Merry Christmas - Maadi Messenger

Winter 2015-16
Cairo’s
tattoo
Convention
200 Years of
Winemaking
Christmas
Recipes
Merry Christmas
and a very
Happy New Year
s
t
n
e
t
n
Co
From the Editorsʼ Desk
From the Pastor
Celebrating Egypt
Date Palm Festival
Mahragan El-Nakheel
2015 Christmas Bazaar
Special to Maadi Messenger
Outside In
Emma Higgs
Pyramids, Camels and Tattoos?
Amanda Wentzel
Christmas in Egypt
Lobna Zaki
A Vineyard in Egypt
Edmund S. Bower
Christmas Recipes
Various
Maadi Messenger Meetups
What’s Happening in Cairo
Community News
Kids’ Zone
Ornament Activity
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Editorial Team
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Emma Higgs
Cornelis Hulsman
Skip Krupa
Mary Lai
Byron Skaggs
Amanda Wentzel
Assistant Editor
Edmund S. Bower
Business Manager
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Mary Lai
Proofreaders
Emma Higgs
Nermine Hanna
Kirsten Molder
Desire Robertson
Graphic Designer
Amanda Wentzel
Advertising Coordinator
Mariam Safa
Published By
Maadi Community Church
Contact
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editor@maadimessenger.com
Telephone: 23592755
Ads to be delivered at:
44 Road 82 Number 13
Telephone: 01200012904
Email: maadimessenger2@gmail.com
Printed by El Matbaa Printhouse
Website
www.maadimessenger.com
www.facebook.com/maadi.messenger.magazine
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Guidelines for Writers and Advertisers
We welcome new contributions and advertising but please be aware that there are guidelines to abide by. These rules
can be found at www.maadimessenger.com. The monthly deadline for articles is the 5th of each month. The deadline for advertising submissions is the 10th of each month. All articles and advertisements must meet our criteria.
The Maadi Messenger is a trusted resource for inspiration, community and information for expatriates living in
Maadi and the Greater Cairo area. The Maadi Messenger welcomes contributions that celebrate Egypt, present
art and culture and other general interest contributions.
Please write to us first about your proposal before writing
your article or sending us photos. Articles are only placed
if they meet the criteria of the Maadi Messenger and
are approved by the editorial team. This is a free magazine;
self-sustained through advertising and volunteer contributions. It is published by the Maadi Community Church. All
proceeds go to the Maadi Women’s Guild Benevolence to
support Egyptian charities.
OFFICIAL DECLARATION: Maadi Messenger is a FREE and
non-commercial community magazine owned by the Maadi
Community Church. It has been serving and uniting the local community of Maadi over 40 years. As a non-profit organization, Maadi Messenger generates income for supporting benevolence work among the local community in
Egypt. Therefore we are not obliged to provide any official
commercial invoices for any advertising agencies or customers. This act became effective September 2015.
From the Editors’ Desk
Editors' Desk
We are in love!
Our Editorial team is so in love with the Maadi Messenger! Even though our team come from different cultures, we are united in
our passion for celebrating Egypt and our commitment to deliver a professional service for the local community.
Maadi Messenger was founded by Maadi Community Church 40 years ago as a unique, local magazine to serve and unite the local
community. It became a primary resource for information, issues, stories, and ideas to our readers; and at the same time we are
dedicated to engaging our readership and promoting our advertisers.
Celebrating Egypt is the driving theme for our Maadi Messenger. When people think of Egypt, often they think of ancient Egypt
and the pyramids. They think of mummies, loincloths, and hieroglyphics painted on the walls. We are not only celebrating this
glorious past, but also the present. Egypt is more than just ancient Egypt. Egypt is a thriving country with a rich history and
tradition, but at the same time modern Egypt has modern trends of music, sports, arts and cultural activities that impact the whole
world.
We are committed to make this magazine more lively and useful for our readers in the coming issues.
Community, to me, is a sense of being amongst like-minded people who are passionate about the same thing, and who work together to make sure that things happen.
Maadi Messenger is a platform creating a system of love and support for the community. Try our ‘Maadi Messenger Meet-ups’ to
get to know your community!
We are combining the months of December and January into one issue, covering both Christmas and the New Year. It is our hope
that this attitude of passion, commitment, and gratitude will enrich your holiday!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Mary Lai
Editorial Team
The Editorial Team at Maadi Messenger welcomes your comments. Please email us at editor@maadimessenger.com.
From Our Readers
Last month we asked our Facebook fans to send us in their
stories of Balady dog adoptions. Here are three of our
favorite stories. Thanks to all that sent in stories and pictures!
I would like to introduce you to Pluto, a
balady rescue dog. He was found when
he was 3 months old trying to wake up his
mommy. He didn’t understand back then
that she wouldn’t wake up because unfortunately some humans poisoned her
while she was still breastfeeding the little
puppy. He is now 8 months old and living
with me at home.
- Amr Kamal
- Your car is being fixed.
- Having a business trip.
- Trying different car models.
- Travelling with family & friends.
- In the process of buying a new car.
151 Corniche El-Nil Road Maadi, Cairo 11431, Egypt
Tel.: +202 - 2524 3006
Fax: +202 - 2524 3009
rent@smartlimo.com
Working hours: Daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm
I had been thinking of rescuing
one of the street dogs that lived
behind my building for so long but
I never had the courage. I didn’t
know what would be involved
and decided it was too risky. After I received Starr’s contribution
about Jupiter that we printed in
last month’s Maadi Messenger,
I went that night to take one of
the dogs. I’ve had “Hara” for two
months now and he’s doing great.
Don’t believe anyone who tells
you street dogs are anymore difficult to raise than purpose-bred
dogs - it’s not true!
- Eddie Bower
My Fulla is 1 year old. She loves kids and is
really happy to play with them (and she reacts more gently/submissively when they
are around), but her favorite thing to do
is roughhouse with adults...and chase our
cat (her only vice). When she’s done flying
around like a tornado, she jumps in my lap
(a 20kg lap dog!) to regain her energy for
a little while...and then she is off in another
whirlwind shortly after.
- Rachel Langham Hana
M aadi M essenger | Winter 2015/16
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Area Church
Information
Houses of
Worship
ALL SAINTS' EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL, ZAMALEK
ST. MARKUS COMMUNITY CHURCH (CATHOLIC)
Just behind the Marriott Hotel. English Speaking
services 10am on Friday (Friday Club for children)
and 10:30am on Sunday. Morning Prayer is at 9am
each morning and we read the Bible together on
Monday evenings at 7pm. Other groups meet around
the city through the week. We look forward to
welcoming you. Please contact us at 27368391 www.
dioceseofegypt.org/english/allsaintscathedral/english
Mass on Sundays at 9:15am at the German School,
Bab El Louk. Mass on Saturdays at 6:30pm at
Borromean Sisters’ Convent, Maadi, 6 Road
12, corner of Road 75. All services in German.
Rector Joachim Schroedel. For information call
2795-7516 or send an email to kathkairo@gmx.net.
CHURCH OF GOD
Cairo Christian Fellowship: Meeting at St. Andrew’s
Church Hall, 26th of July and Ramses. Worship
services Sundays at 6:00pm, Christian education
(September through May) Saturdays at 6:00pm.
ST. MARK CHURCH, MAADI
Al Nahda Square—an English liturgy is served on
the first Saturday of each month from 9:15am to
10:30am by Father Makarius Morris.
