Life by the Seaside

I arose early today to capture the quiet by the sea before the tourists - and the vendors - get going for the day. My two favorite coworkers have been keeping me company and making me laugh even before my eyes were fully open. (I told one that I wanted to sleep and he grabbed a large cushion, hovered over me and asked, "Alatool alatool?" [Forever?!]) They immediately made me feel at home here in Dahab. In the shaded open-air restaurant on the water, the view of the gentle waves and of Saudi Arabia's mountains across the sea's trench is a sight to appreciate every day. I work upstairs in the bar with Ryan, where last night we rearranged all the couches, chairs and tables to create a theater ambiance and showed Citizen Cane on the big projector's screen. Our friend, who owns the bar, restaurant and the hotel where we're living for free, has made it clear that we have full reign of the bar. It's been an amazing week so that I'm sad to have only two weeks until I return to Cairo with the noise, the crowds, the testy cab drivers and the extensive time spent traveling across the city or generally worrying about things. Here in Dahab I'm relishing the short seaside walk each morning to lounge by the water or go snorkeling in the coral reef right here in the bay. There's such a tiny town feel, seeing the same people each day in the same spots - there's no such thing as weekends or days off for people who work here, be it dive shop or restaurant employees - give or take the tourists that come and go.
I'm trying to make small mental attempts to get psyched to return to Cairo for a potential job opportunity with an environmental NGO that takes school kids of all ages on field trips to learn about solar power, water conservation, plants, animals, rocks and the native Bedouin people's lifestyles. I had an interview the other day and got to see their field site amid an olive farm about 45 minutes outside of Cairo, where I'd be working as a teacher and curriculum editor. The hours would be 40+ per week so I'm holding my breath hoping the salary will be decent (ie, pay my rent).

The last time I was here in Dahab was just a few weeks ago, when my family visited and my parents took me diving - twice! We went to a spot called the Islands and swam through narrow valleys between the coral, saw a graceful eel slivering across the sand, and got up close and personal with the vivid colors glaring at us from all angles. Now I'm considering investing in an Advanced SCUBA certification because the dive shop has offered me a discount since we're now business neighbors. Or, I could save that money and with it cover a month and a half's rent in Cairo!

After a rewarding but tiring month of teaching at the American University's summer camp in Cairo, vacationing with my family was all the more incredible...I couldn't have been more grateful that they came to visit Egypt. We crammed so much in their 2-week stay: riding horses and camels at the pyramids, touring the old cities - Islamic and Christian Cairo - shopping in markets, sailing the Nile at sunset...touring the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, eating seafood and seeing the famous library...snorkeling and diving the coral reefs in Dahab and climbing Mt Sinai where Moses receieved the 10 Commandments. There were some very narrow escapes from missing a bus or train and getting ripped off royally and losing oneself in heated bargaining - but my family stayed safe and upbeat, though my protective instinct and worry may have been a bit overdone. I got to practice my Arabic and develop some Egypt-travel savviness.



Hope you enjoy the pictures! More to come.