Teaching in Egypt

Is now summer and every teacher is enjoying one of the perks of the profession, which is being on vacation! This is the perfect time for teachers to look for new jobs and I decided that I wanted to give a few pointers about what to expect while teaching in Egypt.
 
Teaching is one of those careers that requires patience and  a lot of hard work. It gives us the opportunity to connect and make changes in our students lives. If you are looking for new job in Egypt as a teacher and you are not currently in the country please read these carefully.

1. Your best chance at getting a good salary is to go with International Schools. Salaries depend on qualifications but do not let the fact that maybe you have only one year of experience deter you from taking a good salary. You are not in the US or the UK anymore and things here are different. 
2. Negotiate and Expat package. If you are not in Egypt this the best time for you to negotiate accommodations, transportation and salary. Schools are always stingy and tell you no but you have to be firm about it because after it you cannot change anything.A good salary ranges between $2000-$2600 a month. They pay you monthly.
3. Work permit. This point is very important, must of the schools will either ignore this or tell you that you need to do it yourself. Do NOT let this happen. Mogama is the place where you get visas and believe me it is not apt for foreigners. The place is a nightmare. I know of people that don't renovate their visas just to avoid going there. You do not speak the language and frankly this is not something that is up to you. The school needs to stop being lazy and get this done. Fight it if you have to they are not going to fire you for it. With the new government issues they are actually visiting schools to check this out.
4.  Education in Egypt is Business. This point made me crazy before I really understood it. Is never about the Education and how the child needs this and that. No, is about mommy and daddy paying money, outrageously amounts of money so therefore they now what is best for their children.  You are never good enough. Egyptian parents are the worst, the child is never wrong. Bad thing is they don't just go to you they go the administration and demand to know what is going on. Then the administration comes back to you and says just re issue the test and give him a a review again with the same test. Education much? I think this is why this country is the way it is, lack of good Education! 
5. Never give your number to parents. They will ask, they will demand but you have to be strong! You sanity depends on it! It is not a joke. I always say, I don't remember the number or the school policy is not to give it. I don't care what I use at that moment as long as they don't get it. They can be your worst nightmare, calling you at all hours of the night and talking for hours if you let them. You giving your phone number is like tutoring them whenever the parent feels like it. 
6. Never give 100% They are some great schools here with good administrations... maybe in my dreams. Anyways my point is the more you give to them the more they will exploit you. There is no concept on teamwork on this groups of teachers and everything will fall back on you. Look first how the school works and then follow the example.Working in Egypt is laid back and not fast paced.
7. Brace yourself for Quizzes and Homework.  The amount of quizzes I had to give in one of the schools made me the most unbearable teacher in the universe. I hate for anyone to tell me what is best for my teaching program when they don't know what they are talking about. Can you believe I had to give 2 quizzes a week per each of my classes I had two grades so make that 4 quizzes a week. One page of homework is not enough they ask you to give them at least 10 pages of homework for first and second graders a day! Madness.
8. Changing Schools. For those teachers who want to change schools and stay in the country I have some bad news. Do not expect an expat salary. Is very rare that this happens. After you are here they pay you more than Egyptians of course but not the same as if you were back home making the negotiations. This is one of the things that makes me upset because is just plain ridiculous. Did I just loose my English skills because I am living in Egypt??! 

Consider this tips and try to make the best of it as all of us who are here do. Egyptian children can be difficult and spoiled rotten but overall they are very loving children. Prepare yourself for the personal questions the
little ones do not care about personal space this is Egypt. Be sure to plan carefully and explore before making any choices. I hope you find a good school this year!

My students in an outdoor activity

If you have any questions or comments about your experience feel free to comment! Thank you for reading and following me.

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Bossa Nova Camp

Today I am very happy to give my readers a chance to experience Egypt in a different light. Egypt has so many secret places full of history and charm that is too much sometimes. I came across this place by a fellow American expat who is married to an Egyptian just like me. She ventured in this new Camp or hostel and they made new changes and they are running for business!