EGLISE EVANGELIQUE DU CAIRE
French speaking services every Saturday at 6pm in
the sanctuary of Maadi Community Church located
at St. John the Baptist Church, Road 17 & Port Said.
For information, call Matthieu Yakusu, President,
contact 01145908972, mayavit@hotmail.com
FRIENDS MEETING (QUAKER)
Meets Sunday at 7:00pm. Potluck follows. For
information please call Ray at 2797-6969 or email at
langsten@aucegypt.edu.
GERMAN SPEAKING PROTESTANT CHURCH
Reverends Nadia and Stefan El Karsheh, 37 Sh.
Michel Bakhoum, Dokki. Worship services every
sunday at 5:30pm at the German Church in Boulak
(32 Al Galaa Str., next to Al Ahram building and
Nasr Metro Station). For further information please
look at www.degkairo.org or call 0109 6172039 or
send an email to degkairo@gmx.net.
HELIOPOLIS COMMUNITY CHURCH
Heliopolis Community Church meets just off
Baghdad St. in Korba, the heart of Heliopolis. Our
worship service is on Friday at 9am (with children's
classes). An international and interdenominational
church with people from over 25 countries, our
services are in English in the chapel of St. Michaels
located at 10 Seti St. Contact information 2414-2409,
hccCairo@gmail.com and www.hccCairo.com. We
also have a dynamic youth group and a college age
group as well as several active small groups. See
flyer on right. All are welcome!
KOREAN CHURCH
ST. MARY’S COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH
Coptic Orthodox Holy Mass in English 8:00am
to 9:30am. Third Saturday of Each Month
(Communion served to Orthodox) Followed by
Bible Study in English, All are Welcome! Please
bring a friend! Refreshments served. For more
information contact: Father Youssef Phone &
Text: 01220555367 Email: fr.youssefk@gmail.com
ST MICHAEL'S ANGLICAN CHURCH
10 Seti Street Heliopolis
English worship service: Fri. morning 11am
Egyptian services: Sunday 10.30am & 7pm
Sudanese service: Sunday 1pm
Rev. Dr. Jos M. Strengholt
priest@heliopolischurch.com
www.heliopolischurch.com
An orthodox Anglican community of people
who, in the midst of the hectic life of Cairo, enjoy
a time-out in the quiet compound of our church.
The sanctuary for anyone who needs a break.
Ultimately, the real sanctuary is our Lord Jesus
Christ himself; St Michael’s community is a pointer
to Him who said: ‘Come to me, all who labour and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH
St. Andrew's is an international, inter-denominational congregation in the heart of Cairo. We
invite you to join us for worship and fellowship
on Fridays at 10:00am (year-round) and Sundays
at 7:00pm (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.
Maadi Community Church
Meets at the St. John's property, corner of Port
Said & Road 17. International service Friday at
5pm. Life Groups meet throughout Cairo weekly.
www.maadichurch.com 23592755 reception@
maadichurch.net
Meets at St. John the Baptist Church at the corner
of Road 17 and Port Said. Services are on Sundays
at 5:30pm and Friday Service at 1:00pm with church
school for kinders, elementary and youth. Please call
Rev. David Choi, Senior Pastor, contact 012-70647692. Sunday Service at 5:30 p.m.
St. John's Church
ST. JOSEPH’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH DOWNTOWN
2 Bank Misr. Mass in English on Sundays at 4:30pm.
Please contact Father Michael at 2393-6677.
Holy Family Catholic Church
12 Maadi Messenger | Winter 2015/16
Located at corner of Port Said Rd and Rd 17.
Family Holy Communion Fridays at 10am, Night
Service with Communion Thursdays at 6:30pm
(August through May). www.stjohnschurchmaadi.org | stjohnsmaadicairo@gmail.com
The Maadi Messenger seeks to promote places of
worship that agree with the Nicene Creed. Our list
includes churches throughout greater Cairo- especially
congregations serving the international community. If
you have changes to an existing listing or would like to
add a listing, please contact us at maadimessenger2@
gmail.com.
Fear Not
Christmastime is supposed to be filled with joy and
celebration. Yet the season is full of fears: fear of not
having enough money, fear of travel, fear of not meeting
expectations, fear of not finding the right gift, fear of
holiday meals (who will be there and who will not, will
there be enough food, will the food turn out right?) So
much fear and stress!
The first Christmas was also filled with fear – but fear of
a different kind. In the Christmas story, angels make four
announcements and each time they say: “Fear not!” The
natural reaction to people when a shining heavenly being
shows up is to fall down in fear. People feared for their lives,
so each time the angel reassured them that this was not the
day they were going to die. But there were additional fears
lurking below the surface for each of the players.
The first recipient of a celestial visit was Zechariah who
was performing his priestly duties in the inner sanctum
of the temple. Zechariah had been around a while and
had suffered his share of disappointment. He and his
wife Elizabeth had never had a child and suffered the
tremendous pain that infertility brings. They prayed for
decades for God to remove their shame, but long since gave
up since they were too old to have children. God had not
come through…or had He?
When the angel showed up and told Zechariah that their
prayers had been answered, Zachariah’s response was:
“How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife
is well along in years.” (Luke 1:18 NIV) Now that sounds
like a pretty good question, doesn’t it? Eugene Peterson
paraphrases the heart attitude like this: “Do you expect me
to believe this?” Zechariah was a good man, but he had lost
sight that sometimes God does not do things the way we
want or in the time that we want.
The most well-known angel appearance was a few
months later to a young peasant girl named Mary. The
same angel (Gabriel) appears and says, “Fear not, Mary:
for thou hast found favor with God.” (Luke 1:30 KJV) Now
if a woman barren her whole life could now bear a son
in her old age, then the next words the angel spoke were
even more improbable: “You will conceive and give birth
to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” “How will this
be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (1:31, 34
from the Pastor
NIV) Mary did not disbelieve, but wanted some details
since this turn of events would have some hefty social
consequences for her. Mary surely felt some fear about
how this would impact her upcoming marriage to Joseph
if he found she was pregnant by someone else. People
would talk, so Mary had to push through her fear to trust
God’s plan to say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your
word to me be fulfilled.” (1:38 NIV)
When Joseph learns of Mary’s pregnancy, he plans to
divorce her quietly so Mary is not publically disgraced.
(An engagement was the first stage of a legal marriage).
Joseph is afraid of disobeying the law and likely worried
about what people will think. He will be marked for life.
His honor and reputation will be disgraced. The angel
again intervenes. “But while he thought on these things,
behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a
dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 1:20 KJV)
Do you find yourself fearing what people think? Are
you quite concerned about the clothes you wear, the car
you drive, the people you hang out with? Do you ever
feel like you are a slave to the opinions of other people?
Finally in our story, the angel appears to a group of social
outcasts – shepherds. “The angel of the Lord came upon
them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:
and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
(Luke 2:8-11 KJV) Shepherds were near the bottom of the
social ladder, uneducated, and considered untrustworthy.
Yet God chose to make the greatest birth announcement
to them because He values people of any race or social
class. What do you fear this season? Feeling inadequate,
unworthy, or unloved? Christmas is a time of peace to
banish fear! God says to you: “Fear not” I have a place for
you and I love you!
Steve is pastor of Maadi Community Church. He
has graduate degrees in Christian Education as
well as Marriage and Family Ministry. He has
been married and in pastoral ministry since 1981.
