Samia Wadman
Editor / Communications
Coordinator
Zainab AbdulAziz
Gift Shop Coordinator
Cecil Reyes
Advertising Coordinator
Dina Fouda
La Boutique Supervisor
Lisa Gonzales
Media & Communications
Coordinator
Laura Logan
Volunteer with CSA!
Information Designer
Claudia Dencker
Be a part of our dynamic
organization.
Operations Department
Finance Department
Operations Manager
Sherif Hamdy
Finance Manager
Verna Pinto
CSA is looking for
volunteers in all
departments.
Programs Department
Finance Administrator
Svetlana Kirnasova
La Boutique Coordinators
Natalia Zadaionia, Shaymaa
Gouda
Program Development
Coordinator
Deliah Adham
Program Coordinator
Vandana Malik
BLISS Spa
Bliss Coordinator
Hala Metwally
Fundraising Department
Events Manager
Lama Al Hammuri
Business Development
Manager
Riham R.El-Mograby
Volunteers
Dominique Krayenbuhl; Jean
Wood; Mona ElEmary; Renata
Grignani; Robert Moss; Sachiko
Kawamoto; Tara Jaff; Ulrike v.
Rucker; Virginie Lyko
IT Services
Integrated Technology Services
(Karim Abdel Raouf)
www.its-egy.com, 01007515123
Digital Services
Tittainment
www.tittainment.com
For more information stop
by our front desk or email
[email protected].
CSA Opening Hours:
Sunday-Thursday 8.45am-7.00pm
Saturday 9.00am-2.00pm
CSA Administration and On-site services will be
closed on September 10-14 for Eid Al-Adha
* REPS Fitness Center will remain operational
through Eid holidays
CSA, 4 Road 21, Maadi , Cairo
Tel: 23585284 / 23580754,
Mob: 01068828540, Fax: 23802838
www.livinginegypt.org
livinginegypt
September 16 CSA 9
EntertainmentCSA
& Community
Recreation
Programs & Services
CSA Programs and Services
Set in the heart of Maadi, CSA has been the top destination for expatriates since 1980. We offer a wide range of
programs and services that aim to help you settle in to life in Egypt, discover more about your new home, and
offer ways to develop new skills while you’re here.
Information and Referral Desk
Programs Department
Village Gift Shop
The first place you’ll visit when you
come to CSA. We do our best to answer
all of your questions about CSA and
living in Egypt.
Putting together creative trips, tours,
lifestyle and cooking classes, and
workshops that are exciting for the
whole family.
A unique store that offers a range of
Egyptian handicrafts, souvenirs, artwork
and much more that help sustain many
charitable organizations.
La Boutique
A place to offload your once loved items
and find secondhand treasures.
Special Events
Celebrate a wide variety of events
throughout the year like our Christmas
Party, Welcome Party, cultural events,
monthly bazaars and CSA’s signature
event, the Green and Gold Gala.
The Bookshelf
A much valued resource for newcomers
and veteran expats alike, The Bookshelf
is CSA’s self-service book exchange.
The Showroom
REPS Fitness Center
CSA Language School
Used by various weekly vendors to bring
you new and exciting trends in art,
fashion, furniture design and more.
A safe and friendly environment to
help you stay in shape. Offering group
classes for adults and children, personal
training and nutrition consultations.
Practical language classes that teach you
how to deal with real life situations and
communicate in the most effective, fun
and appropriate way.
Bliss Spa
Oasis Magazine
Pamper yourself with signature massages
and rejuvenating facials with our expert
technicians.
CSA’s monthly magazine, Oasis, comes
out 10 times a year, and is the prime
resource of information for expatriates
living in Egypt.
Marketing Services
CSA offers an extensive marketing
platform to help you position and
promote your business.
[email protected]
@livinginegypt
September 16 CSA 11
EntertainmentCSA
& Community
Recreation
Partner Vendors
CSA Partner Vendors. We’ve partnered with various vendors in the community to bring our members
top notch products and services; all available on-site at CSA. Stop by, do some shopping, grab a coffee and get
your nails done. Make sure you experience all that CSA has to offer.
Each vendor will be maintaining their own hours/closure during Eid Al-Adha holidays.
Please see our website www.livinginegypt.org for more details.
Antwerpen Fine Jewelry
Ethnica
Sunday-Thursday
9.00am-7.00pm
Pamper yourself and
enjoy
Antwerpen’s beautiful selection of
gold, diamond and colored stone
pieces and its new stunning and
affordable silver line.
Saturday -Thursday
9.00am-7.00pm
Exotic handcrafted Indian furniture, ladies accessories,
real cashmere/pashmina shawls, silk bedcovers, throws,
and exclusive gift items. [email protected],
01273317991
Zenny Nail Spa
Locked In
Sunday-Thursday 3.00pm-11.00pm
Friday and Saturday
11.00am-11.00pm
A fun, team-building, brain-busting experience! Work
together to find clues and solve puzzles to escape
from a unique themed room in 60 minutes or less.
www.lockedinegypt.com, 01020135013
The AUC Bookstore
Saturday-Thursday 9.00am-7.00pm
The AUC Bookstore offers an
extensive selection of books, and
the highest quality of services. We
carry a varied selection suited to the CSA community
plus books and gifts. For more information visit our
Facebook page, AUC Press Bookstores.
Travco Holidays
Saturday-Thursday 9.00am-6.00pm
A one-stop enterprise that offers a complete range of travel
related services, including pre-packaged holidays, tailor
made packages, hotel bookings, travel insurance and more.
www.travcoholidays.travel, [email protected], 01014455989
Dr. Heba Hussein
Asst. Professor of Plastic Surgery
Laser and Plastic Surgery
+2 01223103480 / 0120448 8017
Bodyworx
Dr.Noaman Sideek
0100-3103414
The LAB
Dr.Waffa Hawas M.D.
Sample collection and vaccination
0122-3181995
Daily
9.00am-7.00pm
Free your body and mind by experiencing complete
relaxation in our salon. Services include manicures,
pedicures, acrylic and gel nails, wax treatment and facial
hair removal. Call 0127 2850700 for appointments.
Gourmet Egypt
Daily 8.30am-6.00pm
Providing you with
ingredients for a Gourmet
lifestyle. Enjoy excellent quality products at great value,
sourced only by the finest suppliers from around the
world. www.gourmetegypt.com | 19339
L’avenue
Sunday-Wednesday
9.00am-7.00pm
Thursday 9.00am-6.00pm, Saturday 9.00am-2.00pm
L’avenue offers a variety of luxury gifts and homeware,
including hollowware, flatware, luxury home linens,
crystal, porcelain, handmade artistic glass, indoor and
outdoor candles and much more. lavenue33.com
Caffe Greco
Friday and Saturday 8.00am-5.00pm
For the Best Coffee in Cairo, look no
further. Aside from freshly brewed
coffee and specialty drinks, we carry a selection of pastries.
Khan Touloun
Sunday-Wednesday 9.00am-7.00pm
Thursday 9.00am-6.00pm
High quality Egyptian handmade crafts including
beautiful recycled glass items, hand-woven shawls and
textiles, pottery, embroidered leather bags, purses, dolls,
tea boxes, trays and coasters.
September 16 CSA 13
EntertainmentCSA
& Community
Recreation
Information Desk
CSA Information and Referral Desk
The Information and Referral Desk is often the first
place people visit when they come to CSA.
We answer calls and transfer customers to the relevant
departments throughout CSA (Programs, La Boutique,
Village Gift Shop, REPS Fitness Center, Bliss Spa and
our other partner vendors).
We respond to emails and face-to-face enquiries to try
and give customers as much information as possible.
New to Egypt, New to Maadi?
Come and see us to buy our Welcome
Pack, collect the latest Oasis magazine and
answers to your questions!
Available at Information and Referral
Community Announcements. Next to our three bulletin boards we also
have a Community Announcements board. If you have information you
think might be relevant to the wider community such as dog poisoning
in the area or a charity related event please notify us and we will add the
information to this board. Drop us an email or bring your A5 (1/2 page)
flyer to the Information and Referral Desk.
Flyers and Brochures. Flyers and brochures are a great way to promote
your business or service. CSA offers three box sizes where you can place
your flyers (maximum size A4/a full page) for 1 month, 3 months
or 6 months. Visit the Information and Referral Desk for pricing
information. Maximum of 50 flyers per month.
Answers to your Questions. Our friendly and helpful Information
and Referral staff will do their best to answer any and all questions you
might have. Drawing on their own personal knowledge or utilizing our
information packed website they will assist you in any way they can.
Bulletin Board
Did you know…
… Advertising at CSA Events provides
a unique opportunity to connect with
other CSA Partners, community leaders
and the wider business community?
For
more
information
visit
http://advertise.livinginegypt.org
… CSA hosts several annual parties
and events per year, bringing our
community together and creating
unforgettable memories. Join us
this month for the CSA Welcome
Party and CSA Book Fair!
If you would like to place an advertisement
on the CSA Bulletin Board bring a copy to the
Information and Referral Desk (maximum size A5
or ½ a page). All advertisements will also be added
to the online Classifieds section of our website.
… REPS Fitness Center offers a
variety of classes for both children and
adults? Inquire at their information
desk today! REPS are also offering
their members a 20% discount on all
REPS Annex classes.
Give us a call! If you have any questions for us don’t hesitate to give
us a call or drop us an email and we will do our best to help you.
Tel: 02 2358 5284 / 02 23580754 / 0106 882 8540
Email: [email protected]
Opening Hours:
CSA Administration and On-site services will be closed
on September 10-14 for Eid Al-Adha
September 16 CSA 15
Village
Gift Shop
Entertainment
& Recreation
Shopping & Gifts
Welcome to the CSA Gift Shop!
WHAT WE OFFER
The CSA Gift Shop is a unique store that offers a wide selection
of handcrafted items, Egyptian souvenirs, artwork, jewelry, and
a section of children items.
We also stock various seasonal items for all the important
occasions including Valentine, Halloween, Christmas, Mother’s
Day and many more!
WHY ARE WE UNIQUE?
We have a commitment to our community and
help however we can. NGOs, charities, local
artisans, young entrepreneurs and women’s
groups bring items to the Gift Shop to raise
funds and increase awareness for their causeswhich can range from supporting children with
disabilities, raising income for underprivileged
households, to supporting local artists.
WHY SHOP WITH US?
● You support the local community
● Your one stop shop for a unique gift
We are always looking for
new and unique items!
Please ask our Gift Shop Supervisor
for more information.
● No haggling over prices
● Regional artisan items from all over Egypt
including Bahareya Oasis and Sinai
● Fun items for children
● Selection of items for men
The Village Gift Shop is run with the help
of a team of volunteers who are always
ready to help you with a cheerful and
friendly smile.
Gift Shop Opening Hours:
A special thank you to all of our Village Gift Shop
volunteers from the CSA team!
The Gift Shop will be closed on
September 10-14 for Eid Al-Adha
September 16 CSA 17
Boutique
Entertainment &La
Recreation
Shopping & Gifts
Buy & Sell…
…A place to offload your once loved items!
…A place to find secondhand treasures!
WELCOME TO LA BOUTIQUE, CSA’S CONSIGNMENT SHOP
A place to buy and/or sell your quality items:
• gently used clothing for men, children, and women
• accessories
• toys and electronics
• household items
• décor items
• and much more …
For guidelines and policies, visit La Boutique @ www.livinginegypt.org
WHY SELL AND SHOP WITH US?
Advantages of selling at La Boutique
• We sort, price and sell
• No unnecessary bargaining
• No need to worry about arranging viewings
and strangers in your home
• Just drop off your items and we do the work!
at La Boutique
FASHION SHOW AND GARAGE SALE
La Boutique hosts a fashion show twice a year showcasing its
picks of the season.
Advantages of shopping at La Boutique
• Designer brands and international labels at
bargain prices
• Style selection, not just limited to current
trends
• New arrivals daily
• Treasure hunt, you never know what you are
going to find!
We also organize a garage sale
at least once a year for CSA and
community members.
Shop Hours
Sunday-Thursday & Saturday
9.00am-2.00pm
Closed: Friday
Drop Offs
Sun, Mon, Tues, & Thurs 10.00am-1.00pm
No Drop Offs on Wednesday & Saturday
La Boutique will be closed on
September 10-14 for Eid Al-Adha
September 16 CSA 19
Tongue
Tied
Conversing in Arabic, Pt. 1
In the first installment of a three
part series, Leita Boucicaut shares
the beginning of her journey in
learning Arabic by immersion and
how it enriched her experience of
living in Egypt.
Many people grow up speaking one
language, while others can speak
two, three or even seven. Regardless
of how proficient we are in language
acquisition, most people know a few
words in several of the major tongues.
Perhaps it is nihao and zhe zhe in
Chinese, bonjour and je m’appelle… in
French, da and das vidanya in Russia,
si and bueno in Spanish, or shokran and
insha’Allah in Arabic.
20 September 16 CSA
I’ve always prided myself in learning
the language of the country I live in.
I tried to learn some words when I
lived in Bangladesh and Thailand,
even though I only lived there a few
months. I took lessons for a year and
a half in South Korea, allowing me to
travel and communicate throughout
the country as a result. I already spoke
French when I moved to France, so
that was not an issue, but I have failed
when it comes to learning Arabic.
My first real encounter with Arabic
happened when I moved to Saudi
Arabia in 2013, where they speak fosha,
the classical form of the language.
There was an initial attempt to learn
Arabic, but with all of the stress of
living in a new country, my intentions
fell to the wayside. It’s not something
I am proud of, but I still managed
to learn a few words while there, the
necessary alatool, yamine, yassar for
taxi drivers and min fadluk to show a
modicum of respect. I already knew
shokran, so that was not a hardship.
My move to Egypt wasn’t planned, but
when the year was up in Saudi Arabia,
my mother suggested I come and
stay until I figured out my next step.
The first couple months were spent
trying to adjust to my surroundings
and see whether I could pursue any
kind of work here. One of the first
CULTURE
Entertainment & Recreation
Living in Egypt
words I learned was bowab because
for some reason, even when speaking
English, everyone says bowab instead
of watchman or building supervisor. I
soon discovered the few words I had
learned in Saudi were not so common
here because Egyptians speak a’ameya
(colloquial Arabic). I would say yassar
to taxi drivers when I wanted them to
turn left and they would respond with
“sh’mal?” which is “left” in Egyptian
Arabic. So, I adapted and yassar
became a word of the past, a word
relegated to the world of fosha.
I only took about 12 Arabic lessons
after arriving in Cairo. I didn’t have
the extra money to spend on lessons,
especially considering I didn’t know
how long I would stay. Despite that,
I have still managed to communicate
the old fashioned way: point, ask and
listen closely to the answer. Use lots of
body language and most importantly,
conjure up all of the patience I can
manage. After all, if people are still
trying to explain things after five
minutes, it is worth the effort. It could
be the difference between an average
day and an extraordinary experience.
I’ve learned this time and time again
throughout my travels. We all want
to connect in some way and when
language is a barrier, we find different
paths to reach the same outcome.
One evening I went to the outdoor
market to buy some vegetables. I was
looking for mushrooms and couldn’t
find them. So I took out my not-sotrusty Lonely Planet fosha Arabic phrase
book and found the word. Mushroom
translates to fitr. “Ana aiza fitr,” I told
the vendor. I want mushrooms. “Eh?”