 If you enjoy camping and being in touch with nature this is your place. Just like you go to Fiji and relax you can do the same here. The view is amazing and Sinai is one of the most beautiful places in Egypt. I love Sinai! Enjoy this interview and I hope you have a chance to visit the Camp.

What is Bossa Nova Camp?

Bossa Nova Camp is a simple home away from home paradise located just north of Nuweiba. It looks out onto the Red Sea and has a magnificent backdrop of the Sinai Mountains.

Does the name mean anything in particular?

Bossa Nova means “a new trend”. We believe that visiting Sinai doesn’t require you to be surrounded with hundreds of other tourists in order to experience what Sinai truly has to offer. At Bossa Nova Camp guests can experience tent camping or experience “luxury” camping at its finest.

Can you explain the facilities and amenities of the Camp?

Bossa Nova Camp has 8 bamboo huts located directly on the beach and 14 other huts with stone flooring. There is also a 1 bedroom chalet available for those who like a more private setting.  There is a public bathroom separated into male and female for those staying in the huts to use, while the chalet has its own private bathroom. Bossa Nova Camp has 2 fully functional kitchens and offers fresh bread daily, which is cooked on site. Electricity is provided for approximately 6 hours per day or as needed by guests. Bossa Nova has two extremely large sitting areas for guests to enjoy conversing with others. One is located directly on the beach the other is located closer to the kitchen area. Both are furnished in traditional Bedouin style. The coral reefs that are located off of the Bossa Nova Camp beach are some of the best Nuweiba has to offer.  The multitude of colorful fish and other aquatic organisms is a must see! Other items located on site includes but not limited to: a boat for use, snorkeling gear, children’s toys, a volleyball, badminton, and a library composed of a collection of books passed between travelers.

Are there any special offers at the moment?

Yes! During your birthday month we offer an additional 10% off your stay with us. We are creating discount packages to include trips to St. Catherine, the Blue Hole and many more.

Can you provide some history of the Camp? How did it start and why?

While vacationing in Nuweiba as a family several years ago we found this camp and stayed several nights in it. We loved the location and the coral reefs. Last year, when we traveled back to Nuweiba we learned that the camp had been closed down. We contacted the previous owners and decided that we wanted to venture out and open the camp again, this time with more of a foreigner’s touch. We have been working hard giving the camp a complete make-over and now have it open and ready for guests to experience what Nuweiba and Sinai have to offer.

What can people expect at Bossa Nova?

Here at Bossa Nova you can expect to feel like you are at home from the minute that you enter the camp. The view from the entrance gate is non-other than the best and then you drive past several of the bamboo huts before parking and entering the Bedouin style main hut.  More than likely, you will have already been greeted by our dogs that “protect” the camp by sunbathing most of the day.  Once you enter the main hut, with its gorgeous sea view, you will be greeted by someone who works here and offered a welcome tea.  At Bossa Nova we believe that you should feel like you’ve been here before and comfortable. There are 6 different sitting areas in the main hut, 2 extra-large sitting areas directly on the beach and several other secret spots around the camp.  Guests can request their breakfast and dinner at specific times, resulting in the personalized service everyone expects while on vacation. For guests that want to explore, a simply request will have almost all wishes granted. Guests will find staying here at Bossa Nova an exceptionally easy, relaxing and enjoyable time. The hardest part will be leaving the camp and returning to their everyday life.

What activities can you do?

Some of the best coral reefs in Nuweiba are found off of Bossa Nova’s shore. It is home to a variety of different species of fish as well as the black sea urchin (water shoes are recommended). Behind Bossa Nova is a mountain that consists of a medium difficultly climb. It is a great way to start the day and watch the sunrise over Saudi Arabia. Other activities can be arranged such as, but not limited to:  camel rides, horseback riding, 4-wheeling safari tours, trips to the Blue Hole, St. Catherine, Pharaoh’s Island, Castel Zaman, and many more.

What is so special about the location?

Bossa Nova isn’t just a business; it’s a home for those who work here. It is well taken care of and Bossa Nova goes over and beyond what guests expect when coming to and Eco lodge camp. Bossa Nova is special because this camp is located close to all the major attractions that Sinai has to offer but away from the “typical” tourist hype and congestion.