His wife Karan is a teacher at CAC. They are
empty nest parents of three sons.
55 Road 15, Maadi. 23582004. Many services in
different languages. See our flyer on right.
M aadi M essenger | Winter 2015/16
13
Gold Basket
Each month an Egyptian charity is highlighted to receive contributions given to the gold basket fund. All contributions
received that month are passed on to the charity. The gold basket gives an opportunity for the community to participate
in aiding the needy in Egypt. The December Gold Basket is designated for the Shams el Birr Society for the Handicapped.
This center opened in 1991 to support disabled and handicapped people through a program of love, health care, and
rehabilitation, and with an education program to help them
reach their potential. This program includes integrating
them into their communities and, where possible, finding
employment for them. Shams el Birr is devoted to serving
the most vulnerable of disabled people.
In the area of education, the center sends the blind, deaf,
and those with other disabilities to schools appropriate for
them. If there is no place appropriate for them, the society
hires teachers to come to the center to work with these
children or adults.
The rehabilitation project includes vocational training.
Teaching such skills as working with knitting machines,
sewing, shoe making, and some carpet weaving. Some of
those in the program are able to receive official vocational
certificates. The rehabilitation effort also includes
improving the attitudes of families who are often at a loss
to know how to handle their handicapped child.
Although the society provides a residential community
for about 65 disabled persons, they also reach out to serve
other disabled members in the community. Many of these
families have relocated to Giza from Upper Egypt. The
society also organizes periodic seminars for parents to help
them to understand their special needs child and how to
help the child develop his or her potentials.
In 2010, Shams el-Birr established a program for children
suffering from cerebral palsy. Currently they have 20
children enrolled. Each one needs education, speech
therapy, and physiotherapy (provided by two trained
physiotherapists). These children have many medical needs
as well.
MAADI COMMUNITY CHURCH PRESENTS:
Who is this Child?
A Christmas Pageant
Three new projects were recently initiated. Several deaf
and mild mentally disabled children have begun producing
different styles and sizes of percussion boxes. Another
workshop was established to repair wheelchairs. In the
Giza Center, a computer-training program was started for
blind and physically disabled young people.
Your contributions to the gold basket will assist the center
to continue serving these special people. For information
contact Cathy at 2358-4719. Contributions to the gold
basket can be made at the MCC church office.
Benevolence Opportunities
Where you can change the world, one life at a time
(All our charities are verified charities and 100% of the money collected goes to them.)
Baby Wash
At the Baby Wash, mothers bring their infants
for four visits. The babies are weighed and
bathed; inexperienced mothers learn by observation and instruction when needed. We need
additional volunteers and a coordinator for
next year. Volunteers can participate weekly
or monthly. The time commitment is minimal,
even for the coordinator.
For more information, please contact Vonnie
at 01061535246.
Visiting Children
with Cancer
The wards have 80 children from all over
Egypt. We offer them time, comfort, laughs,
encouragement and whatever snacks and gifts
we can provide. Items needed include juice,
milk, cookies, crayons, coloring books, bubbles, flight bags, baseball caps- anything in
quanitities of 80 appropriate for children ages
1-18. Also Polaroid film size 600 and Fujifilm
"Instax" enable us to provide families with a
treasured memory of their child.
Please contact Susie at 01222105835 or Lucia
at 01001048503.
A Home for Gently
Used Items
If you are leaving Cairo or if you are simply
clearing out your cupboards and don't know
what to do with everything that you no longer need, please bring any of your clean, unbroken, gently used items to the MCC church
office and hand them in for the Benevolence
Committee. All unwanted items will either be
distributed directly to the MWG Benevolence
charities or else sold in order to raise money
for these same charities. Thank you.
SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER AT 6PM AND 8PM
TICKETS 15 LE
AVAILABLE AFTER FRIDAY SERVICES AND
FROM CHURCH OFFICE MON-THURS 9-4
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MCC LOCATION: ST. JOHN’S CHURCH,
CORNER OF PORT SAID & ROAD 17
TEL: 2359 2755 / 2359 4983 WWW.MAADICHURCH.COM
Celebrating the
Date Palm
O
n a weekend in October, the third
annual Cairo Date Palm Festival
took place near the Saqqara Pyramids, far away from the hectic
pace of the city. Visitors found a
peaceful Saturday afternoon atmosphere and many things to discover about this small fruit.
Dates have been a staple food in
Egypt since the days of the pharaohs. It is thought that people
cultivated the date palm as early as 6,000 years ago. The first
reference to the plants as an agricultural product can be traced
even further back to ancient Mesopotamia. From the fertile area
in what is now called Iraq, dates spread to the favorable climates
by Mahragan El-Nakheel
of the Middle East and North Africa. One tree can live up to
100 years and produce up to 100kg of dates per year. The date
production is still an important part of Egypt’s economy today
with the country being the biggest producer of dates in the world.
The annual Date Palm Festival is held by Slow Food Cairo,
part of a global grassroots organizations that aims to protect
local food cultures and raise awareness about the way we eat.
Instead of fast food their members value a natural production
process, healthy ingredients, and a holistic approach to food production. In their understanding, food, and the way people eat
and produce it, has an impact on the society as a whole. For this
festival, Slow Food focuses on promoting the various uses of the
date palm and the ways in which it can be deployed to push independence and autarky in rural areas.
M aadi M essenger | Winter 2015/16
23
The event takes place on the outskirts of Cairo in the Fagnoon
not enough to make a living but it helps to improve their budget.
Art Village, located near the Saqqara Pyramids. Those who have
Further down the row of stalls I was greeted by Maged, who
traveled out there find a garden like an art gallery. There are all
invited me to dates and coffee while explaining his project. Hav-
kinds of sculptures, paintings, and handicrafts scattered over the
ing worked for years in tourism in Sinai, in 2007 he started the
site. Children participate in woodcarving workshops, make pot-
“Habiba Organic Farm.” It is part of the “WWOOF Network”,
tery, or climb around on some of the installations. Through the
where volunteers from all over the world can come and work for
eyes of a child the whole place must look like a huge playground.
some time on organic farms to learn about sustainable ways of
The festival consists of a long
living and growing food. Some years
row of small stalls, every table
ago he initiated the “Sinai Date Palm
filled with different products made
Foundation” focusing on supporting
from dates. There is date honey,
the local community. By offering peo-
ropes, furniture made from palm
ple from the region help in planting
leaves and wood, dried dates, filled
and cultivating date palms he wants to
dates, and even cosmetic products
generate a new source of income for
made from dates. Every part of the
the community and develop a sustain-
plant can be used for something.
able way of life for the local residents.
At the end of the row I met Adri-
As the sun set next to the pyramids
ano, a local resident who came to
and I drank one last date coffee and
the festival with his uncle Nagi to
finished my date pizza, most of the
sell baskets, hats, and ropes made
Cairene visitors had already left, driv-
of palm leaves. They live close to Saqqara and have what you
ing their cars back into the organized chaos of the Egyptian capi-
could call a two-way strategy of production. For events like this
tal. They took home either a new consciousness about food be-
they make hats, small baskets, and handicrafts from the leaves
ing related to society as a whole, or maybe just the comfortable
and fibers of the date palm. They also produce huge baskets and
feeling of having eaten dates while listening to live music all day
casks used for agricultural production. Adriano said that it is
long. I do not know which, but both sound pleasant to me.