He said. “Fitr,” I repeated, looking
back down at the word. I tried a
different pronunciation. “Fiter?” I
said, showing him the book. It didn’t
help. He called out to the cashier who
was sitting among cucumbers and bell
peppers. “Fitr,” I said again, starting
to get a little frustrated. “English,”
demanded the cashier. “Mushroom,”
I conceded. “Ohhhhh!! Mushroom!”
both men pointed to a shelf high
up on a wall. There sat the beautiful
white bulbs, nestled in plastic wrap. I
stared, incredulous. “Di mushroom?”
They nodded. “Mushroom.” We
laughed. Oh boy, I thought, so much
for this phrase book. I paid for the
little buggers, along with my other
purchases, and bid the men farewell.
“Ma’salama,” I said with a wave.
Since that evening, whenever I saw
those men again, we would share a
greeting and a smile, and every once
in a while they would add little extras
to my purchases. We had a story
now, something that connected us.
Mushrooms.
About a year ago, I learned the word
for black pepper. One night, while I
was discovering my new downtown
neighborhood, I stopped at a local
Lebanese restaurant run by Egyptians,
of course. The waiters were in their
late teens to early 20s. I ordered half
a grilled chicken with a side salad.
I’ve found that anytime the word
salata is uttered, Egyptians assume
you want hummus or tahina, none of
which I consider salads. “La,” I said,
shaking my head emphatically. They
showed me the alternative: tomatoes,
cucumbers and onions. “Aiwa,” I
said with a smile. “Aiza salata ma’a
leymoun (lemon), malh (salt) wa…”
I didn’t know the word for black
pepper. I wanted a seasoned salad
because so many restaurants tended
to make them bland. How would I
explain this? I decided to work with
body language. I pointed to one guy’s
shirt, which was black. “Keda,” I said,
and rubbed my fingers together to
mime what I hoped looked like grains
falling from my fingers. All four men
looked at me in utter bewilderment.
“Mumkin?” I asked, requesting
permission to go behind the counter
and rummage through their spices.
They all jumped out of my way, happy
to oblige. I foraged through the shelves
and inside plastic containers with no
luck. I held up the salt container and,
with hope fading, repeated “keda”,
this time adding “mish abiat”. Not
white. I could literally see the exact
second the chef caught on. He ran to
the back of the kitchen and returned
with another plastic container. “Di?”
he asked. “Aiwa!!!!” A grin erupted on
my face. We had solved the mystery.
“Di eh?” I asked. They all jumped to
answer, “felfel aswad.” I repeated the
words slowly, testing out the sounds.
The young man pointed to his t-shirt.
“Aswad.” Black. Felfel must be pepper.
The chef pulled out another container.
“Felfel abiat,” he said, showing me
white pepper. It had taken over 15
minutes to learn this one thing, but
I will never forget it, nor will I forget
these lovely young men who helped
teach me.
That night, as I walked home with my
seasoned salad, I felt I was floating.
I had connected more deeply with
strangers than I normally did with
people I knew and saw every day. I
may have learned just one thing that
night, but it was one good thing.
Leita Boucicaut is a traveler who has
lived in 9 countries and traveled through
34. She has worked as a copy editor,
translator and writer. Her stories can be
found on her Linkedin page.
September 16 CSA 21
CSA Events
Get Involved
CSA Events September 2016
Farmers Market
Cook’s Day Off
Sundays and Thursdays
9.00am-2.00pm
Thursdays
10.00am-2.00pm
Stop by for Tabi3y’s organic
vegetables and herbs.
Art Exhibition featuring Liz Hurley
September 1-17
Liz Hurley, an Irish artist, has been living in Cairo
since 2002. To unwind she likes to create art
employing vivid colors, geometric shapes and random
patterns using pencils and colored pens. Come browse
a selection of her art which will be on display in CSA
during the first half of September.
For those days when you just don’t have the energy
to cook, we can provide a reprieve with homemade,
authentic cuisine from Egypt, India, Italy, Lebanon,
Pakistan and Thailand. These specialties are cooked
with care and love for you and your family.
Chevrolet Exhibit
at CSA
September 18 – October 1
9.00am-7.00pm
Come check out the new Chevrolet Optra 2017,
a vehicle that embodies bold pioneering spirit and
ingenuity.
CSA Book Fair provides a great
opportunity for children and adults alike
to explore a wide array of books. Join
us and browse hundreds of quality titles
in every price range, genre, and reading
level. You’ll find exclusive, affordable
editions of the most popular books sold
in retail stores. Don’t miss this literatastic event!
Thai Buffet
Wednesday, September 28
12.00pm
Looking for a yummy place to drop
by for lunch? Come and enjoy for
a traditional Thai meal with your
friends at CSA. With harmony as its base, dishes in
the Thai buffet are prepared with fragrant Asian spices
and herbs that will tantalize your taste buds. Don’t
forget to mark your calendar because this event is only
happening once this month.
Garden Bazaar
Come and mingle at CSA’s annual welcome party.
Dine, dance and discover all CSA has to offer! This
year will feature live entertainment and beats provided
by DJ Tamer.
Thursday, September 29
9.00am-4.00pm
Calling all ladies! Shop ‘till you drop! Lots of vendors
await you with a great selection of items to choose
from including clothes, accessories, and arts and crafts.
September 16 CSA 23
EntertainmentCSA
& Showroom
Recreation
Shopping & Gifts
This space is utilized by various artists and vendors to introduce you to new and exciting trends within fashion,
culinary arts, furniture design and more.
September 4-10
Khazana – Collection of Indian Handcrafts
Khazana is a treasure house of unique and genuine Indian antiques, ethnic
home decorations, colonial furniture, fascinating handicrafts, and captivating
objects d’art. Each piece is exquisitely designed and made by Indian craftsmen
to bring a touch of culture to your home.
September 18-24
Nany Linens & Papillon
Nany linens are made of pure Egyptian cotton. They will
be displaying a wide selection of designs for everyday use
as well as special occasions, including sheets, bed covers,
table cloths, towels, curtains, bed skirts, and much more.
Papillon provides complete custom uniform solutions.
Their products are of the highest quality and include hotel,
restaurant, housekeeping and spa uniforms.
September 25-October 1
Handcrafted Egyptian Housewares
Add a touch of decorative style to your home with Arabic-inspired décor;
glassware, serving trays, wooden trivets, coasters, dishes and more by Magda
Abdel Satar.
September 16 CSA 25
CSARecreation
Outreach
Entertainment &
Staying Connected
CSA cares for the community we live and work in, and we do so by taking an active interest and role in
championing the ongoing corporate social responsibility efforts of our partners within the local community.
Each month Oasis will highlight one of the charities supported by CSA.
CHARITY OF THE MONTH: Bashayer
Bashayer, part of the Helwan Association
for Development, has been running since
1996. The mission of the charity is to
employ women from poorer areas of Helwan
in handmade textile production, offering
them income opportunities and economic
freedom for their families. The workshops
mainly include sewing and crocheted items.
The aim behind allowing women to produce
their own crafts and sell them is to empower the ladies on both on a social
and economic level. The products made by Beshayer include table cloths,
hand towels, home and kitchen accessories, and women’s and children’s
clothes. Each item is carefully monitored to be at an excellent quality of
production for sale in both local and international markets.
Here are some of the
charities you will see featured
in the future…
Besides textile production, Bashayer also offers more activities to boost
economic and social welfare in Helwan. These include training programs for
management of small businesses, developing communication, negotiation
and marketing skills and raising awareness and participation in social and
political life.
The larger Helwan Foundation also implements a number of programs with
a mission to empower women, youth and children. These programs include
literacy programs for women, legal assistance, combating domestic violence
against women, youth and child developmental programs, and healthcare
programs.
To get involved, email [email protected]
HOW CSA IS SUPPORTING
We are proud to assist Bashayer by selling their fantastic items in our Village
Gift Shop. A few of the many items you can buy are towels with crochet
camels and lanterns or beautiful flower crochet towel sets, colorful crochet
coasters, hanging bathroom organizers and much more.
… and many, many more!
Want to get involved??
For more information on the
charities CSA supports, please visit
http://charities.livinginegypt.org
September 16 CSA 27
EntertainmentCSA
& Newcomers
Recreation
Get Involved
New to Egypt? Let us help you!
At CSA, we understand the importance of positive adjustment and providing on-going support.
We offer seminars periodically to help assist newcomers adjust to their new environment.
Fundamentals of Living in Egypt Seminar
Fundamentals of Living in Egypt is a one day orientation
seminar for the international expatriate community living
and working in Egypt. It is a unique opportunity for those
who have recently arrived in Egypt.
Next Seminar:
Sunday, September 25
8.00am-4.00pm
Cost $160
(It includes an authentic Egyptian Lunch)
Fundamentals of Living in Egypt will help you to
•understand the importance of cultural self-awareness and the
influences of culture in everyday life and in the workplace
•improve and adapt communication with the local
community, colleagues and family members
•adopt new activities and be ready to enjoy an enriching
experience living and working in Egypt
Customized Seminars
If the next scheduled Fundamentals of
Living in Egypt seminar doesn’t work
for you, know that private customized
seminars for businesses or individuals
can also be arranged at CSA at any time.
For more information, please contact
[email protected]
Some of the topics covered:
•Cross-Cultural Adaptation
•Customs and Tradition
•Staying Healthy
•Daily Life in Cairo
•Egypt Past and Present
NEWCOMER TIPS
Keeping fit in Cairo can be challenging compared to other cities because of the lack
of avenues for daily exercise. Simple outdoor exercise in a city like Cairo can appear
impossible because the roads are not really supportive for walking, cycling and getting
a 5 mile run in. Most roads don’t have functional sidewalks, and cycle lanes are
unheard of, but fear not! There are ways for you to continue to get some simple cardio
in on a regular basis. Take the stairs as much as you can. Almost all buildings have
an elevator, but if you fight the urge to take the easy way out, you’ll get some exercise
in by sprinting up a few flights of stairs each day. Schedule a weekly hike. The Wadi
Degla Protectorate near Maadi is a perfect place for a long hike, a 30 km stretch of
land with limestone rocks that can reach up to 50m. You may even spot a fox or
two! Join an outdoor sports group. If you need the encouragement and company,
Cairo does have like-minded people who enjoy team sport. Softball, cycling, rugby,
basketball and hiking groups are out there – get connected by checking out some of
the groups listed in ‘Community Announcements’ at the end of this issue.
Arriving in a new country
is exciting and stressful at
the same time.
Since 1980, CSA has played
an integral part in the lives
of expatriates by providing
practical support in what
can be a challenging, yet
exciting time. Improve
your chances of a successful
transition by joining us at
our next Fundamentals of
Living in Egypt Seminar or
any of our other numerous
programs.
September 16 CSA 29
An Upper Egyptian Gem
By Supriya Chawla
Approximately 650 km from Cairo
lays Qusier, a busy seaport town
situated on the Red Sea coast. While
Hurghada and Safaga have remained
busier beach holiday destinations,
Quseir has managed to retain some of
its old charm by not fitting into that
category. The beaches are pristine and
the sea waters are an inviting deep
turquoise. The salty air is clean and
unpolluted, allowing the night sky to
be lit up with bright stars, lending a
spectacular opportunity for star gazing
and exploring the constellations. Life
in this town is a little slower and the
atmosphere is friendly, a respite from
the hustle and bustle of life in the
metropolis.
It was from here that Queen
Hatshepsut departed on her famous
30 September 16 CSA
expedition to the Land of Punt, the
journey inscribed on her obelisk at
Karnak. Qusier also served as a strategic
spot for Muslim pilgrims crossing over
on their way to Mecca. This gateway
later died out and was replaced by
port Suez after the canal was opened
in 1869. Under both the Romans and
the Ottoman Turks, Quseir thrived as
a busy port town where Eastern spices
were offloaded onto camel caravans to
continue their journey west to the Nile
Valley.
A road leading inland across the
Eastern Desert via Wadi Hammamat
offers a fascinating leap back into
history. Located 100 km from Qift,
just south of Qena in the Nile valley,
this winding track has beauty with
every curve, showcasing fantastic and
alternating views of the surrounding
mountain ranges. This is an old
Pharaonic road that leads to the many
gold mines that were exploited during
that period. Some of the mines were
re-opened in recent years with the
aid of modern technology and even
more gold was extracted. The area also
houses numerous sites of antiquities
and ruins. The remains of stone huts
used by late Romans or Byzantine gold
miners and ruins of watch towers and
enclosures used by trade caravans can
be found there. Many inscriptions can
also be found, including prehistoric
rock drawings, records of Pharaonic
mining expeditions and Greco-Roman
graffiti. These records document the
continued importance and use of
this road from ancient times till the
present.
Historical sites in the city center
include the fortress built by Sultan
Selim to protect the Nile Valley
Travel
Inside Egypt
is also interesting with its colorful
shops or carts. If taking photographs,
always ask the person(s) before you do
as some individuals may object your
intrusion to their privacy.
HIGHLIGHTS
Qusier is home to some large hotels
which offer diving facilities and
organized jeep and camel safaris into
the surrounding mountains and
nearby oases, including a number of
ghost towns that were vacated when
the mines were abandoned further
north in the Eastern Desert. There
are also a couple of small islands
worth exploring. One of these is St.
Joseph Island, an island known for the
excavation of semi-precious stones.
Spectacular coral reefs run the entire
length of some of the hotel beaches,
making snorkeling in this part of
the Red Sea a wonderful treat to the
eyes and senses. Lovely gardens and
sandy waterfront, large pools and
sports facilities make this a holiday
destination to rival many others
around Egypt. If driving is not your
cup of tea, then there are flights to
Hurghada and Marsa Alam. Most
hotels offer a pickup service from the
major airports in the area.
from naval attacks. The 16th century
fortress dominates the city’s center.
Interestingly, the fortress is used as a
police station in present times, proving
its significance as a security measure
through the ages. There are also a
number of interesting mosques and
tombs of holy men to explore. While
diving and snorkeling are the main
appeals in this part of the country, the
town is worth a visit for its historical
value and significance.
Modern day Qusier’s commercial
ventures are mainly oil exploration and
extractions, phosphate mining and
fishing. Coral block buildings with
wooden balconies line the waterfront.
Color is added by the scattering of
the domed tombs belonging to pious
pilgrims who died en route to or from
Mecca and local saints. The main souq
Please note that it is not advisable
to venture much further south from
Quseir’s main town. Soldiers patrol the
area south of Qusier for possible illegal
border crossings. Any non-Egyptians
planning to travel should check with
their embassy for travel warnings and
restrictions at the present time. You
may be asked for your travel itinerary
and dates.
CSA’s resident travel agency
Travco can help with assembling
a package to suit your needs
and preferences. Visit their
desk near the reception or call
01014455989.
Supriya Chawla worked at CSA for
9 years before retiring. She is a former
librarian and tour organizer. She now
enjoys her retirement in the scenic beauty
of the Fayoum Oasis.
September 16 CSA 31
Welcome to Programs!
We have some wonderful events coming up this month! Hope to meet you on one of these interesting
and fun tours. For more information on any of these trips or activities, please contact the Programs
Department at [email protected] or 02 2358-5284.
TRIPS AND TOURS
To guarantee your place on a trip,
please book your trip well in advance.
Please note that all trips have to be
paid at least 5 days in advance either
in dollars or equivalent in EGP.
Downtown Walking Tour
and Egyptian brunch
9.00am-2.00pm
Cost: $15
Downtown district has been the urban
center of Cairo since it was designed and
built in the late 19th century. The area,
designed by prestigious French architects
and commissioned by Khedive Ismail, was
once home to the prosperous elite of late
19th and early 20th century Cairo. This
trip will take you back in history while
walking through some of the oldest streets
of downtown Cairo.