If you are the one managing the camp, how is it to have a business in a foreign country?

As an American helping to manage this camp it is an amazing and completely rewarding experience! I personally work with the local Bedouin to ensure that trips and experiences that my guests have are both authentic and memorable.  Running a business here in Nuweiba has been a major adjustment from city life. People and things run at their own pace and timetable.  Learning how to relax and really take things in stride has been the biggest adjustment for me.

How do you like living in Egypt so far?

I love being in Nuweiba because it has everything anyone could want to experience in the outdoor setting. During the winter months, if I am missing the cold, I spend the night on the beach and then complete an early morning hike up St. Catherine to experience snow. During the fall and spring time, I go sand surfing at some of the local soft white sand desert areas! Finally, during the summer months (when it is the hottest) I relax under the shade of the palm trees reading a book and taking my swims checking out the coral reefs at the camp. I couldn’t think of a better life than one here.

Things you miss from home.

I really miss my friends and family. As an American, not too many of my friends will venture out to Egypt (even before the revolution). I do have several European friends that have stayed here at the camp and experienced what Sinai has to offer. I just wish more Americans would do the same. The world is a fairly safe place (and often much safer than the US itself). I wish more people would just come and experience it!

Is there any other information you would like to share?

There are several ways to receive discounts at Bossa Nova:

At Bossa Nova we understand that word of mouth is the best feedback we can receive from a guest. We have a referral program which gives the person that refers people to us a discount during their next stay. The discount increases as the number of referrals increase. 

We also offer 10% discount if you stay during your birthday month. It is just another little token of appreciation that you thought we were special enough to spend your birthday with.

For guests that want to stay with us long-term we have special rates for you. The longer you stay the more discounts you receive. 

Our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/bossanovahideawaycamp

Twitter: @BossaNovaSinai

Webpage: Coming Soon

Soon you can find us on www.nuweibabeach.com  , www.hostelworld.com, www.wikitravel.com , www.tripadvisor.com ,  Cairo360, www.lonelyplanet.com , www.hostels.com , www.backpackguide.com , www.hostelbookers.com

Contact Information

Mohanned at (+2) 01221255508 or (+2) 01006777739  (He speaks English and Arabic)

Email: bossanovahideawaycamp@outlook.com



Thank you for reading and following me until the next post! 

Snow in Egypt... What?

I am surprise that I have to say this,  is absolutely freezing in Egypt!! If you do not believe me last Friday it snowed!!! Yes, you heard me right it snowed in Egypt after more than 100 years. It was that cold. Good thing my habibi came home on Thursday night with a heater! My reaction? I jumped up and down hugging him and saying  thank you more than once. Needles to say people in Egypt are buying heaters like crazy.

I re-tweeted some pictures in my Twitter account so you can go check it out if you are interested. One of the pictures was of a Camel sitting in the snow! I wanted to share this with you. I got this Via @belharesya from Twitter.

He looks kind of relax considering the weather and all. I am happy to say that I already put my Christmas tree!! This year I went with red and silver decorations. Unfortunately the snow mans are suffering from depression thanks to Tuktuk and Halawa. Every day I find a murder scene on the tree! The cats just hide because they know I hate it when they mess with my tree.

 Anyways, among other things I decided to enter a writing contest for expat bloggers. The post I wrote is about the top five things I love about Egypt. I hope that if you enjoy my blog and like what I write, you could spare some time and read my participating post and vote for me. Is very simple and easy. Go to the link below and read the post, at the bottom you will find the instructions on voting.

Top 5 Things I Love About Egypt

Thank you so much for your support I am working on changing a few things on the blog and adding a lot of more content that will be to your liking. Wish me luck!

Very details and facts account on Egypt

I was asked by the website that interviewed me if I could write a post of what was going on in the country and my perspective. I wrote an article that I am not sure if it would be published. I really hope so! Anyways I am posting the whole thing here with picture and all. PLEASE PICTURES ARE EXPLICIT. So be careful.

I know this is not something you usually read here but I am just telling the truth. Everything I wrote can be corroborated in the internet.  Enjoy!

