How to Ride the Cairo Metro
If you are staying in Cairo, you might be interested in public transportation. And knowing how to ride the Cairo metro might be one of the more useful things you will learn. Because it’s useful, and can take quite a
Learning Arabic is Supposed to be Hard. Trust the Process.
It’s halfway through October. As the air gets a bit chilly and the leaves start to fall, I wanted to give you a bit of comfort. Comfort that wherever you are in your language-learning journey…..it’s all going to be OK.
The Curious Case of the Missing “Qaff”
In case you haven’t noticed it by now, Egyptians don’t really speak the same language as the people from Arabic textbooks. What seems like 90 percent of the words are different. The intonation is a little off. Egyptians also don’t
How To Buy Fruits and Vegetables in Egyptian Arabic
You may not have know this, but Egypt has awesome agriculture. Because of this, knowing how to buy fruits and vegetables in Egyptian Arabic is quite important. Indeed, amazing fruits and vegetables are everywhere in Cairo. Delicious strawberries bursting with
Egyptian Time
Live in Cairo, and one of the first things you will realize is this: Egyptians don’t seem to be looking at the same clock as you. You will plan to meet at a café at 3, and they will show
How To Introduce Yourself in Egyptian Arabic
If you are learning Egyptian Arabic, you will interact with people. And when you do, you need to know how to introduce yourself in Egyptian Arabic. We know know, we know. Real life human contact is scary, and doing it
The Egyptian Baweb
Before I came to Cairo, I was researching apartments on Craigslist. They varied greatly. Different areas. Different prices. Different kinds of roommates. Different room sizes. There was one thing they all had in common, though: a mysterious, all-powerful force that
How to Get Your Snacks at the Koshk
If you’re a snacker, you came to the right city. One thing that’s great about Cairo is the ever-present snack stall. These are called “koshks,” and they have everything you need. You name it, the koshk will provide it. Donuts,
Making Mish Sandwiches
Introduction She loves spending time with me……but she doesn’t return my phone calls. She loves laughing with me…..but her jokes at my expense come far too often. Everything is great…..until it’s not. Basically, it’s complicated. For all I know, the use of
How to Order at a Restaurant in Egyptian Arabic
If you are spending time in Cairo, you should know how to order at a restaurant in Egyptian Arabic. Tasting the Egyptian food is one of the best parts about staying in Cairo, and Egyptian restaurants are a huge part