24 Maadi Messenger | Winter 2015/16
Sultan Hassan Mosque
Mahragan El-Nakheel is a freelance
journalist and intern at the Arab
West Report.
M aadi M essenger | Winter 2015/16
25
Recipe for Fun
2015 Christmas Fair
Many of the the artists themselves were there. It was encouraging to see people
buy their creations. Some stayed to chat and find out more about their work and
their lives. What a joy it was to buy something lovely, knowing that it would
help that family pay their children’s school fees. Vendors came from all over
Cairo and beyond, some with shops in very difficult places to get to, so we appreciated having such riches brought to us!
‘Yesterday’s Treasures’ was the place to pick up a bargain. Here, one could
buy anything from a rainbow-colored curly wig, to fun-looking gadgets whose
reason for existence no-one could quite figure out. From a useful pot, such
as Winnie the Pooh might covet, to famous works of art. And almost everything for a few pounds! Outside was a large area for used books as well, where
people were walking off with works of literary genius for almost nothing. All
items were donated by people moving on or clearing out their closets and bookshelves, so it was a fun way to raise money for the needy, and give someone
else’s ‘junk’ a new life.
A splendid time was had by all the kids, with games, face-painting, a bouncy
castle, playground, pie throwing, and, of course, a visit to Santa!
What do you get if you combine a beautiful sunny day, friends, shopping, great food, and fun kids’ activities all for a wonderful cause?
The Annual Christmas Fair, that’s what!
On Saturday afternoon, 14 November, the gates to the Maadi Community Church/St John’s campus and British Community Association, swung open to admit hundreds of happy fair-goers! Many came
for the great shopping, as vendors from all over Cairo brought their
unique goods to sell. Half the vendors were actually charities which
train the poor in their neighborhoods to create useful and beautiful
items to sell.
Musical entertainment by the Maadi Community Choir, African singers and
the Slater family added to the festive atmosphere. And of course, no real fair
can be held without lots of delicious food! The smell of hamburgers, hot dogs,
brownies and fudge, sloppy joes and caramel apples, and freshly brewed coffee
wafted over the event.
So what wonderful cause is it that motivates so many to work so hard putting
on such an event? The Benevolence Committee of the Maadi Women’s Guild
(MWG) is an arm of the Maadi Community Church, and has been hosting this
fair for well over 50 years. The first recorded Christmas Bazaar was held 55
years ago in the garden of a local villa. It grew from year to year until eventually ticket-printing had to be limited to 5,000, as the Cairo American College
could not accommodate all the visitors!
All the proceeds go to support the needy of Egypt. The Maadi Women’s Guild
was started more than 60 years ago to find ways to help the desperately poor
all around us. It gradually grew to provide programs to promote a sense of
community and home for the expatriate wives, who came to Egypt with their
husbands’ work. Those who focused on working for the poor formed the Benevolence Committee, which is the only part of the Guild that still exists today.
They also founded the Maadi Messenger, aiming to support their work with the
poor, and developed it over the years from a one-page newsletter to the community lifestyle magazine it is today.
All proceeds from the fair have always gone to support the work of the many
fine orphanages, schools for the disabled, homes for the elderly, clinics, and
hospitals that are being run in some of the very poorest areas of Egypt. Because
of their strict guidelines for the use of the money, and high levels of accountability, the MWG has come to be respected and relied on to make good use of
any and all donations that come so generously from the community, whether
through fundraisers like the fair or simply as outright donations.
Be sure to put the fair on your calendar for next November!
26 Maadi Messenger | Winter 2015/16
M aadi M essenger | Winter 2015/16
27
Female physiotherapist
specialised in:
Relaxation Massage
Getting There is Half the Fun
And so begins a new chapter. I am no longer
writing ‘Through the Eyes of a Newbie’, but
about my journey from the ‘outside in’, seeking
to become less of an outsider and more of an
insider as I experience more of life in Cairo.
When my husband and I were younger, we
took time out from our jobs to go backpacking
and spent a whole year journeying around the
world. We travelled by boat, by plane, by train,
and bus. We had rides on bicycles, tuk-tuks,
and mopeds. It was fun; it was an adventure,
and our travels involved little danger. But there
were still challenges and difficulties. It was all
too easy to complain about feeling hot, thirsty,
and uncomfortable on an 18-hour bus trip from
Arousha to Mbeya in Tanzania. It was easy to
feel lost and vulnerable when the bus we’d been
promised would be waiting for us the other side
of a border wasn’t. It was easy to panic that we
would miss a connecting flight when the plane
was delayed.
One particular journey sticks in my mind as it
taught me an important life lesson. We had been
volunteering with an NGO in Lebanon and on a
weekend off we decided to take a trip over the
border into Syria. We’d hired a car for the weekend, but needed to leave it somewhere safe at
the border town before we could cross. We then
took a taxi ride to the actual border and were
fleeced by the driver. The guards laughed at the
idea that we were going to walk across and on
to the next town and ushered us onto a crowded
bus as we were stared at. At the other side we
had no idea where the bus was ultimately going,
so we relied on the driver to tell us where to get
off. Instead of arriving at the charming little
coastal town that we had imagined, we found
ourselves in a bleak, industrial landscape with a
vast, desolate seafront. The whole process had
been a disaster, beset by problems and dramas.
We traipsed along the ‘corniche’ under the hot
sun to try and find some signs of life – at least
somewhere where we could buy a drink – and
eventually found some empty, uninvitinglooking restaurants. Although happy at least to
have found some AC, I still felt discouraged and
disheartened by the ordeal of the trip. We managed to communicate sufficiently to a waiter to
have a Pepsi and a 7Up delivered – and this is
where my lesson came. My husband picked up
the 7Up and read the slogan on the can – getting
there is half the fun.
I laughed – and I cried. How much of the journey had I ruined with my complaining? How
much had I failed to appreciate because everything wasn’t quite going to plan? How tragic
was it that I was learning life’s lessons from a
can of soda? If we only focus on the destination, we miss out on a lot of joy – the process
of getting there. There is a song that we sing at
Maadi Community Church: ‘Standing on this
mountaintop, looking just how far we’ve come’.
It reminds me that if we throw ourselves into the
pleasure of the journey, instead of labouring and
complaining about every step, we will eventually reach our destination and realise that we’ve
come a lot further than we’d thought we had.
In the Oxford English Dictionary, one of the
definitions of the noun ‘journey’ is: the ‘pilgrimage’ or passage through life. As such we are all
on a journey; at the moment we are all journeying in Cairo. What we make of our journeys is
up to us, but if we want it to be, getting there
can be half the fun.
l e a r n i n g l i f e’ s l e s s o n s
f rom a can of soda
Emma Higgs and her family moved to Egypt in August
2014. She works as a freelance proofreader, but her
main focus is caring for her three children.
28 Maadi Messenger | Winter 2015/16
Swedish deep tissue massage
Thai Massage
For Relief of pain in
neck, back, foot
For Reservation: 01028755426
Tel: 25199955 - 25210035/87 makramco99@gmail.com
01095559138 - 01001432266 - 01094976090
Camels, Pyramids &
Tattoos?!
Maadi’s Tipsy Teapot was literally buzzing for two days in November as it
hosted the second annual Cairo Tattoo Convention. Over 15 tattoo and
body-modification artists journeyed to Cairo to partake in the convention.