Egypt’s Media War in the perspective of an Expat

Wednesday morning was like any other, I woke up to make breakfast for my husband while he got ready for work. At seven in the morning his work phone interrupted the routine. A call from a friend changed the day completely. From that point on we rushed to the television to see the police making The Muslim Brotherhood abandoned the premises were they were in.

As I looked I knew this was coming. Ever since the Ex-President was thrown out, his followers have been protesting on different parts of Egypt. This has caused a lot of anger, the fact that this people have been saying we are peacefully protesting while of course being armed with weapons and attacking the police, army and the people.  

I guess we have been hearing different things from different points of view.  I will explain what is happening and let this be my opinion and what I am seeing with my own eyes not the manipulation of the news.

A lot of you are wondering what is happening?  Is Egypt really going crazy? Civil War? Well what if I told you that things are definitely not good and to top it all off we have a Media War.  Personally I do not like politics but unfortunately we live in a world full of it. So after the Ex-President Morsy was thrown out there were a few things the western media and CNN forgot to mention. Let’s get a little history here to understand the outrage of the Egyptian people and me of course, on this political party.

The Muslim Brotherhood has been looking for power for more than 80 years. You know how we heard stories about the Illuminati and all that? Well let me tell you that the Brotherhood is an entity that is looking for power ruled by extremist.  They are a bad example for Muslims and there goal has been power. Their organization is composed by followers who are in very good financial situations here by contributing the political party. I know by now you are surprised but sometimes people amaze me. We have a great tool known as the Internet and unfortunately the only way we use it, is for fun.

All of what I’m saying is history and this people have been planning things and hurting people in a very violent way since the foundation of the party in 1928.  A few things you probably do not know. The army had compelling evidence and they have released a few videos on the local media here in Egypt of the Ex-President Morsy in acts of treason. He was not removed only because the people didn’t like him. He was removed because he betrayed his own country and on top of that he was claiming to be more religious than anybody by writing a constitution that violated the principles of Islam and the principles of Democracy.

The Muslim Brotherhood has said that they will not mind losing their lives for defending Morsy.  The members of this party have been previously arrested including the now Ex-president.  The Egyptian people call them terrorist. Before ending the regime of Mubarak Egyptians were armed with Media. They went to the streets but also they equipped themselves with their cellphones and twitted and posted on Facebook letting the world know what was happening. Since then everything that happens in Egypt is being documented in the same way.

Hence the overload of media madness! You have Muslim Brotherhood supporters calling for protesters and saying lies, that thousands of people were killed while the Minister of Defense says that only 630 people were killed.  Be careful what news you watch because Aljazeera is all about the Brotherhood. Since this started they have posted pictures of dead people that are not dead, they have posted videos of little boys dying that are not from Egypt, there from Syria! All to make themselves look as victims. Ask yourself this. The Egyptian people in the revolution went to protest and in the pictures did you saw people armed with weapons? After many were murdered did you see people burning buildings to retaliate against the Army for the murders? The answer is no. Every time the people gather to protest they do it peacefully. I am a witness. I was there.

Now every time the Brotherhood protest they fight everyone who is not with them.  They want Morsy back to power and they will do anything to achieve it. Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz announced on Friday that the kingdom supports Egypt in its fight “against terrorism.”  Meaning they do not support the MB.  All this is like out of a movie but its real and I live it every day. There is a trend in Twitter #ObamaSupportsTerrorism. Wonder what that is about? Well I am sad to say that as part of the investigation of the Military they found documents in which the Obama administration provided The Muslim Brotherhood with 8 billion dollars. Also it’s known that the Muslim Brotherhood is in bed with Al-Qaeda. The facts are all there for you to see. What amazes me is that this morning Mohamed Al-Zawahiri the brother of the Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri was arrested here in Egypt and they have evidence that he was supporting Morsy. I don't know about you but this are very nasty implications. 

