Warning: This post is pretty wordy with few pictures - Read at your own risk.
After searching for an apartment for two days, I signed for one and am a bit mixed up right now on my feelings about it - more on that later.
The first full day I was in Egypt, myself and two other teachers went looking around Sheikh Zayed, a newly developed area where the school is also located. While I saw many nice flats, they were expensive for me because I am living on my own and would have to pay for everything myself.
The real estate found me an awesome two-story apartment with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, roof access and located directly across from the school. It was within my price range, but a Syrian family made a higher offer on it, shooting the price to just out of my price range. The two other teachers I was with ended up making a higher offer themselves, so I didn't end up with that apartment.
The real estate agent, Ahmed, was super nice and helpful and kept trying to find me a place withing my price range. I told him of my desire to live in an Egyptian neighborhood where I would be forced to speak Arabic and where I could walk to many places - for groceries or to hang out with friends. In Sheikh Zayed, I would have to get a taxi to go anywhere - including to get a cup of coffee or go grocery shopping.
We found a place in Al-Aghouza which is close to Mohindeseen (another very crowded neighborhood), but the school does not have a bus stop in that neighborhood. My friends Chris and Justine told me about a one bedroom apartment in Maadi that was cute, had a new kitchen, and was a 5-minute walk to the bus stop.
Another agent named Wiam took me the next day to the apartment. It was a good size for me and within my price range so I said yes quickly because I felt pressure to find something because we had to check out of the hotel the next day. I signed the contract (with the promise that it would be cleaned before I moved in the next day) and my landlady offered to give me a ride back to Sheikh Zayed after she ran one errand. One errand ended up being QUITE a few. We went and got flowers for her daughter, went grocery shopping, went by her daughter's apartment to put the groceries up, and then to her husband's air conditioning business to give Eid gifts and money to the employees. She spoke a little English, I spoke some Arabic, and we got along great. By the time I got back to Sheikh Zayed, the phone shop was closed again for the third day in a row. So at this point (Thursday), it has been 3 days with no phone, I had just gotten my lost luggage at 2 a.m. that morning and I had been stressed so I did feel some pressure about signing when I should have checked it out some more.
On Friday morning, buses came to take us to our various neighborhoods with all of our stuff. I rode in a school bus by myself with two school workers, all of my bags, and Chris and Justine's bags because they were signing for an apartment in Maadi that morning. I get to my apartment with my keys in hand and open the door to find dust on absolutely every possible surface in the apartment.
Now, at this time - I had no Egyptian phone, it was around Friday at noon (when EVERYTHING closes for the noon prayer), and I did not know where anything was in my neighborhood. I found a Vodafone place around the corner from me so I walked around for an hour or so waiting for things to open back up.
As freaked out as I was at my tiny, dirty apartment, I really like the neighborhood I'm in. It has a lot of trees, neat shops, and I can get anywhere in Maadi by taxi in about 5 minutes. Justine and Chris came to my apartment to come get their stuff and I accompanied them to their place because I was a little freaked out at how alone I am at my new place.
I called my landlady with their phone and she promised to have someone come that afternoon to clean. I finally ended up buying the cheapest Nokia phone available because my unlocked phone won't work right now. I called my landlady when 4:20 rolled around and no one had shown up. She said she can't track the cleaning lady down. Normally, I could live one night with a dusty apartment, but because it is the Eid weekend, many people are on vacation and I am worried that my apartment will be crusted in dirt until Monday or Tuesday.
I went on a Felucca ride with the other new teachers on the Nile.
Chris, Justine, and I ended up getting a taxi to my place where we bought groceries, and then they took a cab from there to their place. At least I have food in the fridge - a fridge covered in dirt!
Update: The cleaning lady showed up last night and did a fantastic job - tour photos after I finish unpacking!
After searching for an apartment for two days, I signed for one and am a bit mixed up right now on my feelings about it - more on that later.
The first full day I was in Egypt, myself and two other teachers went looking around Sheikh Zayed, a newly developed area where the school is also located. While I saw many nice flats, they were expensive for me because I am living on my own and would have to pay for everything myself.
The real estate found me an awesome two-story apartment with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, roof access and located directly across from the school. It was within my price range, but a Syrian family made a higher offer on it, shooting the price to just out of my price range. The two other teachers I was with ended up making a higher offer themselves, so I didn't end up with that apartment.
The real estate agent, Ahmed, was super nice and helpful and kept trying to find me a place withing my price range. I told him of my desire to live in an Egyptian neighborhood where I would be forced to speak Arabic and where I could walk to many places - for groceries or to hang out with friends. In Sheikh Zayed, I would have to get a taxi to go anywhere - including to get a cup of coffee or go grocery shopping.
We found a place in Al-Aghouza which is close to Mohindeseen (another very crowded neighborhood), but the school does not have a bus stop in that neighborhood. My friends Chris and Justine told me about a one bedroom apartment in Maadi that was cute, had a new kitchen, and was a 5-minute walk to the bus stop.
Another agent named Wiam took me the next day to the apartment. It was a good size for me and within my price range so I said yes quickly because I felt pressure to find something because we had to check out of the hotel the next day. I signed the contract (with the promise that it would be cleaned before I moved in the next day) and my landlady offered to give me a ride back to Sheikh Zayed after she ran one errand. One errand ended up being QUITE a few. We went and got flowers for her daughter, went grocery shopping, went by her daughter's apartment to put the groceries up, and then to her husband's air conditioning business to give Eid gifts and money to the employees. She spoke a little English, I spoke some Arabic, and we got along great. By the time I got back to Sheikh Zayed, the phone shop was closed again for the third day in a row. So at this point (Thursday), it has been 3 days with no phone, I had just gotten my lost luggage at 2 a.m. that morning and I had been stressed so I did feel some pressure about signing when I should have checked it out some more.
On Friday morning, buses came to take us to our various neighborhoods with all of our stuff. I rode in a school bus by myself with two school workers, all of my bags, and Chris and Justine's bags because they were signing for an apartment in Maadi that morning. I get to my apartment with my keys in hand and open the door to find dust on absolutely every possible surface in the apartment.
Now, at this time - I had no Egyptian phone, it was around Friday at noon (when EVERYTHING closes for the noon prayer), and I did not know where anything was in my neighborhood. I found a Vodafone place around the corner from me so I walked around for an hour or so waiting for things to open back up.
As freaked out as I was at my tiny, dirty apartment, I really like the neighborhood I'm in. It has a lot of trees, neat shops, and I can get anywhere in Maadi by taxi in about 5 minutes. Justine and Chris came to my apartment to come get their stuff and I accompanied them to their place because I was a little freaked out at how alone I am at my new place.
I called my landlady with their phone and she promised to have someone come that afternoon to clean. I finally ended up buying the cheapest Nokia phone available because my unlocked phone won't work right now. I called my landlady when 4:20 rolled around and no one had shown up. She said she can't track the cleaning lady down. Normally, I could live one night with a dusty apartment, but because it is the Eid weekend, many people are on vacation and I am worried that my apartment will be crusted in dirt until Monday or Tuesday.
I went on a Felucca ride with the other new teachers on the Nile.
It made me feel very relaxed after a stressful day!
The high school principal (Dr. Robert) and elementary school principal (Johnnie) are on the left.
Walther (School Director) and Chris
I'm back in a familiar place!
Update: The cleaning lady showed up last night and did a fantastic job - tour photos after I finish unpacking!
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