To an outsider, Egypt is usually known for pyramids and camels, not for its ink –
especially considering religious and cultural taboos about permanent body
markings. But the inked faithful journeyed to Maadi and drew hundreds of
curious Egyptians and ex-pats.
32 Maadi Messenger | Winter 2015/16
M aadi M essenger | Winter 2015/16
33
A few years ago Venezuelan Orne Gil dared to start
something in Egypt that would put her in with Egyptian sensibilities – she opened a tattoo studio. At a time
when Egyptians were screaming for their voices to be
heard, Orne had a gift to share, the gift of expression
through body-art. Her dream was to offer the community another way to express themselves by educating
them in the depth of beauty and meaning found in permanent body art. She founded Nowhereland Tattoo Studio in Cairo and is
spearheading the Nowhereland Tattoo Project that seeks to spread the art
of tattoo into the Middle East.
This two-day convention hosting tattoo and body artists from around the
world. What started as only handful of Egyptian tattoo artists last year
has grown to over 15 artists who participated this year. Some are friends
of Orne and friends of friends, others responded to the call for artists in a
prominent magazine of the tattoo industry.
Others share Orne’s dream of offering people an artistic mode of expression. Artist Fadi Michael takes a break from his work to discuss the personal aspect of a tattoo. “It’s not a fast food hamburger,” he says. “There must
be an understanding between the client and the tattoo artist. Each artist has
his or her own style and a client must see the work and decide if that is the
style they are looking for. Each drawing should be unique and specific and
the client must understand and respect the artist’s style and work. If it is not
a good fit, I will refuse to do the work.”
Tattooing has a rich history that dates back to the beginnings of the human
race. Egyptian mummies have been found with markings on their bodies.
Only females seem to have been tattooed in ancient Egypt. The most famous was the discovery of the well-preserved mummy of Amunet, a priestess of Hathor, in Thebes in 1891. Her body was tattooed with patterns of
lines and dots across her abdomen, parts of her arms and on her thighs.
Today in Egypt, tattooing is still practiced among the Coptic Christians
with crosses on their wrists.
Tattoo artist Fadi Michael left Egypt as a young
child and was raised in Switzerland where he now
lives and runs a private studio with his wife. After
receiving his first tattoo 15 years ago, he was inspired to begin drawing and learning the trade.
“My family didn’t like it at first,” said Fadi, “but
when they saw my studio and how I kept it sterile like a doctor’s office and wore gloves, they were
more accepting of my work.” Fadi proved himself
through his work, by producing quality tattoo art
and building a network of happy clients.
The Middle East is not alone in its reservations
against body art. A strictly religious Polish postal
lady once waved Fadi’s mail in his face and told him
he and his tattoos would burn in hell. She told him
that the body is God’s temple, to which he replied,
“the church building is decorated with paintings
and such.”
“God made birds with beautifully colored feathers
because they couldn’t do it themselves,” said Fadi.
“We can.”
Local Maadi tattoo artist Mohammed started tattooing after becoming dissatisfied with his henna
art disappearing from the body after a few weeks.
Now that he works with permanent ink he enjoys
seeing his work on people throughout the world. “I
see my art, and though I might not remember the
person or the face, I remember that’s my art.”
Mohammed’s art graces the bodies of people the
world over, from Moscow where he works with
Russian artists, to his Star Ink Art Studio in Maadi.
A woman from Slovakia was next in line, adding
to the list of countries that his art will have touched.
Mohammed’s business partner Pavel was also busy
at the event designing tattoos for his clients. A Muscovite, Pavel is a self taught artist who gave himself
his first tattoo at the age of 16. He was happy to be
in Egypt to promote an art form that lends itself to
freedom of expression and individuality. “Tattooing
in Egypt might now just be an underground subculture,” says Pavel, “but in the future it will develop
and be a good thing for the people.”
As Cairo timidly steps into the world of body inking,
it was introduced to other forms of body art expression at the convention. Eugenia Delphine, a Spanish
artist, was performing scarification – an extreme
body modification technique. Using a scapel or other
tool, the artist carves the design into the skin that,
when healed, leaves a permanent scar marking. Scarification has a long history normally associated with
tribal markings, but is being modernized by today’s
artists.
34 Maadi Messenger | Winter 2015/16
Amanda is a graphic designer and photographer who has no idea what
she is doing writing articles about tattoos. She lives in Cairo and is one
of many editors at the Maadi Messenger.
M aadi M essenger | Winter 2015/16
35
Advertorial
We met recently with Duncan Grice, Headmaster of Malvern College
Egypt. Due to open in August 2016, this new school located between
Maadi and Kattameya sets out to offer Egyptian students an exceptional academic environment.
What is special about Malvern College, a school that has a
150-year-history in the UK?
“It’s a sense of belonging,” Mr. Grice stated. “A stereotypical international school always has great facilities, plenty of resources
and charges appropriate tuition fees. That said, schools are not
about buildings, they are about people. One needs a feeling of
belonging,” he added. How does Malvern College Egypt compare with other international schools?
“I would say that we are different. From our approach to learning, discipline, respect and politeness, I believe we are offering
something unique. Students and parents have to buy into this and
will be asked to sign a form indicating their approval. Poor behaviour, ill-manners, and breaking of rules will not be tolerated
as that would diminish the integrity of The College, the staff and
all the other students.”
“I have an open-door policy and all students, parents and staff
are welcome to visit and express their ideas. Opinions are valued. I want to open my door and listen to them,” Mr. Grice explains. ”Young students view their school from their perspective
– you would be amazed at the information they pass on about
what works and does not work from the eye level of someone
who is a metre in height.”
Where do you recruit your teachers from?
“It is the quality of the people, the teaching and the support staff,
which makes a school special. At MCE we are fortunate to have
a highly skilled, committed and friendly staff who will give their
very best efforts for our children. All our teachers are from the
UK and are well-qualified professionals who bring a depth of
international knowledge with them. As part of our recruitment
cycle, we recruit out of Malvern College, UK in order to maintain a genuine link with our mother school.”
Are you an international school or an expensive private Egyptian
school?
“We are an international school offering an enhanced British education with an international outlook. Our parents are a mixture
of Egyptians and expats. I believe in a genuine partnership between parents and the school and want them to play a big role in
the campus community. The parents’ community, called Friends
of Malvern (FOM), will help newcomers settle in, fill needs, set
up hobby groups and raise money for various local charities. Our
view is that it should not just be parents greeting each other at
the school bus stop - it is about being involved and helping each
other.” “MCE believes in helping
the students to develop social and leadership skills, as
well promoting fitness and
a healthy lifestyle within a
supportive environment. We
place great importance on
matters regarding the wellbeing of our students and
staff, including the use of a
comprehensive air purification system to ensure the
very best indoor air quality and a restaurant which
serves fresh produce.”
What curriculum do you offer? Is it different for your Egyptian
students?
“We offer an enhanced form of the English National Curriculum
which is inquiry-based yet also maintains structure for academic
rigour. The child is put at the center of their learning. Our Egyptian students will have to study some subject areas in line with
the Ministry of Education regulations. While they are studying
in these areas, our non-Egyptian students will continue to focus
on areas of learning particular to them as individuals. We offer a
choice of academic pathways to suit each child, offering IGCSE,
A Levels as well as the IBDP.”
What advice would you give to parents on raising their children
in the modern age?