The Egyptian Museum
Friday, September 16
9.00am-2.00pm
Cost: $20
Mark your calendars and don’t miss this
guided tour to the famous Egyptian
Museum of antiquities. Our expert guide
will take you through the incredible
collection of Egyptian artifacts, the world’s
most extensive collection of Pharonic
antiquities including King Tut’s treasures.
Trip of the Month
King Farouk Rest House
Monday, September 19
9.00am-2.00pm
Cost: $20
After five years of closure due to
lax security in the aftermath of the
January 2011 Revolution, King
Farouk Corner in Helwan is now
open for tours. The house was
originally opened in 1942 by King
Farouk, Egypt’s last monarch, to serve
as a family royal rest house on the Nile
in Helwan, south of the capital. Join
this trip and enjoy an excellent guided
tour around the luxurious furniture
and antique artifacts.
Sakkara - the Pyramid NE
W
complex of Unas
Friday, Sept 23
9.00am-2.00pm
Cost: $30
The Pyramid Complex of Unas is located
in the pyramid field at Saqqara near Cairo.
It was built for pharaoh Unas, the ninth
and final king of the Fifth Dynasty, in
the mid 24th century BC. The pyramid
originally reached a height of 43 meters
with a square base of 58 by 58 meters.
After being completely ruined for many
years, massive renovation work was carried
out and the pyramid complex is now a
magnificent site to visit and learn about
the glorious history of ancient Egypt.
The Whirling Darwish show in
Wekalet El-Ghury
5.00pm-9.00pm
Cost: $20
Come and watch this troop of Sufi Dancers
as they display their extraordinary talent
and stamina through traditional dancing
and music. For over 700 years this sacred
dance has been performed in Cairo.
Something you won’t want to miss!
note: We provide transportation and guides for all our tours to historical sites
and landmarks. For other tours, please check with Programs.
All activities are subject to
changes and cancellation.
Terms and Conditions: All trips are subject to cancellation if required
minimum number of bookings is not obtained. Cancellation by the CSA: If a trip is
cancelled the CSA will refund the cost of that trip. Cancellation by the customer: A
minimum of 3 business days notice is required in order to obtain a full refund. The
original receipt must be presented when claiming a refund.
For the most up-to-date information on all CSA’s trips, tours and classes please visit our website at www.livinginegypt.org
32 September 16 CSA
CSA
Activities
Entertainment &
Recreation
Get Involved
What people are saying about CSA’s Trips and Tours
“My daughter and I went on a private tour with
CSA in April 2016 to visit the Serapeum of Sakkara.
I was in Cairo for a short visit, and I had never
been to Sakkara before, so I looked online at a lot
of different tour offers. I chose CSA tours because
of their comparatively very reasonable price, their
response time (with regard to emails, inquiries and
questions) and finally just a gut feeling. I was also
offered a private Van and an Exclusive driver. This
allowed me and my daughter to set our own schedule.
The tour was excellent. The hotel pickup was on time, the tour guiding service was
professional and very friendly. Our ride to Sakkara and back was filled with a lot of info
from the tour guide about the history of Pharonic Egypt in general and the local areas we
passed through.” Megan Madison
To book your group or private tour contact the Programs Department today
at [email protected] or 02 2358-5284.
Book your private tour with CSA
If you have guests visiting, or just want a special trip for yourself and a few
friends, we can still book a private tour for you. Choose between half and full day
tours and we will provide you with the needed transportation and a professional
tour guide. All of our guides are very reliable, highly informative and carefully
selected. For further information please contact the Programs Department at
[email protected] or 02 2358-5284.
Many of our programs only accept
new registrations up to 5 working
days prior to their start. To avoid
disappointment and ensure your
spot sign-up today!
Culture Kid” was created in the early
1990s, giving a new form of identity
to children of expat parents.” In this
workshop, Selma Kohn, a public speaker
and writer will provide you with very
useful information about the identity of
multicultural children.
WHAT’S COOKING
Find out more about food with CSA.
We offer a wide range of cooking classes
in a relaxed and friendly environment.
Our classes are designed for anybody
who loves trying out new flavors in good
company. Cooking classes are usually held
on-site with instructors demonstrating
preparation of authentic dishes. During
each class you can sample the prepared
dishes. Additionally CSA offers cooking
classes at special venues with professional
chefs: so brush up on basic cooking
skills, experience new cuisines and learn
advanced culinary techniques.
Private Cooking Classes: If you would
like one of our regular cooking classes set
up just for you, your friends or visiting
family then contact CSA program
department to discuss availability.
Please note that all courses have to be
paid at least 5 days in advance either
in dollars or equivalent in EGP. For
those of you who love our cooking
classes but live in Katemeya, we could
also organize it for you in NCBIS, New
Cairo for your convenience. Do contact
Programs for more information.
Egyptian Vegetarian Cooking
Thursday, Sept 22
10.00am-12.00pm
Cost: $15
If you are looking for a real cultural
experience, then join this class and learn
the secrets behind many tempting, mouthwatering Egyptian recipes such as Koshary,
falafel and other Egyptian appetizers in this
delicious class.
Arts And LIFESTYLE
Multicultural Identity Workshop
Tuesday, Sept 27
10.00am-12.00pm
Cost: $15
“There are the types of identity we are born
into, such as a national identity, gender
identity, cultural identity, or familial
identity. Then, there are others that we
adopt over the course of our lives, such
as a college identity, work identity, social
identity, or an Expat identity. With the
birth of the internet, we even developed a
new form of identity: the online identity.
Shortly after, the terminology “Third
Do you have a small group and would like a custom class organized just for you?
Let CSA do the planning for you. Contact: [email protected]
For the most up-to-date information on all CSA’s trips, tours and classes please visit our website at www.livinginegypt.org
September 16 CSA 33
REPS Fitness
Center
Entertainment
& Recreation
Welcome to REPS
Welcome to REPS Fitness Center!
• increase your strength and muscle mass
• reduce your fat
• improve Your stamina, flexibility & overall fitness
• rehabilitate
REPS Services
Classes for
Adults & Children
REPS offers a variety of fitness, dance and
sports classes for adults and children. Whether
you love to shake and groove to upbeat music,
work up a sweat with weights, or lengthen and
tone in a peaceful space, we’ve got you covered
with our qualified and passionate instructors.
Personal Training
Personal Trainers
are experts on what
fitness regimen is
the most effective
and fun for YOU,
allowing you to
save time and get
the most out of
your workout. If
you are struggling
to motivate yourself or not seeing the results
you want, let our certified trainers help!
WELCOME BACK TEACHERS!
Teachers enjoy a 30% discount at REPS
Fitness Center, which also includes
admission to all group fitness classes
indicated in orange on our schedule.
Enjoy an additional 10% discount if
you bring two friends. Offer valid until
November 2016, so hurry and join now!
New to Cairo? First Time Visitor?
The Free Trial Pass allows you to enjoy 7 consecutive days of free use
of REPS Fitness Center. Just stop by our front desk and show our staff
your foreign passport, and you’re all set.
MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES
Membership Options
Single
Family (Couple)
Senior (65+)
1 Year
$610.00
$1060.00
$490.00
6 Month
$420.00
$725.00
$335.00
3 Months
$300.00
$530.00
$240.00
1 Month
$140.00
$220.00
$115.00
2 Weeks
$70.00
$110.00
$60.00
Walk in
$12.00
$24.00
$12.00
incl. 60 day freeze
incl. 30 day freeze
• Current members (singles only) receive a 5% discount when renewing their
membership.
• 1 year gym memberships receive a complimentary CSA membership.
• Gym members receive a 20% discount on Spinning®, Yoga, TRX® and
Pilates packages.
• Special discounts for teachers (30% off) on 1 year, 6 month, and 3 month
memberships.
The above memberships give you full access to all the gym’s facilities AND
to all the Group Fitness Classes.
For more information:
REPS Fitness Center front desk, 2nd Floor, #4, Road 21, Maadi
REPS Main: 0100 382 9368
REPS Annex Studio: 0120 699 0208
www.repsfc.com, repsfc
REPS opens early! Opening Hours:
Friday & Saturday 8.00am-9.00pm
*Members can enjoy self-service from 6.00am and between
9.00pm-11.00pm, please show your membership card at the
security gate
REPS will remain operational through Eid Al-Adha holidays
September 16 CSA 35
A Conversation with
■ Tell us about your background in the world of health
and fitness.
■ What is your philosophy when it comes to working
with your clients?
► Even though I actually studied in the cinema academy,
I always had a love for fitness and participated in
Taekwondo for 8 years achieving the level of black
belt. After I completed my ACE certificate, I began
my formal career in 1999 working at Samia Alouba
in Maadi. I was a personal fitness trainer and started
establishing my client base. In 2004, I started working
in Pro Center, a center for sports therapy which treated
some of the biggest names in Egyptian sport. I then
took a job as assistant gym manager at Gold’s Gym in
Maadi in 2005 until 2009, after which I joined the
REPS team as a personal trainer.
► I want my clients to train in the safest way possible,
so my first question is always regarding what injuries
they may have or what movements they find difficult,
so we can plan the safest workout for them. I like to
challenge my clients physically as well as mentally, so
they can discover their hidden strengths and feel very
accomplished by the end of our session.
■ What do you believe are the most important aspects
of maintaining a healthy fitness lifestyle?
► I believe consistency is the most important thing, there
has to be a dedication to making fitness a part of your
regular life – no long breaks or slacking! Another aspect
is that fitness is not enough; you also have to eat healthy,
nutritious meals. When you look healthy and are happy
with what you see in the mirror, it affects your mood
and the way you live your life.
36 September 16 CSA
Health
& Wellness
Entertainment
& Recreation
Fitness
■ What is the most common complaint you hear from your
clients?
► The most frequent complaint from my female clients is that
their body isn’t looking like Kim Kardashian after three weeks of
working out! Unrealistic goals always let them down.
■ Wait.. We’re not going to have glutes like a Kardashian after
three weeks??
► Haha.. No. We have to be realistic. But after five weeks of hard
work, you will feel stronger and sexy enough to compete with
the Kardashians!
■ Speaking of famous people, who is your idol in the fitness world?
► I would have to answer with a classic, Muhammed Ali. The
reason he started boxing was very similar to why I went into
Taekwondo. We both felt physically weak and wanted to train
to defend ourselves and build our character. As a sportsman, he
did a lot of good for the world of sport, inspired a lot of people
and never gave up. I respect him very much.
■ What are the most important things a client should consider
when choosing a personal trainer?
Agamy
► When you meet a personal trainer for the first time, you should
ask about their qualifications and experience of course. A good
personal trainer will always ask certain questions about injuries
and health problems to tailor your work out sessions around any
issues. Personal trainers should also only discuss matters related
to fitness and nutrition. The most important thing is establishing
trust with your personal trainer. Sometimes client can confuse
matters by listening to too many opinions or reading incorrect
information about fitness online.
■ What are the common mistakes people do when working out
or choosing a fitness regimen?
► Not altering or amending their workout over time. If you always do
the same routines and reps, you will eventually hit a wall. Clients
need to modify their workouts over time, and personal trainers
can definitely help with that. Our work is all about assessing the
individual client’s needs whether it achieving a stronger core,
strength training or burning fat. I prefer circuit training because it
hits all those areas in one workout. It uses high intensity aerobics to
achieve a form of body conditioning that is very rewarding.
■ How does REPS Fitness Center help people achieve their
fitness goals?
► REPS is a place where people are serious about working out. It
encourages people to focus and feel accomplished about their
workouts, it isn’t a place to come socialize or show off by taking
selfies in the mirror. The REPS staff are friendly and always try to
give their best advice and support to our clients, I think that gives us
an advantage over larger gyms where you can feel lost in the crowd.
■ What do you enjoy the most about your job?
► I really enjoy seeing the attitude of my client change and watch
them get excited about working out. I love when my clients
contact me to discuss different questions about nutrition or a
specific session we did and how they felt about it.
To book a training session with Agamy, drop by REPS Front desk. REPS is also reachable on
010 0382 9368/012 0699 0208 or email [email protected]
September 16 CSA 37
REPS
Center
n
oitaFitness
erceR &
tnemniatretnE
September News
Zumba
TRX®
This fun workout incorporates a lot
of different routines and rhythms
that will improve your cardiovascular
ability, which is helpful in your goal
to fight weight gain.
With the core constantly
engaged, this low impact
workout is suitable for all
fitness levels and will keep you
lengthened and strengthened
at the same time.
Pilates at the BARRE
TM
Completely tone
NEW and shape your
body with this specialty
class that will emphasis core
stability and proper form.
Spinning®
An indoor cycling class that will work on your
cardiovascular endurance and strength, while assisting in
burning fat and weight loss.
Tae Bo
Gentle Strength
This challenging and rewarding
class will help you to strengthen
and tone in a gentle way by using
the BOSU® Ball, TRX®, and body
weight.
Latin Step Mix
An energizing step workout
that will make you feel
energized and alive. Wiggle
your hips and dance to a mix
of Latin music including,
salsa, mambo, merengue,
cumbia, and reggaeton.
A total body workout
NEW incorporating martial
art techniques with cardiovascular
exercise, choreographed to great
music.
Ballet & Modern Dance
Ballet is a wonderful exercise mode that improves fitness,
flexibility, coordination, and body awareness. Various
adult and child classes are on offer!
Gymnastic
Gymnastics
is
NEW a great start for
learning body awareness
and coordination, plus
it’s enjoyable.
Trained
instructors will assist in
tumbling, balancing, and
form to help your little one
grow strong and healthy.
ALL group fitness classes indicated in orange are included in REPS membership packages.
Registration for all classes at the REPS Fitness Center front desk.
For more information drop by the REPS Fitness Center front desk or call 010 0382 9368, 012 0699 0208
Please note that for all Pre-Paid Classes (Adults and Children), if we do not have any paid bookings before the class then we cannot guarantee
that the class shall take place. Schedule Information - Important notice: Please check all information for the classes as there may be changes.
Group fitness classes: free for members, $12 for walk-ins, $100 for 12 session class card.
Pre-paid children’s classes: please register at reception or with instructor.
Pre-paid adult classes: please register at reception or with instructor.
38 September 16 CSA
REPS Fitness
Center
Entertainment
& Recreation
September Schedule
This schedule is subject to change. Please contact the REPS Fitness Center reception on 01003829368/01206990208 for any inquiries or information ahead of time.
