CSA Fitness Training Center - Community Services Association

Transcription

CSA Contents
The Community Services Association (CSA) is
dedicated to providing the international expatriate
community with support to ease the transition and
adaptation to Egypt.
EVERY MONTH
9
CSA Community Center
11 CSA Information and
Referral Desk
This month: relocating
14 Village Gift Shop
18
15 La Boutique
16 CSA Library
23 CSA Events
25 CSA Showroom
27 Fundamentals of
Living in Egypt
35 Arts and Lifestyle, Cooking,
Trips and Tours
32
39 CSA Fitness Training Center
75
42 News from the CSA Fitness
Training Center
43 CSA Fitness Training Center
Schedule
45 BodyFit Cairo Program
54 CSA Activities Calendar
100 Community Announcements
57
FEATURES
The articles and views expressed in this publication are entirely those of the authors and are not endorsed by CSA.
18 Outward Listening
21 Moving On: Returning Home
to Retire
31 Lunch on the go
32 Living Abroad: If You Can’t
Avoid It, Enjoy It!
40Carbo-Loading
49 Crown Relocations launches
charity initiative with support
of expatriates in Egypt
57 My Reflections on
Six Months at CSA
59 My Egypt
70 Kenyan Safari
73 Packing up to go?
75 Monkeying around
76 M&M
77 Mum & Baby
78Trivia
83 Useful Household Tips: Part 2
84 Evolutionary Eating: My Story
94 Wilderness First Aid
103 A Taste of Italy in the Heart
of Cairo
106 Maid for Each Other
May 14 CSA 3
CSA to the Readers
EDITOR’S NOTE
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
Kim Hampton, Lynne Lewis,
Tanya Allahham
Gift Shop Supervisor
Michaela Nemethova
Gift Shop Coordinator
Cecil Reyes
La Boutique Supervisor
Lisa Gonzales
La Boutique Coordinators
Maya Messin, Natalia Zadaionia
Librarian
Renata Shehab El Din
Program Department:
Program Coordinator
Therese El Din, Katrina Mitchell-Kouttab
Program Development Coordinator
Deliah Adham
Fitness Training Center:
Fitness Center Manager
Sherif El Deib
Fitness Center Coordinators
Krishanthi Ekanayake, Maud Luc,
Perihan Ahmed
Fitness Training Expert
Ahmed Agamy
Fundraising Department:
Events Manager
Lama Al Hammuri
Communication Department:
Media and Communications
Coordinator
Marcus O’Neill
Magazine/Website Advertising
Coordinator
Mary Maher Michael
Digital Strategy Consultant
Riham R.El-Mograby
Information Designer
Claudia Dencker
IT Support and Maintenance
Nader Naguib
Social Media Coordinator
Noah Lichtenthaler
Finance Department:
Finance Manager
Verna Pinto
Finance Administrator
Svetlana Kirnasova
Volunteers:
Chandrika Naidu; Cristina Wheish;
Dominique Krayenbuhl; Jayne Kimmet;
Johanna Boessenkool; John Newsome;
Mayssa Hourani; Mona El Emary; Nisha
Patwari; Pat Canfield; Phoebe David;
Samia Wadman; Terumi Mascarenhas;
Tina Cleverton; Violetta Salama
Oasis Magazine:
Printing by Interpress
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.
¼ page 9cm x 12,5cm: LE 500
½ page horizontal 19cm x 12,5cm: LE 850
½ page vertical 9cm x 26cm: LE 850
Full page (A4)
21cm x 29,7cm + 3mm bleed: LE 1600
Full page Advertorial (A4)
21cm x 29,7cm + 3mm bleed: LE 2000
Acceptance of Advertorials is entirely the
discretion of the Magazine and Website
Advertising Coordinator.
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 Mary Maher at CSA:
Tel.: 2358 5284
Mobile: 010 688 28 537
e-mail: mary@livinginegypt.org
Deadline: The deadline for booking the Ads is
first Tuesday of the month prior to publication;
artwork is accepted till the 10th. Please book
early as space is limited.
So let me begin my inaugural
Editor’s Note by stating how
excited I am to be a part of the CSA
team! Some of you may recognize
my name. I’ve been contributing
health/nutrition-themed articles to
Oasis since last fall. When Vandana
let me know that she was going
to be leaving her position and
that I should consider applying, I
jumped at the opportunity. As a
trained dietitian from Canada it
may not appear to be an obvious
match, but in recent years I’ve been
writing quite regularly for several
publications and I’ve always wanted
to learn more about the other side
of the business. I’m a big proponent
in providing information to the
public in an easy-to-consume,
yet interesting and exciting form.
Hopefully that will translate into
my new work here.
I hold no illusions. I know the
learning curve will be steep. But
I must admit that I’m looking
forward to the challenges ahead. I
have a feeling the staff, volunteers
and greater CSA community will
make my transition a smooth one.
And for what I’m sure are the few
people interested, I plan to still
write regularly for the magazine
too.
In the meantime, whether you’re a
newcomer to Egypt or a seasoned
expatriate, be sure to take a peek at
the always evolving programming
that CSA offers. As someone now
on the inside, it’s a real tribute to
our staff that we can offer such
an incredible range of classes,
workshops and facilities.
Finally, I’d be remiss not to mention
if you’ve think you’ve got a story
to tell that would be of interest to
the CSA community, don’t hesitate
to drop me a line at marcus@
livinginegypt.org. We’re always
looking for new contributors.
Who knows, maybe you’ll be the
editor one day too?
Marcus O’Neill
May 14 CSA 5
CSA Sponsors and Supporters
CSA offers a heartfelt “Thank you” to all our supporters. Your continued support allows us to offer services, workshops
and lectures for expats living and working in Egypt. As an independent, non-profit organization, we could not exist
without the support of the business community. It is through partnerships and the efforts of companies like yours
that CSA is able to offer our services.
CSA Sponsors
CSA needs your financial support to continue providing services to the international community working and
living in Egypt. If you care to help and would like to become involved, please contact Denden Alcantara at
sponsors@livinginegypt.org
May 14 CSA 7
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
The CSA Center provides the expatriate community with a wide range of services.
Our well-trained staff and volunteers are here to help you find your way around the
confusing but exciting city of Cairo. Whether you are in need of a cup of coffee, a
chance to read a good book, looking for that perfect gift, fitness classes or wanting
information about Cairo, the CSA Center is here to provide the expatriate community
with all these services. Visit our center and read our magazine to find out how you can
utilize all our services to help make your day easy, relaxing and enjoyable.
Community Market Place
CSA’s Community Marketplace is the fun
and easy way to find and talk about great
(and not so great) local businesses! It’s
about real people giving their honest and
personal opinions on everything from restaurants and spas
to coffee shops and medical services. Both Community
Marketplace together with the CSA online Classifieds
and much more are available at: www.livinginegypt.org”
The Place
Heba Arteen
Heba Arteen is a Cairo based
Jewelry Designer who has
been creating exquisite hand
crafted jewelry since 2000.
Her designs are reminiscent
of the old times and yet
contemporary and stylish.
CSA wants to be a family friendly place that
is safe and enjoyable for all members of your
family! Please remember:
• Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Pets in the garden must be on best behavior at all times.
• Please don’t double or triple park.
• Please take care of your personal belongings at all times.
CSA needs your feedback!
Tell us how we’re doing. If you have any feedback about an
experience you’ve had at CSA please let us know. In the coming
months we’ll be introducing a new feature highlighting some of
our guests’ best (and worst!) experiences. If you have a story you’d
like to share, please email marcus@livinginegypt.org
Visit Caffé Greco today, your community coffee
house in Maadi. Caffé Greco specializes in the
highest quality Arabica coffees. Known for their
full-bodied taste, Arabica beans are considered
the finest in the world. Caffé Greco also serves a
variety of frozen drinks, salads, sandwiches, and pastries. With
free wireless internet, you can enjoy an iced latte or frappe in
our comfortable lounge or garden while you surf the net.
Caffé Greco Opening Hours:
Sunday-Thursday: 7.00am-9.00pm
Friday and Saturdays: 9.00am-5.00pm
Opening Hours:
Sunday-Wednesday 9.00am-9.00pm
Thursday 9.00am-6.00pm
Saturday 9.00am-2.00pm
CSA, 4 Road 21, Maadi , Cairo
Tel: 23585284 / 23580754, Mob: 01068828540, Fax: 23802838
www.livinginegypt.org Facebook: livinginegypt Twitter: @livinginegypt
Directions to CSA in arabic from the autostrade, the corniche:
May 14 CSA 9
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 (Library, La Boutique,
Programs, Gift Shop, Fitness Center, Berlitz).
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. The boxes are located by the stairs just before you enter the
main CSA reception area. 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…
…that the CSA website has been
re-launched and is now even simpler
navigate through?
www.livinginegypt.org
…that CSA Programs now has
a nutritionist who specializes in
diabetes and cancer and is available by
appointment every Tuesday?
If you would like to place an advert on the CSA
Bulletin Board bring a copy of your advert (maximum
size A5 or ½ a page) with payment to the Information
and Referral Desk. Types of advert include apartments
for rent, cars for sale, animals, services, items for sale,
household staff, drivers, jobs.
For private adverts we will add them to our online
Classifieds Section (check Online Resources,
Classifieds) of our website and for businesses we will
make sure you are included as a basic listing in our
Community Marketplace (check Online Resources,
Community Marketplace).
…that CSA WIFI will be upgraded in
May? When upgrade is complete users will
experience double the speed when accessing
our network.
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 2358 0754, Mobile:0106 882 8540, Email: info@livinginegypt.org
Opening Hours:
Sunday-Wednesday 8.45am-9.00pm
May 14 CSA 11
CSA Village Gift Shop
CSA La Boutique
The Village Gift Shop is a unique store that offers a range of handcrafted items, Egyptian souvenirs, artwork
and guidebooks. What truly makes it unique is our commitment to reach out to charities and NGOs, women
entrepreneurs and local artisans; it is your one-stop away from a perfect and unique gift.
The time of the year for planning your holidays or maybe your move to another country has come. Take a piece of
Egypt with you. Whether you are buying gifts for your loved ones or items to remember Egypt by, the Village Gift
Shop has what you are looking for. With 21 charities and over 90 vendors to choose from, let our Aladdin’s cave
take the stress out of finding that unique gift to take back with you – no traffic, no haggling.
Check our children’s corner
for different goodies. We have lovely
wooden dervish spinning tops and
and celebrated different festivals in
pharaonic times.
For the little rulers in your life
we have wooden pharonic rulers, with
some easy hieroglyphics for them to
show off to their friends.
and designed with love. Each piece
celebrates the uniqueness of the Arabic
language. There is plenty of choice for
your princes and princesses.
La Boutique - The CSA Consignment Shop is an expatriate “members
only” shop where you can buy and sell pre-owned clothing, household items
and other decorative accessories. Contribute to the community and make
some money for yourself by recycling your items. If you choose, we can
forward items as donations to charity. New stock daily, do not miss out on
these great buys!
Announcements
• Fashion Show: Wednesday, May 7, 6.00pm in the CSA Garden. Join us for a
bedazzling night while our models show off La Boutique’s favorite Spring and
Summer picks.
• Garage Sale: The back garden garage sale will be held on Saturday, May 31 from
10.00am to 1.00pm. Items available until supplies last.
Need something for the
men in your life? There are
Relocating this summer and don’t know what
to do with all those unwanted items? Spring
cleaning? Make some money while you are it.
La Boutique will be happy to help you get rid
of all those unwanted items cluttering up the
corners of your closet.
Pharaonic ties and socks for the man
of the house, which will be sure to add
a dash of style to his wardrobe.
soft patchwork and fabric toys in the
shapes of camels, elephants, owls and
rabbits, for girls and boys to enjoy
their play time. Buying these toys will
bring a smile on your child’s face but
also support one of the many charities
which supply us with their products.
5 tips for cleaning out your closet:
• Organize your piles in categories (don’t
forget to separate seasons)
The Village Gift Shop also sells cute
cotton kids wear made in Egypt
• If you have not worn it in over 1 year
(and its not essential to your image or
must have) then donate it or sell it at
La Boutique
For older children, you can get
a book about Ancient Egypt so they
can learn how they built the tombs
• If it is stained,
Looking for something
different? The shop always has a
vast stock of amazing items made in
Egypt by locals. Stop by for something
unique and exhilarating.
The Village Gift Shop is run with help from a team of volunteers who are always
ready to assist you with a cheerful and friendly smile. If you want to become part of
our team,fill in the application at the front desk and we will make sure to find you
a position that suits you.
We are always looking for new and unique items, please ask our Gift Shop
Coordinator for more information.
14 May 14 CSA
Gift Shop Opening Hours:
Sunday-Wednesday, 9.00am-7.00pm
• When cleaning out, ask yourself these
3 questions while being a brutal critic:
“Do I love it? Do I wear it? Does it
project the image I want to project?”
worn, pilled
or has holes,
definitely in
the get-rid-of
pile
• If you cannot critic yourself with the
items you think you must keep, a close
friend or even child will be honest with
you
OUR SERVICES
Reminders:
All items must be laundered,
ironed and in good to excellent
condition to be eligible for sale.
Mechanical items must be in
good working order. La Boutique
reserves the right to return items
deemed unfit for sale. We must
be selective in the merchandise we
accept for consignments, so please
do not feel offended if your items
are not accepted. We only want the
best for our members.
Woman’s Section:
You will find all you need at La
Boutique, from skirts, tops, dresses
and gowns to sportswear. We also
have various style in plus sizes. It is
your one stop to find great buys for
less.
Kids
Our kids grow out of their clothes
so fast they don’t have time to wear
them out before they need to get
new ones. La Boutique offers fun
and playful outfits for the little
citizens of the world.
Menswear:
La Boutique also accepts menswear.
Suits, dress shirts, polo shirts and
shorts are amongst the many items.
Come by and check this section the
next time you visit the shop.
Miscellaneous Items:
We also accept home decorative
items, curtains, bedding, children’s
toys and electronics. If you are not
sure of an item, give us a call. All
items must be clean and in working
condition.
Volunteers:
Need something to do? Why
don’t you try our volunteering at
La Boutique? Great place to meet
fun and animated staff as well as
interact with lots of new people
in the shop. Stop by and fill out a
volunteer form at reception and we
will get those free hands working.
Opening Hours:
Sunday, Tuesday and Thursdays
9.00am-3.00pm
Saturdays 9.00am-2.00pm
Drop Offs:
Sunday, Tuesday and Thursdays
9.30am-1.00pm
May 14 CSA 15
CSA Library
The CSA Library is the only leisure-reading library of its kind in Maadi. A muchvalued resource for newcomers and veteran expatriates alike, it is stocked through
community participation via donations to the library. Come visit the Library in
its location next to La Boutique!
Book Sale
Join us in the CSA garden on Tuesday, May 20 and Wednesday, May 21 from
9.00am-2.00pm for our Library Book Sale.
Books
Improve your cooking repertoire with these recipe books
featuring traditional Egyptian cuisine…
The Pharaoh’s Kitchen by Magda Mehdawy and Amr Hussein
Magda Mehdawy and Amr Hussein have done extensive research
on the cultivation, gathering, preparation, and presentation of
food in ancient Egypt and have developed nearly a hundred recipes
that will be perfectly recognizable to anyone familiar with modern
Egyptian food. A glossary of ingredients and place names provides
a useful guide to unfamiliar terms.
Egyptian Soups by John Feeny
A mouthwatering collection of unusual soups for all seasons. John
Feeney, best known for his landmark documentary films and still
photography also happens to be something of a wizard in the
kitchen, and he has finally been persuaded to share the recipes for
some of his most original creations for all to enjoy: ten hot and
seven cold soups of the Egyptian winter and summer.
Egyptian Cooking: A Practical Guide by Samia Abdennour
Egyptian cuisine has been influenced by several Mediterranean
culinary traditions, including Turkish, Palestinian, Lebanese, Greek
and Syrian. These nearly 400 recipes, all adapted for the North
American kitchen, represent the best of authentic Egyptian home
cooking. This classic cookbook also includes a glossary of terms
for ingredients, and useful tips on shopping and using traditional
cooking utensils.