“For parents who are always wanting to know how to raise an
outstanding child, whether they be British, Korean, Italian or
Egyptian, my advice would be to cherish every minute spent
with them. I know many parents are busy but remember your
children are always the No. 1 job you have. In a blink of an eye
they will be graduating from university! Enjoy your children,
speak to them and listen to them, because you can never buy
back time spent with them. They will be far happier and more
rounded people having spent quality time with you than receiving an expensive present.”
Do you like Cairo? Has your family settled in well? “We like it here. We live in the Fifth Settlement in New Cairo,
where everything is within easy reach. It is a big change after
spending eight years in China, but my family is happy and has
settled extremely quickly. We intend to be here for many years
to come.”
by Edmund S. Bower
Celebrating Egyptian Christmas
C
hristmas is around the corner with
all its beautiful rituals and traditions. I am about to take you on a
trip to learn about a different culture,
norms, and conventions. Christmas
in Egypt is a special occasion for all Coptic Christians.
Egyptian Orthodox (Copts) tend to celebrate this event on
January 7th in line with Sudan, Ethiopia, and some Orthodox Christians in Russia and Serbia.
48 Maadi Messenger | Winter 2015/16
In Egypt, Santa Claus is called Baba Noel, which means
‘Father of Christmas’. Children hope that he will come
through the chimney and leave presents!
Of Egypt’s overall population, approximately 10-15% are
Copts. They do a special fast from November 25th until
January 6th where they abstain from certain foods, including chicken, eggs, beef, and milk. Their diet becomes close
to that of a vegan during this time.
There is also a history of Christmas trees in Egyptian culture. Egyptians used twelve-leaved palm trees to mark the
end of the year. Every month the palm trees grew a branch,
signifying the completion of the year with 12 branches.
On Christmas Eve, Coptic Christians attend church services where they sing and pray. Prayers usually start around
10pm and often goes on until around 4am. They are held at
St Mark’s cathedral in Abassiya, and the prayers are televised live throughout Egypt.
It is not only Christians that celebrate this occasion. Muslims, and non-believers, also enjoy the atmosphere, decorating their homes, and attending Christmas bazaars and
parties. Christmas is shared by everyone. The beauty of it
is that you will find coexistence between all Egyptians during this time.
After the service, families go home for the Christmas feast!
They gather in homes, have parties or festivals, and eat
everything they did not eat during the fast. One of the most
famous dishes is fata, a lamb soup served with rice and
bread. Another famous dessert is kahk, a well-known type
of biscuit that is consumed during these occasions. Other
dishes include zalabya, a kind of pastry, and bouri, a type
of fish. Children also receive a small amount of money that
they can use to buy sweets and chocolates called Eideya.
By Lobna Zaki
trees and decorations everywhere. Most supermarkets and
flower shops sell trees. This event tends to be very commercial. Many of the celebrations however, begin in the last
week of Christmas. This is when you will find most of the
houses decorated with Christmas trees and festive decorations.
One can find several Christmas bazaars, parties, and festivals that take place all over Cairo! One can see Christmas
There are several places that host events in Cairo such as
the Community Services Association. It hosts Christmas
bazaars annually where you will find people selling accessories, baking cakes, tarts, and Christmas clothes.
It is not unlikely that you will come across Christmas decorations in most of Cairo’s hotels and shops. During that time
you will definitely experience the Christmas atmosphere in
many areas around Cairo.
Lobna Zaki is an intern at the Center for Arab West Understanding.
M aadi M essenger | Winter 2015/16
49
W
hen one thinks of wine, one thinks of France; vineyards rolling over the soft Burgundy countryside, or chasing the river through the Rhone valley. We think of
Northern Spain, and the vast open plateaux of Rioja, or the steep terraces of
West Germany on the banks of the Rhine. There are few among us who would
think of Egypt. Little wonder, Egypt is hardly known for its wine production – or its wine consumption. Yet, within the fertile folds of the Nile Delta lies one of the oldest wine-producing
traditions on earth.
A Vineyard in Egypt
“We do a lot of experiments in our
wine cultivation,” he explains, “and
we get some good results. We have attended wine expos in Europe and received very positive feedback on what
we produce.”
Under David’s guidance, Gianaclis has
gone through a vast array of different
grape varieties, inspecting which type
works best under the conditions the
Egyptian Delta has to offer. An experimental vineyard on site at the winery
keeps track of the conditions of the
plants through high-tech satellite technology. An age away from ‘flood irrigation’, the vineyards are part of the
movement spearheading the far more
efficient ‘drip irrigation’ in Egypt –
good not only for the environment, but
also the quality of the vines. Gianaclis
even boasts the largest water purifier
in Egypt to assist with the production
process.
All grapes are de-stemmed, crushed,
and fermented on site. The barrel
room is maintained for the slow fermentation of the finest wines on offer.
Here, wines are left to sit in oak casks
brought over especially from France
at a cost of €850 (LE7,500) each. The
wines are allowed to mature slowly
and to take on the select flavour of the
French oak.
The importance of wine to the Ancient Egyptians has been
well recorded. Both for ceremonial purposes and in the
pursuit of leisure, our Egyptian ancestors indulged heavily
in the consumption of the alcoholic grape drink we still enjoy today. Even through Egypt’s Islamic age this tradition
continued, as Egyptian Christians and Jews brewed wine
to be drunk (often in secret) by nearly everyone. But the
history of Egypt’s modernised wine industry begins with a
young Greek at the end of the 19th century.
In 1882, Nestor Gianaclis arrived in Egypt in search of a
location on which to construct a vineyard. After some time,
he settled on a spot in the Nile Delta, not far from the port
city of Alexandria. In those days the annual Nile floods
ensured constant hydration and fertility for his vines, and
50 Maadi Messenger | Winter 2015/16
the predictable, dry conditions made it a competitive spot
to cultivate grapes for wine production. The vineyard still
bears his name to this day, and continues to be the number
one producer of wine in Egypt.
The result is fantastic, and David is
the perfect guide to explain. He pours
a bottle of Ayam White and holds it
up to the light. “You see this wine has
taken on the properties of some very
common fruits. You can smell the
aromas of peaches, green apples, and
pears from the first sniff.” One of the
waiters on hand opens up a bottle of
Zaman Red and pours David a glass.
“Zaman is the same, it is very fruity
but in this case it is red fruits, berries,
blackcurrants etc.” He is certainly a
firm advocate of his own wine.
“We want people to realise how good
our wine has become,” says David. “I
remember one French wine merchant
who was in a similar situation. Its reputation had dropped, through no fault
of its own, and it had to get its name
back out there. They sent off bottles of
their finest wines to all of the wine critiques of France with a label attached
that simply said ‘remember how good
this used to be?’ That month, everyone
was talking about them!”
This is what David and the Gianaclis
team have been trying to do. They
now allow tour groups to visit the winery, where they can learn more about
the history of the establishment and
wine production in Egypt. They lead
their guests around the fermentation
and bottling process to give people
an idea of how the industry actually
works. The trip includes ample tasting opportunities of
their finest wines, as well as
a European style buffet in the
beautifully fashioned visitor
centre.
finery being built; in the not so distant future they will be able to try the
whiskey for themselves!
David and his team have high hopes
for the future. The ancient art of
Egyptian wine production lies in their
hands and they are positive about the
steps they are taking. Perhaps it will
not be too long until consumers the
world over will find ‘Egyptian Wine’
sections in their local wine merchants.
Are you inspired to visit Gianaclis?
