By Barbara Feuring

Living and working in Egypt as a Canadian has its ups and downs.and I ‘m not talking about camel humps! I teach at an American International School in Cairo where over 60% of the teachers are Canadian (go figure)! We are part
of an expat community of close to a million foreigners living and working in Cairo (20 + million not counting tourists). On a daily basis I fondly dream of my Canadian addictions.Tim Horton’s, Earls, walking the beach in White
Rock or the seawall in Stanley Park, or shopping the day away on Granville Island.

This is my 4th year here and I will never get over the crazy drivers or constant honking to announce that every vehicle and donkey cart should move out of the way AT ONCE! Most of the nightclubs and restauarants do not get
hopping until after midnight and for the most part cater to the smoking youth of Cairo…again… where are the nonsmoking laws when you need them! You might think that I am an old fart content to stay home and not venture
into the local life of the residents here..not so …
What could possibly compare to the Canadian places I yearn for , here in the desert? Could Canada possibly offer an oasis?

The answer is YES! Every two months the Canadian Embassy hosts a pub night
and all Canadians converge on the unassuming little building with the Canadian flag in the area of Garden City Cairo. It has become so popular that all nationalities, especially Americans, will do anything to be invited as a guest (one must be sponsored by a Canadian and be registered in advance to get in). There, from 4 - 9 pm, we happily drink Canadian beer and cider and the oh-so-coveted imported wine (impossible to get except black market and

duty free). There is music…from the 60’s to the present… a welcome treat to my ears having been assaulted by the neverending barrage of Arabic drumming and strange tonality of their melodies (I use the term loosely!) Dancing on the tables doesnt begin til close to 9 pm when we’ve all been fed and watered with abundance.

There is a courtyard in the middle for the smokers and where the barb-y is serving up the second most important category…PORK!

Almost as important as the liquid refreshments is the food ..pork is usually at the top of the menu (again difficult to get and impossible in restaurants). Bratwurst, ham and pork ribs are in plentiful supply on the barb-y all night.

What more could one ask??!! … for a few hours I am back in Canada enjoying what I love the most.the fellowship of kindred Canadians, flowing libations and a plate of delicacies.
NOW if only they could get Tim Horton’s coffee!!

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