CSA Movie Club
Gather the family together to enjoy these fantastical adventures…
The Spiderwick Chronicles: Upon
moving into the run-down Spiderwick
Estate with their mother, twin brothers
Jared and Simon Grace, along with
their sister Mallory, find themselves
pulled into an alternate world full of
faeries and other creatures.
@ CSA Library
• Award-winning authors
• Health and wellbeing section
• Reference books on Egypt,
Middle East and other
worldwide destinations
• Biographies and nonfiction books
• Children’s section (preschool to young adult)
• Science fiction, fantasy,
romance and more
• Magazines, periodicals and
newspapers
Membership
Terms and Conditions:
• Annual Membership:
350 LE per year for books,
magazines and DVDs.
• Any family member can take
out 5 books for a period of
three weeks.
• Members are entitled to
borrow 3 magazines and 2
DVDs per family in addition
to 5 book limit.
• Please note that children
must be accompanied by an
adult when using the CSA
Library.
Donation
The CSA Library donates all
their old glossy magazines to
A.P.E (Association for Protection of the Environment) an
Egyptian NGO whose mission
is to promote environmentally
safe solid waste management
in Egypt. A.P.E will use these
magazines to produce beautifully crafted products that
can then be sold. You can view
some of A.P.E’s products in the
CSA Village Gift Shop.
The Last Mimzy: Two siblings begin to
develop special talents after they find a
mysterious box of toys. Soon the kids, their parents, and even their teacher are drawn into
a strange new world and find a task ahead of them that is far more important than any of
them could imagine!
Bridge to Terabithia: Tired of being bullied at school and neglected at home, Jess Aarons
and Leslie Burke escape into the woods, where Leslie opens Jess’s mind to the amazing
kingdom of Terabithia. It’s a secret land where they reign supreme among the giants, ogres
and other fantastical creatures they create. As their imaginations soar and their friendship
deepens, they discover how to rule their own kingdom, fight the forces of darkness and
change their lives forever.
We feature a new movie (or two) every week - check the posters in the library for the
current week’s movie.
16 May 14 CSA
Library Opening Hours:
Sunday-Wednesday
9.00am-9.00pm
May 14 CSA 17
General
Outward Listening
By Heather Ramsey, MA, CPCC
I was at a networking event a few weeks
ago and started a conversation with a
woman.
At first she came across as someone
who was energetic, passionate and
interesting. Within minutes though, I
realized she was completely all about
herself! She was listening totally inward
to our conversation. Everything she
said was all about her. It was obvious
that everything she was thinking
while I was talking was all
about her too! I left the
interaction feeling frustrated
and completely turned off.
When people listen from
an inward perspective they
are missing out on so much
information and quite honestly
they are missing out on a real
connection with others. The
more you can enhance your
listening skills the more you
will feel connected to others,
understand what might be
going on for
them and
or a networking event focus on how
you want to be with others as a listener.
Try to come up with three adjectives
that would describe the type of listener
you want to be. This could include
things like calm, open, warm, friendly,
interested or excited. Do your best to
make the conversation all about the
other person. You can imagine yourself
in a bubble with them so that when you
are talking you are fully engrossed in
the conversation with no distractions
from the outside. One metaphor or
image that might help is to imagine
connecting over coffee with your best
friend in the big comfortable chairs
of your favorite restaurant or café.
Remember how you were so into the
conversation that you didn’t even notice
who was around you, what time it was
or that the staff was ready to leave? That
is the type of listening we can all aspire
to. While it is incredibly difficult to
hold this listening for long periods of
time it is worth setting the intention to
do so. Think of a time when someone
listened to you from this place.
How did you feel? You likely felt
connected, important, interesting,
validated and accepted. Imagine the
impact you can have on others just
by listening to them from this place.
2) Get curious about the person
come to
a common
resolution. It
is easy to be in an
inward listening
mode. See below
for several ways
you can work to
be a better outward
listener.
1) Set the intention
to listen
Before meeting up with
friends, going to work
18 May 14 CSA
What are they really saying? What is
important to them about what they are
saying? What values are they showing
throughout the conversation? When we
are being curious we are coming from
a place of non-judgment. Often people
think they know or understand why
someone would say or do something,
but most of the time they are wrong.
When you’re curious it helps you to
understand the other person better.
Even with my children when they want
something so adamantly I find myself
jumping into listening from a curious
perspective. In this case, I am trying
to understand where they are coming
from and what they really need? What
would it be like if they had it that way?
Sometimes I will imagine myself as a
third person in the room so that I can
try to remain as objective and curious
as possible. If I am separating myself
from the outcome I can just be in a
place of wanting to know what it is for
them rather than trying to decide what
they should do or what they should be
thinking.
3) Pause for 3 seconds before
responding
It is okay to take a moment to think of
what you want to say next. That way
you don’t have to worry about doing
it while the other person is talking. We
often make the assumption that we
have to have a fluid, fast conversations,
but that’s not always true. I appreciate
when someone pauses in-between what
I have said and what they are going to
say. It helps me to feel like they really
are taking in what I have said and that
they are processing it. If you are trying
to script you next words while someone
is talking you are only half listening to
what they say and more importantly
you might be missing out on important
nonverbal queues that they are giving
you. Give yourself permission to take
time before jumping into the next thing!
mine” or “I’m thinking of how things
are with my kids not theirs”. Then
try imagining a hook coming out and
pulling your stuff off the stage so that
the person you are with can have the
center stage or you can imagine putting
your stuff on a leaf and letting it float
down the river. Then bring yourself back
to steps 1 through 4. From here there
will only be one conversation going on,
not theirs and yours, just theirs.
So this week when you are interacting
with others pick two of these tools
and try implementing them.
Notice how it is for
you to listen
outward. Was
it easy or
hard for
you to
do?
What did you pick up from the
conversation that you normally would
have missed? What was the level of
connection that you had with the other
person? I look forward to hearing how
it goes!
Heather Ramsey is from Sojourn Partners
(www.sojournpartners.com) an executive
coaching and leadership development firm.
She and her team work with individuals
and companies all over the world to
strengthen their leadership skills by setting
a clear vision, enhancing communications,
managing conflict and increasing
negotiation skills through
coaching and team
development.
4) Get into your listening position
Think about what your posture is
like when you are engrossed in a
conversation. For me it is sitting,
leaning toward the other person and
facing them directly. If you notice
that you are drifting away from the
conversation, either in-person or on
the phone (ie. you are getting bored),
physically change your posture to fit the
posture that you know brings on your
listening connection. Creating a good
listening geography tells your brain to
stop and listen. And yes, this includes
putting away electronic devices!
5) Notice your internal dialog
Acknowledge when you are comparing
everything to yourself. This happens
when you have something in common
with another person. It is natural
because your brain is going in and
trying to connect back to whatever it
can to help you relate to the person in
front of you. The key to true listening
though is to take what is coming up for
you and somehow put it to the side. To
do this you can acknowledge that it is
happening “I’m comparing their trip to
May 14 CSA 19
General
Moving On -
e
r
i
t
e
R
o
t
e
m
o
H
ing
Return
By Mary McKinnon
Practice makes perfect they say…
Maybe, but in the realm of re-entry
(returning home to live), I have my
doubts. As major transitions go in the
world of expatriate living, the return
home is a lot harder than the move
abroad, at least in my experience;
which, in the past 40 years has included
six re-entries.
Why does it seem so difficult?
In the first place, there is the feeling of
loss for all the people and things you
have left behind. Then, there is often
a substantial downward shift in your
lifestyle – accommodation, disposable
income, social life, travel opportunities,
children’s schooling, and possibly
spousal employment (depending of
course, on where your home abroad has
been). There are exceptions, especially
for those who were posted at one of
the hyper-expensive European capitals
where families cannot afford very much
at all. In that case, returning to live at
home is pretty appealing. But if you
have been living in a country that is
within the so-called ‘nanny belt’, where
domestic help is very affordable, and
living conditions very pleasant, the
transition to a very different way of life
is considerably harder.
These are some of the many adjustment
issues that are just part of re-adapting to
life at home, but at this point, I would
like to focus on the situation of those
who are returning and retiring at the
same time. A double whammy in the
adaptation domain!
If, like many of us in the international
community, a couple has lived a lot
of their life abroad, and moved from
place to place every few years, the idea
of choosing a place to actually settle
down can be daunting. In spite of all
the griping we do about the difficulties
of relocating regularly, many of us have
it firmly implanted in our souls, and
fear that we will get itchy feet after a
few years. We also have to decide what
is most important at this stage of life,
for each of us and for us as a couple,
and reach some sort of compromise. Do
we want year-round golf or proximity
to the grandchildren? Is the garden a
passion for one of us, while the other
wants to finally have the freedom of a
condo? And how, by the way, are we
going to handle our time? All that time
together…
These of course, are questions every
couple facing retirement has to deal
with. The returning/retiring expat
couple though must struggle with two
major life transitions happening at the
same time. The trick is to keep the eye
firmly focused on the positives of the
new situation rather than the struggle.
When I think of this period of our lives
coming up in just a few years, one of
the things that pre-occupies me is how
we are going to decide what to keep
out of all the special pieces of furniture
and artifacts that are part of our
international life. One thing is clear –
we can’t keep it all. I am actively trying
to find a way of arranging a sale at the
warehouse where our things are being
stored and our shipment from abroad
will be taken to, so that it doesn’t all get
delivered to our new (smaller) home;
the stuff of nightmares.
On the other hand, if there is one thing
I’m sure of after all these years, it’s that
we who have relocated internationally a
number of times have to be the world’s
best managers of change. If anyone is
used to finding solutions to new living
situations and conditions, it is the
expat. This experience will stand us in
good stead for retirement living, and
so it will for finding out what we want
to do using our life skills and our newfound time.
Maybe all that practice will pay off after
all?
Mary MacKinnon is a Canadian with
30+ years of Foreign Service life behind
her including several as the wife of the
former Canadian Ambassador to Egypt.
Mary has also worked for 15 of those years
as a consultant in the field of International
Mobility, and has written a book about
expatriate life.
May 14 CSA 21
CSA Events
CSA Events May 2014
Cook’s Day Off
Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
9.00am-2.00pm
Garden Bazaar
Saturday, May 10 and
Sunday, May 11
9.00am-2.00pm
Calling all ladies! Shop till you drop at
CSA’s Garden Bazaar. Lots of vendors
await you with a great selection of
items to choose from including
clothes, accessories, arts
and crafts.
Thai Buffet
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.
Farmer’s Market
Every Thursday
9.00am-2.00pm
Take your pick from our wide range of organic vegetables
fresh crunchy greens, organic fruits, chutneys, preserves
and much more.
Wednesday, May 14, 12.00pm
Looking for a friendly
place to stop in for
lunch? Drop by
with your friends
for a traditional
Thai meal.
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 it’s only once a month and the menus are always
different.
BBQ Lunch
La Boutique Spring Fashion Show
Saturday, May 24, 12.00pm
Wednesday, May 7, 6.00pm
Join us for a dazzling night of glamour and fashion as
La Boutique shows off their spring
and summer items. Featuring
Rihan Restaurant: Enjoy tantalizing
oriental Lebanese cuisine at its best.
Nothing like a pleasant afternoon for a good, old
fashioned barbeque. Try some of our classic grilled fare,
robust curries, fresh salad and yummy deserts, picked
to satisfy everyone’s palate. All you have to do is to sit
back and enjoy! After the BBQ be sure to stick around
for Reem Gohar’s free Egyptology lecture. Make an
afternoon of it!
For any queries or questions on events, please contact events@livinginegypt.org
May 14 CSA 23
CSA Showroom... a concept corner
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.
May 4 - May 10
Gina Khatab Jewelry
May 11 -May 17
Mary Claire Paintings
Ethnic silver jewelry designed to be modern, yet easy to
wear. Choose the perfect piece from their huge selection
and pamper yourself or your loved ones.
Mary Claire was born in Jura, Switzerland in 1951 and
though she was always interested in energy, feng shui
and parallel medicine, she worked as a civil engineer
until coming to Egypt in 1989. It was in Egypt that
she experienced a rebirth and her artistic spirit truly
began to flourish. She has been painting, writing (she
has published 8 books in French) and designing clothing
ever since. Many of her paintings and fashion designs
were inspired by her travels with her husband in the
Egyptian desert.
May 11 -May 17
Stephanie Idounda - Cardboard Furniture
Stephanie’s passion for cardboard started two years ago
when she was moving into a new flat and needed custom
furniture, but didn’t want to hire a carpenter. She started
researching how to make her own furniture from recycled
materials and stumbled across a video on cardboard
furniture. She was amazed at cardboard’s solidity and
versatility. Soon after, she took a course about making
cardboard furniture and not long after that completed
her first masterpieces – a table and bookcase. Stephanie
is thrilled to display her work at CSA and hopes to instill
new sense of utility for this underappreciated medium.
May 18-May 24
Fadia Mabrouk - Boshret Kheir Shop
Boshret Kheir has a wide
selection of home interior
accessories and silver
antiques. Fadia also carries
beautiful
handcrafted
gifts, including shawls
(silk and pashmina),
pottery (Iranian ceramic),
cushion covers, tablecloths
and various other crafted
textiles
made
from
Egyptian cotton and old
fabric.
May 25-May 31
Samira Rashwan Jewelry
Samira’s
silver
jewelry is made
of the highest
quality sterling
silver - fine 925.
Her designs are
made with great
love and inspired
by the beauty and
exotic character
of the Egyptian
woman.
May 14 CSA 25
CSA Newcomers
New to Egypt?
Help us help you
At CSA, we understand the importance of positive adjustment and ongoing
in-country support
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, May 11, 2014
8.00am-4.00pm
Cost $140
(It includes an authentic Egyptian Lunch)
Fundamentals of Living in Egypt will help you to
Some of the topics covered are
•understand the importance of cultural self-awareness and the
influences of culture in everyday life and in the workplace
•Cross-Cultural Adaptation
•improve and adapt communication with the local community,
colleagues and family members
•Staying Healthy
•adopt new activities and be ready to enjoy an enriching
experience living and working in Egypt
•Customs and Tradition
•Daily Life in Cairo
•Egypt Past and Present
Ahlan wi Sahlan
Understanding positive thinking and self-talk
Living in Egypt might be a blessing for some, and a curse for others. What always fascinates
me is how one situation can set off anger in one person, whereas another one can just shrug
off what happened. Our attitude to life, and our self-talk largely influence how we respond to
situations. Think about the age-old question: “Is your glass half-empty or half-full?”
How you answer the question reflects your outlook on life, your attitude toward yourself,
and whether you’re optimistic or pessimistic - and it may even affect your health. The positive
thinking that typically comes with optimism is a key part of effective stress management.
And effective stress management is associated with many health benefits. If you tend to be
pessimistic, don’t despair - you can learn positive thinking skills.
Positive thinking doesn’t mean that you keep your head in the sand and ignore life’s less pleasant
situations. It means that you approach unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way.
Positive thinking often starts with self-talk, the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that
run through your head. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of your
self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that you
create because of lack of information.
So if you tend to be negative about life here, find out what your self-talk is. And try to
change it to a more positive tone. It is not about agreeing to everything that happens, like for
example, ignoring that the safety situation has changed. But it is about how you deal with
the things that you cannot influence. Will you be depressed and complain, or will you accept
it and have space and energy to look at the positive things of life here? So enjoy Egypt, with
everything it has to offer!
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.
May 14 CSA 27
Healthy Living
Lunch
on the go
By Dr. Sherine El Shimi
Striving to stay health conscious in the
increasingly stressful workplace can
be a challenge for many professionals.
Finding time to prepare or order healthy
options while rushing to the next
meeting is extremely challenging and
most of us end up feeling guilty about
grabbing that bag of crisps instead.
This article aims to review some of the
nutritious lunch options available in
this bustling city.
If you have the time your best bet is to
bring a homemade salad. Making your
own salad only takes a few minutes in
the morning and is a much healthier
choice than most options available at
the workplace. All you need for a great
stuffed pepper salad is two peppers,
a can of corn and a can of red kidney
beans. Mix the corn and beans together
and stuff it into the pepper, then
sprinkle with a little rosemary and olive
oil and you’re done. A roasted garlic
and asparagus and avocado salads are
also quick, easy and delicious options
(recipes below). You can add any clear
dressings to your salads, such as Italian
or something citrus-based, for a lower
calorie intake.