Join us on our next ‘Maadi Messenger
Meet-up’! We will be taking a tour and
a tasting excursion as a group in January. Transport from Maadi and Zamalek
is provided and the entire trip costs just
LE150 per person. Check out the ‘Community News’ section for more details,
sign-up on Facebook for further updates,
or call Eddie on 01099161003 to arrange
a booking!
“We’re still expanding,” says
David. “We are beginning
to build a refinery to create a
thoroughly enjoyable whiskey.
We currently produce whiskey
that is drinkable, but we are
looking to take it further and
create something that people
can really enjoy!” Tour groups
who visit now can see the re-
“We don’t have the complex soils of Europe, but we can
certainly surprise people with the wine we produce.” David
Molyneux-Berry is the head wine consultant for Gianaclis
Vineyards. One of the founding members of the prestigious
Sotheby’s Auctioneers of London, David spent most of his
career as their chief wine auctioneer, proudly conducting
the first wine auction in New York since prohibition. He
certainly knows a thing or two about wine, and nowadays
puts his depth of knowledge into helping Gianaclis restore
its former glory.
M aadi M essenger | Winter 2015/16
51
Boiled Christmas Cake
by Prue Smith
3 cups of dark raisins, chopped
1 ½ cups dates, chopped
¾ cup dried currants/cherries
½ cup glace cherries – cherries
¼ cup brandy
250g butter, cubed
1 cup water
½ cup dark brown sugar
½ cup caster sugar
½ teaspoon baking soda
4 eggs lightly beaten
1 ¼ cups plain flour
1 cup pecans
¾ cup macadamia nuts
¼ cup brandy (optional)
Directions:
Christmas Recipes
Christmas is just around the corner, which means soon the house will be filled with the smells of fruits and spices as the
whole family begins celebrating around the table together. To inspire you and your family to get cooking in preparation for
the holiday season, Maadi Messenger has compiled a selection of four Christmas recipes to sink your teeth into!
Ginger Crinkle Cookies
by Judith Boyd
Ingredients:
1 ¼ cup sugar
2/3 cup veg oil
¼ cup fancy molasses
1 egg
1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking power
½ teaspoon salt
Directions:
1.Whisk together 1 cup sugar with oil, molasses,
and egg until smooth
2.Add the remaining ingredients except sugar
3.Roll dough balls in the remaining ¼ cup sugar
4.Bake at 190°C for 12 minutes
Egg Nog
Ingredients:
by Cathy Dunahay
1 egg
2 tablespoons of white sugar
1 cup cold milk
1/4 tsp vanilla extract *
52 Maadi Messenger | Winter 2015/16
Directions:
1. Beat egg and sugar together until well emulsified
2. Beat in milk and vanilla extract
3. Serve in cold tall glass and sprinkle lightly with nutmeg or
cinnamon
*I like to shake a bit of cinnamon in when beating in the vanilla
extract instead of sprinkling it on top of the glass.
Ingredients:
1. Combine, fruit, brandy, butter, water, sugars and baking
soda in a saucepan. Stir over medium heat until butter is
melted and sugars dissolved. Bring to boil then remove
from heat and cool to room temperature.
2.Preheat oven to 150°C. Grease and line bottom and
sides of deep cake tin with two layers of paper. Ensure
that the paper comes up above the edge of the tin by 2
cm – make sure the oven is set at a low temperature as
fruit cakes can burn around the edges and base which
is why lining a tin with two layers of brown or baking
paper is essential.
3. Stir eggs into fruit mixture, then sifted flours and spread
evenly into tin. Decorate top of cake with macadamia
nuts. Bake for 3 hours or until skewer comes out clean
and not sticky.
4. Leaving cake in tin, brush hot cake with extra brandy.
Cover hot cake in tin tightly with foil and cool in pan
overnight. Cake will keep for weeks in the fridge.
Rocky Road Slice
Ingredients:
200g good quality dark or milk chocolate
½ packet of marshmallows, chopped in half
½ packet raspberry sweets, chopped in half
½ cup Smarties or M&Ms
Chocolate covered peanuts or raisins – optional
Directions:
1. Melt chocolate in microwave in 30 second bursts until melted,
stirring well after each session.
2. Stir through all other ingredients and spread into tin lined with
baking paper and place in fridge until set.
This is great as a Christmas gift in a pretty jar with a fancy ribbon!
AVAILABLE FOR HIRE
House keepers, babysitters (part-time or
full-time stay) Cooks.
You can learn spoken and written Arabic. Learn
Quranic Arabic for children ages 4-8 at home.
Please contact Mrs. Gada 01129523904 01223177841
or the assistant Mrs. Sally at 01096613167
Arabic Teacher
Learn spoken and written Arabic at
home. Egyptian Arabic 2 months,
Classical Arabic 6 months, Quranic
Arabic for children ages 4-8.
Available babysitter.
Call: 01096615161
M aadi M essenger | Winter 2015/16
53
Kids Zone
Baubles drawn by
Enjy Sabah
54 Maadi Messenger | Winter 2015/16
Color the
patterned
ornaments and
then create your
own patterns on
the blank ones!
December/January
What’s Happening in Cairo?
5th December - Maadi Community Church Christmas Pagent “What Child is This?” This is one of the most
popular Christmas events in Maadi, so be sure to get your tickets early. See their ad at the beginning of the Maadi
Messenger for more information. Cost 15LE per person. Maadi Community Church, Campus of St. John’s Church,
Corner of Port Said Road and Road 17, Maadi
5th December - Skating with the Cairollers Roller Derby Cairo’s profes-
sional roller-skating team is inviting all males and females over the age of 18 to
join them for a day of skating at the Cairo International Stadium in New Maadi.
Beginners and old hands are both welcome; those with skates are encouraged to
bring them but those in need will be provided with gear by the organisers. This two
hour event begins at 5pm and costs LE50 per person. Cairo International Stadium,
New Maadi
7th December onwards - Beginner Dance Class Two evenings a week
throughout December Maadites will be learning their choice of salsa, merengue,
bachata and more! Starting at the most basic level, the groups will be meeting at
7pm each Monday and Wednesday in Degla for full courses costing LE500 per person per month. Latin Love Dance
School, Apt. 23, Floor 2, Building 17, Street 213, Maadi Degla; Tel: 01012011141
12th December - Dancing in the Park The weird and wonderful Aquarium Grotto Garden in Zamalek will be transformed into an open air dance hall
this winter playing host to a variety of dancing related entertainment. Professional dance performances, choreography classes, children’s entertainment
and shopping opportunities will be available for all in attendance. The all-day
event is not just for fun, however, and the organisers are hoping to raise funds
for urban renewal projects in Zamalek. They also kindly ask guests to bring a
thoughtful well-wrapped christmas gift for the children of local orphanages
and hospitals. The event will run from 12pm-7pm and include lunch. Aquarium
Grotto Garden, Zamalek; Tel: 027371348; Email: info@zamalekassociation.org;
Website: www.zamalekassociation.org
17th/18th December - Darcy Oake the Illusionist The famous British television performer Darcy Oake
will be wowing audiences in Cairo Festival City this December with his onstage magic. The man who was made
famous by talent show legend Simon Cowell will be performing two nights in Heliopolis for anyone aged three
years and over. Doors close at 8pm and tickets range from LE150 - LE500 (available from Ticketsmarche.com).
Cairo Festival City, Taha Hussein, Heliopolis
31st December - New Year Yacht Party All aboard to bring in the New Year!
