Seasonings

Recently, in order to compensate for my lack of fall weather clothing, I bought some pants that are not linen, shoes that are not sandals, and a sweater. This has confirmed my existence in Egypt for the long term, for some unknown long term that will last as long as it should, as long as things are good, as long as I am happily working, learning, and doing. Since I only came here with a little more than 1 week worth of summer clothing, I have to supplement my wardrobe with a few key items for the season's change. We have chilly mornings now that it is November. Not as cold as a Northeastern fall morning, but nice enough to wear a light jacket and a woven cotton scarf. The evenings reach about the same, and in between we have sunny pleasantness. Our winter lows should not get too far below the 50s, but I've been warned that it will feel colder because there is a lack of central heating in most buildings. Next purchase: house slippers. I know just the place to get them. The market center for fabrics in Cairo is like most market centers that are descendents of medieval times, a winding maze of vendors selling a range of items from fine fabric by the meter to discarded irregular factory-made clothes. I remember seeing a cart with sweater-like slippers that I may have to hunt down in the coming month.

And with October done, Ramadan is over. The folks around here were very excited about Ramadan, for the shifting of schedules, for the gathering of folks for iftar (the sundown meal to break the fast), for the long late nights when eating and socializing is tayib (ok). I fasted on two different occassions because I knew I was joining an iftar. To my surprise, fasting was not difficult, especially since sundown was somewhere between 5 and 5:45 all month. If it was July, waiting for the iftar in the heat until 9pm would have been another challenge. I hosted friends at my house one evening. Cooking while fasting was not as frustrating as I thought. And for all who are wondering, you are allowed to taste the food while cooking and it is not considered breaking the fast. For me, the best part of Ramadan is the change in the daily work schedule. The library opened a half an hour earlier, but we closed at 3pm. Then, naptime! If I wasn't staying late at work, I walked home through the Opera House grounds and made it back in time for a good sleep before sundown.

Last week we had two days off of work for the feast celebration that occurs after Ramadan. Though a great chance to go wandering off to some other parts of Egypt, I had a friend, a former Cairene, visiting from her new home in Damascus, and we stayed around to enjoy her fine company.

I promised some photos of the Halloween/Mardi Gras mask, so they will be posted soon. The party went over well. Some $4000 raised for four different charity organizations. There was so much food I got to take some red beans and rice and gumbo home. Mmmmm. And news is that I have received mail from the United States at the my apartment and the Rare Books Library! Even with its spotty reputation, the mail system here works--and takes about 2 weeks for letters to come through. People have confirmed that packages can and will come. But the delays could be longer.

A few last things: Happy Birthdays to John Mark and Holly Ann and Congrats on the engagement of Robert and his lady!