Of course not everyone always has time
to make their own lunch every day, so if
you’re feeling the crunch here are a few
good delivery options.
Casper & Gambini’s
Casper & Gambini’s low calorie menu
includes some exotic options such as
the Vietnamese rolls, which include a
mixture of protein (shrimp) and some
tasty vegetables. The Waldorf Salad
will also be good for your waist line. It
includes a solid green base of lettuce,
argula and spinach and it has tasty apple
chutney dressing to go with it.
Saladero
Saladero offers some great ideas for
creating your own salad. Their most
intriguing additions would be spinach
as a base, which can help you achieve
your recommended daily requirements
for iron. Chickpeas and red kidney
beans are also available, which are good
protein sources for vegetarians. Roasted
almonds are one of the premium
ingredients, which your cholesterol
levels will thank you later for adding.
Lettuceat
For those of you who feel like a well
deserved treat, then the gourmet
offerings by Lettuceeat are for you. The
portions are very generous and their
vegetables are well picked and promise
to be consistently fresh. Their signature
Mexican delight salad stands apart
due to the fusion of flavors between
the interesting choice of vegetables,
coriander and Mexican dressing. For
those of you counting calories the
tortilla chips and cheddar cheese could
be removed. They also offer gluten free
banana bread for anyone suffering from
Celiac disease.
GoodCals
The Spin-a-Chicken salad from
GoodCals is a traditional and filling
option that comes in a large bucket
and insists you give it a good shake.
The dressing also comes with options.
If you’re not a fan of balsamic vinegar
then citrus salad dressing is the way to
go. The rocket leaves are fresh and the
grilled chicken is fairly tender.
Recipes:
1. Roasted garlic and asparagus salad
Ingredients
•2 heads garlic
•3 tbsp olive oil
•½ tsp salt
•½ tsp pepper
•2 bunches asparagus
•½ lemon
•½ cup walnut halves
Preparation
1. Preheat oven. 2.
Roast garlic in oven with
salt and pepper. 3. Peel outer
layer of asparagus and put salt,
pepper and lemon on it. Place in the
oven and bake until asparagus is tender
(up to 20 min). 4. Mix asparagus, garlic
and walnuts. Serve with your favorite
oil based dressing.
Avocado salad
Ingredients
•1 ripe avocado
•1 tbsp vinegar
•½ tsp garlic powder
•¼ tsp salt
•¼ tsp pepper
•½ can chickpeas
•1 medium red bell pepper
•4 cups greens (lettuce or arugala)
Preparation
1. Scoop a tablespoon of the avocado
and put in blender. Add vinegar, salt,
pepper and garlic. Puree until smooth.
2. Cut the remaining avocados into large
chunks and add chickpeas, bell pepper,
greens into bowl. Toss with puree and
divide into four salad plates. Serve with
your favorite oil based dressing.
Dr. Sherine El Shimi is a Clinical
Nutritionist. She is available for
consultation every Tuesday between
10.00am-12.00pm at CSA.
May 14 CSA 31
General
Living Abroad:
If You Can’t Avoid It,
Enjoy It!
As another example, in Canada they
don’t usually check bus tickets when
you get on the local bus. Sometimes the
public transportation police officers get
on the bus and check your ticket but
most of time they just trust that
While listening to their stories I can
imagine living through their eyes. I
am also able to reflect back on my life
through the lives of others and gain a
new perspective.
These lessons taught me to
not be too sure about
anything and there is
more than meets the
eye.
Wanderlust
By So-Young Kim
Like anything else living abroad has its
pros and cons. There are some things
that are better and some things that are
worse, and there is often little you can
do about it. That’s what I have learned
from years of moving around from one
country to another. So far I have lived in
South Korea, China, Australia, Canada
and now Egypt.
For me the best part of living abroad is
getting to know the country, people and
culture and of course being able to travel.
The worst part of life abroad is being
separated from the familiar comforts
that home and friends can offer.
In this article I will highlight the good
aspects of living abroad. Why? Since I
am writing this article for expats, what’s
the point of going on and on about
the bad. We’ve all seen and heard that
before. Every expat lives abroad for one
reason or another and has to deal with
problems. I say if you can’t avoid it,
just enjoy it. William Shakespeare said,
‘There’s nothing either good or bad, but
thinking makes it so.’ So look on the
bright side of things surrounding you.
Here are some of the bright sides of
living abroad.
Exhilaration of Victory
“Accept challenges, so that you may feel
the exhilaration of victory.”
George S. Patton
Deciding to live abroad is a multifaceted
and huge challenge. As soon as you
32 May 14 CSA
“All journeys have secret
destinations of which the traveler is
unaware.”
arrive in your new
country you have to face
any fears or anxieties that
come from encountering a
foreign language, a different
atmosphere,
different
religions and cultures, and
unfamiliar people. From my
experience, as time goes by, the
unfamiliar becomes familiar.
Martin Buber
There are places only local
people know. This is a
benefit you will get from
living abroad. You will be
become privy to information
about good places to eat or visit
that locals only know about.
In this process, you’ll
get a chance to know
your new home better.
In Egypt, when I go to a
local store I meet people
and communicate with them
with a little bit of English,
Arabic, and body language. At
home I eat local foods and
hear prayer sounds from a
mosque. What was once
strange has become a
part of my normal life
bit by bit.
Once in a while when I
overcome an obstacle, I
say to myself, “I have lived
through this fear. I can take the next
thing that comes along.” It feels great
and quite amazing, like when you reach
the peak of a mountain. ‘Hooray, I
succeeded.” What about you?
Different perspectives
“There’re things known and there’re
things unknown, and in between are
the doors of perception.”
Aldous Huxley
When I was in Australia, my
landlord told me about places to
get fresh vegetables and fruits and
other good food. He also introduced
me to a place where I could get a
job and recommended a good travel
agent so I was able to travel to Ulruru
for a reasonable price.
In the beginning, living in a new
environment brings novelty and
freshness. You might look at things
in admiration. Soon after, things you
had taken for granted might end up
surprising you. For example, in Egypt
a weekend is Friday and Saturday.
Before I presumed Saturday and
Sunday was the weekend. I used to
think a mountain was grey and had
lots of green trees. Now I am able
to imagine a mountain nestled in
the desert consisting of red-brown
stones like in Mount Sinai, Egypt.
you’re being honest. I also used to be
perplexed at the store cash register.
They always asked me for more money
than the price tag had advertised. I
later found out the reason was they
don’t include tax on the price listed on
the tag.
In my homeland, South Korea, most
of the people I met and hung out
with were born in my country. Living
abroad is the opposite. It is almost
guaranteed I will meet more people
from different countries than not.
Living abroad also means you
don’t have to be squeezed for
time. While I am staying in
a country I can visit any city
I want to. For Christmas
I went to a serene place in
Dahab, Egypt.
I’ve been to other parts of Egypt as
well. I am planning to go to Aswan and
Luxor later this year. I can plan like this
because I live here.
Even some of the hotels offer special
prices for residents. All of these things
would be difficult to do if I were a
visiting for only a short period of time.
Kindness of Strangers
“When you travel, remember that a
foreign country is not designed to make
you comfortable. It is designed to make
its own people comfortable.”
Clifton Fadiman
As we set foot on foreign soil we might
hope everything will work out for us
as our friends and family wish us luck.
When I talk with them on the phone
they often ask me about the new place
I’m living in. I recount all the places and
people I’ve met. They are inseparable.
Some places I’ve lived had more people
that I appreciated than others, but every
place I go always has someone to help
me. I am a stranger living in a strange
land who can’t speak the local tongue.
I get lost all the time and get frustrated
because I don’t know what to do or how
to ask for help. In those moments I feel
helpless and isolated. Fortunately the
kindness of others has saved me more
than once. I always make a mental note
to help out others like them. Looking
back the people you meet are to be
treasured.
A foreign country is designed for its
own people but don’t be afraid. There is
going to be someone who is willing to
help you feel at home.
Savour It
Come to think of it, living abroad is a lot
like going to a new beauty shop. Once
you enter the place and sit down you
have to put your trust in a hairdresser
you don’t know. No matter what you
request you won’t know exactly what
you’re going to get and there is not
much you can do about the result.
Wherever in the world you choose to
live the future will never be clear. We
all go through trials and tribulations
until you feel comfortable in a new
place. What is clear is there is always
something to enjoy and make your
life happier. You might make a second
home and make new friends. I know I
have and I am better for it.
May 14 CSA 33
CSA Activities
Welcome to May in Programs!
We have prepared a wonderful month for you! Join us in many of our diverse events!
There is a new team on board at Programs that have put together creative and exciting new adventures for you,
your children, and the entire family. Keep a look out for details in our Oasis magazine, website, newsletter, or
pop in at the CSA. Come for a coffee and chat, bring your ideas, share your skill in a lecture or workshop…
we love seeing you all!
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 2 days in advance either
in dollars or equivalent in EGP.
Ibn Tulun Mosque and
Gayor Anderson
Tuesday, May 6
9.00am-2.00pm
Cost: $55
On this tour Hala will take you to 3
mosques dating to 3 different periods of
Egyptian history. Ibn Tulun (the oldest
surviving mosque in Cairo), Sultan Hasan
(a medieval Building) and a more recent
mosque in the vicinity. But that’s not all.
You will also visit Gayer Anderson Museum
and stop for its beautiful handicrafts.
Souna Farms Tour
Tuesday, May 13
9.00am-2.30pm
Cost: $25
Enjoy a sunny morning at Souna Farms
for Norwegian fresh salmon and organic
mushrooms. Souna Farms is a family
business located in the governorate of
Sharkeya about 75kms from Cairo. Magda
will take you on a tour of the farm where
you’ll have the opportunity to try the farm’s
organic salads and fresh salmon. Products
will also be available for purchase after the
tour. For more information about Souna
Farms, visit their website (http://www.
sounafarms.com/)
All activities are subject to
changes and cancellation.
TRIP OF THE MONTH
Day at
Sakkara Country Club
Saturday, May 17
8.30am-7.00pm
Cost: $75
Spend the day experiencing all that Sakkara Country Club has to offer. Only a 30
minute drive from Maadi, the luxurious Sakkara Country Club has activities for every
level of ambition - from exhilarating to totally relaxing. Included in this trip are a
light breakfast, gourmet lunch, pool access and afternoon photography tour around
the property. Optional tour of the desert and Sakkara pyramid on quad bikes is also
available for an extra charge. For more information, visit their website (http://www.
sakkaracountryclub.com/).
Beit as Suhaymi and
Om Kolthoum Cafe
Tuesday, May 27
9.00am–2.30pm
Cost: $20
The most elegant remaining residence in
Islamic Cairo, Beit as Suhaymi is really two
houses (one built in 1648 and the other
built in 1796), joined to create a structure
of almost palatial proportions. Enjoy a
walking tour in and around the beit, then
enjoy cafe in the heart of downtown Cairo.
Om Kolthoum Cafe takes Egyptians away
from the hubbub of everyday life, back to
the heady days when the voice of legendary
singer Om Kolthoum lifted the nation.
note: We provide transportation and guides for all our tours to Historical sites and
Landmarks. For other tours, please check with Programs.
Family and Friends Program: To complement our existing program of
Trips and Tours we are now able to offer a personalized service for small groups. If you
have friends or family visiting or just want a special trip for a few friends we can now
offer you the services of one of our reputable guides and very comfortable transport for
up to 6 people for the special price of $150. The service is available for half day trips
(9.00am to 2.00pm) every day including Friday and Saturday (subject to availability).
For further information please contact the Program Department.
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.
May 14 CSA 35
CSA Activities
Arts And LIFESTYLE
Please note that all courses have to be
paid at least 2 days in advance either in
dollars or equivalent in EGP.
Jewelry Making and Wirework
Mondays, May 5 to June 9 (6 sessions)
10.00am-12.00pm
Cost: $140
Come and join Sheri in designing and
making new and exciting jewelry. You will
learn different techniques and the basics of
design. This course will include a starter
kit and a trip out to search for beads and
silver. This course is conducted at her house
in Maadi, which is near CSA (please check
with programs for directions).
Past Life Regression &
Clairvoyant Medium Sessions
May 5, 6 and 7
By appointment only
Cost: Regular 25 min $60, In-depth 50
min $100 (USD only)
Anne Austin is an International Medium/
Clairvoyant. She works as a spiritual teacher
and healer all over the world. Anne will
be at CSA offering regular and in-depth
sessions of clairvoyance and medium for 3
days only. Please see the programs desk at
CSA to book an appointment or if you have
further questions.
Back by popular demand!
Survival Techniques for
Children - Module 1
3-7 year olds
Friday, May 16, 2014
2.30pm-4.00pm
Cost $10
8-13 year olds
Friday, May 23, 2014
5.00pm-6.30pm
Cost $10
This is an essential course for children.
Learn what to do if there is a fire, if you
are confronted with a dog attack, an
earthquake, a home burglary, if you are
lost and much more! Sessions are tailored
specifically for different age groups. Join
us for an enjoyable 1.5 hrs of skills and
information for your child, along with a
delicious snack.
metaphor and imagery. Other options
will include creating texts and narratives
to given themes and free writing. The class
is designed that people of varying writing
experience can participate and each draw
their individual benefits. The class will be
conducted by Amira Aly a physician, writer,
blogger, positive psychology coach and a
self-professed lover of all things indie.
Developing Intuition
Thursday, May 8
10.00am-1.00pm
Cost: $25
In this workshop Anne Austin will explain
that we all have intuitive abilities and
she will give techniques in how to bring
these forward. This will be an interactive
workshop so please bring a small bowl
white or clear glass and a few short twigs,
maybe 3 to 4 inches in length. She will give
a short channeled message to everyone who
attends in the latter stages of the workshop.
Summer Makeup
Sunday, May 25
10.00am-12.00pm
Cost: $15
During this workshop, Pace e Luce teaches
you, step-by-step, how to apply makeup
and colors that accentuate and highlight
your features. Learn how to create a variety
of flattering day and night looks, plus get
tips on quick touch-ups and make-up for
special occasions.
Potty Training for Parents
Thursday, May 8
10.30am-12.30pm
Cost: $15
Join Dr. Mona Youssri, Child Psychiatrist,
Family Counselor and Creative Learning
Center (CLC) Nursery and Preschool
Founder for a workshop to learn how to
potty train your toddler according to a
child psychology based approach that has
shown significant success with preschoolers
in CLC for the past ten years.
The History of Jewelry Design
Wednesday, May 7
12.00pm-2.00 pm
Cost: Free
In this free talk, artist Maja Soric will discuss
the history of jewelry design. She will also
touch on the importance of designing
jewelry in her everyday life and how you
too can find your own inspiration to create.
Creative Writing Workshop
with Rowayat
Saturday, May 24
1.00pm-3.00pm.
Cost: $10.
This workshop will introduce you to various
techniques and exercises to open up and/or
improve your writing skills and work with
36 May 14 CSA
Safety and Security
KIDS CORNER
Forum
Modern Explorations in Egypt
Thursday, May 8, 2014
7.00pm-9.00pm
Cost: Free
One of the first tourists to cross into the
trenches of El Allamein after the Second
World War, Mariusz has travelled to
many areas others won’t cross into. He
has discovered many amazing artifacts and
uncovered stories.
Survival for Kids - Module 2
Five week course for 8-13 year olds
May 9, 16, 23, 30 & June 6
4.00pm-5.00pm
Cost $60 for 5 week course.
Individual classes - $15 each
Following our very successful Module
1, join us for a fun non-threatening
and informative class for kids. Each
week we will cover different topics
to empower and educate your
children. Week 1: insects and reptiles,
snakes, scorpion, bees and spiders.
Week 2: sea and beach safety, including
water/waves, coral reefs and jellyfish.
Week 3: stranger danger and getting
lost. Week 4: heat stroke, hypothermia
and being flu smart. Week 5: selfdefense tactics for kids.
Preventing Common Sports
Injuries
Wednesday, May 14
12.00pm-2.00pm
Cost: Free
Join Dr. Noaman as he reviews how to
prevent common sports injuries and what are
the best treatments when an injury occurs.
