Time (for a) change!

So I was woken up at 4am for the 5am call to prayer. The time is supposed to change here (although it was somewhat in question because Ramadan starts in August this year). Yesterday was the Egyptian celebration of the first day of spring. So a time change makes sense, right? Surely I would know if the time was changing, right? Well, yes and no. Because this is Egypt.

No one really knows if and when the time changes. Apparently it is still up for debate in the Egyptian government. This is just one of the many things that it is driving me crazy right now. I mean, I have to get the kids to school and myself on a bus to work which theoretically runs on a timetable. I should know what time it is right? I don't read arabic so I guess I won't find out via newspaper. I will just figure it out when I figure it out. According to "worldtime.com", time change is next weekend. Who knows?

Our washing machine is broken (yes, for the 5th time this year). According to the repair man, I have had to replace the motor twice now due to "bad water". Are there quality differences in the Nile water between myself and the neighboring apartments? Huh?

Finally, we stayed in a hotel this past weekend and forgot to return the room key. We have received no fewer than 3 frantic calls in the 12 hours since we left. They don't have a spare room key. What hotel doesn't have a spare room key?

Apparently my patience for the idiosyncrisies of Egypt lasts approx 9 months. I can't wait for a summer in the US!

Never one to leave off on a sour note (even if I feel REALLY sour right now)....something from a good friend of mine who called above-mentioned hotel to inquire whether she could bring her 4 month old puppy with her to the hotel:

> Ramada: You need reservation?
> Friend: No I have reservation.
> R: When?
> F: This weekend.
> R: We have no rooms this weekend.
> F: I have a reservation. My friend made it.
> R: Dr. Ashley? Or Dr. Marcy?
> F: Dr. Marcy.
> R: Okay and you want to find out about dog?
> F: Yes, I want to know if I can bring my dog.
> R: What kind of dog is?
> F: It's a small dog. 3 kilos.
> R: Small dog? What color is?
> F: White.
> R: White?
> F: Yes, white.
> R: Not black?
> F: No, not black.
> R: And you are wife of Dr. Marcy, friend of Miss Mary?
> F: Yes.
> R: You can bring dog.

ARGH! I think I am going to have to eat McDonald's for lunch today!

Windsurfing!