REPS Fitness Center
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
8.15am
Circuit Training
Agamy
8.15am
Power Pump
Carey
8.15am
Total Body Workout
Francesca
8.15am
More for the
Core
8.15am
Circuit Training
Agamy
9.30am
Dance Fusion
Connie
9.30am
Latin Step Mix
Francesca
9.30am
Zumba
Connie
9.30am
Step Aerobics
Carey
9.30am
Strength & Stretch
Francesca
10.30am
Tae Bo
Hisham
10.45am
Pilates at the Barre
Jasmine
10.30am
Tae Bo
Hisham
10.30am
Zumba Fitness
Weekend Party
Francesca
10.30am
Patricia
TM
TM
11.30am
Belly Dance
Sohair
Friday
9.00am
Body Action
Kim
3.30pm
Little Ballerina
(3-4 years)
Gabby
4.15pm
Ballet(6-9)
Mye Samir
4.30pm
Taekwondo
5.30pm
Street dance
(8-14 years)
5.30pm
Gymnastic
7.00pm
Salsa Aerobics
Francesca
3.30pm
Little Ballerina
(3-4 years)
Gabby
4.30pm
Ballet
(5-6 years)
Gabby
5.30pm
Contemporary &
Jazz(Pre-teen)
Nicole
3.30pm
Little Ballerina
(3-4 years)
Gabby
4.30pm
Ballet
(5-6 years)
Gabby
6.30pm
Gentle Yoga
7.00pm
Zumba
Francesca
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
5.30pm
Hip Hop
10.00am
Pre Ballet (3-5)
Mye Samir
10.45am
Ballet(6-9)
Mye Samir
12.00pm
Modern Dance
Adults
Mye Samir
11.30am
Belly Dance
Sohair
3.30pm
Pre Ballet (3-5)
Mye Samir
Saturday
4.00pm
Taekwondo
5.00pm
Gymnastic
Mai Dawoud
5.00pm
Zumba Kids
Francesca
REPS Annex
SUNDAY
MONDAY
THURSDAY
7.00am
Pilates TRX®
Kim
8.15am
Spinning®
Dora
8.15am
Spinning®
9.30am
• Spinning®- Kim
• Power Pilates - Patricia
10.30am
(REPS Main Studio)
Patricia
TM
Friday
Saturday
7.00am
Maadi Yoga Group
8.15am
Spinning®
Astrid
8.15am
Spinning®
9.30am
• Spinning®- Kim
• Pilates Strength &
Stretch - Patricia
10.45am
10.45 am
Pilates at the Barre Strength & Stretch
(REPS Main Studio)
TRX®
Jasmine
Agamy
9.30am
Gentle Strength
Kim
TM
6.30pm
Spinning® Boot
Camp
Ahmed
6.30pm
Spinning®
Kim
6.30am
Pilates TRX®
Kim
7.30pm
Mat Pilates
Kim
8.15am
Spinning®
Dora
8.30am
Spin Extended Ride
Instructor Rotation
9.30am
Pilates TRX®
Dora
9.30am
Yoga
Fatima
10.30am
Pilates TRX®
Kim
6.30pm
Spinning®
Astrid
September 16 CSA 39
REPS
Center
n
oitaFitness
erceR &
tnemniatretnE
Annex News
A “supplement”
to your fitness needs …
Below are just some of the classes we offer in the REPS Annex.
Spinning®
Pilates
Yoga
TRX®
TOTAL BARRETM
Our certified SPIN®
instructors will guide
you through flat
roads, hills, valleys,
and mixed terrain
to condition your
body and improve
cardiovascular
health.
Mat foundation is
an introduction to
great posture and
functional training
that compares to
no other. More
advanced classes
on offer include
Power Pilates, Mat
Challenge, and more.
Unwind and
enjoy a yoga class
in a harmonious
and tranquil
environment that
will wash away the
stress of your day.
A branded
suspension training
class developed by
the US Navy Seals
will help to tone and
strengthen your body
from head to toe.
Lengthen and
strengthen your
body in either a
foundation class or
boot camp varieties.
SPECIAL OFFER
Reps Fitness Center Members receive an additional 20% discount on select packages. Classes are bookable
in advance via Mindbody Online. Visit www.repsfc.com/booking for more details!
For more information about REPS Annex, including schedules and online booking visit
www.repsfc.com repsfc
REPS Main: 0100 382 9368
REPS Annex Studio: 0120 699 0208
40 September 16 CSA
42 September 16 CSA
September 16 CSA 45
Restaurant reviews, world cuisine, and recipes to taste …
Bringing you a feast of flavor monthly
Over the course of 4000 years, the
pomegranate has played an important
role in nearly every corner of the globe
– as a symbol of prosperity, fertility
and hope while also satiating hunger
with its abundance of nutrients, fibre
and sweet tanginess. The thick skinned
“seeded apple”, as its Medieval Latin
name suggests, can often stain clothes
and prove challenging to crack,
however this fruit has been recorded in
history, mythical lore, and classic art
over the ages and this September, it is
gracing us with its bountiful harvest.
A (brief ) History
The pomegranate originally hails from
Persia and the western Himalayas
where it thrived, despite drought
and plunging temperatures. Over
centuries, it has been cultivated in Iraq,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Russia,
China, and all over the Mediterranean
region.
Pomegranates have also been
mentioned or become symbolic
in nearly all the major religions,
including Judaism, Islam, Christianity,
Buddhism and many more. The
Prophet Muhammad considered the
fruit to be nutritious for both physical
and emotional health, while it is also
often represented in Buddhist art,
symbolizing its status as one of the
“three blessed fruits.”
Health Benefits
In short, the benefits are wide ranging.
Pomegranates contain antioxidants that
help prevent kidney disease, packing
more antioxidants than grape, blueberry,
and orange juices and even surpassing
green tea. Drinking pomegranate juice
also protects against dental plaque, and
lowers levels of amyloid plaque - the
plaque that accumulates between the
brain’s nerve cells, a hallmark sign of
Alzheimer’s disease.
A University of California study
reported that the components of
pomegranate juice may stop the
movement of prostate cancer cells, also
weakening the chemical signals that
propagate the initial spread of cancer.
Researchers in Israel also found the
juice may prevent and destroy breast
cancer cells.
Uses in Cuisine
Although many just dig into a bowl of
the delicious seeds with a sprinkling
of sugar or lemon, the fruit is also
a popular garnish in salads and is
best accompanied in poultry dishes.
Pomegranate syrup is often used as a
marinade or in salad dressings.
Here are some quick and easy recipes
to follow, courtesy of BBC Good
Food.
Revered in Ancient Egypt, the
pomegranate was one of the fruits
required in the Pharaoh’s residence and
was buried with King Tutankhamun in
his tomb. Pomegranates were painted
on tomb walls to symbolize life after
death, and the fruit had many uses,
including the use of its juice prepared
as a tonic to kill parasites.
In Greek myths, the pomegranate
was known as the “fruit of the
dead”, and symbolized both
seasonal change and the binding
nature of marriage. Hades, the
god of the underworld, tempted
Persephone with pomegranate
seeds to keep her trapped in his
realm. By consuming several seeds,
Persephone was bound to spend half
the year in the underworld with Hades
(representational of the months of
autumn and winter) while in spring,
she was allowed back up to land to be
reunited with her mother Demeter, the
goddess of harvest, making way for the
earth to bloom.
46 September 16 CSA
Health
& Wellness
Entertainment
& Recreation
Nutrition
Quinoa, Feta &
Pomegranate
Salad
Ingredients
• 300g quinoa
• 1 red onion, fi
nely chopped
• 85g raisins
• 100g crumbled
feta cheese
• 200g pomegra
nate seeds
• 85g toasted pi
ne nuts
• Small bunch
each; coriander,
flat leaf parsley
mint, roughly ch
and
opped
• 3 juiced lemon
s (large)
• 1 tsp sugar
• Salt and fresh
ground pepper
to season
Directions:
1. Cook the qu
tender with a litinoa following pack instructio
to cool quickly tle bite. Drain well and spreadns – it should be
and steam dry.
over a platter
2. When the qu
remaining ingredinoa is just about cool stir thro
ug
ients with season
ing to taste. h all of the
om
P
&
e
g
Oran ake
Cheesec
e
egranat
Pomegranate
Chicken with
Almond
Couscous
Ingredients
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 200g couscous
• 1 chicken stock cube
• 1 large red onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 600g chicken mini fillets
• 2 tbsp harissa sauce
• 190ml unsweetened fresh pomegranate juice
• 100g pomegranate seeds
• 100g toasted flaked almonds
• Bunch of chopped mint
Directions:
1. Boil a kettle of water while heating
the oil in a large frying pan. Place
couscous in a bowl with some
seasoning and crumble in half the
stock cube. Fry onion in the pan for
a few minutes until softened. Pour
boiling water over the couscous
until water level just reaches over
the grains, then cover the bowl
with a tea towel and set aside
for 5-10 minutes until water is
absorbed.
ents
uits
Ingredi
tive bisc
s
e
g
i
d
n
plai
• 250g
tter
elted bu
m
eese
g
0
0
ts
•1
eam ch
r
c
t
a
segmen
f
e
ll
h
t
u
f
p
g
e
• 600
ted - ke
ges, zes
n
a
r
o
3
2. In same pan, add the chicken
•
ration
for deco
fillets and brown on all sides.
ilk
m
p
s
b
Stir in the harissa with the
t
•3
g sugar
n
i
c
pomegranate juice then
i
g
0
m
• 10
with
ble crea
g
u
a
crumble in the rest of the
o
b
d
d
l
o
o
• 150m pomegranate
plastic f wl, mix in the re
stock cube and season well.
a
n
i
d
m
e
the
a bo cuit mixtu
h
o
s
t
u
r
r
Simmer, uncovered, for 10
• 1 seed :
e
c
f
s
er
bis
an
ons
ly – eith processor. Tr tin. Press the set, about 30
h
g
minutes until the sauce has
u
o
r
Directi
biscuits them in a foode into a 23cm n fridge until
e
thickened and the chicken
h
t
h
s
i
r
1. Cru g pin, or put ur the mixtu e base. Chill
d
n
is cooked through. Stir
le
b
o
n
k
d
i
p
a
n
la
esec
w
a roll butter and
e
o
h
b
c
y
c
through the pomegranate
a
e
n
h
n
e
t
i
t
melted venly to form
g sugar re is the consis d
n
i
c
seeds, saving a few to
i
d
n
e
a
a
down s.
, milk, until the mixtut base and spreferably
t
s
scatter
over
before
e
z
e
e
g
t
re
an
k
ui
minu
eese, or eam and whis he chilled bisc t 4 hours or p
serving.
h
c
t
f
o
s
rt
he
e cr
leas
2. Put t ooth. Add th the filling ovell until set, at
3. Fluff up the couscous
nate
r
i
m
s
u
h
c
o
l
omegra
d. P fridge and
unti
r
p
a
t
e
s
h
u
t
with a fork and stir
c
r
e
of thick Return to the
atter ov
c
s
d
through the almonds
n
a
.
ts
evenly ht.
segmen
e
g
and mint. Serve the
n
g
a
i
r
n
o
over
ith the
w
chicken
on the couscous with
p
o
t
,
rve
the sauce spooned over.
3. To se
seeds.
This column is compiled monthly by Oasis staff or contributors. Email [email protected] with suggestions or submissions.
September 16 CSA 47
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Showroom: Khazana – Collection of
Indian Handcrafts
4
5
Eid Holiday
Eid Holiday
11
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
6
Eid Holiday
12
13
19
20
King Farouk Rest House
9.00am-2.00pm
Showroom: Nany Linens & Papillon
Chevrolet Exhibit at CSA
18
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
CSA’s Book Fair
9.00am-4.00pm
CSA’s Book Fair
9.00am-4.00pm
Multicultural Identity Workshop
10.00am-12.00pm
Showroom: Handcrafted Egyptian
Housewares
25
26
27
CSA
Calendar
Entertainment &
Recreation
September 2016
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Friday / Saturday
2
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Farmers Market
10.00am-2.00pm
Art Exhibition featuring Liz Hurley
1
Eid Holiday
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Downtown Walking Tour and
Egyptian brunch
9.00am-2.00pm
Farmers Market
10.00am-2.00pm
7
Eid Holiday
8
10
16
The Egyptian Museum
9.00am-2.00pm
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Eid Holiday
3
9
Farmers Market
10.00am-2.00pm
14
15
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
23
Sakkara
The Pyramid
complex of Unas
9.00am-2.00pm
Farmers Market
10.00am-2.00pm
CSA’s Welcome Party
6.00pm-9.00pm
17
Egyptian Vegetarian Cooking
10.00am-12.00pm
21
22
24
30
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Thai Buffet
12.00pm
Farmers Market
10.00am-2.00pm
The Whirling Darwish show in
Wekalet El-Ghury
5.00pm-9.00pm
Garden Bazaar
9.00am-4.00pm
28
29
CSA Events
Arts/Lifestyle
Trips/Tours
Cooking
EntertainmentEntertainment
& Recreation
Movies
Cinema
Chatter
Hollywood, world cinema, and the biggest names in film. We cover the latest in cinema monthly.
Hollywood often reworks films from
the past, or “borrows” creatively
from foreign films. However, more
often than not, studios like to go on
a binge of remaking or rebooting cult
classics held dear to the heart. There
are allegedly 107 of these currently in
planning or production stages, and
most of them fail miserably because
they pale in comparison to the original.
This year’s The
Magnificent Seven is
not only a modern
recreation of the
classic 1960 film
starring legends Yul
Brenner and Steve
McQueen, but also,
the ‘60s western
flick was a reworked version of a 1954
Japanese masterpiece called Seven
Samurai.
In the original film, the elders of a
small Mexican village travel to the
US to buy ammunition and guns to
defend themselves from a group of
bandits who raid their village every
year. They end up hiring American
gunmen played by Yul Brenner,
Charles Bronson and Steve McQueen.
McQueen accredited the film as a
career defining role, even though there
were rumors of serious contention
between him and Brenner during the
production. Brenner was so convinced
that McQueen was trying to steal his
limelight, he had his assistant count
how many times the actor touched his
hat during Brenner’s monologues.
The film ultimately flopped at box
offices in the US, but was a smash hit in
Europe where it made a profit. In 2013,
the film was selected for preservation
by the US Library of Congress as being
“culturally, historically, or aesthetically
significant,” an honor currently
bestowed to 675 films total.
In the modern retelling, Training Day
director Antoine Fuqua recruited
some of the biggest names in the
business and shifted the location of
the film to the US rather than Mexico.
The fictional town of Rose Creek
is under the control of a ruthless
Bartholomew Bogue, who often kills
people to solidify his power. This leads
one widow to turn to a bounty hunter
for vengeance. Denzel Washington
plays the man tasked with assembling
a group of 7 gunslingers, misfits,
gamblers and warriors to help carry
out justice and revenge.
The production is definitely bigger
and more diverse than the original.
The trailer features lots of fast draw
gun shooting, several kills, dynamite
explosions, a Native American warrior
shooting arrows off a roof, and perhaps
in homage to the Japanese film, an
Asian knife wielding assassin? Seems
incredible to have all these elements
piled into one western flick, but we
will roll with it in the name of diversity
in film – a cause we champion.
Fuqua shot to fame in 2001 with
Training Day which earned 22 Oscar
nominations and one Best Actor
win for Denzel Washington. In The
Magnificent Seven, Fuqua reunites with
Washington and Ethan Hawke again.
The chemistry between Washington
and Hawke will be different this
time around, as they’re on the same
side fighting the bad guys, instead of
fighting each other. The rest of the
cast includes lovable joker Chris Pratt,
hot on the heels of Jurassic World and
Guardians of the Galaxy, and Peter
Sarsgaard stepping in to take on the
reins as villainous jerk Bogue.
The film will open the 41st Toronto
Film Festival in early September and
then roll out a global release by the
month end.
September 16 CSA 55
56 September 16 CSA
Entertainment
Books
Reading Corner
By Trevor Naylor
Whether you are a new arrival in Cairo or an established
citizen, there are fascinating parts of life here which will
always be essential to understanding Egypt in depth.
In this month’s column, we have the good fortune to be
able to welcome two major new titles which exemplify the
very best of Egypt’s long traditions and provide a way to
enjoy the uniqueness of Egyptian cookery and crafts.
Until you have visited this country, it is difficult to fully
understand that Egypt is not ‘another country in the Middle
East’, but very much a place in its own right with a long
and very different story to anywhere else in the world. It
should come as no surprise to discover that Egypt’s cuisine
and craft traditions are distinctly different to anywhere else
in the world.
Many of these recipes and skills can be traced back to
Ancient Egypt, as well as the influence of Egypt’s long
association with its neighbors and surrounding countries.
