Soo how about an update on that mall and market situation i mentioned a few blogs ago? If you haven't read it yet, I mentioned that the majority of the malls (i'm making that assumption based on the 3 or 4 that i've been in) are not really geared and marketed towards the people that live here.
and I said that i'd definitely have to swing by those markets. WELL this is exactly where the Egyptians shop! They had everything from traditional and modern wear, to silver and gold, to electronics, to food, all at super low prices that they were willing to bargain even lower for. They say in Alexandria owners will give you prices 4 times higher than what they are willing to receive in a payment and in cairo...practically double that!
There were so many people out and just walking and shopping. I definitely felt like I had to hold my purses and stuff close it was like a giant flea market! but definitely really cool. they even have scent shops where they will mix perfumes and stuff for you. they basically have anything you could think of. ALSO people will have their little huts/stands/mini buildings and stuff where they sell stuff and will often lay out purses and ties and stuff on the sidewalk...but when a police officer is nearby you hear everyone shouting to put stuff away because apparently its illegal to sell stuff on the street like that.just thought that was interesting!
KITTTIES
there are a ton of cats in egypt. they are like the american squirrel and they get in cat fights ALL the time. literally. i no longer equate the term cat fight with girls but rather actual cats. And you see them like every 20 feet and sometimes they all huddle together and you can tell they are SO hungry. they are all really skinny, and some of them have little eye bugs and they water all the time and flies hover around them.
So me gabby and maddie decided that after dinner we wanted to go feed the kittens. we had some extra fish left from dinner and these weird potato things that i wrapped in pita bread.
So we finished up and went on an excursion to find hungry kitties...and in addition to that...go to the ATM machine, andddd the post office where we got side tracked by trees and really cool looking cemeteries and the wash bowls located in them. I've got to say, that when people lose loved ones over here, they really go all out with nice tombstones and stuff and you can tell that they really respect the ones that they've lost, and in a way celebrate their deaths by ordaining their section with all sorts of things. It was also really cool seeing all the different languages that the stones were written in. Some we had no idea what the language or dialect was
along the way we ran into these guys who slowed down to walk with us...it was totally obvious what they were doing...but its funny because we can judge people and not talk to anyone...but whats the point of visit and being emerged in another culture if cant accept it you know? so we talked to them a little and they were super excited that we were from america and that they could practice their english with us and eventually gave us his card...which he made himself and was dying to give out...it was cute. we dont even know what his job was...but he was pretty much in college and with a business card
then we changed streets and came across a homeless guy who was sleeping. he was soooo dirty...but we coudlnt help but have compassion on the guy. He was so dirty that at first glance you might think he was just a pile of trash on the ground. and im not kidding. and im not trying to be rude or judgemental at all. thats just how it was. it just saddened my heart, and even though we were on a mission to feed the kitties, i couldnt help but put a little bit down for him. and even though he wouldnt know who did it when he woke up...part of me was hoping that he would be thankful. part of me was also hoping that he wouldnt be like....who does that person think they are leaving food for me like a dog. But what was i gonna do? I had to do something. so i walked up and placed a little bit of the pita wrapped potato on the ground for him. and felt like i was doing a good deed that hopefully he'd appreciate...but either way even though i didnt get to see his reaction i still feel good. i hope it made his evening and i hope and pray that he's able to find a job and a home. and is able to clean himself up!
Matthew 25
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
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