Becoming a More Effective
and Happier Parent
Wednesday, May 21
11.00am-1.00pm
Cost: Free
Life Coachers would like to invite you to an
orientation on becoming a more effective
and happier parent. We will take you
through an introduction to the essential
parenting skills as developed by Dr. Thomas
Gordon “Father of Parenting” and “Founder
of Gordon Training International”.
Women in Ancient Egypt
Saturday, May 24
1.00pm-3.00pm
Cost: Free
Come for the BBQ, stay for the lecture. After
you’ve filled up on some amazing food at our
BBQ lunch, you don’t want to miss Reem
Gohar, Egyptologist and History Teacher, as
she discusses the role of women during the
early pharaonic dynasties of Ancient Egypt.
Lecture to take place in the CSA garden.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Wednesday, May 28
12.00-2.00pm, CSA Garden
Cost: Free
Do you have pain or stiffness in your joints,
especially in the morning? It might be the
start of rheumatoid arthritis? Join Dr. Hatem
Hamdi Eleishi, Professor of Rheumatology
at Cairo University ans Director of KEPRC
Arthritis Center as he tells you need to know
about rheumatoid arthritis. Find out how
doctors diagnose and treat it and if there’s
any way to prevent it.
Street Combat for Men
Saturday, May 1
2.00pm-4.00pm
Cost $20
Introduction to a complete system of
offensive fighting taught by a specialist
using hand-to-hand combat and blade
fighting. This is not only about techniques
but based on real life situations to prepare
you for any scenario.
Safe driving in Egypt
Saturday, May 3
10.00am–2.00pm
Cost: $15
This defensive driving course is designed to
teach expatriate and their family members
to use effective and defensive techniques.
This course will offer cross-cultural training
to explain the local driver’s behavior,
Egyptian traffic complexity, and how to
deal with them. The instructor for this
course is Tarek Nour.
Wilderness Survival
for Families - Part 1
Saturday, May 10
12.00pm-2.00pm
Cost $25 per family
Families get ready to unite as a team! In
this session we’ll we take you through
some basic survival steps, including how to
survive in the desert, make a fire, use a rope
to climb, find water, navigate and tell time.
Survival Techniques
for Adults - Module 1
Saturday, May 10
2.00pm-4.00pm
Cost $15
Learn techniques to manage and survive
dog attacks, snake and scorpion bites,
home invasions, avoiding electrical injuries,
fire indoors and out and first aid. Our
instructor, Mariusz Budek, has 25 years
experience in survival and first aid and has
completed over 150 expeditions in Egypt,
Libya and Sudan.
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 2 days in advance either
in dollars or equivalent in EGP. For
all 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.
Indian Cooking
Monday, May 5
10.00am-1.00pm
Cost $30
Verna will teach you how to make the
authentic Indian Parata bread. Learn to
make different kind of parata with onion and
mint and parata with potatoes. Mix your
own parata with special served yoghurt sauce
and paneer which is homemade cottage
cheese with spices. Indian bread flour will
also be provided for sale during the class
Wilderness Survival
for Families - Part 2
Saturday, May 17
8.00am-11.00am
Cost $35 per family
The second part of our wilderness survival
course where you get to put the theory into
practice! Meeting at the CSA we will depart
for Waadi Degla at 8.00am where you will
be given tasks to perform based on the
survival learning techniques in Part 1. Must
have your own 4-wheel drive vehicle.
Do you have a small group and would like a custom class or
trip organized just for you? Let CSA do the planning for you.
Contact: programs@livinginegypt.org
Egyptian Cooking
Monday, May 12
10.00am–1.00pm
Cost $30
Learn to make typical Egyptian cooking
mezza, dips and appetizers with Amira. The
class will include recipes of tahini, hummus,
besara, baba ghannuj, cottage cheese with
tomato and peppermint and other yummy
Egyptian dips.
Cocktails with Drinkies
Tuesday, May 20
7.00pm-9.00pm
Cost $30
Learn how to create fabulous cocktails to
suit anyone’s tastes. Perfect for those who
enjoy entertaining and want to offer their
guests something special.
Sushi
Monday, May 26
7.00pm–9.30pm
Cost: $40
If you love Sushi and would love to learn to
make it, Mona will demonstrate and give
hands on training in the art of Sushi making.
After this class you can make your own Sushi
at home. Moreover, you get to eat everything
that is being prepared. This is one of our
most popular classes so please sign up early.
Please note: Cancellations should be made at least 3 working
days prior to class in order to receive a refund. To avoid
cancellation of classes please sign up 3 working days in advance.
May 14 CSA 37
CSA Fitness Training Center
Welcome to the CSA Fitness Training Center!
CSA Fitness Training Center offers an array of activities designed to help
you and your family to achieve your personal health and fitness goals:
• Fat loss • Increased Flexibility • Muscle Tone • Rehabilitation • General Fitness
• Conditioning • Gym Orientation and Assessment • Certified Personal Trainers
NEW TO CAIRO? FIRST-TIME VISITOR?
The Free Trial Pass (Please bring your foreign passport to avail this offer) allows you
to enjoy three consecutive days of free membership and fitness at the CSA Fitness
Training Center! Gym only, eligibility includes a foreign passport.
membership
Fitness+
SingleFamily
1 year Membership (includes a 60 day freeze option)
$460 $800
6 Month Membership (includes a 30 day freeze option) $315 $550
3 Months, 1 Month and Walk in prices also available.
These memberships give you full accessibility to all the gym’s facilities AND to
all the Group Fitness Classes. See FTC front desk for more details.
CSA Group Exercise - PASS CARD
For Group Exercise we are making available to you a Pass Card with a
cost of $90.00 which allows you access to 12 Group Fitness Classes. See
FTC front desk for more details.
Helpful Tip - Reading Food Labels
Written By Kim Hampton, ISSA Certified Fitness
Trainer & Specialist in Sports Nutrition, Certified
Spinning® Instructor
It is hard to navigate your way through a
supermarket to know exactly how to make the
correct food choices for you and your loved ones.
With increasing varieties and sizes of food items,
reading labels is necessary to help you make the
healthiest choices.
First, make sure to note the serving size of the
product and how many servings per container.
Calories noted on the product refer to the
recommended serving size of that item. These two
numbers are at the very top of the label.
The information on the remainder of the label
relates to the recommended serving size only.
Once you identify the total calories per serving,
you can continue on to find the total calories
from carbohydrates (including fiber & sugar),
protein, and fat (including saturated & trans, plus
cholesterol, and sodium) per serving. For example, a
bag of crisps may state it has 150 calories per serving,
but the entire bag might contain 4 servings or 600
calories total. Thus, if you eat the whole bag you
have eaten four times the amount of fat indicated
on the label. As a “rule of thumb”, cut out those
foods indicating a high percentage of fat (especially
saturated & trans) and avoid cholesterol and sodium
rich foods. Look, compare, and shop wisely!
Blood Pressure
Screenings
At Reception
Thursday, May 22 and
Sunday, May 25
12.00pm-2.00pm.
Stay on top of your
health with our free blood
pressure screening.
Points to Note
Gym
No outdoor shoes can be worn inside
the gym; you must bring a clean pair of
training shoes to wear in the gym. You
must sign in and present yourself to our
Front Desk before entering the gym with
your membership card.
Cardiovascular Users
Please maximize your time on the Cardio
Machines, especially the Treadmills to
45min. Thank you for your cooperation.
Classes
Clients must sign in before entering the
studio for classes and present themselves
to a member of the front desk to confirm
that they are eligible to enter the class.
Group Fitness Classes
These are available to all members of the CSA
Fitness Center as part of their membership.
Group Fitness Pass Cards are available for
purchase at a cost of $90 for 12 sessions. You
can also pay a walk in fee of $11.
For more information drop by the CSA Fitness Training Center front desk 2nd Floor,
#4, Road 21, Maadi - or call 010 0382 9368
Pre-Paid: Adults and Kids
Payments for these classes must be
received in advance of the class starting
and paid in blocks of sessions. Please
contact a member of staff for more
information on individual classes and
prices.
Pre-Booked: Adults and Kids
These are Private classes. You can get
information from our Front Desk on how
to contact the individual instructors.
Opening Hours - FTC opens early!
Sunday-Thursday 7.00am-9.00pm
Friday & Saturday: 8.00am-9.00pm
May 14 CSA 39
Healthy Living
CarboLoading
Finally, when carbo-loading you must
taper your physical activity. Tapering
refers to reducing the intensity and
duration of your training. This should
begin approximately 7 days prior to
your event. Tapering allows your body
to conserve the glycogen that it is
storing, so it will be ready and topped
up for your sporting event.
The Correct Mix
to Enhance
Performance
By Kim Hampton, ISSA Certified Fitness
Trainer, Specialist Performance Nutrition,
& Certified Spinning® Instructor
No doubt, marathons are getting
popular these days. With programs
being advertised to promote you from
“couch potato to the track”, you are
bound to have your interest peaked.
But, is it all about your fitness level?
“Carbo Loading” seems to be a
misspelled word that refers to loading
cargo on a ship at a dock-side, but,
actually it isn’t. Carbo-Loading (short
for “Carbohydrate” Loading) is a
legal performance enhancing method
that stocks your muscles with a large
quantity of glycogen (body fuel),
prior to a sporting event. Specialists
in performance nutrition are skilled
to assist you in enhancing your overall
performance in any given sport by
using food and supplements (all legal).
Simply by manipulating the type of
food you consume, timing of meals,
caloric intake, adjusting sleep patterns,
and following close observation by a
fitness trainer you can compliment your
physical fitness ability.
This method of utilizing food sources to
enhance performance in a given sport
is not new science. Sport historians
claim that in Greece, around the time
of the earliest Olympic Games, special
dietary practices were used to boost
performance. And, in recent history,
many professional athletes have gone to
extreme lengths to increase performance
40 May 14 CSA
During the event, athletes should
also continue to consume simple
carbohydrates. Varities include sport
drinks, energy gels, muesli bars, and
fruit. Liquids are preferred as they
hydrate and deliver carbohydrates,
sodium, and electrolytes to the body,
without stomach upset, which is often
an issue when consuming solid foods
during sporting events.
both with
legal and
non-legal
means.
Striving to
be the best
athlete is part
of our human
nature, as was
for our primitive
ancestors
that
searched for foods to
boost combat powers,
increase sex drive, and to
be used in potions to make
you look and feel younger.
It makes sense. Carbohydrates
are a macronutrient whose role is to
contribute energy to the body; like
gasoline does for a car. During longdistance exercise, such as marathon,
triathlon, swimming, or sports lasting
for duration of 1.5 to 2 hours or more,
the body utilizes a lot of glycogen,
which is the storage form of glucose
in the muscles and liver. This fuel is
burned by way of the energy producing
cycle. Glycogen supports the repetitive
contractions of the muscles to sustain
the endurance sport you are involved
in. Therefore it is important that your
glycogen storage is at the highest level
to avoid running out of the fuel. Once
glycogen is depleted, which takes on
average about 90 minutes, the body
must rely more heavily on fatty acids
for fuel, causing your performance
to decline and fatigue to set-in. This
Keep in mind that with intake of more
calories and the additional water storage
apparent with carbo-loading, athletes
that need to weigh-in prior to an event,
may not benefit from this method of
performance enhancing, as weight gain
maybe apparent. However, there are
other methods for these individuals
that can adjust caloric intake prior to
an event so to ensure that at weigh-in
time, your body checks out and you
also benefit from the carbo-loading
method also. In addition, athletes often
feel heavy after carbo-loading and this
hinders an athlete’s
ability to complete their sporting event
at an optimal performance level.
There are three general components to
carbo-loading. Glycogen first needs to
be depleted from the body by restricting
carbohydrates from your diet. Research
has shown that if you first deplete your
glycogen stores before replenishing
them, you can actually store more
than you otherwise would (up to 50%
more!). This should begin about 7 days
prior to your event.
Next is the glycogen replenishment
phase. This is the phase where you
consume a diet high in carbohydrates
(usually 1-3 days prior to your event).
also has an effect on performance. It is
best to experiment with the different
methods available and food utilized,
prior to your event to see which system
will be best for you.
For the bodybuilding contestants out
there; you too can benefit from carboloading. For every ounce of muscle
glycogen there is 3 to 4 ounces of water
stored with it. Therefore, if you increase
your muscle glycogen the day before
your competition, you may just appear
larger, harder, toned, and more ripped!
Performance enhancing for many sport
types is becoming a very popular means
to give you the added edge on your
opponent. Food manipulation methods
are available for most sports, even nonendurance, which can complement
your physical fitness training so that
you come in on top.
Kim Hampton is an ISSA Certified
Fitness Trainer & Specialist in
Performance Nutrition. Kim also enjoys
teaching Spinning® Classes as a Certified
Instructor. She is available for both Fitness
and Sport Nutrition Consultations at
the CSA Fitness Center, along with her
colleague fitness trainers. For more details,
please call the CSA Fitness Center. The
CSA Fitness Trainers are happy to assist
you with your physical fitness needs!
During this
time you should
increase your carbohydrate
intake from 50-55% to 65-70% (or
higher) of your daily calories. Low
glycemic index carbohydrates, such
as brown rice, muesli, bananas, sweet
potato, chick peas, peanuts, lentils, and
even spaghetti are good options as these
foods help you maintain more stable
blood glucose levels.
Continuing to consume protein during
the replenishment phase is essential,
as an aid for repair of muscle tissue,
however, cutting back on fat intake
temporarily is preferred to maximize the
amount of glycogen you store. Staying
adequately hydrated is important
during the replenishment phase. Ensure
you consume enough water to make up
for any losses during exercise.
May 14 CSA 41
CSA Fitness Training Center
May News
Survival Techniques for Children
Lost and Found
We have a lost and found box full of different items.
If you think you may have lost something please come
and check it out. Note that items in our lost and found
are donated to charity every two weeks, so don’t delay!
The Fitness Centre will be hosting survival classes for
children after the great interest shown by the parents
and kids who signed up for the previous class. For more
information please check out CSA Activities page of this
magazine or contact the Programs Department.
FTC Schedule May 2014
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
8.15am-9.15am
Equilibrium
Kim
8.15am-9.15am
Body Action
Kim
8.15am-9.15am
Zumba
Jun
Equilibrium Class
Come join us for balancing, bouncing, and squeezing on
Sundays at 8.15am with Kim (ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer
& Specialist in Performance Nutrition)! Experience this new
CSA Group Fitness Class - “Equilibrium.” This fitness hour
is sure to entertain you. While exercising with a large Stability
Ball in hand you will increase your heart rate, burn calories,
and tone your body. Perfect for all fitness levels. Come and
enjoy!
9.30am-10.15am
Circuit Training
Agamy
Circuit training is a form of body conditioning
or resistance training using high-intensity aerobics.
It targets strength building and muscular endurance.
Circuit training is an excellent way to improve mobility,
strength and stamina. The circuit training format utilizes
a group of 6 to 10 strength exercises that are completed
one exercise after another. Each exercise is performed for
a specified number of repetitions or for a prescribed time
before moving on to the next exercise. The exercises within
each circuit are separated by brief, timed rest intervals, and
each circuit is separated by a longer rest period. The total
number of circuits performed during a training session
may vary from two to six depending on your training level.
Classes are Mondays at 9.30am and Thursdays at 8.15am
6.30pm-7.30pm
Street Combat
Fighting
Mariusz Buek
Registration for all classes at the FTC front desk.