When you open The Taste of Egypt for the first time you
should be prepared for a very welcome surprise. It is a
beautifully designed modern cookbook which combines a
wide range of unusual and exciting food with photography
that provides a real sense of Cairo and its people.
The author, Dyna Eldaief, is an Egyptian who now lives
in Australia but remains steeped in the cooking traditions
of Egypt which she learned from her mother. She was
recently asked to take part in the Middle East reality TV
cookery show The Taste where she displayed her skills as an
accomplished home cook. In The Taste of Egypt, she goes
way beyond a few popularly known local dishes and blends
traditional fare with modern ingredients. Fried turkey
with apple kofta is not a dish you will find in restaurants,
but is delicious, as are the apricot summer pudding and
the roasted artichoke in red pepper sauce. All the familiar
dishes are here too, from fuul medammis to feetir and much
more. Simply put, this is the cookery book which will bring
Egyptian food to a worldwide audience.
Next, we have The
Traditional Crafts of
Egypt, an astonishing
and delightful work of
reference. Never before
has the wealth of Egypt’s
historic creative skills
been showcased and
explained in one book.
This book manages to do
that in a beautifully illustrated, large format art book which
covers all the major and specialist craft traditions. Pottery,
leather, glass, calligraphy, brass, wood, textiles, carpets,
jewellery, papyrus and stone are all extensively covered in
words and pictures. Each craft is explored from a historical
perspective then illustrated in its modern context.
There is much to learn from this book, from design and
techniques to technical terms and information on materials
drawn from nature which make these uniquely Egyptian
items. The book also includes interviews with artisans and
designers.
Between these two books you will have a terrific window
on some of the great things which make Egypt special.
Enjoy the journey!
Find these books and more at The AUC Bookstore’s
location at CSA. Open Sunday-Thursday 9.00am-7.00pm.
Trevor Naylor has worked in publishing around the world for
35 years and authored two books. He is currently the Associate
Director of Sales and Marketing at the AUC Press.
September 16 CSA 57
September 16 CSA 61
Dahab
Underwater
64 September 16 CSA
& Recreation
Sports
By Lynne Helal-Gillis
When I first arrived in Dahab in 1997, I knew nothing about diving.
In fact, I had never even seen a fish underwater or breathed through
a snorkel. When I decided to take a year off and go travelling,
Egypt was the first country on my list of destinations. Dahab
in particular had been recommended to me by friends,
“Go to Dahab you’ll love it,” they said. 19 years later I
am still here, so I guess they were right!
Jacques Cousteau’s famous quote is as relevant
today as when he first said it. Jacques was
famous for being one of the first to
explore the many great wonders
of diving in the Red Sea. So,
whether you are a diver
already or want to learn,
Dahab is a must-see
spot that should be
on your bucket
list.
Jacques Cousteau
Learning to dive is one of the best things in life that you
can do, I can only kick myself for not doing this earlier.
A friend took me for a discover scuba or ‘intro’ as
they are known here, where I floated around
and simply had to fin, while he adjusted my
buoyancy at different depths. I saw my
first Eagle Ray which swam like a bird
underwater, and it had me hooked.
I decided right then and there
that I would not only become
a diver, but also teach and
show off the delights of
this amazing world
to anyone who
wanted to take
the plunge.
A Sanctuary of
Bubbles and Color
September 16 CSA 65
Training to dive is split into 5 easy bite
modules. The theory is comprehensive,
as it should be, you’d expect nothing less
if you were going into outer space and
the feeling and equipment for diving is
similar. This can now be done on your
smart phone or tablet via PADI’s touch
e-learning system, cutting out the
need to study on holiday. This leaves
you just the water aspect of the course.
Great care is taken to help you
understand what it will feel like and to
become familiar with the equipment
you will be wearing; mainly the BCD
(Buoyancy Control Device) and the
regulator (for breathing from your
compressed air tank). A wetsuit is
also provided for warmth, a mask and
snorkel, as well as the fins so you can
glide around. Funnily enough, scuba
diving is the only sport where you
don’t run out of breath!
Skills are shown above water and then
repeated by your instructor underwater
before you get a chance to try them.
Skills include; how to empty your
mask of water if it should flood, how
to recover your regulator if it should
come out of your mouth, and the allimportant buoyancy skills of being
neutral in the water. Neutral buoyancy
is so important for the preservation of
the underwater world because being
able to control where you go and not
getting too close to coral is the number
one skill. All of the initial skills are
66 September 16 CSA
taught and practiced in shallow water.
Some instructors teach in swimming
pools, but I am not a fan of this as the
whole point is to see fish and coral in
the sea, not old plaster and bits floating
around the bottom of a pool. All these
skills are then repeated in deeper water
once they have been mastered.
Finally, you are ready. You are a diver,
but in a lot of ways your diving
journey has just begun. There are lots
of follow up advanced courses which
show you the delights of different
kinds of diving, such as night diving,
navigation, photography, buoyancy
(yes, again, it is very important and
lots of fun!), drift dives, deep diving
and many more.
Although diving is the main draw,
I have witnessed how the amazing
energy and beauty of Dahab permeates
everyone. I have seen young and
old people from every walk of life
fall in love with Dahab. It has lured
in professional jousters, professors,
therapists, and people from every
country imaginable including Iceland,
America and Tasmania… the pull of
this little town is international.
This place has a special energy which
makes everyone take life at a slower
pace. We often see guests arrive
stressed out, faces contorted, asking
for the Wi-Fi code as soon as they
step off the bus then a few days later
they are seen napping next to the sea,
enjoying a good book or chatting with
the locals.
The locals here are probably the
friendliest in the world, and I know
that I am biased, but comments are
often made by visitors to Dahab that
when they didn’t have the right money
for something, the shopkeeper said
“That’s ok, pay me tomorrow” which
they had never heard anywhere else.
My hope is that more people visit
Dahab and give diving a try, or if they
are already divers, that they strive to
be better; a good dive is one where you
had no impact at all. “Leave nothing
but bubbles and take nothing but
pictures” is our code. We all want
this precious environment to remain
intact and Dahab is taking steps to
ensure that this unique environment
is protected, not only from divers and
snorkelers, but also from corporations
and boats using the Gulf of Aqaba to
transport goods.
So if you fancy trying something life
changing, try a plunge in the deep
blue. I did, and it changed my life.
Lynne Helal-Gillis runs Dive Urge, a
boutique dive club and BnB based in
Dahab. You can find more information
at www.dive-urge.com or email info@
dive-urge.com
All photos are property of Dive Urge.
Lifestyle
Psychology
The
Happiness
Challenge
By Selma Köhn
Happiness is a choice. No matter
the situation we are in, at any given
time, we have the liberty to make a
conscious choice on how we want
to feel. Psychiatrists have found that
while around 50% of our ability to be
happy lies in our genes, another 40%
is determined by our thoughts, beliefs,
behaviors and actions. And that’s a lot.
It means that we are creators of our
own luck.
Ultimately, your thinking can
determine your path and ability to
achieve happiness. How often do you
find yourself thinking that another
person needs to make you happy?
Or that you aren’t happy because
of you couldn’t get a raise? Or you
simply cannot find that inner happy
feeling that you used to have at other
moments in your life?
The half is always half full or empty, a
cheesy statement which bears so much
truth. Are you aware of how you look
at the things in your life? Are you
mainly concentrating on the things
you don’t have? Or are you someone
who welcomes any challenge in life?
We can rise above any circumstances,
make the best out of them and be active
players in the quest for happiness.
Yet what really makes us happy and
keeps us healthy is maintaining good
relationships. This is what a 75 year
long study from Harvard University
found out. Started in 1978, it is the
longest psychiatric research done
on human development which
followed the lives of Harvard alumni
throughout their lives into old age.
The study found three main reasons
behind our happiness and well-being:
• We live longer when we have more
interactions with family, friends and
community.
• The quality of our relationships is
crucial. We should maintain positive
and caring relationships rather than
stay in toxic, high-conflicted ones.
• Good relationships protect not
only our soul, but our body and
brain. We feel safer when being in a
securely attached relationship.
Given these facts, the life of an expat
who is far away from home, friends
and relatives can prove to be a difficult
experience. Being separated from
everything familiar can be devastating,
especially if you find yourself in an
environment that is so foreign and
different like Egypt. Creating a new
social circle and finding happiness
can be really challenging, but it is
absolutely manageable if you bear in
mind these 5 tips:
1. Have a positive mind-set. Embrace
the differences you experience every
day rather than comparing it to what
you are used to.
2. Be open, curious, and flexible.
People in Egypt are friendly, open,
warm, welcoming, and curious about
you. Moreover, they are very proud to
call you their friend, if you let them.
Learn the language, even if you find
it hard, knowing just a few words can
open some doors.
3. Get out of the expat bubble.
Create a place where you can integrate
into your new environment, rather
than searching for your home country
in a foreign land.
4. Adapt to local circumstances. You
are in a different country and people do
things differently. You might not find
your favorite food in the supermarket,
but you may discover items that you
could love more.
5. Reconcile with your homesickness.
Accept that this is very normal.
Schedule regular times where you can
catch up with your social network
back home to maintain closeness with
your friends and family.
Selma will be doing a workshop at
CSA on “Expats and Third Culture
Kids” on September 27. Contact
[email protected] for
more details!
Selma is a rapid transformational
therapist, energy healer, public speaker,
and writer. She is trained with the UK’s
#1 therapist, Marisa Peer, and is a
practitioner of the Marisa Peer Method.
She is located in Cairo as well as Berlin.
Contact her on [email protected]
September 16 CSA 69
70 September 16 CSA
72 September 16 CSA
Lifestyle
Psychology
The
Coach
Rhythm is basic to life
By Julie-ann Odell
As the summer draws near to a close, it
can be very tempting to fall into what
I like to call the Post-Vacation Blues.
We enjoy wonderful summer holidays,
making time for ourselves, allowing
space for relaxation, and enjoying
the company of family and friends
in lovely places with good food. But
sadly, once the vacations are over, we
quickly fall back into the busy routines
of life that take a toll on us in so many
ways, and then we start to survive
rather than thrive.
Going on vacation reminded me how
important it is to be in natural rhythm.
My body started to wake at a certain
time and I felt inclined to call it a day
at a certain time. I sensed when I had
bursts of energy and when I needed to
slow down with a cat-nap. I ate when
my body told me to, not when the
clock said it was lunch. It felt amazing
to be in sync and be so productive
without preset agendas. As a result, I
felt more alive physically, mentally and
emotionally.
We live such busy lives fraught with
demands from following many
routines and juggling so many balls.
Is it any wonder that life can feel
overwhelming and out of rhythm?
Technological advances have made
information instant, required more
communication from us, and our
working lives are mostly spent indoors
under artificial light. It becomes
easy to lose the sense of rhythmical
connection that occurs when we allow
ourselves to be in flow with nature.
So how does one carry over the ease
of life felt during vacation and how
can we remind ourselves to just listen,
breathe, and appreciate life?
Be Aware. Ask yourself what’s out of
balance. Listen to your thoughts and
decide which ones are leading you
towards balance or driving you away.
Focus on the thoughts that empower
you and send away the ones that don’t.
Take quiet moments to meditate and
assess how in flow you really feel.
Nurture yourself. Eat healthy meals
prepared with love and take time to
soak in the beauty all around you.
Catch up on reading books that enrich
your heart and spirit. Do things that
make your body feel stronger, and
strengthen loving and empowering
relationships.
Become what you practice. Be
mindful of what enables you to honor
your natural rhythm. Understand
that we become what we practice. The
actions we take with regularity become
our habits and our habits form our
sense of well-being. Make sure that
your habits are positively working in
rhythm with your higher calling.
Determine a non-negotiable. What
is one practice that would help you
thrive despite your busy schedule? Be
willing to commit to practicing that
daily, no matter what. Make it a nonnegotiable.
Honor yourself. Know when you’re at
your most energetic and when you need
to rest. This is a factor is influencing
your natural rhythm. Create a schedule
that works with the ebbs and flows
of your energy rather than against
it. Engage in activities that heighten
your natural rhythm rather than sap
it. Accept your highs and lows, and be
kind to yourself.
Spend time in nature. Make the
time to get outdoors and connect
with nature. Mother Earth has a great
way of bringing us back into sync. A
number of studies have shown that
just spending time with nature - not
just outdoors, but in a park or on a
hike - can boost your creativity and
cognitive function.
Julie-ann Odell is a certified
Organization Relationship Systems
Coach (ORSCC) and Neuro
Transformation Coach. She divides
her time between Cairo and Dubai
and is passionate about helping
others reach their full potential.
You can contact her at julie@
jupitereclipse.com
If you have a topic or question you would like Julie-ann to cover contact [email protected]
September 16 CSA 73
Cairo Then
And Now
A Retrospective
of 36 Years
By Janie Abdulaziz
Thinking of how much Cairo has
changed since 1980, I have mixed
feelings of nostalgia for the past and
an appreciation for how the standard
of living has improved since then.
Things have become much more
attuned to the western way of life in
terms of communication, services and
convenience in recent years compared
to the 1980s.
When I arrived here in 1980 with my
two small children, it was a different
world. The streets were less congested,
and there were more taxis than private
cars, most of which were Fiats. It
was very rare to see an American
or European car and Japanese cars
were considered a top notch choice.
There were no supermarkets, and
little neighbourhood grocery stores
had a very sparse selection of mostly
Egyptian products. I had moved to
Egypt from Europe, so I found the
lack of restaurants and stores alarming.
I found that locals didn’t really go out
for dining, going out to restaurants
was almost frowned upon, and people
mostly ate at home. Wimpy seemed
to be the only place I could take my
kids out for a meal. Back then Wimpy
was the McDonalds of Egypt. Really
wealthy Egyptians would go out to the
few existing 5-star hotels for a meal
out, I suppose. There were some fairly
nice restaurants downtown and plenty
of “casinos” lining the Nile Corniche
back in those days, which I mistakenly
thought were casinos for gambling!
But they were actually cafes for coffee
and a basic meal, places many people
would frequent for a nice evening out.
76 September 16 CSA
Soon after my arrival, I began taking
Arabic classes at a cultural center
in Zamalek twice a week. I initially
moved to Cairo to take up an English
teaching post at one of the first Islamic
schools established in the city, as I was
a Muslim convert myself, but two
years later I found an administrative
job at the Cairo University at a project
funded by USAID and made the
transition out of teaching. My second
job was my first full exposure to a
100% Egyptian workplace where most
people didn’t speak English. I learned
Arabic really fast that way. Another
thing that helped me learn Arabic was
watching old classic movies on TV in
the afternoon. Farid al-Atrash, Rushdy
Abaza, and Ahmed Mazhar all taught
me Arabic. The Arabic spoken in films
during “The Golden Age” of Egyptian
cinema was the clearest, most eloquent
Arabic you’ll ever hear.
One could only buy imported clothes
at a store called MM in Zamalek,
which was far too expensive for me
at the time. I relied on the clothes
I brought with me, and bought
locally made fashion from Egyptian
department stores like Chourbagi and
Sednawi. People were a lot less brand
conscious back then, they bought and
wore what was available. Everyone
was smartly dressed despite the lack
of name brands. Most clothing stores
were located Downtown, and luckily
my boys were so young, they didn’t
really have a say in what type of clothes
they wore. That all changed when my
daughter was growing up nearly a
decade later.
During my first year in Cairo, I was
introduced by one of my colleagues
to her brother. I didn’t know it at
the time, but she was playing cupid.
