Since the Good Ship Serendipity turned into the Houseboat Debacle of Shame, I’ve been trying to find a new place to live.  Lucky for me the Cairo Scholars mailing list is rife with people seeking a room or seeking a tenant to fill an available room. After the first room I looked at, the second … Continue reading →

Well, I’m still feeling queasy so I’ve got nothing better to do than sit around the hotel and write in my blog.  Although I haven’t done a whole lot in the past few days so the action is going to be pretty limited. As I was trying to drop off to sleep last night,  a … Continue reading →

A few days ago I was at Maison Thomas, the famous and excellent pizza restaurant in Zamalek, eating something with lots of mushrooms when I noticed a guy eyeing up my pizza in the mirror above my table.  Maison Thomas is decked out in French continental style, lots of dark wood, high tables and mirrors … Continue reading →

The hotel where I’m staying, the Longchamps, is run by a wonderful woman of indeterminate age named Madame Hebba.  She is stylish and competent, overseeing the refurbishments to her hotel while managing the remaining open rooms with flair.  Her vision is everywhere in little touches all over–candles lit every evening on tables in the hallways, … Continue reading →

This is about the day I tried to register for my research fellowship at the American University in Cairo.  It was hellish.  I’ve decided the best way to convey the story is as a comic play. Act I: in which Caitlin tries to find the Registrar’s Office Caitlin (soliloquy): Well, I’ve checked the website and … Continue reading →

So much has happened since my last entry that I’ll have to devote several new ones to make up the difference.  But the most important news is that I’m no longer on the houseboat. I’ll start at the end.  A few hours ago I showed up at the Hotel Longchamps again, where I’d been staying … Continue reading →

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Well, I’m here!  My travel journal already has several pages filled–I’d’ve updated earlier but I had some problems with my so-called universal power adapter.  After some fiddling with intermediary connectors finagled from the hotel desk, I managed to cobble something together–lets all just hope the computer doesn’t explode…  I think I’ll start with something that … Continue reading →

Well, here I am in the airport, having taken the first step in this journey of a thousand miles.  My feelings are complicated, rushing over each other: excited, nervous, annoyed with myself for arriving at the gate about two hours before my flight will be called up, grateful for the help I’ve received to get … Continue reading →

When I get to Cairo, I’ll begin a research fellowship at the Institute of Gender and Women’s Studies (IGWS) at the American University in Cairo (AUC).  For those of you who aren’t familiar with academic jargon, basically this means that I’m not registered as a student there and I don’t have to attend classes, but … Continue reading →