For more information drop by the CSA Fitness Center front desk or call 010 0382 9368
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 - Free to Fitness+ Members
Group Fitness Pass Card available at Fitness Center Reception,
$12 Walk In Fee. All Welcome
Pre-Paid Kids
Bookings and Payments to
Fitness Center Reception
Pre-Paid Adults
CSA Class
NEW Pre-Paid Kids
NEW Pre-Paid Adults
42 May 14 CSA
Pre-Booked Kids - Private Class
Please Contact Instructors for
Bookings and Payments
6.00pm-7.00pm
Dragons
(Advanced Class)
Moyasser
7.00pm-8.00pm
Zumba
Denise
11.00am-12.00pm
Tennis
Teddy Tennis
10.45am-11.30am
Ballet LV 1
Mye
12.00pm-1.00pm
Tennis
Teddy Tennis
3.00pm-3.45pm
Gymnastics
(3-5 years )
Dr. Khaled
Alpha Academy
4.15pm-5.00pm 4.00pm-5.00pm 4.15pm-5.00pm 4.15pm-5.00pm
Little Ninja’s
Ballet & Creative
Ballet & Creative Ballet & Creative
Moyasser
Movement
Movement
Movement
(4 years)
(4 years)
(5 years)
Alpha Academy
Alpha Academy Alpha Academy
5.45pm-6.30pm
Ballet
(8-9 years)
Alpha Academy
Saturday
10.00am-11.00am 10.00am-10.45am
Pre Ballet
Body Action
(4 years)
Kim
Mye
11.30am-12.30pm
Tae Bo
Hisham Gohar
1.00pm-2.00pm
Blade Weapons
Defense
Mariusz Buek
5.00pm-6.00pm
Tigers
Moyasser
Friday
8.15am-9.15am
Circuit Training
Agamy
9.30am-10.30am
Zumba
Jun
11.30am-12.30pm
Tae Bo
Hisham Gohar 12.00am-1.00pm
Street Combat
and Self Defense
Mariusz Buek
5.00pm-5.45pm
Ballet
(6-7 years)
Alpha Academy
THURSDAY
10.30am-11.30pm
10.30am-11.30pm Street Combat
Belly Dance
and Self Defense
Souhair
Mariusz Buek
10.30pm-11.30pm
Belly Dance
Souhair
Circuit training - “Summer Shape”
WEDNESDAY
5.00pm-5.45pm
Ballet
(6-7 years)
Alpha Academy
5.45pm-6.30pm
Ballet
(8-9 years)
Alpha Academy
6.30pm-7.30pm
Street Combat
Fighting
Mariusz Buek
5.00pm-5.45pm
Ballet
(10-13 years)
Alpha Academy
4.00pm-4.45pm
Gymnastics
(7-12 years )
Dr. Khaled
Alpha Academy
4.00pm-5.00pm
Little Ninja’s
Moyasser
5.00pm-6.00pm
Tigers
Moyasser
5.30pm-6.15pm
Ballet LV 1
(6-9 years)
Mye
6.00pm-7.00pm
Dragons
(Advanced Class)
Moyasser
PLEASE NOTE: This schedule is subject to change. Always check notice boards and/or Fitness Center Reception for more information.
For more information please do not hesitate to ask Fitness Center Staff for more details.
May 14 CSA 43
Healthy Living
As you slowly come out of your hibernation from the
winter months and start to peel away the layers of
heavy clothing, you may discover that you are not quite
ready for that bathing suit. It is normal to feel this way,
especially if you haven’t been focused on your body all
winter. However, summer is here and it is never too late
to start!
To tone muscle, it takes repetitive contractions of small bundles of myofilaments in the muscle tissue.
A combination of myosin and actin filaments, make up our muscle fibers. There are several hundred
to few thousand muscle fibers in each muscle group. When a contraction happens in the muscle, the
tiny filaments slide over each other, break apart and develop new connections. Contraction actually
refers to the presence of tension within the muscle due to some form of resistance, that either causes
a concentric contraction (shortening of the muscle), eccentric contraction (lengthening of the muscle),
and/or isometric contraction (neither, shortening or lengthening). Numerous contractions of a given
muscle group, with low to moderate resistance (or weight), and control of diet, by reducing fat and
increasing protein are proven to help tone the muscles and keep them strong.
The STOTT PILATES® method is based on an inter-locking series of exercises focused on stimulating
every part of the muscular skeletal system. With advanced equipment and interchangeable props
in both Mat and Reformer sessions, this popular method helps to custom tailor a workout, with
complete body toning in mind. Resistance is achieved by using tension springs, ropes, body weight,
and gravity to achieve an additional load on the muscles. This makes the muscle fibers react by
becoming stronger and smoother.
BodyFit Egypt offers all levels of STOTT PILATES® classes for both Mat and Reformer by qualified
instructors that have the knowledge in helping you to get in shape for the summer months and
beyond. In addition, SPINNING® classes are available for your heart health and burning that extra
body fat. Recover in one of our Yoga sessions and get a good stretch while at our popular TRX®
suspension training classes. Before you hit the beach this summer, take a look at our schedule and
come visit us at BodyFit Egypt. We are more than happy to help you to build confidence in yourself,
and guarantee you have a toned body this summer.
Tel: 0100 343 3111
www.pilatesegypt.com
BODYFITCAIRO
The Serenity Centre at CSA
4 Road 21
Maadi, Cairo
May 14 CSA 45
May 14 CSA 47
General
Crown Relocations
launches charity initiative with support of
expatriates in Egypt
As a corporate citizen, Crown
Relocations takes its responsibilities
seriously. We are a values-based
business and our brand values underpin
everything we do. Our responsibility
to our clients, our colleagues and our
local communities is shared by every
employee in our organization through
our code of conduct.
As a result, the local team in Cairo,
under the management of Keith Boyd,
have started a new initiative:
The idea is collecting at the customers’
homes various items of value that are
no longer needed by the expatriates
due to an upcoming move. These items
can be books, clothes, furniture items,
even unwanted cans of food. These will
be collected by Crown staff at the time
packing and distributed to charitable
organisations.
The process is simple: At the time when
our local moving crew will show up
on the moving day, they will collect
anything you don’t want. Crown
asks their customer to just separate
everything and leave it to the side.
The packing crew will pick up those
items and deliver them to local charity
organizations.
Crown Relocations know exactly
how much their business impacts the
environment. With ISO 14001 the
company measures how efficiently they
are using natural resources. By investing
in energy-saving buildings and vehicles,
and by educating our supply chain,
Crown Relocations is working hard to
reduce its impact and provide a cleaner
option.
In addition to this project, Crown
teams around the world are involved
in numerous other CSR activities,
they work with local schools, health
initiatives and charities. They have
built schools and libraries to support
local and disadvantaged youth. They
also partner to provide HIV and
AIDS peer education. And through a
university internship program, Crown
give international experience to new
graduates.
To learn more about Crown Relocations,
visit www.crownrelo.com.
To download a digital copy of the most
recent Sustainability Report of Crown
Worldwide Group, the parent company of
Crown Relocations, please visit:
https://www.crownrelo.com/sites/default/
files/Worldwide/2013-corporate-socialresponsibility-report.pdf
May 14 CSA 49
CSA Calendar May 2014
SUNDAY
More information on www.livinginegypt.org
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Friday / Saturday
2
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Farmers Market
9.00-2.00pm
Safe Driving in Egypt
10.00am-2.00pm
Street Combat for Men
2.00pm-4.00pm
1
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Showroom
Gina Khatab Jewelry
Session 1 10.00am-12.00pm
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
The History of Jewelry Design
12.00pm-2.00pm
Indian Cooking
10.00am-1.00pm
Ibn Tulun Mosque and Gayor Anderson
9.00am-2.00pm
La Boutique Spring Fashion Show
6.00pm
Past Life Regression & Clairvoyant
Medium Sessions by appointment
4
Garden Bazaar
9.00am-2.00pm
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Showroom
Stephanie Idounda Cardboard Furniture
& Mary Claire Paintings
5
6
Cook’s Day Off 9.00am-2.00pm
Developing Intuition 10.00am-1.00pm
Potty Training for Moms
10.30am-12.30pm
7
Jewelery Making and Wirework
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Thai Buffet
12.00pm
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Egyptian Cooking
10.00am-1.00pm
Souna Farms Tour
9.00am-2.30pm
Preventing Common Sports Injuries
12.00pm-2.00pm
Farmers Market
9.00-2.00pm
11
12
13
14
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Showroom
Fadia Mabrouk – Boshret Kheir Shop
18
Ibn Tulun Mosque and
Gayor Anderson 9.00am-2.00pm
19
Cocktails with Drinkies
7.00pm-9.00pm
15
Farmers Market
9.00-2.00pm
Becoming a More Effective and
Happier Parent
11.00am-1.00pm
20
8
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Library Book Sale
9.00am-2.00pm
Library Book Sale 9.00am-2.00pm
Blood Pressure Screening
12.00pm-2.00pm
21
22
Summer Makeup 10.00am-12.00pm
Blood Pressure Screening
12.00pm-2.00pm
Showroom
Samira Rashwan Jewelry
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Sushi Cooking Class
7.00pm-9.30pm
25
26
27
Farmers Market
9.00-2.00pm
28
Garden Bazaar
9.00am-2.00pm
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Wilderness
Survival for Families
Part 112.00pm-2.00pm
Survival Techniques for Adults
Module 1 2.00pm-4.00pm
10
16
Cook’s
Survival Techniques for
Day
Off
Children (3-7yrs)
9.00am-2.00pm
Module 1
Wilderness
2.30-4.00pm
Survival
for
Families
Survival for Kids
Part 2
(8-13yrs)
Day
at
Sakkara
Module 2
Country Club
4.00pm-5.00pm
8.30am-7.00pm
17
23
Cook’s
Day Off
Survival for Kids
9.00am-2.00pm
(8-13yrs) Module 2
BBQ Lunch
4.00pm-5.00pm
12.00pm
Survival Techniques
Women in
for Children
Ancient Egypt
(8-13yrs) Module 1
1.00pm-3.00pm
5.00pm-6.30pm
Creative Writing Workshop
with Rowayat 1.00pm-3.00pm 24
30
Survival for Kids (8-13yrs)
Module 2
4.00pm-5.00pm
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Cook’s Day Off
9.00am-2.00pm
Rheumatoid Arthritis
12.00pm-2.00pm
Beit as Suhaymi and
Om Kolthoum Café
9.00am-2.30pm
3
Survival for Kids
(8-13yrs)
Module 2
4.00pm-5.00pm
Farmers Market 9.00-2.00pm
Modern Explorations in Egypt
7.00pm-9.00pm
9
Garage Sale
10.00am-1.00pm
29
31
Trips/Tours
Safety &
Security
Kid’s Corner
Arts/Lifestyle
Coking
CSA Events
General
My Reflections on
Six Months at
The place to be.
By Douglas May
Over my 20 years living and working
in Egypt, some know me as Doug,
some as Father Doug and some as
“Uncle Doug”. I have served with the
Coptic Catholic Seminary on Road 15
in Maadi, the Palestine Red Crescent
Society in Nasr City and the Englishspeaking expatriate community at Holy
Family Church in Maadi. Never did
I see myself working as a volunteer at
CSA. That was until about six months
ago. After the events of 30 June to 15
August 2013, I found that continuing
to visit and serve in Upper Egypt would
not be possible, at least until things
calmed down some. So I asked myself
and others, what am I going to do with
all my time? In response, some folks
suggested that I volunteer at CSA.
Until September last year, I had visited
CSA only a few times and that was
mainly to use the gym to work out and
try to do some therapy on my left leg,
which I had broken in a bicycle accident
in Maadi back in 2002. Recovery
eventually required six operations over a
period of seven years. Happily, my leg is
fine now. Getting back into shape after
not doing much major exercise has not
been an easy task, but regular exercise
in at CSA gym has done wonders. In
my 40+ years of working out, I have
exercised in over 100 gyms, in over 10
countries and in as many U.S. The CSA
Fitness Center is nothing like gyms run
by the bigger chains. It is a simple,
well-equipped gym with a community
atmosphere that promotes fitness and
health.
Now back to volunteering at CSA. I
approached Flavia and Heba about
volunteering one or two days per week.
I first found myself volunteering at
reception and the gift shop.
I enjoyed the exposure that
this offered and enjoyed
meeting those who knew
me and those who didn’t.
Then I asked if it were
possible
to
volunteer
upstairs at the gym. What
started out as a few hours
twice a week evolved into
almost full time work, but
I have thoroughly enjoyed
it. Have no fear, I was an
exception as most CSA
volunteers only do a few
hours per week. I jumped at
the chance to do more hours
due to a shortage of staff.
As a result of volunteering
at CSA I have grown to
feel much more a member
of the Maadi community
and have been able to assist
others to do the same.
As I turn 65 in June, I am taking the
opportunity to spend three months
in the USA with friends and family. I
will also be giving presentations on my
perspectives on Egypt and the Middle
East. Part of my perspective will now
include many of those I’ve met via my
time at CSA. When I return to Egypt,
I am not sure if I will remain full-time
in Cairo or split my time between Cairo
and Upper Egypt, but I will seriously
consider volunteering again at CSA if
my schedule allows. I have developed
a real appreciation for CSA and the
services it provides. Splitting my time
serving Egyptians and serving expats
has given me energy. It is unfortunate
that security considerations have
caused expats to somewhat “ghettoize”
themselves as there is so much to see
and experience in Egypt.
I’ll end with a few thoughts from my 20
years in Egypt and my 65 years of life:
1.Never give up no matter how bad
things may look. The saga of my leg
has taught that falling down requires
getting up, sometimes over and over
again.
2.Treat life as an ongoing adventure that
may involve getting scrapes, bruises
and scars. They can become symbols
that you’ve grabbed life by the horns.
3.You’re never too old to begin life
anew physically, emotionally and
spiritually. Being “born again” is not
only a religious term, it’s a philosophy
of life.
I’ll now quote from the 1958 film,
Auntie Mame. In it she said: “Yes! Live!
Life’s a banquet and most poor suckers
are starving to death!”
May 14 CSA 57
Culture
My Egypt
My Egypt features a different person every month giving you their personal tips and recommendations about life
here as an expat.
Name: Maissa Al Khittan Hourani
Nationality: Jordanian
Age: 39
Living in: New Maadi, Cairo
About: I moved to Egypt three years ago with my three kids (Zaid , Qais and Rita). My husband had been working here since 2008
doing contract work, but we found that our family was suffering from the long distance relationship. So I decided to resign from my
job of 15 years and come to Egypt. In Jordan I worked with an NGO that provided educational programs for refugees and other less
privileged youth. I truly miss my work but fortunately volunteering at CSA has helped fill that void I’ve had in my career.
My typical week
Being a mom of three kids (aged 10, 6
and 3) means that I’m always in a rush!
Much of my time during the week is
spent cooking, cleaning the house,
shopping or organizing their school
requirements, but Thursday is my day
off where I volunteer at CSA gift shop.
I love it because I’m able to engage with
both customers and other CSA staff.
Loves
Of course no one can deny that the
delivery of anything you can imagine is
great here - from groceries to getting a
blood test (although in my experience
quality and hygiene concerns are
sometimes ignored). But I am also fond
of the diversity of people’s backgrounds
in terms of education and social level.
I love that you can meet a bowab who
barely eats meat and a family who
spends their vacations in Europe, who
despite these differences are both still
tremendously fond of their country.
Even with the issues in Egypt right
now (water & electricity outages) they
can spend hours talking about Egypt’s
beauty, culture and history.
Food Heaven
My kids are picky eaters, which was
difficult when we settled in Eygpt. My
goal was to find a clean and sheeshafree place that my kids enjoyed. Some
of our favourite places are Abu Shakra
(for Stuuffed birds), Fish Market and
Cairo Kitchen. For romantic evening
for my husband and I’s favourite is
Black Stone Bistro.
Driving Tips
There is no way I can drive here! It
would be way too stressful. My friends
who drive take their cue from the
taxi drivers. It seems as though if you
drive like an Egyptian (no rules!), you
will probably reach your destination
smoothly.
Favourites
• Supermarket: Seoudi Road 253
intersection with 214 (wonderful
staff and perfect meat and chicken)
Carefour for fresh groceries (Morning
is the best time to get it fresh)
• Takeaway: Koshari Tahrir
Kids Corner
Symphony for paino lessons, Alef book
store on Road 9, Bowling Center at
Bandar Mall, CSA barbeque, Sugar
Spell
Fitness Fanatic
CSA fitness classes and private training
with Kim and Agami at CSA Gym.
If you are interested in contributing to the My Egypt page contact Marcus O’Neill: marcus@livinginegypt.org
May 14 CSA 59
Travel
Kenyan Safari
By Angela Sackmann
I have a confession. Before my first
African safari I feared I was going to
be eaten by a lion. I knew cheetahs are
finicky eaters, preferring tender young
gazelle to tough middle aged women,
and I felt certain that leopards wouldn’t
relish the thought of trying to lug my
carcass up a tree, but lions would look
at me and see a feast for all the family.