We indeed were a good match and
married shortly after, combining our
families into one big shared house in
Zamalek. Along with my sister-in-law,
new husband, her two kids and mine,
we became a family of 7. In 1983, my
husband and I had a daughter and
later on, my mother-in-law moved in
which expanded the family to 9.
All our through our marriage, my late
husband and I were avid horseback
riders along with our kids. Back then
the Pyramids were the epicentre of
the Cairo riding scene, with dozens
of stables open right onto the desert.
Nowadays that entire area has
transformed due to the construction
of a giant wall cordoning off the stables
access to the desert. You can certainly
still go ride in the Pyramids area, but
it’s definitely not as it used to be and
many famous old stables have opted to
move further south on the desert line
towards Sakkara.
When the kids were at school, travel
abroad was a rare option, and we
would take the family to the States
to visit my parents when we had the
opportunity. Other than that, our
favorite places for family trips were
coastal destinations such as Al Arish,
Agamy, Fayed and Ein el Sohkna. Al
Arish was such a beautiful place, full
of white beaches, palm trees and lovely
Bedouin culture. In the mid ‘90s,
we enjoyed desert safari trips in the
Western desert, camping and exploring
CULTURE
History
nature. Unfortunately, many of those
destinations are impossible to reach
nowadays, due to security concerns
and a ban on off-road exploration.
Egypt today is a very different place,
with the passing of time and events that
have affected everything. Hotels and
banks are now guarded, secured by metal
detectors, and usually have only one
entrance and exit. Traffic and parking
control make going on the simplest of
errands an all-day task. Nowadays we can
only “imagine as many as six impossible
things before breakfast,” as the White
Queen in Alice in Wonderland said –
rather than trying to actually do them.
Embassies have huge blockades, and
the entire neighbourhood of Garden
City, where I’ve spent a majority of my
working life, has changed so much.
The streets we drove down so freely for
decades are all blocked off.
I find the people have changed too. Of
course, there will always be wonderfully
decent,
open-hearted,
generous
Egyptians that we all know and love. But
with the burgeoning population growth
over the past three decades and several
other global influences, I find the fabric
of Egyptian society has altered, leaving
many of the 70s and 80s generation a
different breed to the people I met when
I first moved here. All of these changes
have affected my own attitude towards
living in Egypt. I find myself treading
a tight-rope that leaves me tipping one
day towards the conviction that it’s time
to move on and another day believing
that there is no place I would be able to
feel at home.
You see, home is, as they say, where
the heart is. And one’s heart becomes
attached to memories, friends and
family – all of which remain here in
Egypt. So for now, I’ll stay.
Janie Abdulaziz has lived and worked
in Egypt for 36 years. She enjoys
travelling, horseback riding, and
sneaking homeopathic remedies into her
daughter’s drinking water.
My husband with his horse in Pyramids.
Empty and clear, no wall!
My daughter on a family trip to Al Arish.
The view from the Citadel, 1980s. Empty streets.
Kayaking in Fayed with the kids.
My husband with stable owners in Pyramids area.
My son and I with our family friend and desert
guide, Amr Shannon.
September 16 CSA 77
78 September 16 CSA
Volunteer with CSA!
Be a part of our dynamic organization.
CSA is looking for volunteers in all departments.
For more information stop by our front desk
or email [email protected].
80 September 16 CSA
CULTURE
A Cognitive
Architecture
Adventure…
The Suez Canal
While Egypt is rich in many things
such as art, culture, history, and music
- it is Egypt’s natural beauty that takes
center stage with gorgeous backdrops
like beaches, desert terrain, the Nile
River, and lush agricultural lands.
Although the Suez Canal is man-made,
it is an equally stunning architectural
feature in Egypt with a lot of history
and importance attached to it.
History & Importance
The canal was later opened for
international navigation in 1869,
in an elaborate ceremony attended
by French Empress Eugénie, wife of
Napoleon III. However, the canal was
only 25 feet deep and 72 feet wide at
the bottom. Consequently, fewer than
500 ships passed through during its
first year of operation. Fast forward to
July 1956, Egyptian President Gamal
Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez
Canal hoping to charge tolls that
would in turn pay for the construction
of the Aswan dam.
style of sculptures and drafted a togadraped sculpture of a farm woman
who would serve as a lighthouse at the
entrance of the Suez Canal. However,
Egypt’s economy at the time was not
doing well, so Bartholdi realized that
he would not be able to secure Egypt’s
financing for the project.
Courtesy: The Statue of Liberty Foundation, Inc
The canal opens for international navigation,
1869. Courtesy: Suez Canal Authority
The Suez Canal is a man-made canal
located in the north east of Egypt,
connecting the Red Sea to the
Mediterranean Sea. It is the shortest
connection between the east and the
west and for this reason, it is vital for
international navigation as well as
trade. The idea for an artificial canal
dates back to the era of the Pharaohs,
who wanted to create a canal link
between the Nile River and the Red
Sea. History notes that the first to dig
up a man-made canal was Senausert
III, the Pharaoh who ruled Egypt
in 1874 B.C. However, the plans
were abandoned and reattempted
multiple times throughout history
by numerous Pharaohs and rulers.
Nasser raising the Egyptian flag over the Suez
Canal, 1956. Courtesy: Bibliotheca Alexandrina
The French Connection
The Statue of Liberty standing at the
entrance of the New York Harbor, in
the United States, welcoming people to
the New World was originally supposed
to be at the entrance of the Suez Canal
in Egypt representing a light to Asia.
The idea for the construction of Miss
Lady Liberty came from Frederic
Auguste Bartholdi, an Alsatian-French
sculptor. After a trip to Luxor in 1855,
he fell in love with the Orientalist
When Bartholdi sailed to New York,
he realized that although it was not
Egypt, the small Bedloe’s Island (later
renamed Liberty Island) would make
a perfect home for his sculpture.
He sought the French government’s
help to fund his project and reached
out to American donors to pay for
the pedestal on which the statue
stands. It is interesting that the
Statue of Liberty we know today as a
distinguishing feature of the United
States, particularly New York, is what
we could have seen standing at the
entrance of the Suez Canal had history
played out differently.
Amirah Ahmed is half Cuban, half
Egyptian and lived for in Egypt for several
years. She enjoys international affairs,
culture, and learning more about people
all around the world.
September 16 CSA 81
Farm
Life
By Maryanne Stroud Gabbani &
Zainab AbdulAziz
Welcome to Cairo, one of the
world’s most densely populated
cities. It fits, for the most
part, into a narrow valley
containing the Nile River,
almost 20 million souls, a few
parks, and a steadily shrinking
agricultural area around it.
Most of Cairo’s residents,
whether Egyptian or foreign,
live in apartments surrounded
by masses of concrete and asphalt.
While there may be trees lining
streets in places, there are few places
where children (or even adults) can
relax on the grass, play with animals,
or even dig holes in the sand.
Farm
Life
An Antidote to City Slickness
This disconnect from nature can
actually give rise to a number of
ailments and mental fatigue. Paul
Sandifer, a former chief science advisor
for the National Ocean Service in the
US, unearthed Finnish research carried
out in 2012 that argued certain bacteria
found in non-urban surroundings can
actually help to reduce asthma and
respiratory allergies. A study carried
out examining the effects of outdoor
education by the American Institutes
for Research found that kids who
learn in outdoor classrooms improve
their science scores by 27%. Outdoor
82 September 16 CSA
education, it appears, is not only
critical for child development, but
is also important for environmental
awareness and sustainability. When
we feel connected to nature and teach
children to appreciate and love their
environment, we are more likely to
live sustainable lifestyles and instill
that love in future generations.
Luckily there are options for families
who want to enjoy nature and get
reacquainted with animals and farm
life approximately 40-minute drive
from Cairo’s city center. Al Sorat
farm is one of those places, a space
encompassing nearly three feddan
(equivalent to three acres) of fenced
land and housing a verifiable petting
zoo and menagerie of animals.
Horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, water
buffalo live in harmony, each with
an interesting name and fascinating
back story of how they came to live
in this animal haven. A massive pack
of sixteen dogs run up to greet any
visitors, and all jostle for the affections
of whomever has empty hands and laps
to cuddle them. A staff of 9 locals keep
operations running smoothly and are
Entertainment &Environment
Recreation
Nature
and foot trimming, so there is no telling
what might be seen during a farm visit.
available to help and instruct family
visitors who want to play with goats
(possibly even milk some of them),
enjoy some horseback riding, learn to
brush and clean horses, weed a garden,
learn about organic farming, or just sit
back under a tree and read a novel.
Around 7.30am daily, the day’s work
begins in preparation for the 9am
opening time. Grooms feed the farm’s
24 horses in the two large paddocks
that corral them, as oppose to the
traditional stable boxes most horses
live in. Around 3 quarters of the farm’s
equine herd are ridden, while the rest
are retired and used for kids to learn
about grooming and horse care. Two
gardeners roam the grounds, cleaning
driveways, hosing down the solar
panels and watering gardens. Due to
frequent power cuts in the area, the
farm began turning to solar energy to
cull the dependency on the local power
grid and loss of water. Over the past 5
years, the farm has completed the move
to sustainable solar power and the three
wells that provide water are operating
on the harnessed power from Egypt’s
seemingly endless sunshine.
During the academic year, many of
the private schools and quite a few
charities bring students out to the
farm to show them what live turkeys
look like as oppose to how they look
wrapped in plastic in a supermarket,
or teach them how to plant cabbages,
identify herbs, make cheese, and see
how rural Egyptians live. Watching
kids who spend most of their days
in clean classrooms warming up to
animals, playing in mud and learning
more about plants is a sight for sore
eyes, considering most of them have
only ever interacted with a dog or cat.
Additionally, many of the local farmers
will bring livestock or service animals
to the farm for first aid or maintenance
health work such as parasite control
To help sustain running the farm, there
are admission prices which include a
half hour horseback ride, and lots of
opportunities to play. The gardens offer
splashing pools and hoses for water
play during hot weather and the use
of a fully-equipped barbecue for those
who like to prepare burnt offerings.
Cheese-making lessons offer visitors
the opportunity to create simple fresh
cheeses from buffalo milk which they
can then take home. Lunches are also
available, given a day’s notice.
Ultimately, spaces like these offer an
invaluable retreat to nature and all its
bounty. Children and adults alike don’t
know how much they were in need of
fresh air and a chance to reconnect
with the natural world until they drive
home and their heads hit the pillow. As
the poet Samuel Johnson once wrote,
“Deviation from nature is a deviation
from happiness.”
Maryanne Stroud is an animal-loving
Canadian and has lived in Egypt for
28 years. She opens Al Sorat farm to
visitors by appointment only. Visit www.
facebook.com/AlSoratFarm for more
information.
September 16 CSA 83
& Recreation
Trivia
Mind
Blast
Quirky facts and figures to expand your brain!
Ancient Egypt has a way of weaving a
spell and enchanting people from all
over the world. The wealth of history,
mythology, mystery, customs, rituals,
art, innovation and architecture can leave a
person dumbfounded and fascinated by this
rich tapestry of culture our ancient ancestors created.
We may take for granted that we are to living on the
same patch of earth they did many centuries ago, and
we do often complain that they had it a lot better than
us … or so we think!
Tutankhamen was embalmed without his heart and breast
plate - a very drastic departure from traditional Egyptian burial
process, as Ancient Egyptians believed the heart of the source
of the soul and never removed it. This suggests that he may
have suffered a horrific injury prior to his death, and leads
some Egyptologists to suggest he was wounded on one of his
infamous wild game hunts.
The Egyptian diet of beer,
wine, bread, and honey was
high in sugar. Examinations
of mummies indicate that
many Egyptian rulers were
unhealthy and overweight,
even showing signs of diabetes. Queen
Hatshepsut, for example, is often depicted
in artwork and statues as slender and
athletic, but historians believe she was
actually obese… and balding!
The Ancient Egyptians would have spent hours of
YouTube watching cat videos, because they were quite
literally obsessed with them and revered them to
the status of demi-gods. When a family cat died, the
mourning family would shave off their own eyebrows in
sorrow. If someone killed a cat, it was considered treason
and punishable by death. Cats were so sacred; they were
mummified and buried in designated cat cemeteries,
along with mummified mice for the afterlife.
Pharaohs had ingenious ways of keeping
themselves protected from everyday
nuisance. Pepi II always kept several
naked slaves nearby smeared with honey
as a fly deterrent. Sounds like one of the worst jobs
ever.
Ancient Egyptians were the first to create birth control, but it
was really gross. A mixture of mud, honey, and crocodile dung
was concocted, thus creating an acidic environment which acted
as an effective spermicide. Lovely!
Infectious disease was rife in Ancient Egypt. Smallpox, diarrhea,
dysentery, typhoid, jaundice, and fever were responsible for many
deaths, especially during the hot months of spring and summer. All
hail modern medicine and vaccinations!
Young boys had their heads shaved with the exception for one plaited lock, perhaps the old school version of a rat
tail that some still sport today? In fact, most Ancient Egyptians had an aversion to body hair of any kind, shaving
it all off and preferring wigs. Apparently this was a method of protection against lice and fleas.
September 16 CSA 85
Sugar, Salt, Fat
A Dietary Tragedy
when I realized that Moss had already
warned me. I had read about this
exact phenomenon before, and
now it was happening to me! I
knew exactly what I was doing,
but I couldn’t stop. I did not love
doughnuts; I was addicted to the
sugar and it was lighting up my
brain the same way cocaine does.
It wasn’t the seasonal flavors, the
sprinkles, the fresh icing, or the
cute box. No, it was just sugar,
sugar, and more sugar. Excuse me,
cocaine and sugar have the same
effect on the brain? I initially refused
to believe this and thought it was a
bit too much. Only after reading the
research Moss presented did I realize
that this was the case for me and it
also explained why so many people
globally struggle in their relationship
with processed foods.
By Amy N. Pugsley
“Can I borrow this?”
When I go to someone’s house for the
first time I like to see what treasures
they have sitting on their bookshelves.
After checking for a cute dog and
politely accepting a cocktail, I casually
make my way to the shelf to see what
I can borrow. I know it’s not just me,
books and stories are part of the fabric
of humanity. There are books that make
you laugh, books that make you cry, and
some books you don’t bother finishing.
Sugar, Salt, Fat by Michael Moss is
none of the above. Sadly, this best-selling
book falls into a category of horror that
surpasses that of Stephen King. It falls
into a category that, as of late, is even
more terrifying…non-fiction. This
Pulitzer Prize winning investigative
reporter has taken a fascinating in-depth
look at the processed food industry and
our complacent involvement in it. You
may not think you’re a “foodie”, but if
you’re a person that eats then you need
to read this.
88 September 16 CSA
Sugar is a drug
I am a self-proclaimed sugar addict.
While there are many examples I
could cite, in the name of preserving
my dignity I won’t. What I will tell
you is that I went through an ugly
period in late 2015 involving myself
and the American doughnut empire,
Krispy Kreme. I overcame this largely
due to my move to Cairo, and a
realization that this love affair was
unnecessary and gluttonous. While
it seems obvious that eating large
quantities of doughnuts is a poor life
choice, the light bulb went off for me
Hidden sugars = a real problem
Moss has not only ruined doughnuts for
me, but also made trips to the grocery
store incredibly time consuming. I
love sugar, but I like sugar when it
is…sugar. I still can’t kick the cakes,
cookies, candies, doughnuts, pastries,
and ice creams. But I do not like sugar
when it is in my tomato sauce, cereal,
peanut butter, or yogurt. Why is there
that much sugar in my granola? I now
obsessively check every label to see
how much sugar is in the processed
foods that I buy, making sure it isn’t
in the first five ingredients. If there are
more than ten ingredients on the label,
“Some of the largest companies are now using
brain scans to study how we react neurologically
to certain foods, especially to sugar. They’ve
discovered that the brain lights up for sugar
the same way it does for cocaine.”