‘Let’s Dance Group’ invites all partygoers to attend their New Year’s celebration
on-board the Valentine Yacht. The boat departs at 10:30pm sharp for four hours
of sailing, an open bar, buffet, fire show and lots of Egyptian/Latin/Commercial
dancing! Tickets cost LE200 in advance so book now for your chance to celebrate
the start of 2016 on the Nile! Valentine Yacht, Nile Lounge, Abdel Aziz El Saud,
Manial; Tel: 0100 57 15 120
23rd January - Taste of Maadi Progressive Dinner A five course tour of various restaurants in Maadi gives
you a chance to sample some new cuisine. All proceeds benefit the African Hope Center. Tickets are LE250. See their
ad in this month’s issue or visit www.facebook.com/tasteofmaadi2016 for more info
M aadi M essenger | Winter 2015/16
63
Maadi Messenger Meet-ups!
Join the Maadi Messenger community this month for one of our friendly, fascinating tours. Each month we introduce our readers to some of
the little known highlights of the Egyptian landscape, covering a range of cultural, environmental, and fun-filled places you may have never known
existed! Get in touch with us directly to book a place on one of our tours, or check out our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Maadi.Messenger.
Magazine) for regular updates!
Fayoum Trip
Early January- Date to be announced
LE200 per person (includes transport, lunch, & wine)
Tour Leader: Eddie
What better way to bring in the New Year than on a brand
new Maadi Messenger Meet-up? We are offering our readers an exclusive New Year’s deal on a day trip out to celebrated oasis of Fayoum!
Join like-minded Messenger readers on a full day’s guided
tour out to one of Egypt’s most outstanding areas of natural
beauty. The LE200 ticket price will cover transportation out
from Cairo, lunch by the lakeside, and an official Ministry
of Tourism guide! The trip will take place in early January
next year. Call Eddie on 01099161003 for more information
and keep checking our Facebook page for updates and announcements. See you there!
Day tour to Gebel el-Tayr (Holy Family), the flying
church in Bayahu and Qufada
End of January- Date to be announced
E175 per person (includes transport and lunch)
Tour Leader: Dr. Hulsman; kshulsman@yahoo.com
Vineyard Trip
January- Date to be announced
LE150 per person (includes transport, lunch, & wine)
Tour Leader: Eddie
Join Maadi Messenger on this day trip out into the Egyptian countryside to explore
how Egyptian wine is produced and learn more about the history of this little known
industry.
The trip will be leaving from Midan Degla in Maadi at 8am and returning to the
same spot at 7:30pm. The price will include a delicious lunch prepared on site in the
vineyard’s country kitchen, as well as samples of the wine they produce there. For more
information, please get in touch with the tour leader on 01099161003.
REAL ESTATE FOR RENT
Villa
Old Maadi and Degla
Nice garden, 4 bedrooms, big kitchen,
parking. $4000 Old Maadi.
Villa
4-5 bedrooms, garden, garage, pool, laundry. Degla.
Apartments
Fully modern furniture, or semi-furnished,
3-4 bedrooms, balcony, in a quiet area.
Starting from $1200
Ground Floor
(LE 5000 to 7000)
Sports Opportunities
THE CAIRO CYCLING CLUB This club is devoted to enjoying and
enhancing cycling experiences available around Cairo and elsewhere in
Egypt. Organized road rides occur every Friday morning at 7am. Leaving
from the front gate of CAC. Off-road rides into Wadi Digla occur most
Saturdays at 7am. Departing from the front gate of CAC. In addition to
the weekly rides, there are a number of special events throughout the
year. www.cairocyclists.wordpress.com
CAIRO HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Join us Friday afternoons for
fun and interesting walks and runs in the desert areas immediately
outside Cairo. For more information see: www.cairohash.com. No car,
no problem, rides can be arranged. Singles, families & leashed dogs are
welcome. Sense of humor essential!
Clubs and groups
CHINESE SPEAKING WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION IN CAIRO:
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 organized
cultural exchange tours to China. Contact: Tel: 01206202999 Email:
2549709148@qq.com
SPANISH SPEAKING LADIES CLUB:
Meetings take place on the first Tuesday of the month. For details call
Cecibel Elshaer at 012 748 3993 or Rosa America Hernandez at 0100
107 1181, or send an e-mail to: cdhhcairo@yahoo.com
01223310073 or 01144400902
For Real Estate
tel.: 2519 8939
Mob.: 010 5160 146
E-mail: dreamhouse6@hotmail.com
Community News
Separate entrance, 3-4 bedrooms, large
kitchen, laundry room, barbecue area and
very big reception. Starting from $2000
Offices
Many different office spaces available in
Maadi and Maadi Degla area.
Call 01222109685
TOASTMASTERS:
Do butterflies attack your stomach whenever you are asked to speak before
a group? Can you confidently express your thoughts and ideas? Whether
you are speaking to an audience of one or one thousand, Toastmasters
can help you do it clearly and confidently. Visit a meeting and see what
Toastmasters training can do for you! For more information on the Cairo
Toastmasters Club, visit www.cairotoastmasters.com or call Per Johan
Bugge at 0108681975 or Mohamed Alborno at 01001003233.
Please e-mail any additions and/or changes to community
announcements to:
editor@maadimessenger.com
MBA LADIES INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
December 2015/January 2016
Tuesday, December 1 – Christmas Coffee Morning hosted at
Sheena’s from 10am
Saturday, December 5 – Full day visit to Gianaclis Vineyards leaving Maadi at 7.30am returning around 6pm
Monday, December 7 – Scrabble at Stephanie’s at 1.15pm
Wednesday, December 9 – Christmas Lunch at the Mena House
Hotel starting at 11am. Cost is LE300 for members and LE350
for guests
Monday, December 14 - Book Club at Sheena’s at 1.30pm. The
book to be discussed is ‘Girl on the Train’ by Paula Hawkins
Monday, January 11 – Book Club at Sheena’s at 1.30pm. The book
to be discussed is ‘Daughter’ by Jane Schmelt
Monday, January 18 – Scrabble at Stephanie’s at 1.15pm
Tuesday, January 19 – New Year Coffee Morning at Julia’s at 10am
Monday, January 25 – Knit and Natter at Jo’s at 1.30pm
Weekly Activities:
Sunday: Mah-jong at 1.30pm at Stephanie’s
Monday: Beginners Bridge at 10.30 am at Stephanie’s
Wednesday: Golf on a Wednesday at 9am in Katameya
Thursday: Informal coffee get together at CSA from 11.30am
For further information on any of the activities please contact us
on mba.maadi.2014@gmail.com
Center for Arab-West Understanding
The place where Egyptians and non-Egyptians meet
January 16 (7:30 am -8:30 pm) Day tour to
Gebel el-Tayr (Holy Family), the flying church
in Bayahu and Qufada (village development
for the poor)
For more activities check our facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Centerfor-Arab-West-Understanding/
Sign up for our free electronic newsletter or
write us for more information: info@cawu.org
Happy China Day at CSA
Sunday, January 24, 2016
9- 2pm
Come to join us for celebrating the Year of Monkey!
Chinese New Year is an annual celebration marking the
start of the year according to the Chinese Luna calendar.
Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival.
Each vendor offers its own unique celebration theme,
performances and food. Visitors will experience Chinese
Lion Dance, Traditional Folk Music, Culture games,
Martial Artists and much more…..
Legal and Health Services