Pocket Change

I don't want to write about Egyptians today.  I want to write about foreigners living in Cairo.  There are many reasons why a foreigner moves here.  Some work for the government or oil companies.  They are on the top of the expat food chain here.  They live in the nicest flats and (somehow) get American TV.  Some are here to do volunteer work or work for NGOs.  Some are on a quest for personal fulfillment.  My husband recently met an American woman who was trying to break into Egyptian movies and television.  Most heart-breaking for me are those who leave their children and come to work very hard to be able to send money back to families in other 3rd world countries so that their children might have a better life than they had.

For whatever the reason, there is a small Egyptian community that caters, more or less, to these people.  There are stores where you can buy Skippy peanut butter, kimchi, and bacon.  There is even a rumor of a company which delivers alcohol to your door.  The delivery guy drives an unmarked scooter and carries the wine in a paper bag so that none of your neighbors will know that you drink hamra.

Anyway, the foreigners that live here are all very different and are from all over the world but have one thing in common, they all stick out like a pig at Ramadan.  Wherever you go, you can bet that the local people are watching you.  That, my dear friends, is a lot of pressure.  

For the most part, all of the foreigners I've met here have been wonderful people.  There are times, however, that I have seen foreigners "lose it".  For example, one time I saw a lady yelling at a server because her "to-go" salad looked a bit wilty.  Another time, a man raised his voice when he had to repeat himself three times when asking how much something cost.  I remember thinking to myself, "Have a little patience, Oh Fellow Foreigner.  They are just trying to help you!"

It is always common that whenever I go out I get "special" treatment because I am a foreigner.  It may come in the form of being over-charged for a taxi.  Or I may have people cut in front of me in line.  And on those extra special treatment days I may even pay 5 times more than the locals for certain items.

One of my biggest cultural pet-peeves has really has nothing to do with being from another country.  About 90% of the time I buy something I am asked if I have change.  The ATMs here spit out bills that equal about $10 to $20 and that is usually all I have.  I don't have anything smaller, because anything smaller I give to the taxis.  If I give the taxis the larger amount they will not give me all of my change.

It is not really a big deal.  I expect it to happen and I try to plan for it.  But the feelings that come from each of these small experiences of special treatment build up over time.  So the other day, when the man behind the counter asked for change, I felt It!  

At first, it was a small whispering voice that floated in my thoughts.  But as I stood there, the voice began to get louder and louder until it was a silent scream. I DON'T HAVE CHANGE!!!!!  STOP ASKING ME THAT AND THEN GIVING ME A LOOK OF SHAME WHEN I SAY NO!!!!!!  

Luckily, I was able to push those feelings back down again...this time.  But it is so easy to let the little things pile up, isn't it?  That's why every foreigner should have at least one other foreigner to be able to vent to.  Not to dump on, but to help sort through the trash.

Unfortunately, the outbursts are all that one sees of a person.  It is so easy to judge that person by this one interaction.  I know that the next time I witness a traveler tantrum, I will not be so quick to judge.