For my safety I only say that I want these people out of the streets. Egypt has gone through a lot of things and the Egyptians deserve peace. Is not safe to do anything right now. I am safe for now and I plan to keep it that way. As long as we stay in our homes and be careful we should be fine. But really people are getting angry with the bloodshed and the confrontation. Enough is enough. This has affected everything in our lives nobody is working and everybody is watching over their shoulder.  Yesterday they burned a blood bank with people inside while they were outside the building preventing the fire department to do their job.  The police station in the city I’m living was set on fire. I hope that the Army and the Police eliminate the threat to the Egyptian people caused by the Muslim Brotherhood who say that “Those who are not with us are against us”.

My opinion is not influenced by anyone. When you are living somewhere is easy to see with your own eyes what is going on. Especially if you have to be vigilant and careful for your life. I know a few expats that are still in the country many of them left before the June 30 confrontation, even not speaking the language and not being a local we see that the brotherhood is not friendly. I never thought I would find myself in the middle of something like this but neither the Egyptians.

Here are some pictures of the Brotherhood and the damage they are inflicting in the country. Pray for Egypt and for the end of this harassment to the Egyptians by this fanatics. Here is a post by another expat living in Egypt and her opinion of what is happening. Be sure to follow her on Facebook her information is good and she translates everything which is a plus!  

This is one of the cars that was attacked by the mob of MBs at San Stefano on Aug 15^th

St. George Church, Sohag, Egypt. Totally burnt, Aug. 14, 2013

Mohnad El-Mahdey — at cairo aug 15. CNN International and all world-wide news media, do these look like peaceful MB protest...

This guy posing for the Muslim Brotherhood victims supposedly died 5 times in 5 different places in 5 different positions. 

This is the scene at the blood bank. 

More Unrest

Hey everyone since waking up on Wednesday, things have been a little dicey to say the least! I just want to say that for now me and my family are safe. We live far away from the danger zones. It has not been easy and the scenes on the television are those of a movie!

In the end we are once again on a turning point in Egypt. Not only the government is trying to restore order and finally get a move on. The Muslim Brotherhood as I said before have been nothing but a pain in the .... to all Egyptians. We knew this was going to happen. The government was giving them warnings to abandon what they were doing and to leave peacefully. To accept that the now Ex-President Morsi was out.

Instead of listening this people took "peaceful protesting" to whole new level. I just want to say that in my opinion I am glad that the government is taking action against this terrorist and that finally we are going to see some expected changes. Do not be fool by the media people. If you are not in Egypt I don't think you could understand the enormity and the seriousness of the matter.

On that note I would advice that vacationing in Egypt is not an option I recommend right now. Even if they tell you that there is nothing going on in the Red Sea area do not risk it. Things are heated up and the MB is trying to create chaos and uncertainty in the whole country. Is not safe to go anywhere. Even Egyptians know this and people are going out in groups and if you are out, you stick to the curfew. I would be making a guest post on Easy Expat explaining in detail what really is going on. I will post it here as well so if you really want to know what is happening be ready for the next post!

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The Power up! - Desserts

I have been stuffing my face with so much Katayef that I'm honestly considering becoming one! Other than that I have come to be a fan of this new dessert or appetizer and decided to share it with you. Last year when my habibi introduce me to it I was not so into it but this year to my surprise I was craving it!

I do not know the name of this drink and habibi told me he does not know either so I am going to call it "The Power Up" Why? It is so full of sweetness and energy that honestly one drink and eat of that and you are off like a rocket!

Usually its use to break the fasting. Is very good on the stomach when you have not eaten or drank anything during the hole day and is very nutritious. One cup goes along way and believe me it gives you energy and everything about it is natural.

Here is the recipe and some pictures of the drink while I was making it the other day for Iftar. For those of you who don't know what Iftar means is basically the time for eating after fasting during Ramadan.

"The Power Up"
Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups of milk
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup raisins
1 cup of nuts (it can be your favorite here walnuts, peanuts or almonds) I use peanuts
1/2 cup of almonds (optional) I like both!
1/3 cup of dry apricots
1 1/2 cups of dates
1/3 cups of dry prune

It's very simple really just take all the dry ingredients in a mix bowl and mixed them together. Honestly you can add more and less of each thing depending on what you like as well as take some ingredients out that you don't like. After all is mixed up you pour the milk. After that mixed everything again and cover up. Put in the fridge for at least two hours those ingredients need t come together and believe me the milk is going to taste good.