I’m slow, fat and my wardrobe consisted
of browns and creams, which, much to
the amusement of the brightly clothed
Masai guides made me look like prey.
Lions, I discovered, would rather lie in
the sun or under the shade of tree than
eat people and are as lazy as the average
house cat.
We have been on three safaris, the first
two staying in lodges and last one in a
tent, and all have been memorable, but
the luxury tented camp surpassed our
expectations. We flew from Nairobi on
a propeller plane and landed on a bush
strip in the Masai Mara National Park.
Our driver picked us up in an open
sided Land Cruiser and within minutes
we saw two hyenas, zebras, gazelles and
impala, a family of warthogs and two
giraffes.
70 May 14 CSA
The camp was on an escarpment above
the Talek River and consisted of 9 tents
and the dining tent. The river was
home to a pod or, my favorite, a bloat
of hippos. We discovered that night
that they climb the banks and eat the
grass around the tents. Other nocturnal
visitors included Cape buffalo and
lions, of which I was blissfully ignorant
until the morning we left and so slept
peacefully.
The mornings began with a discreet
‘knock knock’ and the announcement
that a pot of tea and muffins hot out
of the oven awaited us on the verandah.
At 6:30 our hot water was delivered
and we emerged for breakfast as the
sun rose. As always within the camp we
were accompanied by a Masai guard.
After a full breakfast at the communal
table we piled into the car for a day of
animal spotting.
The big advantage of staying in the
park is that the animals are minutes and
sometimes less away. Our ultimate goal
was to see a river crossing but it wasn’t
until towards the end of the week that the
wildebeest herds reached critical mass
and braved the crocodile infested Masai
River to cross over to the Serengeti. We
waited for three hours on top of the hill
about half a kilometer from the river,
watching as the herds swelled to the
thousands. Beside us were four other
cars and through the binoculars we
could see our counterparts on a hill in
Tanzania.
They had a clearer view of the animals,
so when we saw them take off we took
off down our hill too. At one point
I looked to the side and saw more
wildebeest racing us trying to join the
herds before it was over. We skidded
to a stop on top of the riverbank just
in time. I will never forget watching
over a thousand animals charging down
the bank into the water, dust swirling,
leaping over one another, going under
and scrambling up the muddy bank
opposite, all in fifteen minutes. The
two photographers didn’t even see it all
happen they were so intent on taking
as many photos as the cameras could
handle. It was so fast and the timing
unpredictable that it came as no surprise
to learn that few people see a crossing.
The other advantage of a luxury camp
is being spoilt. At lunch our driver
would find an open hill with a view of
the lines of migrating herds traversing
the plains below. While we stretched
our legs, stiff from sitting all morning,
they would set up camp chairs, tables,
china, cutlery and wine glasses ready for
our gourmet meal. There was always a
bottle of chilled South African white
wine and a few Tusk beers in the fridge.
Having experienced the dreaded box
lunch – a bread roll, leg of chicken,
apple and warm box juice - provided by
other lodges, we really appreciated the
five star al fresco dining.
The biggest thrill though was seeing the
big cats. We had our favourite leopard
that we would swing by most days to
On every game drive we witnessed
the sheer wonder of the unfenced
world. We had stopped to watch an
approaching herd of elephants and
found ourselves surrounded as they
ambled by. The babies were so close we
could have touched them if we dared to
photograph in his tree. He had an
impala on a branch, just above the top
of our car, and would obligingly munch
on its carcass when we arrived.
incur the wrath of the matriarch. We
also witnessed the cutest baby hyenas
playing like puppies, their soft pelts
covered in morning dew. We weren’t
tempted, however, to pat them.
One afternoon there was a call over the
radio that a female cheetah with five
cubs had made a kill. All the cars kept a
respectful distance as she had hunted too
One memorable breakfast on a
riverbank we discovered we were
between a hippo and the water. We
far from her litter for them to join her so
she ate the gazelle as swiftly as possible
before other predators arrived. When
she had finished she ran towards them
chirping. It was a truly ‘Aww’ moment
when the family reunited, the cubs
leaping all over mum in their excitement.
left everything and jumped into the
car, the guide ready to floor it if the
hippo turned nasty. Fortunately, as our
two tons of crushable metal and soft
bodies wouldn’t have stood a chance
against three tons of bad tempered solid
muscle, he wasn’t in the mood to stomp
on tourists that morning.
We saw many lions, but my favourite
encounter was when we inadvertently
disturbed a baby gazelle close to a pride
of mothers and cubs. One of the cubs
took chase, as did we, racing as fast
as its stubby little legs would go. The
gazelle was faster, reaching the safety of
its parents before the cub was winded.
The entire pride watched and waited
until the cub limped home and was
given a ‘well done’ washing by mum.
Of course everyone who goes on a safari
has a ‘You think that’s great, you should
hear what happened to us’ story. Sitting
around the camp fire at night drinking
our sundowners we revel in our tales of
close encounters, trying to one up one
another. We listen with barely concealed
impatience while someone recounts an
amazing experience, jumping in when
they pause to describe our own amazing
experiences that day.
Then, after a wonderful meal around the
communal table, we would wander back
to our tent, accompanied by our Masai
guard and sleep soundly, oblivious to
the noises of the night savannah on
the other side of the canvas. In fact a
Kenyan safari in a luxury tented camp
is so awesome, come this October we
hope to do it all again.
The 11 years I have lived in Egypt is the
longest I have lived anywhere. I have
two adult children in Perth, both born
expatriates and graduates of CAC. In
1997 I finally completed my university
degree in Art and Architectural History,
which was completely impractical but
great fun. I am currently attempting to
write two books for children, knit a pair
of slippers, paint a landscape in the style
of Van Gogh, sketch a Degas and sew my
daughter’s wedding dress. All without
formal training so I could probably do
with help from some professionals.
May 14 CSA 71
General
Packing up
to go?
By Jennifer Cole
Itchy feet and new prospects mean
sometimes it’s time to say goodbye to
the place that has been home. With
some preparation and planning, plus
these ten top tips, your move is bound
to be successful and smooth…
1. Selling your items
Plan this in advance and don’t leave it
until the last minute. Think carefully
about what you no longer need and
take good, well lit photos to create
advertisements. Decide how much you
want to sell them for and when you are
willing to say goodbye to them. Some
objects you might be able to let go a
month or so in advance, whilst others
you might need until leaving day. Use
your social networks like Facebook and
Cairo Craigslist, as well as placing ads on
the Oasis notice board or sharing your
ads with friends and work colleagues.
The earlier you do this, the less stressful
it will be. Remember, until someone has
paid up, an item is not sold!
2. Police check
If you are a teacher or work with
children, enquire as to what you need
to do to get a document that shows that
you have a clean police record whilst
living abroad. This will be particularly
helpful for in the future if you wish to
return to your home country to work.
It’s much easier to organize this before
you leave, but allow plenty of time for
any bureaucracy!
3. Contact details
You’ve made some good friends and
it’s sad to say goodbye! Make sure you
get personal email addresses and share
your contact details with colleagues and
friends you wish to stay in touch with,
especially if they are also leaving your
work place as their work email addresses
won’t work once they leave.
4. Paperwork
Do you have all your paper work in
order? Sort through what you do and
72 May 14 CSA
don’t need to take with you
and make sure you have copies
(either paper or electronic
versions) of your pay slips for
future tax and house purchase
purposes. If your child is in
school, ensure you have all
their school reports and leaving
certificate before you go.
5. Banking
Notify your bank in advance
that you will be closing your
account and follow their
closing account procedures.
6. Utilities, phone and
internet disconnection
Ensure that you have settled
up with your landlord and
others and that you end any
contracts that you no longer
wish to continue when you
leave Egypt to avoid surprises
when you are trying to settle in
to your new home.
7. Arrange to move your belongings
and pets
Contact a few different shipping
companies for quotes for your excess
luggage and allow plenty of time for this
to take place. For pets, you need to start
planning early to ensure you have all the
correct paper work in place. The local
animal welfare charity SPARE has up
to date information of what you need
to do on their website http://sparelives.
org/index.pl/f.a.q This includes fully
vaccinating and micro chipping your
pet, organizing blood tests, booking
flights and getting documents ready
with the Egyptian vet service.
8. Make contact with your new
colleagues
See if you can find a helpful contact
at your new work place who can give
you some guidance of what you need
to bring to your new country. Not all
climates are the same! It will also help
you to settle if you have established links
with some contacts where you are going
before you go. Find out about childcare,
accommodation and transport so that
you leave Egypt with a few answers and
peace of mind.
9. Learn the new language
Pick up a phrase book or download
a language app to help you pick up
some of the new lingo of where you
are heading. This will help you adapt
much quicker and make you feel more
confident in your new surroundings!
10. Farewell party
Don’t forget to throw a farewell party
before you leave! A sunset sail down
the Nile on a felucca in the company of
friends is a perfect way to say goodbye
to Egypt.
Remember, as the old phrase says,
‘Once you drink from the Nile, you
are destined to return’. May your new
adventures be full of good fortune,
friendship and health, but remember
there is always a place for you in Egypt!
May 14 CSA 73
Family
By Riju Shrimali
As parents, we are constantly assaulted
by the predicament of how to say ‘no’ to
a child without being overly restrictive
or earning the title of a ‘nag’. “Well I
don’t want to say no, but they have been
asking for too much screen time”, says
Janet, a mother of 3 boys, the youngest
being 6 years old. “There is a whole
list of things which I have to sort of keep
reminding them about, like keeping shoes
in place, not eating junk food, sleeping on
time, doing their home-works and so on.
I fear that by the time they are in their
teens they would avoid me like plague”,
says Kayah, mother of 2 children, both
in middle school. The task of parenting
is not as simplistic as lecturing to your
children about avoiding ‘unhealthy
habits’.
The other day I gave my 6 year old son
the book Harry Potter and Philosophers
Stone as a gift. I have grown up believing
that reading is a hobby that can stand
one in good stead at all times. Armed
with my good intentions I presented
the copy to him, only to receive a
lukewarm response. “I have watched the
movie already; why go over it again.” I
was disappointed. Although I had read
the book 10 years ago, I started to read
it again. I finished it over a few nights
and some weekend afternoons when my
son would be watching TV or playing
74 May 14 CSA
games. After a week or so, one night I
found my son rummaging through the
shelf for it. He took it up silently and
finished it over the next few weeks. It
is ironic that no amount of preaching
about the benefits of reading could
propel him towards reading it himself.
Only after he saw and felt my interest
did he pick it up. This brings us to the
value of imitation in child development.
Most of us are aware, either by
experience or study, that children
imitate their parents. A toddler, when he
uses a banana either as a phone or a TV
remote, is simply trying to mirror his
or her parent’s happy dash towards the
phone when it rings or their fascination
for a given television program. A child
is especially drawn to actions which
elicit extreme emotions from parents
and instantly try to copy these. Since
humans are born relatively immature or
helpless compared to other animals, we
depend heavily on imitating our social
surroundings for learning and growth.
Scientists have found that there is a
mirror neuron in our brain cells which
is so active that human infants even
imitate seemingly irrational acts of their
parents or peers. Human children are
compulsive copy cats!
They do what we do, not what we say.
I’m sure every smoker tells his child to
stay away from it. A smoker may say
“Please don’t do what I do. Cigarettes are
addictive. It’s bad for your health. I wish I’d
never started.” But all this well-meaning
advice likely has a poor probability of
success unless the child tangibly sees
the harmful impact of smoking or has
other non-smoking adult close enough
to imitate. So, if you don’t go sleep
on time or binge on caffeine or run to
Facebook whenever you get some free
time, why should you expect your child
behave differently? If I am not inclined
to music or books or a positive attitude,
how would my child connect with these
things? From where would he derive his
behavioral model? As children grow up,
we often feel that they do not respect
us enough, however, research says that
children begin by respecting their
parents / guardians unconditionally.
So deep is a child’s respect that for
every suboptimal behavior of an adult
(such as aggressive driving or domestic
disputes) the child almost mechanically
offers a justification to themselves and
stores the behavior in their memory to
imitate it in their life.
This knowledge about mirror neurons
gives a different perspective to
parenting. It sensitizes us to sincerity
and integrity so that when they grow
up, our children do not accuse us of
hypocrisy. I like the idea that words are
wasted, not just on my kids but rather
on all kids in general. While we cannot
control the stimuli that children pick
from their peers and society to imitate,
at least on home front, we know who
they are monkeying around with!
Riju was a consumer research director in
Indian Market Research Bureau, Delhi.
After moving to Egypt, she has been a
homemaker and devotes spare time in
learning about cognitive sciences and
child development.
May 14 CSA 75
Family
Family
Teething Madness
Mell & Marge Answers
Hi Boys and Girls. We’re Mell, Marge, Mat & Max
we are the M & M’s for short!
Aren’t there questions that you just don’t have the
answers to? Well we’re here to answer them. Email
us at: kidspath411@gmail.com! And we will
answer it promptly! TheM&M’s
I’m Mell and this is Marge my twin sister. Mat &
Max are our cousins and we love to work together
as one big twin family team!
Just when you thought you’d mastered it all - the baby gas, the sleep issues, the
eating sagas, the transitions ... you get a nice strong reminder of the ongoing pain
your child is in and will go through in the form of teething. Regardless of how one
defines that word, the roller coaster ride of teeth cutting through poor innocent
babies’ gums, 20 times throughout their first years of life is a daunting and nervewracking thought.
Our little ones can start cutting teeth as early as in the womb but on average it starts
between 4-7 months, with the full set of teeth being complete around the age of 3.
It’s extremely difficult to know whether your baby has teeth coming in, as this can
be associated with such a wide variety of symptoms. Some of these may include:
• Drooling and potential accompanied
facial rash
• Gum swelling and sensitivity
• Irritability or fussiness
Mia 11,
Hi M&M’s. What is
the origin of Mother’s
Day?
Jeremy 13,
Hey M&M’s. Why is
Labour Day celebrated
in many places around
the world?
Hello Jeremy, it’s Mell. Labour Day
is celebrated in many countries
around the world! Countries such
as Spain, Sweden, China, India,
Russia, and of course Egypt! This
day revolves around the same
concept that is also celebrated in
the United States which is known
as “Labor Day” (it’s not the same
as the previously written one,
notice in American English we
minus the ‘u’ in the word). People
celebrate Labour Day ultimately to
acknowledge workers. Taking into
account, specifically, those who
work about 8 hours a day. It’s
usually celebrated on May 1st in
many countries.
• Biting behavior or shaking head
• Refusing food
• Sleep problems
Aimee gave birth to her son
last summer in Cairo. As with
any new mum she is enjoying
the challenges of raising a
baby abroad and has gained
valuable advice from other
expat parents’ experiences.
She helps to run the weekly
Mum & Baby Group at CSA.
• Nappy rash
Hey Mia, it’s Marge. The origin
of Mother’s Day goes way back!
For example it goes way back to the
times of Ancient Goddesses where the
symbol of Motherhood was honored.
Mother’s Day today is more personal and
family oriented than it was back then. It gradually
came to be as we know it today as times
changed. Considering, the first North
American Mother’s Day came
to be with Julia Ward Howe’s
Mother’s Day Proclamation in
1870.
Hebah 12,
Hey M&M’s. Why
does it hurt when it’s
time to say “goodbye”
to your old life?
• Fever or vomiting
Besides paracetamol/acetaminophen and teething gel, there isn’t a lot of medicine
that we can administer to our little ones who are going through this tough phase.
Most baby stores (Mothercare, Zero2Five, etc) sell teething toys and teething
rings, which can be placed in the fridge as the cold soothes bub’s gums. Other
household remedies could include giving baby a frozen wet washcloth, or cold
foods like applesauce or yoghurt. Provided the gag reflex is present, cold foods like
carrot sticks, pieces of squishy fruit like apple, or also teething rusks or rice cakes
from the grocery store can provide some appeasement. When all of the above fails,
massaging baby’s gums with a clean finger also helps, although this becomes less of
an option as more teeth are present in the mouth.