Michael Moss
Health
& Wellness
Entertainment
& Recreation
Mind & Body
“They may have salt, sugar, and fat on their side,
but we, ultimately, have the power to make
choices. After all, we decide what to buy.
We decide how much to eat.”
Michael Moss
I get really suspicious. I know the only
way to avoid it entirely is to make my
own EVERYTHING but having a full
time job and creating a beautiful pasta
dinner from scratch is very unlikely.
I wish I could be the housewife my
grandmother is, she makes a brilliant
Assyrian porridge from start to finish
which takes a mere three days to whip
up. Unfortunately, I am not an eighty
year old housewife so checking labels
on processed foods is my battle.
The power trio of addiction
Don’t be fooled by the title of this
book. Refreshingly, Moss takes the
individual blame away and focuses
on the hypocrisy of the processed
food industry. This is not a book
that fat shames, promotes a diet or
a fad, or convinces you to accept an
outrageously difficult lifestyle that you
can’t maintain. It sheds light on the
fact that we have been lied to through
advertising, marketing, and crafty
engineering. Do you know how many
terms there are for sugar? Why are
these three elements the powerhouse
behind processed foods? Moss reveals
that the formula is simple. Sugar lights
up the brain, leaving us addicted
and wanting more. Salt is a preserver
which helps food last far longer than
it should on the store shelves. Fat is
the ingredient that makes it all taste so
good. Yum. Moss reveals that this has
gone far beyond simple marketing; this
deception is related directly to soaring
rates of diabetes and heart disease in
North America.
In Egypt, there is hope
While the current international climate
on food security, food production, and
food labeling is vast, daunting and
seemingly hopeless; expats in Cairo
have a distinct advantage. While each
and every Egyptian dish isn’t exactly
a dieticians dream, we stand at a
particularly interesting intersection
of old world and new world. We have
processed food available to us, but in
far smaller quantities than in North
America or Europe. We can buy
processed cereals, chips, sauces, salsas,
and snack foods, but due to import
tax, they stand to be substantially more
expensive than fresh whole foods. This
is completely opposite to the North
American grocery stores where separate
elitist chains like Whole Foods and
Planet Organic are selling foods with
natural, organic, and whole labels for
sky-high prices. Regular people cannot
shop at these stores because they are
not accessible, hidden away in posh
locations with price tags that only six
figure incomes can afford.
They don’t want us to be healthy
While I sometimes feel that maybe
ignorance would have been bliss, I do
not regret picking up a copy of this
book, nor do I regret changing the way
I look at food. I recommend this book
to everyone and have even lost my
own copy in a lending/not returning
scandal. Knowledge is power and it is
important that we arm ourselves with
it and think critically. The truth is that
the processed food giants exist to make
a profit. They are not around to feed
us or make us healthy. Moss exposes
these billion dollar industries and their
corporate greed. Farmers, ranchers,
and local shop owners are the ones that
feed us, not large corporations that use
fat, sugar, and salt. In Cairo, we are
lucky to have the means to access real,
whole, local food each and every day.
Moss presents a scary narrative, but
once we listen to what he has to say, we
have the power to make meaningful
choices for ourselves and our families.
Amy is a Canadian international
development specialist and educator
living in Cairo. Emails are welcome at
[email protected]
September 16 CSA 89
90 September 16 CSA
I have often felt that as a diplomatic
or expat spouse, it is always harder for
you to settle down and adapt. A few
days after moving and settling down in
our new home in Cairo, my husband
started work at the embassy, returning
to his familiar Australian official
surroundings. Whereas I was left all
by myself to decide what to do with
my day, after the kids had departed to
their respective schools. It is a boon in
disguise, as you can do all the things
that you have always dreamt of doing.
Reading unfinished books, completing
unfinished projects, begin writing that
novel you have always wanted to write
or finally complete that book of poetry.
It all sounds wonderful and great,
but there are times when you realise
you have to re-establish your social
network. You are a lone being, you
have problems communicating with
your domestic staff or local people,
and frustrations arise easily. The
dilemma occurs when you have to
decide whether to use your time wisely
92 September 16 CSA
and start making some new friendships
to last the next three years or so, or
whether you would prefer doing more
substantial stuff. People often envy
the diplomatic spouse, thinking they
are having the time of their lives, but
it’s not entirely true. We have to work
hard to carve out lives for ourselves as
individuals.
From my experience so far as an
expat and a diplomatic spouse, I have
realised you have to make the most
of it. It takes around three years, no
matter where you decide to go and live
in the world, before you start to feel
totally comfortable. Unfortunately,
you often get that sense of belonging
just when it is time to pack up and
move again. Regardless, it is a thrilling
and exciting journey that gives you the
opportunity to get reacquainted with
yourself. You meet some interesting
characters, run into some weird and
funny incidents, and become closer
than ever as a family because you don’t
have anyone else but each other in this
new and strange land. Life becomes
an adventure, for you as an individual
and as a family unit.
When I reflect on the year and a half
since we have moved to Cairo, I must
say it has been quite an interesting
journey. It was a huge adjustment
coming from the quiet, sleepy,
orderly and a clean town of Canberra,
Australia, where traffic jams and
pollution are unheard of to Cairo,
the sprawling and dense metropolis.
I remember how Christmas was just
a week after we had moved into our
new apartment and how lonely it
was, without our family and friends
and living in a very empty house with
sparse furniture scattered everywhere.
My husband managed to get us a small
Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and
we somehow managed to convince the
kids that Santa knew our new address
in Cairo.
The next big step was getting my older
son accustomed to his new school.
We were a bit apprehensive about
Lifestyle
Living in Egypt
of a
Diplo Wife
By Vibha Das-Singh
the whole process as it was the first
time our son had moved countries. It
would be a new school, new friends,
new teachers, new language, new
surroundings and new everything for
him. In addition to that, he would
be missing the first six months of
the new academic year. It was quite
a lot to expect from a 6 year old. To
our surprise, within a week he was
invited to two birthday parties and he
quickly made friends. Every day, when
he would arrive from school, I would
anxiously wait for him and bombard
him with a plethora of questions –
how was the school, his teacher, his
friends? Was he having any other
trouble? Any language problems? He
would look at me with his big, wide
eyes and say, “Mum, it’s all fine. No
problems, I had a good day!” Slowly I
watched him settle into his school life,
easily and quite comfortably. There
were some moments of missing his
Australian friends and school, but he
adjusted and adapted really well into
his new life here in Egypt.
We couldn’t have been luckier finding
a preschool for our three year old
twins, right in front of our apartment
building. I was pleasantly surprised
how organized it was and how
professionally it was run. Every kid
had an extra carer assigned to him/
her and it was not over crowded. The
menu included nutritious and healthy
meals. The curriculum was creative
and comprehensive. By now, they
have picked up many Arabic words,
their favorite word is habibi and their
favorite food is Koshari. For the twins,
Cairo is their home.
We love how most day to day
chores that would take up a lot of
our time and effort back home are
comparatively much easier here. Most
people can afford to get some domestic
assistance and bowabs (doormen)
can provide some handy help and
assistance, in addition to security.
Almost everything can be delivered to
your door at any time of the day, from
groceries to medicine to a single carton
of milk. Egypt has been particularly
good from a travelling point of view as
it is an airline travel hub and close to
so many popular and famous holiday
destinations in Europe. So far, as a
family, we have enjoyed travelling
within and outside of Egypt, creating
some really special and memorable
times together.
Regardless of the rough start as a
diplomatic spouse in a new country, I
like to think when I’m eighty years old,
I will look back at my life and find so
much to be happy about and be glad
that I made all these memories. They
say you get only one shot at this life,
so why not make the most of it? As the
saying goes.. Life is a story, make yours
a best seller. I’ll add on: Insha’Allah!
Originally hailing from India, Vibha
Das-Singh currently performs a skillful
juggling act between being a full-time
mother to three children, an executive
housewife and a diplomatic spouse.
September 16 CSA 93
nFamily
oitaerceR & tnemniatretnE
Puzzles
Word Search
Find the words hidden in the grid of letters.
AMARYLLIS
ASTER
CALLA
CLEMATIS
DAFFODIL
DELPHINIUM
FREESIA
GARDENIA
GERBERA
GLADIOLUS
HEATHER
HYACINTH
Sudoku
IMPATIENS
JASMINE
LILAC
LISIANTHUS
NARCISSUS
PANSY
PETUNIA
SNAPDRAGON
STOCK
TULIP
VIOLET
Place numbers from 1-9 in each empty box so each column, row, and bold box contain numbers 1-9
Intermediate
Challenging
6
1
4
9
8
5
3
2
7
7
1
6
3
8
9
5
4
2
2
7
8
1
3
4
9
5
6
2
8
3
4
5
6
9
1
7
9
5
1
3
4
7
8
3
8
6
4
5
9
2
5
2
7
9
1
6
3
7
6
8
2
3
4
5
6
4
5
7
9
2
1
2
9
3
1
7
8
6
1
7
2
6
8
5
4
4
8
1
5
3
9
6
4
8
3
7
2
2
9
9
1
5
8
1
8
7
4
2
9
9
3
5
6
4
4
6
1
5
3
7
1
7
2
2
1
5
7
6
8
7
2
9
4
1
9
1
5
9
7
7
8
3
2
6
1
6
5
8
3
3
8
4
4
9
6
3
5
3
2
4
6
8
Answers
3
1
2
8
9
4
3
6
2
5
7
6
5
7
9
8
4
1
7
5
4
2
1
8
3
9
6
9
7
6
8
5
2
4
1
3
4
2
3
9
6
1
5
7
8
2
5
7
1
8
3
4
7
6
2
9
1
6
8
4
9
3
5
6
3
9
7
2
5
1
8
4
8
4
5
1
9
3
7
6
2
8
7
4
3
1
5
2
9
6
2
9
5
4
6
8
7
3
1
3
6
1
9
7
2
8
5
4
5
4
3
2
8
6
1
7
9
1
2
9
7
5
4
3
6
8
6
8
7
1
3
9
4
2
5
4
5
8
6
2
7
9
1
3
7
3
6
8
9
1
5
4
2
9
1
2
5
4
3
6
8
7
94 September 16 CSA
family
Parenting
Mum &
Baby
Raising a Bilingual Child
Recently several of my friends posted an article on Facebook about the cognitive
benefits of being bilingual. The article could not have come at a better time, as
my husband and I have been experimenting with ways to help our 14-month
old become bilingual.
Jehan Agha is an Egyptian
New Yorker who has lived
in Egypt for almost 7 years.
She is a first-time mother
of a baby girl and works in
international development
and education.
I grew up in New York City in an Egyptian household at a time when many
believed that growing up speaking more than one language confused young
children and led to speech delays. Thankfully, my parents didn’t buy into these
theories. Although they chose to live in the United States, it was important for
them that my brother and I spoke Arabic, so it was the language of choice at home.
Ironically, now the situation is reversed. My daughter was born in New York,
but we now live in Cairo. Similar to my parents’ wishes, I would like her to be
fluent in both Arabic/English and consider herself bicultural.
According to experts, the best time to introduce children to languages is from
birth to three years, as their brains are like sponges and are able to absorb and
process information easily. There are several different methods to help children
speak more than one language depending on the parents’ circumstances and
the environment in which they live. Methods include:
One parent, one language. Parents who choose to follow this method assign
a language to each parent so that they only speak that language with the child.
For example, if our family chose this strategy, I would speak to my daughter in
Arabic while my husband would speak to her in English.
One language, one environment. Languages are used based on the environment.
For example, one language is used at home while another is used at school.
Language mixing and code-switching. Parents who practice this method are
bilingual and speak to their child in both languages.
In my experience, I found that choosing a method has been a process of
elimination, based on what comes more naturally and how the child responds.
My parents chose to adopt the “one language, one environment” for example,
while my husband and I primarily language mix. Whenever possible, I also
try and repeat things in both languages to help build her vocabulary and
comprehension. She seems to be responding well so far. I think consistency is
what matters most. Once you identify a method that works, stick to it.
For further reading and information, check out:
- How being bilingual rewires your brain (Weforum.org)
- Raising a bilingual child: The top five myths (Babycenter.com)
- What being bilingual does to your brain (The Independent)
- Raising Bilingual Children: Who should speak what (Huffington Post)
- Raising Bilingual/Multilingual Children (Facebook Group)
The Mum & Baby Group meets in
Maadi periodically for discussion
and playtime. Please check their
Facebook group for updates and
information: www.facebook.com/
maadimumandbaby
September 16 CSA 95
96 September 16 CSA
September 16 CSA 97
SPORTS
CAIRO AMERICAN SOFT BALL LEAGUE
We have both Men’s and Women’s teams to join or bring your own! We have a
children’s playground as well as food and beverages available. Games are in the
evenings and on Fridays. For more information please contact: Ways and Means
Mgr Suzy Werner at [email protected] or Chairmen Monte Davis at
[email protected] or Rodney Stephens at [email protected].
CAIRO CYCLISTS CLUB (CCC)
Organized road rides occur every Friday at 6:30 AM leaving from the front gate
of CAC. A typical road ride will consist of 5 to 15 riders and cover distances of
40 to more than 100 km. Skill level is divided to three groups CCC1, CCC2
and CCC3, each of them teaming up for the ride, and all groups meeting
together at the finish line in CSA for refreshments. Extraordinary rides are
organized a few times a year. Visit us in http://cairocyclists.wordpress.com.
CAIRO HASH HOUSE HARRIERS (CH3)
We meet every Friday afternoons for fun interesting runs and walks in the
desert areas around the city. A typical run is 9 kilometers in length with a 4
kilometer walk for the more sensible. Physical fitness is not essential but a
sense of humor is mandatory. CH3 is family oriented club, leashed dogs and
even children are welcome. You can catch a ride from our meeting point is in
front of the ACE club in Midan Victoria. For more information call Lurpak
on 01092442570, email [email protected] or visit www.cairohash.com.
CAIRO RUGBY
Training on Tuesdays from 7.00pm-9.00pm at club 7SC by Victoria College.
For more information contact: Eric Bousot 01227017219 (Senior Men’s team),
Bina Jensen-Millan 01006769800 (Senior Women’s team), Guilhem Roger
01222104587 or Terry Barnes 01097344556 (Junior division). Beginners and
experienced players welcome.
MAADI RUNNERS
Maadi Runners meet for long runs early Friday mornings in front of the CAC
main gate. Runners of all abilities are welcome. For more details contact
Mohsen Alashmoni at [email protected]
MAADI WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Join one of five women’s basketball teams for three months of competitive
play beginning in September and ending in early December with playoffs
and a final championship. All league information will be posted to http://
www.playermania.com/orgs/maadiwomensbasketball. For inquiries or
registration, please contact [email protected] ASAP.
RADIO AUTO CLUB OF EGYPT
Race is a club which promotes the building and racing of radio controlled
cars. Races are held twice a month at Victory Field on an outdoor track.
For more information call John Klingler at 01001690402 or send him an
email at [email protected] or check the website, www.racegypt.org
SOCIAL AND INTERNATIONAL GROUPS
6TH OCTOBER INTERNATIONAL GROUP FOR WOMEN, MEN AND FAMILIES
Coffee mornings, cocktail evenings, special events and day tours. For more
information please contact Anne Harden at [email protected]
AFRO-ASIAN WOMEN’S GROUP
Ours is a socio-cultural, non-profit organization of ladies representing
Asia, Africa and Egypt. It is also a socio-civic association aimed at giving
aid and is involved in charity. For more information please contact Sarra
01001267671, Mahsit 0111104659.