After that serve up in a glass with a spoon and enjoy! Here are the pictures with the steps. I hope you enjoy this Middle Eastern treat! Until next post thank you for reading and following me!

Ramadan Kareem!

What have I been doing that I did not wrote a post? Well I have been stuffing my face with Katayef!!!!! If you do not know what it is please read this post Katayef.  After one year of waiting to eat this wonderful dessert I finally have the opportunity to eat it again. I have to thank my habibi because the first day of Ramadan he came home with a bag of katayef! So I have been making them and eating them for the past weeks!

For those of you who do not know what Ramadan is please check last year's post on the subject Ramadan. This year Ramadan started on July 7 so its been kind of an up and down time for Egypt with all that is going on in the Country but never the less you can see people united. Yesterday people took the streets again to protest against the Muslim Brotherhood and their terrorism tactics. I believe things are starting to look up!

The ex president was charge with treason, finally and people are starting to see a change. I think there is a lot at stake right now and I don't want to be political or anything but I just had to say what is going on right now. So one pretty neat thing I learned this Ramadan is that the Lanterns that they use to decorate during Ramadan started because the children use to play on the streets and there was no electricity by that time so all they had was a lantern.

After that it became tradition to use them. I in all honesty I'm in love with them! I believe they are beautiful and the different designs are just perfect! I believe I was destined to be here I mean I love everything that is Islamic art (I will write a post about this soon). Here are a few pictures of Ramadan decorations and lanterns.

Thank you for reading and following me! Until next post oh! I forgot I got interviewed this past week so that will be coming soon!!!

Political unrest in Egypt

Once again Egyptians are making history! Since Friday Egyptians were gathering in Tahrir Square as well as other locations all around Egypt to ask the President to abandon his position. Yesterday was the day set for this; June 30 the anniversary of President Morsi's Election. More than 20 million signatures were gathered saying that they want the Muslim Brotherhood and President Morsi out of the Presidency and they were not taking no for an answer.

After the Revolution Egyptians were taking no more abuse from the government and ever since the MB (Muslim Brotherhood) and President Morsi won people have been furious. The elections were hijacked so that they could win and after that the attacks an actions of the President and his allies has been beyond what the Egyptians could handle. Therefore moving Egyptians in unity once more to rally and protest against the President and the one thing that is for sure the protest won't stop until he is out! Yesterday 17 million Egyptians protested on the streets and today we are hoping for the same.

Believe it or not after all that has happened I am very happy for Egyptians to take a stand against the MB and the President this people are really terrorist! The way they handle things and the way they view Islam is an embarrassment on it self! Yesterday the police caught a lot of MB people with weapons and ammunition to fire against the people peacefully protesting. The news don't give you what exactly is going on in the country and knowing that MB has people in powerful places controlling what goes out helps gives the wrong message.

For those of you wondering is it safe to go to Egypt? Every foreign country has issued a warning over flying and to be honest is the truth. If you want to come for Vacation is not the best time I suggest you change your vacation. Now if you are here like me, do not worry. You are safe as long as you are in your house not on the streets! If you are with the protesters well is at your own risk. I say this with all honesty and I hope that some would listen. If you want to go to protest and be a part of history at least try to blend in. Do not call attention to yourself and try to be surrounded by people you know that are locals.

Going solo is kind of crazy so I do not recommend that one. If you are a woman please be extra careful and check on Twitter for the safest location. They are people in Tahrir who offer space against the sexual harassment so look it up. Everyone communicates via Twitter while in the protesting  is the best. I can say for myself I am safe and far away from the protests. I am happy with what is happening my friends and my other family are Egyptians and believe me if the people don't fight for this country now is going to be too late!

The Revolution marked a new beginning and if the people let Morsi in the Presidency Egypt will be far worse than it was when Mubarak's Regimen was in office. So to the Egyptians I say good luck and keep going strong! To Morsi I think he should seek asylum somewhere else because people want him out no matter what.