Although this set of teeth will indeed disappear to make way for the permanent
teeth, it is still important to take care of these so-called ‘milk’ teeth as they act as
placeholders for the permanent teeth. Not only do they provide the ‘path’ for the
permanent tooth, they also keep the neighbouring teeth in place. So try to instill
good dental hygiene from an early age by wiping the mouth clear of milk residue,
trying to give water after the bottle and to avoid putting baby to sleep using the
bottle. We should also be slowly eliminating the bottle around the age of 1 year as
the teat can cause tooth decay.
Saying goodbye to Egypt?
Hey Hebah, it’s Max. It hurts when it’s
time to close a chapter in your life and start a
new one because you’re putting behind you all
that you’ve known. Additionally, it’s forcing you out
of your comfort zone. Not much is known in actuality
about why it’s hard and hurts to say “goodbye”, only that strong
emotional attachments are essentially what makes it harder to let go.
Created By: Amirah Ahmed
76 May 14 CSA
Mum &
Baby
Being back home makes me consider the day when we will have to leave Egypt.
One idea I thought would capture the memory of my son’s first friends nicely, is to
start collating pictures and details from other mums about their little ones for a ‘my
first friends book’, hopefully something we can build on as he gets older and to give
him something to help him get an idea of our time spent in this country.
The Mum and Baby group usually meets on Wednesdays. Please check
their facebook group for updates and information: maadimumandbaby.
Cheers!
May 14 CSA 77
Family
Quiz
Can you fit the words from the list correctly into the grid?
4 letters
APIA
BONN
DOHA
LIMA
MALE
MALI
OHIO
OMAN
UTAH
5 letters
ARUBA
GHANA
LIBYA
PARIS
QUITO
SPAIN
6 letters
BELIZE
DUBLIN
LISBON
NASSAU
RUSSIA
7 letters
ALGIERS
GEORGIA
MANAGUA
ONTARIO
8 letters
DELAWARE
HONDURAS
9 letters
SAN MARINO
10 letters
BANGLADESH
11 letters
MINNEAPOLIS
RHODE ISLAND
Famous May Birthdays
Do share the same birthday as any of these celebrities born in May?
May 2 – David Beckham (39)
May 7 – George Clooney (53)
May 10 – Bono (54)
May 20 – Cher (68)
May 27 – Jamie Oliver (39)
May 28 – Kylie Minogue (46)
May 31 – Clint Eastwood (84)
Place numbers from 1-9 in each empty box so each column, row, and bold box contain numbers 1-9
Challenging
Intermediate
2
4
3
6
9
7
5
1
8
2
7
9
8
1
3
4
6
5
7
1
8
3
5
4
6
9
2
5
8
1
4
6
7
9
2
3
5
6
4
9
3
9
7
2
8
6
3
4
4
4
8
3
2
2
7
6
7
6
9
1
5
1
5
1
8
7
9
5
8
1
2
2
3
9
7
2
8
8
4
1
5
1
6
9
4
8
3
4
2
9
5
2
1
7
9
6
6
6
6
3
8
3
1
5
7
3
4
3
1
7
5
4
9
Answers from April Sudoku
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
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
78 May 14 CSA
6
4
5
7
9
2
1
2
9
3
1
7
8
6
1
7
2
6
8
5
4
4
1
9
8
6
3
7
8
3
4
5
2
1
9
5
6
3
4
8
9
1
4
9
7
5
2
6
3
9
8
1
2
4
5
7
1
2
5
8
6
7
9
5
3
8
2
7
6
5
9
1
7
6
2
3
9
3
8
2
5
4
7
2
4
6
5
9
8
1
1
2
5
3
7
6
8
7
8
9
1
4
3
5
8
7
4
6
1
9
2
Answer to May Quiz:
6
9
4
7
1
6
9
3
2
4
2
7
4
3
1
8
5
3
4
8
6
7
1
2
8
5
2
7
9
3
6
6
3
9
1
5
4
8
80 May 14 CSA
May 14 CSA 81
General
Useful
Household
Tips - Part 2
By Supriya Chawla
Rubbing Alcohol
Lemon Juice
Use lemon juice
to clean cutting
boards. Dip half a
lemon in baking soda or make a paste
from bottled lemon juice and baking
soda and let the mild chemical reaction
from this all-natural combination
eliminate stains, smells and germs from
kitchen cutting surfaces.
Tired of taking a
toothbrush to the
caulking around your bathtub? Smooth
off soil and smell and say so long to those
pesky germs with a cotton ball dipped
in disinfecting and fast-evaporating
rubbing alcohol.
Last, but not least rubbing alcohol
is also good to clean your computer
mouse, television and any other remote
controls and of course your mobile
phone(s).
Spray away that summer-time shoe
smell with a squirt or two of rubbing
alcohol. This quick dry technique kills
the mold and bacteria that cause smelly
feet.
For Cats and Dogs
When it comes to cleaning pearls, there
is not much to be found that regular
jewelry cleaners will not do. However,
dab your deep-sea priced possessions
with alcohol to restore them to their
original luster.
For wooden furniture mix half a cup
of lemon juice and 1 cup vegetable or
olive oil in a spray bottle and spray on
wood furniture. The acidic juice strips
away waxy residue, allowing the oil
to penetrate wood and bring out its
natural shine.
Lemon juice also acts as a miracle cleaner
on mirrors. Wipe down chrome fixtures
and mirrors with a solution made from
one tablespoon of lemon juice and 1
quart of water. The mild citric acid cuts
through grease and mineral deposits to
get reflective surfaces gleaming.
in rubbing alcohol. Be sure to unplug
the keyboard first, or shut the computer
off.
Further use for rubbing alcohol is to
keep your computer keyboard clean,
vacuum it regularly, using soft brush
attachment. To dislodge particles of
dirt and dust, turn the keyboard upside
down and hit it several times with the
flat of your hand. You can also use a
can of compressed air (available from
electronic store). Periodically, clean the
keys with either a lint free cloth dipped
Put olive oil on a
tick - it will come
out more easily and often hops off by
itself. Clean ears and remove ear mites
with olive oil on a cotton swap.
For fleas use Avon’s Skin so Soft body
oil. (Please note: Skin so Soft is also
good to keep mosquitoes at bay on
humans.)
To reduce odor in cat litter boxes, and
to make litter last longer, sprinkle one
tablespoon of pH neutralizing baking
soda over the litter.
May 14 CSA 83
Healthy Living
Evolutionary Eating
My Story
return to school to pursue my Registered
Dietitian certification. By the end of our
time there, we had almost eliminated all
processed foods from our diet. The only
thing you’d find in our freezer these
days was bread, meat and frozen veggies
(and maybe ice cream!). We also tried
to get more and more of our meat and
produce from farmer’s markets. It wasn’t
necessarily even because it was organic.
It was more because we recognized that
The funny thing is it’s hard to think of
anything I quit eating “cold turkey”.
Looking back on it, we simply began to
phase out the unhealthier foods because
for whatever reason they weren’t as
appealing as they used to be. Over
time we formed new habits. Those new
habits turned into more new habits.
And then all of a sudden without really
understanding exactly how we got
there, we realized we’re doing pretty
Recipe of the Month
Homemade Granola
Granola makes a great snack. I like
mixing it with fresh fruit and plain
yogurt. Feel free to customize by
adding (or subtracting) any of your
favorite nuts or dried fruit.
Ingredients
• 10 cups of rolled oats
• 1 cup chopped almonds
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ¾ cup honey
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 2 cups of dried fruit (look for
something with no added sugar)
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 325 F (160 C).
2. Combine oats, almonds, pecans
By Marcus O’Neill
When I was a kid health or nutrition
wasn’t always of primary importance
in our household. It’s not that I’d
say my parents didn’t care about the
types of food we ate, I just don’t think
the nutritional quality of food was
always front of mind. I remember my
school lunches regularly consisting
of a sandwich with some sort of deli
meat (bologna and mock chicken loaf
with that bright orange “casing” were
particular favorites of mine), a fruit
roll-up, a chocolate covered granola
bar and a juice box. On the weekend
I remember enjoying frozen chicken
nuggets reheated in the oven with BBQ
sauce. Looking back as a dietitian, it’s
difficult not to cringe at many of my
eating habits at that time.
Fortunately, my mom did get my
brother and I involved in the kitchen at
an early age. As I’ve previously written, I
strongly believe that developing cooking
skills is one of the most important
things you can teach your child. When
84 May 14 CSA
we were younger, I distinctly remember
that my mom would often get us to
help her with her baking. When we
were older we were also expected to
help prepare dinner before my parents
got home from work. I wasn’t a chef by
any means, but by the time I left home
I knew my way around the kitchen and
had several recipes in my repertoire.
I’ll admit that my eating habits didn’t
change all that dramatically during my
first couple of years at university. Due
to budgetary constraints I was forced
to cook more on my own, but I still
ate quite a bit of processed food. Like
many students raman noodles and Mac
n’ Cheese were staples in my weekly
menu.
It was really during the latter years of my
undergraduate degree that my eating
habits first started to evolve. Given my
degree program (Kinesiology), I began
to become more conscious of the food
I consumed and the health implications
of a poor diet. This new knowledge
didn’t necessarily prevent me from going
out to the pubs on a weekly basis where
I indulged in far too much alcohol and
bar food than would be considered
healthy, but at least I was starting to
recognize that doing so probably wasn’t
all that good for me.
After graduating, my girlfriend (and
now wife) and I moved west to Calgary.
In Calgary we got into running and
hiking and began to limit our visits
to restaurants, particularly fast food
joints. It was in Calgary that we started
to cook from scratch more, relying less
and less on processed foods. That said,
at this time I would still regularly take
frozen entrees to work for lunch (albeit,
accompanied by fruit and yogurt now
instead of fruit roll-ups and chocolate
covered granola bars). We’d also still fall
back on the occasional frozen lasagna or
pre-made pasta sauces when we were
short on time. It was far from perfect,
but still a significant step up from my
university days.
Our eating habits continued to evolve
when we moved to Edmonton so I could
if fruit/veggies/meat didn’t need to
travel hundreds, if not thousands, of
miles before you ate it tended to taste
better. And if it tasted better, we were
more likely to eat more of it. We also
experimented with having our own
patio garden so we’d have access to our
own vegetables and fresh herbs.
And now we’re in Egypt. Here we
make almost everything we eat from
scratch, including things like sauces,
dressings and dips. On most days we
get our recommended servings of fruits
and vegetables and due to their limited
availability unhealthier pork products,
like bacon, sausage and salami are
basically out.
It’s still not perfect. We still probably
eat take-out pizza too often. I have
a weakness for ice cream (my wife’s is
chocolate). And we could both still try
to eat more veggies and whole grains.
But when you look at the difference
between how I eat now and how I ate
15 years ago, it’s night and day.
good when it came to eating healthy.
Not perfect by any measure, but on the
whole pretty darn good.
I guess at the end of all this, that’s the
point to my story. If you’re thinking
about starting to eat healthier, it doesn’t
have to be all at once (that is unless
you have a medical condition that may
precipitate more drastic changes). New
habits take time to form. You can’t expect
to make any real long term sustainable
change overnight. I kind of like to think
of it as working toward some sort of
“ideal”. You may never actually reach it.
Heck, it may not even really exist. But
every step you make along that path is a
move in the right direction. And that’s
a good thing.
and walnuts in a large bowl.
3. In a saucepan over low heat, stir
salt, brown sugar, maple syrup,
honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla
together until the sugar has
dissolved.
4. Bring sugar mixture to a boil.
Stir constantly to prevent it from
burning. Once mixture reaches a
boil, remove from heat and pour
over the oat and nut mixture.
Mix well.
5. Spread evenly onto two foiled
lined baking sheets.
6. Bake in the oven for 8-10
minutes, or until the oats are
evenly toasted.
7. Remove from the oven and let
stand until cool.
8. Add the dried fruit. Mix well.
9. Store in an airtight container.
Marcus O’Neill is a Registered Dietitian
from Canada and Editor of Oasis
Magazine. He can be reached at marcus@
livinginegypt.org, or you can follow him
via Twitter (@marcusoneillrd), or his
website (www.dietitianabroad.com).”
May 14 CSA 85
May 14 CSA 91
92 May 14 CSA
May 14 CSA 93
General
Wilderness
First Aid
By Youmna Khalil
Bruises:
Even in Egypt there are many outdoor
and wilderness activities you can take
part in. As a result, medical emergencies
can occur and it’s a good idea to be
prepared for such a situation.
Apply
a
cold
compress in order
to decrease the
swelling.
This article will discuss several injuries
and illnesses related to the outdoors, and
how to recognize and treat them. But
remember, it is highly recommended to
get your own first aid and CPR training
prior to participating in wilderness
activities.
Fractures and Dislocations:
Suspect a fracture after a fall or a blow
if the limb is lying in an unnatural
position. Swelling and bruising are
usually associated with fractures.
Dislocations occur when severe pressure
occurs on a joint and the patient’s joint
becomes deformed.
Only splint if the ambulance is delayed
and you need to transport the patient
yourself. To immobilize the injury
splint above and below the injured area.
Do not re-address or straighten the
limb.
Ask
the patient
to elevate the
injury if there are
no fractures.
Crush Injuries:
A crush injury can occur when a great
force is applied to the body. This can
cause swelling, internal bleeding,
fractures and circulation problems. In
all cases, victims will need to be taken
to the hospital immediately. If the
crushing object is located on the head,
chest, neck or stomach, it needs to be
removed immediately as it could lead to
death.
For other parts of the body, if the object
has been on the victim for less than
15 minutes, it should also be quickly
removed. If it has been lying for a
longer period, it should be left on the
victim. Sudden removal of an object
after an extended period of time can
lead to extensive tissue damage, which
can cause shock - a life threatening
condition. Additionally, toxins can
build up around an injured area, and if
the pressure is suddenly removed, these
toxins may be released into circulation
and cause kidney failure. Monitor the
patient’s vital signs.
Sprains:
Use the R.I.C.E. method.
You may use any material you have
available to make your splint. In the
event of swelling, apply a cold compress.
94 May 14 CSA
R: Rest – avoid using the affected joint
as much as possible.
I: Ice - apply cold compression for 20
minutes.
C: Compression - wrap the affected
area with a bandage to further reduce
swelling.
E: Elevate – keep the injury raised above
the level of the heart.
Anti-inflammation tablets or pain
relievers can be taken.
Severe Bleeding:
Apply protective barriers (ie. gloves)
to prevent infections. Apply direct
pressure using a sterilized pad from your
first aid kit or any cloth you have handy.
Keep the pressure on the wound until
the bleeding stops. If the wound doesn’t
clot you must bandage the wound.
Minor Cuts:
Again, apply protective barriers to
prevent infections. If necessary, control
bleeding as described above. After
bleeding has stopped clean the wound
thoroughly with water and bandage.
Check for swelling or redness of the
wound regularly as this is an indication
of an infection.
Finally, always have a safety plan with
emergency numbers and a first aid kit.
Youmna Khalil is a first aid, CPR and
AED certified instructor trainer. For more
information contact Khalil.youmna@
yahoo.com or https://www.facebook.com/
FirstAidAndCPRInEgypt
May 14 CSA 95
96 May 14 CSA
May 14 CSA 97
98 May 14 CSA
May 14 CSA 99
Community Announcements
SPORTS
CAIRO AMERICAN SOFT BALL LEAGUE
We have both men’s and women’s teams to join or bring your own!!! We have
a newly renovated children’s playground, food and beverages are available
evenings and Fridays. For more information please contact: Women’s
Commissioner: Julie Alfred caslcommishwomen@hotmail.com. Men’s
Commissioner: Ahmed Gad falconroben@hotmail.com. Chairman: Rodney
Stephens Rodney.stephens@bp.com.
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 cairohash@yahoo.com or visit www.cairohash.com.
CAIRO RUGBY
Men’s and Ladies training, Tuesdays 7.00pm-9.00pm, Maadi Olympic Sports
Village. Juniors training, Thursdays 6.00pm-7.00pm, Victory College playing
fields. Beginners and experienced players welcome. Contact Juniors rep: Paul
01223794779 or Seniors rep: Mathias 01274930208. Visit: www.cairorugby.com
MAADI RUNNERS
Maadi Runners meet for long runs every Friday morning in front of CAC’s main
gate at 7.00am or earlier. All ages and abilities are welcome. For exact time and
details contact Mohsen Alashmoni at mohsen.maadirunners@gmail.com
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
jeklingler@hotmail.com or check the website, www.racegypt.org
Bekara (Hymen) – El Central (Telephone Station) – Ahmar Bahet (Pale Red).