AUTISM
Autism rates have been rising throughout the world in recent years. In the
US, the current Autism ratio is 1:91 in children. Many Egyptian societies
are there to offer support to autistic children and their families. If you have
an autistic child and would like to talk about it contact Reem Samy 01006369473 or email [email protected]
Caire Accueil (FRENCH SPEAKING GROUP)
Our monthly coffees are held every 3rd Sunday morning of each month
at the following address: 33 road 15 in Maadi. We also have coffees
morning in Katameya. For any information, you can contact Caire Accueil
president: Carole Brena, mobile: 01095049061, email: caireaccueil@
hotmail.com or visit our website www.caireaccueil.com
Cairo Chinese Speaking Women’s Association
Cairo Chinese Speaking Women’s Association is an energetic and dynamic
group committed to promoting Chinese cultural awareness and appreciation
through community services, charities and cultural activities such as Chinese
language courses, Chinese cooking class, martial arts, mahjong, business
networking and organize cultural exchange tour to China. For more
information Tel: 01206202999, Email:[email protected]
FINNS IN EGYPT ASSOCIATION (SEFE)
Open to all Finnish-speaking expatriates in Egypt. For more information,
please go to www.finnsinegypt.org
French Abroad Network (UFE)
Nonprofit organization supporting childwood associations in Cairo
(orphans and young people). Meeting held permanently in the UFE’s
98 September 16 CSA
house (every morning, road 14 in Maadi). Coffee and networking, every
first Thursday of each month in the garden of the house. Multiple cultural
activities and entertainments (body workout, English conversation)
proposed to all nationalities speaking French. Please contact UFE
secretariat: 01062104334 / [email protected] or website: www.ufe.org
HELIOPOLIS WOMEN’S COFFEE MORNING
Meets every Wednesday. Contact Ans ‘Noordermeer’ langeans@hotmail.
com or call 01025506344.
ITALIANS IN EGYPT GROUP
Italians in Egypt host a monthly coffee morning every Sunday. For more
information please contact: Faiza Frigido 01222163463 or email info@
giegypt.net or visit www.giegypt.net
MAADI COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA
Attention all current and one-time string players! Dust down that violin,
polish up your cello, dig out your viola and come and join us in music
making. We are a group of adult and student players who meet weekly at CAC
and are keen to welcome new members. We have a varied repertoire from
classical to modern. For more information, please contact Lucy Fletcher-Jones
[email protected] or Kerri Zeelau-Guerin [email protected].
MBA INTERNATIONAL LADIES
We usually meet every second Tuesday of the month for Coffee and
Refreshments. Please join us to learn more about our activities which include
book club, bridge, golf, knit and natter, mah-jong and scrabble. We also enjoy
mornings out with coffee, lunch and visits to places of interest in and around
Cairo. For more information please email us at [email protected]
MUM & BABY GROUP
Mondays 10:30am-12:30pm (0-11 months). Cost 30LE at the door. Mum
& Baby Group is a great way to meet other mothers who are going through,
or have been through the same experiences as you. Use this time to chat, ask
questions, play with your baby and interact with others. This is not a childcare
facility, so babies must be accompanied by a parent at all times. Expectant
mothers are welcome to join. Join our Facebook group ‘maadimumandbaby’.
NVICINEMA
NVICinema screens mostly Egyptian, Belgian and Dutch films with
English subtitles at the Netherlands-Flemish Institute of Cairo (NVIC),
Zamalek. Weekly lectures on Thursdays at 6.00pm and film evenings on
Sundays at 7.00pm. Free Entrance. Visit: http://institutes.leiden.edu/nvic/
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS IN CAIRO
Do you have a problem with food? Are your problems with eating too much (or
too little) affecting your life? Maybe Overeaters Anonymous can help. For more
information visit www.oa.org.
SOUTH AFRICANS IN EGYPT
email: [email protected], tel: Tania: 01277701756
SPANISH SPEAKING LADIES GROUP
Meetings take place on the first Tuesday of the month. For details please
contact Rosa America on 0100- 1071181 or visit our Facebook page
www.facebook.com/ CDHHCairo2011Y2012
THE INDIAN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION, ANNAPOORNA
It has been functioning in Cairo since 1976. The monthly meetings take
place on the second Wednesday of every month. All women who are
Indians/Indian origin/married to Indians are invited to join this very
special organization. To get in touch with us please send an email to our
group site [email protected] or call our President
Urvashi Mehta at 01225413434 or our treasurer Renuka at 01003309229
THE TREE LOVERS ASSOCIATION (TLA)
The Tree Lovers Association is an environmental NGO focusing on nature
conservation and propagation. This month Tree Lovers Association invites
all nature lovers to TAKE A WALK IN THE WOODS. On May 20 at
9.30am we will be meeting at the crossing of Canal street and Road 83
Maadi, where landscape architect Asmaa El Halwagy and Botanist Dr.
Mohamed El Gibally will guide us to identify many lovely trees and shrubs
that beautify our surroundings and make Maadi so special. For more
information contact Samia Zeitoun [email protected]
TOASTMASTERS
Toastmasters can help you improve your public speaking and leadership skills.
There you practice delivering speeches, receiving and giving constructive
feedback, time management and leading meetings. For more information
about Cairo Professional Toastmasters Club, visit http://cairotoastmasters.org
or contact Ahmed Samir on 01019586501/ [email protected] or
Mohamed Zamzam on 01005249195/ [email protected].
TURKISH SPEAKING LADIES COFFEE MORNING
Meets every month, open to all Nationalities (Turkish Speaking). For more
information please contact Nidal El Beheiry at [email protected]
WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF CAIRO
Welcome all English speaking women. For information a schedule of events
please contact the WA Center at 11 Yehia Ibrahim St., Zamalek, Cairo Tele:
27364187, mobile 01006319888. Or email [email protected]
Community Announcements
Entertainment
& Recreation
All Around Town
WOMEN’S GROUP FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, CAIRO
The Women’s Group now meets on the full moon each month. We use the
energy of the full moon for illumination. We discuss the astrological trends
of the day, and do a group meditation as well as setting an intention for
ourselves. Our purpose in gathering is for our own spiritual growth but we
come together to assist each other in our journey. For more information
contact Leslie at [email protected]
WOW - WOMEN OF THE WORLD
We are a diverse group of women with one thing in common - a strong
interest in new people and unique experiences! Our activities include:
coffee morning meetings, out-to-lunch day trips and holiday parties, special
interest groups (Canasta, Bunko, crafts...), travel opportunities and evening
social events. Join the fun! Expand YOUR world with WOW! For more
information email us at [email protected].
CHARITIES, VOLUNTEERING AND SUPPORT GROUPS
AA IN CAIRO
AA meetings schedule - Women’s meeting: Sunday, 5:45-6:45, 8A;Road 10
Maadi, Monday 7:30-8:30 pm, Tuesday 6-7 pm, Wednesday 7:30-8:30 pm,
Thursday 7:45-8:45pm Kasr El Maadi Hospital Corniche. Friday 2-3 pm, St.
Joseph’s Church Zamalek. For more information check www.aaegypt.org on
meetings in other parts of Egypt, Al-Anon contacts and AA contacts.
African Hope Learning Centre
An English Speaking school for Refugees in Maadi needs help with volunteers.
All sorts of possibilities from tutoring to running special programs to mentoring
teachers or fundraising. No previous experience necessary, just a willingness to
help. Please contact [email protected]. More information is available
on our website (www.africanhopelc.com).
BETTER WORLD FOUNDATION
We are a local NGO that helps empower Egyptian youth to impact their
communities through inter-cultural exchange and education. We are in need
of native foreign language speakers volunteers. For further information please
visit the website http://www.bwngo.org/ or email [email protected]
CARITAS - EGYPT THE “OASIS OF HOPE” CENTER
Our center provides free counseling and rehabilitative services to drug
addicts through the assistance of a dedicated professional team. If anyone is
interested in volunteering or is qualified professionally in drug addiction/
rehabilitation issues and would like to offer their services, visit our website
www.caritas-egypt.org or email us at [email protected].
Egyptian Advance Society for Persons with Autism
and Other Disabilities
The Egyptian Advance Society for Persons with Autism and Other Disabilities,
is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help in the daily program, the Saturday
Recreational Club, and a variety of areas for our Autism Awareness Month
activities and events. We also need volunteers who enjoy being creative and
working with the public. Maadi Address: 329 Road 262 cross with 277, New
Maadi Cairo, Egypt. New Cairo Address: Ahmed Ismail St, 14 Avenue, 5th
District, El Narges, New Cairo. Tel & Fax: (+202) 25177471 or 2 or 3, email:
[email protected], www.advance-society.org
EMRO
The Egyptian Mau Rescue Organization - This is a non profit, charitable,
animal organization rescuing indigenous native spotted Mau cats, and
offering these for local and international adoptions. Please help through
adoption, donations, sponsorship or volunteering of time. EMRO Office &
Veterinary Clinic - Villa 11, El Togarayeen City, El Mokattam, Cairo. Tel:
25076946 or 01507157525 www.emaurescue.org - [email protected]
FRIENDS OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER
The wards for the poorest of the poor have beds for 80 children from all
over Egypt who look forward to our visits. We offer them time, comfort,
encouragement, and gifts we can provide. Items needed for donations are
coloring books, crayons, notebooks & pens, flight bags, playing cards,
baseball caps, stuffed animals, bubbles, small trucks or cars, dolls, or
anything that is appropriate for children from 1-18 years of age. Please
contact Susie 01222105835 or 2358-5627.
HADARET SAKKARA
Our organization helps the numerous child rubbish collectors we often
see sifting through Cairo’s streets. There is an economic pressure on these
children to work rather than to attend school regularly. We are looking for
volunteers to teach or to prepare food and also for donations of any kind.
For more information please contact Dr Luciano Verdoscia 01227782305,
email [email protected]
I.A.F.
Information for partners of foreign nationality. I.A.F. supplies information
for women who wish to marry or are married to Egyptian men. I.A.F.
answers questions on family rights, visas, working permits, marriage
contracts and marriage, safety for children and immigration, hate and
racism, women and sexual discrimination etc. Address: 2-4 Ludolfusstrasse
60487 Frankfurt a.M. Germany Telphone: 0497075087/7075088
RESALET NOUR ALA NOUR NGO
We are a non profitable organization that helps the underprivileged all over
Egypt and our work is based fully on donations. For more information
about what we do visit www.rn3n.org or call 01228602602.
S.P.A.R.E
Society for the Protection of Animal Rights in Egypt (S.P.A.R.E.) is a
charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of animals in
Egypt through education and awareness. While we no longer operate
an animal shelter, we are happy to offer advice to fellow animal lovers
as well as provide medical care to strays and owned animals. For more
information contact Amina Abaza (0122 316 2913) www.sparelives.org
THE JOINT RELIEF MINISTRY (JRM)
We offer cleaner, baby sitter, domestic helper, a program striving to assist
refugees and displaced people in Cairo to meet the challenges of life here.
We have a basic skill training program equipping people for domestic help.
Please call Amira- 27364836 or 27364837
VISIT CHILDREN WITH CANCER
If anyone would like to join a group of ladies and bring a smile to those
children in hospital for cancer treatment, then please join us on Thursday
mornings leaving Maadi at 9.00am returning around 12.30pm. There are
25 children in the ward aged from babies to 18. We need 25 juices, some
small gifts, soft toys, cards, puzzles, caps and toiletries for boys and girls.
Transport from Maadi provided. For further details please contact Jane on
01002760003.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Buddhist Meditation
Are there any other Buddhists out there who would like to meditate
together regularly? If so, please contact Maureen on 012753-36442.
HELIOPOLIS COMMUNITY CHURCH
An International and Interdenominational English language church where
people from over 25 countries meet to worship. Located at St Michael’s
Anglican Church, 10 Seti St, our weekly worship service starts at 9am
(including children’s classes). Seti ST (City St) is just off Baghdad St in
Korba, Heliopolis. For more information, please call +02 2414-2409, email
to [email protected] or visit our website www.hccCairo.com.
Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in Maadi
55 Road 15, Maadi, Egypt. Tel.: 2358-2004. Weekend Masses: Friday: 9 am
(English with Tagalog hymns), 7 pm (English/Korean). Saturday: 10:30am
(Italian in chapel), 5:30pm (English), 6:45pm (French). Sunday: 8:00 am
(French), 11:00 am (Sudanese), 5:00 pm (Spanish), 6:15 pm (English).
MAADI COMMUNITY CHURCH
An oasis for refuge and renewal.....where the nations gather for worship.
Over 40 different countries and many denominations come to together
on the weekend at the corner of Port Said & Rd 17 on the grounds of St.
John the Baptist Church. Come join us Fridays from 2:30-4:00pm (Africa
Live) and from 5:00-6:15pm Visit our website (www.maadichurch.com)
for more information. You can also contact us by phone at 23592755 or by
email at [email protected].
ST. ANDREW’S UNITED CHURCH OF CAIRO
St. Andrew’s is an international, interdenominational congregation in the
heart of Cairo. We invite you to join us for worship and fellowship on Fridays
at 10:00 AM (year-round). If interested in volunteering with refugees and
displaced persons at StARS, please call (02)25759451. For more information,
please call 01276666843, email [email protected], or visit
www.standrewschurchcairo.com. St. Andrew’s is located above the Nasser
Metro station at 38, 26 July Street.
SAINT MARY’S COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH
Our church carries out lots of charity work please come and give us a hand
Coptic Orthodox Holy Mass in English. Saint Mary’s Coptic Orthodox
Church (Ard El Golf, Heliopolis, Shams Iddeen Il Zahabi Street), 8.00 am
to 9.30 am (Communion served to Orthodox). Followed by Bible Study
in English, third Saturday of Each Month. All are Welcome! Please bring
others! Snacks and Drinks served. For more information contact Father
Youssef (Phone & Text: 01223476343, Email: [email protected]
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
(LDS) holds services on Fridays at 9:00AM in Maadi #21 Road 17. For
more information please call 01000767392
THE CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, MAADI
We are “A Spiritual home away from home” -- a welcoming international
Church with three congregations in the Anglican tradition. Come to an
English–speaking service at 10 AM Fridays with Nursery and Church
School; or, our Contemplative Prayer service with beautiful Taizé music
on Thursdays at 6.30 PM (Sept. to May). We offer Home Groups, youth
groups, and courses on exploring the Christian faith. Call Rev. Michael
Dobson on +20 127 0220993 or email [email protected]. We
are at the corner of Road 17 and Port Said Rd in Maadi. Website: www.
maadichurch.org and Facebook.
Please note: The above is for informational purposes only. CSA accepts no liability
for any of the services advertised throughout the magazine. For changes or additions
to Community Announcements please contact [email protected]
September 16 CSA 99

Featured Articles - Community Services Association

Transcription

Similar documents

4th of july sendiks - Nehring`s Sendik`s Downer

2016 Smolak Farms CSA

miniposter

easy bumbleberry jam Making the Most of your Csa share

Z1000 ESSENTIALS: OHS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

WORKPLACE ELECTRICAL SAFETY CONFERENCE

CV - Zahran

Z1000 LEAD AUDITOR 5 Days

2016 Winter Art SAlon

Making a Living from your Backyard