Little intense huh? Oh well that's what happens when you live somewhere and you see the injustice and how people want their country to be successful only to have the Government sinking it with stupid ideas and bad management. For telling the people that they have Democracy only to arrest those who opposed to anything said to the President!

I leave for know with a good hope that today people will win and that tomorrow (that is the deadline for President Morsi to quit) I will see Egypt with new hopes!

`

 Photo by AP AMR/Nabi

Thank you for following and reading me!

Food! Basmati Rice

Well here I am again writing today's post. I was thinking if writing about Basmati rice or writing a review and critique of the Hotel I stayed in Sharm. Anyways I will do this one first and then I will share with you the experience I had in this so called five star hotel. When I was first introduce to this rice I was speechless! The combinations of flavors is so exotic and perfect there is no doubt in my mind that you will love it!

Basmati rice is a long grain rice which is traditionally from India and Pakistan. Here in Egypt the way they showed me to do it is a mix between salt, sweet and crunchy. You can make it just plain white rice or in India they make it with curry of course and they are different recipes out there that are quite delicious. 

In my case I have tried the recipe I am going to share and believe me is b-e-a-utiful! You can serve this with any type of chicken or meat. It really is up to you and what you like. In my case I made lemon chicken in the oven with some carrots and potatoes. Here is the recipe for the basmati rice. 

Basmati Rice 

3 cups of Basmati rice (after washing in water at least three times. Yes this is necessary!) 

1 tablespoon of butter

1 onion diced 

3 Bay leaves

1 cup of raisins (you can use half cup) 

1 cup of peanuts 

1/2 cup of cinnamon sticks

1 tablespoon of powder cinnamon 

4 cups of water 

oil 

salt 

First wash the rice three times or more this is very important this rice I do not now why needs to be wash this way. After you wash it set it aside and fill  a pan with the 4 cups of water. In it boil the peanuts and cinnamon sticks. While the water is heating up to a boil in another pan cover the bottom with oil,  not much just enough to saute the following onion, raisins, bay leaves and butter. Throw all of it inside at the same time and keep steering until onion is translucent. All in medium heat. 

After the onion is ready add the cinnamon powder and mix for a few seconds with the rest of the ingredients by now the smell should be enough to tell you this is good! Sorry moving on put in the rice in the medium heat and keep moving until all the ingredients and the rice are mixed together. Keep moving until the water with the peanuts and cinnamon sticks is boiling. Add the boiling water to the rice and move it should be covering the rice not much but above it. Add salt to your taste and then cover rice and put in low. 

When the water is absorbed move the rice and close the lid again. The rice should be done in about 20-30 minutes. The thing about this rice is that it should be very moist and lose so if is dry you can add a little bit of boiling water while is still cooking. Check it occasionally and if you see that is too dry add a little water. The way I did it it didn't need any water so just in case that is my advice for you. I hope the instructions are clear enough if not please comment and I will help you any way I can! Good cooking! 

After is done serve in a plate and enjoy! Here is a picture of my result and how I served it to my guests! 

Thank you for following and reading me, until next post! 

Sharm El Sheik

Well as you know I went on a road trip to Sharm El Sheik. Sharm El Sheik  is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea. I was so excited to finally be able to go to the beach! Another thing that had me excited was that Sharm is a touristic place so I could wear anything I wanted! You have no idea how liberating the experience was!


I packed my shorts, bathing suit, flip flops, hat, sleeveless shirts and short dresses and got in the car with so much enthusiasm that it did not diminish in the long car ride. Of course Habibi was just smiling and amused by my attitude but I know deep inside he was happy to see me like that. Anyways moving on! When you enter Sharm you see this beautiful Red Sea and you see blue clear water. Is so beautiful and breathtaking.

I lived all my life on an island so I am practically a fish like habibi likes to call me. So the sight of the water and the smell of the salt was so amazing.We checked in the hotel went to the usual where is this let's have some lunch and finally let's go to the beach!!!

Things to do in Sharm are very simple people. You go to the beach, enjoy good food and of course great diving and snorkeling sites. That is all no ancient pharaoh's tomb or anything like that. Just plain and relaxing fun.  Sharm has become one of the favorite spots for divers around the world due to its beautiful reefs and believe me I can attest that myself! Red sea scenery is just out of this world.