Free entrance. Visit: http://institutes.leiden.edu/nvic/
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 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 /
ufe.egypte@gmail.com or website: www.ufe.org
HELIOPOLIS WOMEN’S COFFEE MORNING
Meets every Wednesday. Contact Ans ‘Noordermeer’ langeans@hotmail.com
or call 01061492247
INDONESIAN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION (IWA)
invites all Indonesian speaking ladies to attend our monthly meeting on
the second Monday of each month. For more information, contact Kum
01003388976.
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 musicmaking. 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 Jenny Jeong at
jjeong@cacegypt.org or Judy Tansca at judithvivian2@gmail.com
MBA INTERNATIONAL LADIES
We meet every second Tuesday of the month, please join us for Coffee and
Refreshments and learn about our Activities and Special Events. For more
information, call Rosemarie 01009282625.
6TH OCTOBER INTERNATIONAL GROUP FOR WOMEN, MEN AND FAMILIES
Coffee mornings, cocktail evenings, special events and day tours. For more
information please contact Sarah at sarah.n@ladyegypt.com
MUM & BABY GROUP
Wednesdays 10.00am-12.00pm (0-11 months) Cost: 20LE at the door.
Mum & Baby Group is a great way to meet other mothers who are going, 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.
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 Alessandra on 01068745272 or Jonathan
on 01007582391. More information on our website- www.africanhopelc.com
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, contact OA Cairo at OACairo@hotmail.co.uk or go to www.oa.org. Meetings occur most Fridays from 12pm to 1pm in Room 204 at the CSA
(above reception and below the gym - through the door labeled Accounting).
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.
SOUTH AFRICANS IN EGYPT
email: sainegypt@gmail.com, tel: Tania: 01277701756
SOCIAL AND INTERNATIONAL GROUPS
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 rima_miro@hotmail.com
Caire Accueil (French Ladies Group)
Our monthly coffees are held every 3rd Sunday of each month at the
following address: 2 road 12, Port Said Square, very close to Maadi police
station. We also have coffees morning in Zamalek and Kattameya. For any
information you can contact Caire accueil president: Mme Sarah Faure,
mobile: 01008473621, email: fauresarah@hotmail.com or visit our site www.
caireaccueil.org.
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:2549709148@qq.com
CINECLUB: FILMS AT THE NVIC
Cineclub of Egyptian films with English subtitles on Sunday evenings at the
Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo (NVIC), Zamalek. 4/12: Ein Shams
(Eye of the Sun/Ein Shams), 11/12: Short films Irtigaal (Improvisation) –
100 May 14 CSA
SPANISH SPEAKING LADIES GROUP
Meetings take place on the first Tuesday of the month. For details please
contact Cecibel Elshaer on 01227483993 or 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 annapoorna-club@
googlegroups.com 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. Founded by Mustapha and Saffiya Moyine El
Arab in May 1973 with a group of dedicated residents from the green suburb
of Maadi, they initiated several programmes and projects, and developed
guidelines and codes of conduct on how to interact with the environment.
For more information about the group or to join one of their walks email
Samia Zeitoun: zeitouns@mac.com
TOASTMASTERS
Toastmasters can help you improve your public speaking and leadership skills.
You can work on anything from the fear of speaking in public to using a more
interesting vocabulary and smiling at the audience. For more information
about the Cairo Toastmasters Club visit www.cairotoastmasters.com or call
Abdelrahman Magdi on 0114-1322003 or Mohamed Zamzam on 01005249195 / zamzam_mohamed@hotmail.com
TURKISH SPEAKING LADIES COFFEE MORNING
Meets every month, open to all Nationalities. (Turkish Speaking). For details
please call: Sevgi - 01224546655, Isil - 01063189126, Sinem - 01274624082
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 WAC@intouch.com
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 womensgroupforhealth@yahoo.com
WOW - WOMEN OF THE WORLD
WOW are a diverse group of women with one thing in common ... A strong
interest in new people and unique experiences! Join us at our Coffee Morning
Meetings. We usually meet on the 4th Wednesday at the Maadi House
(September-April). For more information, email us at wowcairo@yahoo.com.
Join The Fun! Expand Your World!
CHARITIES, VOLUNTEERING AND SUPPORT GROUPS
AA IN CAIRO
AA & AI Anon meeting schedule: Saturday & Sunday, 8.00pm at St. Joseph’s
Church in Zamalek in between St. Hassan Sabry and Shagaret El Zor, near
Pub 28. Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 8.00pm, Tuesday 7.30pm at Kasr
El Maadi Hospital, Corniche El Maadi (near Alfa Market beside Radio Shack
on 3rd Floor). For more information, contact Magdi at 01222133926, email
antaki@link.net. Or Mo Tycoon at 01004884902, email safinamohamed@
hotmail.com, www.aaegypt.com
ADVANCE
The Egyptian Society for Developing Skills of Children with Special Needs, 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. Advance, 34, Al Nadi Al Gadeed Strreet, New
Maadi, Cairo, 11434, Egypt. Ph 25193721 or 23, email: contactus@advancesociety.org, www.advance-society.org
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 info@bwngo.org
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.caritasegypt.org or email us at info@caritasegypt.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 - info@emaurescue.org
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
luver56@hotmail.com
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 0122106102.
S.P.A.R.E
“Society for the Protection of Animal Rights in Egypt” Ours is a charitable
organization dedicated to protect animal lives. Our shelter can house up to
forty dogs, complete with food, grooming, exercise and medical attention.
Part of our shelter is a kennel where you may board your dogs while traveling.
We accept donations for food, medicine, vet care and neutering programs. We
need volunteers to socialize the animals and assist with grooming. We have
wonderful animals waiting for adoption. Please call 33813855, 38190575,
01223162912, www.sparelives.org
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.
MISCELLANEOUS
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
Meeting just off Baghdad St. in Korba, the heart of Heliopolis, HCC is
where “new things come to life.” Worship service is Fridays at 9.00am (with
children’s classes). An interdenominational and international church with
people from over 25 countries, worship is in English in the chapel of St.
Michael’s located at 10 Seti St. For more information please call 24142409,
email hccCairo@gmail.com 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
reception@maadichurch.net.
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) and Sundays at 7:00 PM (September-May). If
interested in volunteering with refugees and displaced persons at StARS,
please call (02)25759451. For more information, please call 01276666843,
email pastor@standrewschurchcairo.com, 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: morgantour@hotmail.com
ST. JOHN’S CHURCH, MAADI
“A spiritual home away from home.” We are an English-speaking
international and multi-denominational congregation following an Anglican/
Episcopal tradition. Worship Services: Family Holy Communion: Fridays 10
AM (with Nursery and Church School for Children & Youth), and Night
Service with Communion: Thursdays at 6:30 PM. Rector/Minister: Rev.
Paul-Gordon Chandler / Assoc. Minister for Youth, Education & Young
Adults, Rev. Ben Robinson. For details please call 23583085 or email to
info@maadichurch.org, website: www.maadichurch.org. It is located at the
corner of Road 17 and Port Said Rd in Maadi.”
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
(LDS) hold services on Friday at 9:30 am in Maadi-#21 Road 17. Contact:
David Risley 01274857932 / 23783395.
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
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 marcus@livinginegypt.org
May 14 CSA 101
General
A taste of Italy in the heart of Cairo
By Marcus O’Neill
Generally when my wife and I go out
for dinner we stay fairly close to home
in Maadi so when I was asked if I’d
be interested in writing a review for
The Cairo Marriott Hotel’s Ristorante
Tuscany in Zamalek, I jumped at the
opportunity. We had actually recently
returned from a trip to Italy, including
2 days in Florence, so I was curious to
see how the food and atmosphere at
Ristorante Tuscany would compare.
Now having been there, I can say
that Ristorante Tuscany is, without a
doubt, about the most authentic Italian
experience you can have in Egypt.
Unfortunately, the night didn’t get off
to a great start. We arrived almost 30
min late for our 6:00 pm reservation
thanks to an excessively long taxi ride,
which could have easily been avoided by
choosing to eat a little later. It’s a rookie
mistake really. Not having our own car,
I often forget how bad evening rush
hour traffic in this city can be.
But once we arrived our traffic issues
were quickly forgotten. Our host
ushered us into a cozy table near the
back of the restaurant, where our server,
Hani, introduced himself and reviewed
the menu. He explained that the chef,
while Egyptian, had spent 10 years
living and working in Milan.
So after taking our orders Hani brought
over a complementary selection of
house-made breads, tapenades and
102 May 14 CSA
dips. Even in mediocre restaurants it’s
a challenge for me to “not fill up on the
bread”, but this was especially true here
as everything was so fresh and tasty –
the kalamata olive tapenade and basil
pesto being the stars of the show.
“Ristorante Tuscany is,
without a doubt, about the most
authentic Italian experience
you can have in Egypt.”
Next were our appetizers. I’m a sucker
for a good Caprese salad so when I
saw it on the menu I knew that would
be my choice. There’s just something
so incredibly delightful about the
combination of tomatoes, buffalo
mozzarella, basil, oil & balsamic vinegar
- simple, yet delicious. Ristorante
Tuscany’s version rivaled any we ate in
Italy. My wife opted for the plate of
fried mixed seafood (calamari, octopus
& prawns), which were cooked perfectly
with a nice light batter.
As for the entrees, I was torn between
one of several homemade pasta dishes
and the Ossobuco alla Milanese (slowbraised veal shank) with saffron risotto.
I eventually opted for the latter, which
didn’t disappoint. The meat was
“fall-off-the-bone” tender and a nice
complement to the creamy risotto. My
wife chose the grilled lamb chops, with
seared polenta and roasted vegetables
and had similar rave reviews.
Given the hearty portions (and my
propensity to eat too much bread) I
wasn’t sure I’d have room for dessert, but
once I took a peek at the menu, I knew
I’d be able to squeeze some in. I went
with the cream filled cannelloni with
pistachios and cherry compote, while
my wife chose the profiteroles (mini
pastries stuffed with cream and drizzled
in chocolate). It’s worth mentioning
the top notch food presentation at this
point, which was noticeable throughout
the entire meal, but especially so with
our desserts. It’s in these instances that
you can appreciate how much art goes
into cooking.
So, to sum it up, if you’re looking for
an Italian restaurant experience in
Cairo, it’s tough to beat what Ristorante
Tuscany offers. Not only is the food as
authentic and delicious as it gets, the
intimate atmosphere makes for a perfect
romantic evening out. I’ll be looking
forward to our next special occasion so
we can return.
Ristorante Tuscany
is located in The
Cairo Marriott
Hotel in Zamalek.
16 Saray El
Gezira Street.
For Reservations call 20-2-27283000.
May 14 CSA 103
104 May 14 CSA
May 14 CSA 105
General
By Gunjan Pant Pande
Behind every successful man is a woman. Behind
every successful woman is a…MAID! Spare the
guffaw guys. It’s certainly the story of my life, which
comes to a complete stand still minus La Dame (as
I affectionately call my maid). Having managed
everything on their own all of my European,
American, probably South African friends
laugh out loud at my utter, and dare
I say shameless dependence on a
helper. But what can I say? I’ve
grown up with this system
of having a maid around
and I am a complete
wreck without her.
Period. Go ahead,
snigger some
more!
Let me clarify though. I am not the
daughter of a doting Sheikh. Nor do I
have any connection to Lakshmi Mittal,
except for the fact that we both hold
Indian passports. Now don’t tell me
you don’t know who Lakshmi Mittal is.
Steel czar. London billionaire. Richest
Indian. Acquisition expert. Man with
the golden touch. That must jog your
memory, right? Anyways, meandering
back from Mittal to maid, an existential
dilemma continues each time we or she
moves. So much so that the two most
important criteria when we accept a
new posting boil down to are 1) Are
maids available in said country (and no
Swiss helpers at their obnoxious hourly
rates do not count) and 2) Do we get
to live in or near (slight frown) a golf
course? Admittedly, this second point is
totally the husband and son’s end of the
deal.
Cairo does really spoil you! And
why not? I mean isn’t it nice to cook,
while someone cleans and chops
simultaneously. Or to entertain
friends and their little kids
every Thursday evening,
without
having
to
bother too much about
the jenga/lego pieces
scattered all over the
villa. No one in the
right frame of mind
could complain about
the
spotless
postweekend house when
they emerge from their
bedroom on Sunday
morning after their 2-day
weekly break! Breath of fresh
air I’d say. Good cheer all
around. While that might be a
little over the top, having just had
a full no-maid-March - that’s 31 days
of mopping and moping - I think I
deserve a little sympathy. Seriously.
In the so-called East, South East Asia
and Far East, having a maid is de
rigueur. Not in the fashionable sense
of the term, but a standard trend. It is
106 May 14 CSA
simply what is done. This, by the way,
does not mean you sit and twiddle that
manicured thumb of yours while the
maid slogs away in the kitchen. More
like you get on with other things. Like
maybe a 9am-9pm job, taking care of the
kids full-time, (which means attending
each and every football match, ballet
performance, or PTA event), organizing
and catering your own lavish dinners
every other day (home-made snacks
included) or indulging in a hobby,
charity or fitness routine. With a maid
you can do all this with your sanity
intact. Basically it allows you to do
things other than ironing, washing/
cutting vegetable or tidying up. No
more sweep and weep, so to speak!
My good friend, ‘whirlwind’ Jane,
wouldn’t complain too much about not
having a maid though, being arguably
the single largest consumer of “On-TheRun” smoked salmon brown sandwich in
Cairo! But if I’d have to eat sandwiches
for lunch every other day just because I
don’t have a maid to help out with my
elaborate kitchen routine, I’d probably
need a valium combo. A sandwich isn’t
LUNCH! Even if it’s the posh “Naked
avocado veggie overload deal” with
extra cheese and a cold coffee thrown
in. Come on! Lunch should be lavish. It
should be something more like a soup,
then a salad, then a main course and
finally a dessert. This is even more true
now, when every newspaper, magazine
or fitness trainer in sight advocates for a
light supper if you want to be “pals” with
your weigh scale. And breakfast is often
a rushed affair consisting of something
eggs or museli or plain fresh fruit with
coffee! All in all, having a helper lets you
go all out with your meals in a happy
frame of mind and body. In fact, you
don’t even mind having friends from
home visit every school break. Or even
have the in-laws over for say two full
months. Yes, we’re talking months, not
weeks! That’s another of those things
done in the East. And it’s only because
you know you have “Mrs. Dependable”
to count on for the washing, folding
and managing of the house that you’re
able to entertain your guests relatively
stress free with felucca rides, trips to the
Pyramids, Coptic Cairo, Islamic Cairo,
Museums, Hurgada, Sharm, Luxor, The
White Desert, Sakkara and the Khan el
Khalili.
For the maid it’s a good deal too.
Besides her salary, she gets occasional
baksheesh, Christmas/Eid bonus,
regular freebies, an end-of term package
and a nice reference letter so that she
can move on to the next friend when
you leave.
“I am OK, She’s OK”. This might as well
be our slogan as we trudge along doing
daily chores together. The net result
- the glass is clean, floor is ‘Pledged’,
kitchen “Mr Muscled”, toilet “Jiffed”,
patio hosed, dishes “Finished”, plants
pruned, fresh flowers put in the vase,
clothes “Arieled“ and “Astonished”,
shoes “Cherry Blossemed”, carpets
vacuumed, door knobs “Brassoed”,
wine glasses sparkling, fridge stocked,
groceries “Seoudied”, meats marinated,
fruits “vinegar” washed and dog walked.
A place for everything and everything in
its place. In other words…heaven!
Ultimately, this brings me to my ode to
La Dame:
Without the maid
Life is pretty unmade
If that sounds staid
then I am afraid
I confess altogether
We’re maid for each other!
Gunjan Pant Pande is a former journalist
with The Hindustan Times and The
Times of India in New Delhi.
May 14 CSA 107

CSA Fitness Training Center - Community Services Association

Transcription

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