We are finally over jet lag – it seems to take us a week or so before we are able to get a normal night’s sleep. During this time, we wake up around 1:00 and are lucky to get back to sleep at all. Even if we close our eyes and try to sleep it is like our eyes are wide open and we can see everything clearly. For me, it is really strange because I am not tired at all during the day.
During our walks we have noticed parking has really become haphazard on the side streets. Most of the side streets have cars parked on both sides and there is barely enough room for one and a half cars on the street – so if someone sees a parking space they are going to grab it regardless of what side of the street or what direction they are facing. It is not unusual to see one car parked heading north and the next one parked heading south.
The typical neighborhood people seem to be feeling more stress in their lives as the economy here has worsened. A few of my students were telling me how much prices have risen for staple food items while unemployment continues to rise. A college education means little here if there are no jobs in their chosen field. Many end up working as drivers, security and domestic help because there are no jobs in their field. My students feel that at some point there will be a revolution, especially if people are unable to afford food.
There was quite a bit of interest in our recent political presidential elections. The results have given people in this part of the world some hope – perhaps if America can elect a black president, then when the time comes, Egypt will be able to have more open elections.
Thursday after school, a medical lab person came to the school to draw blood from me in order to check my INR. He came around 4:00 and returned to the school around 8:00 with the results all for the cost of 23 LE ($4.15). Medicine is another one of those occupations where the amount of education and training in very poorly compensated. Most doctors work 18 hour days to barely get by. Tonight I will be visiting a cardiologist. My appointment is for 9:00 PM – during part of the day, the doctor teachers and in the other part he runs a clinic.
Thursday evening was also the annual PTA Bingo fundraiser. It is usually a fun evening with lots of activity. Pat helped “roll” the numbers. Many businesses donated neat prizes (hotel and resort stays, dining out, cruises on the Med, plane tickets) as well as an assortment of other good prizes as well (blankets, food, crafts, clothing, etc.) The evening always starts chaotic as people try to buy their bingo cards and raffle tickets. Of course in Egypt the concept of an orderly line does not exist – it is who ever can shout and push their way through who gets served.
We went to the appointment with the cardiologist last evening. We took the tram to our friend’s home and then a taxi to the doctor’s office. The traffic was awful. A typical 5 minute taxi ride took nearly 30 minutes. Our appointment was for 9:00 PM and we got in after a 15 or 20 minute wait. We shared my records with the doctor and then he did a brief exam. We set this up so we would have someone here in case we would need them. Of course we paid in cash and will have turn in the handwritten receipt to insurance. Traffic was not nearly as bad on the way back and our ride took only about 5 o 10 minutes