The town is a touristic one so expect to pay a lot of money for simple things that's the way it is everywhere when you are on vacation! The town is small but it has such a good calm feeling and everything you need you will find close to the hotels. One very famous spot is Naama Bay be sure to stop there if you are visiting Sharm. Here are some pictures of the town and if you love snorkeling please gear up and be ready to enjoy beautiful colors and majestic corals!


 Thank you for reading and following me! Until next post!

Road Trip!!

Hey Everyone! It's been a while and I was battling the worst case of writer's block in the history of the world! Little dramatic? Maybe, but it felt like it. Anyhow I am so excited to let you know on my latest adventure here in Egypt. This past week my Habibi took me on a road trip from Cairo to Sharm El Sheik!

The drive was six hours! Never in my life I have been in a car for that long! I can go around Puerto Rico at least three times in that amount of time! Needless to say the experience was wonderful and the road was beautiful and a little scary too. I will explain the wonderful things we found on the way and of course on another post I will explain about Sharm and what to do when you are there.

First off lets start by saying that we took the Suez Road that means we went under the tunnel Ahmed Hamdi also known as the Suez Tunnel. On top of the tunnel runs the Suez Canal which connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea and allows for navigation from Europe to Asia without navigation around Africa. So while we were underneath there was the possibility of having a big ship on top of us!

Here is a picture of the entrance of the tunnel.

After this tunnel we enter Sinai! There are checkpoints everywhere so if you are going to travel on this road please have all documents with you. Proper identification, proper documents for the car and all things in order. Also if you want to make this trip keep in mind that you need a good car to make the long trip. A full tank and food with you. Unlike the US and PR there are no places to stop and the ones that are available are not that good. Use the bathroom before leaving!! Hahhaha Believe me the road is empty for miles! Anyway after this we get the trip on the way and I discover that not only Arizona has great rock formations! In Sinai starts the history of a lot of things including the time of Moses. Here you will find a lot of things related to the bible. First of this Mountains are called the Arabia Petraea also called and known as Arabia. This mountains extend themselves from Egypt to Israel, Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia. A lot of theories and places you can visit to see where Moses cross from Egypt to the land of Milian and other interesting stuff. 

The Mountains are beautiful and to be honest they are to my mind incomprehensible. They are in the middle of a dessert and on the other side of the road you have the Red Sea. I believe I am living in History itself! The views are amazing and this Road is full of simply nature. That's why I said to be careful because literally there is nothing on the road but the mountains and the sea for a while. Here are some pictures of the road. 

After this amazing view and of course as you see there is nothing for miles you can come across some small towns but they are not fully develop. There are some gas stations but they are not close at all. After all this we finally made it to Sharm El Sheik! 

It's like 2 miles up ahead that you will find the gate to one of the most famous touristic cities in Egypt. Diving and snorkeling are the order of the day! I leave you with some pictures of what you get after the entrance.

I hope that you take this road, if you can. Is full of history and believe me is  worth it! Get music ready and prepare yourself to enjoy the wonders and the different faces of Egypt a beautiful country full of history!

Thank you for reading and following me! See you on the next post! 

6th of October War!

Well so this past Wednesday I went on a trip with my students and to my surprise we went to a place call The Panorama 6th of October. This place shows the battle between the Israelis and Egyptians over Mount Sinai. Is very nice but to be honest the only good thing about it is the last exhibition is a round room and you go all the way around to see the great art work and 3D effect they got going on there.

So my opinion you can skip this one in Egypt... Is 30 pounds for foreigners and to be honest unless you really want to see just some art I recommend you skip it. If you want to go with your kids is a good one. I took the liberty of taking some pictures and well they turned out great.

The artwork was amazing I swear that the painting and the stage was one! So my congratulations to a very amazing and well done job! I was more excited than the kids in the trip! LOL but I am very grateful that the other teachers were kind enough to translate for me! Nothing was in English that day!! Oh well I leave you here with some really interesting pictures hope you enjoy them!!

Thank you for reading and following me!!