The Prize- 2/14th

 

This is the prize from the nightclub raffle.

2/14

Saturday started to be the same—too much time on the computer! I spent hours trying to get the video onto DVD as it turned out not to be a simple matter --when is it ever! I had to do a lot of google research to find out how to make the camcorder and computer talk to each other. Then there was learning the new video program, and then just time to render clips into video and burn the DVD. I went to bed with only half of the concert on video. But little did I know my Saturday night was really just beginning!

 

It was 11 PM and I had just settled under the covers when the phone rings. It’s Dee Dee Asad and she is in Egypt. Dee Dee sponsors several of the dance workshops I have attended over the past several years. I was at the Dina workshop in Montreal when her husband, Ahmad, died. She knew I was going to be in Cairo while she was here on business and visiting family. “Darling,” she says, “Are you in bed? Get yourself up and dressed and join us. We are at the coffee shop down the street!”  What the heck, I’m in Cairo for only a short while, so why not! I throw on jeans and a long sweater. To the amazement of the girls, I come out of my room dressed and tell them I am heading out to meet a friend.

 

Via the cell phone, Dee Dee gives directions to the coffee shop to my taxi driver. It really isn’t very far from the flat but she thinks it is too late to walk. The driver drives in circles trying to follow Dee Dee’s instructions. I’m glad I didn’t try to walk!

 

Dee Dee looks great. She is surrounded by her new in-laws. Dee Dee has remarried an Egyptian, Asman, who is living in Italy. They are both in Cairo visiting his family and I meet them all. Dee Dee and I catch-up over a half-cup of tea when then she announces that the group is going to a night club and off we go! It is 1 AM and the coffee shop seems to have been only a holding spot till the nightclub opened! We are a group of 10; Dee Dee, Asman, father and mother-in-law, sister-in-law with husband and 3 year-old son, a brother-in law, a younger sister-in law, and me. Why did I wear jeans?!?! I usually only wear jeans in the flat- oh well. Though it is 1 AM, we are some of the first customers to arrive but by 2 PM the place is packed with Egyptians and one non Egyptian- me.

 

It is a small nightclub in Mohandiseen. We order dinner and are entertained first by Arabic pop music, then by a female singer and then by a male singer, Sameh Yousry, a favorite of Dee Dee’s. The sister-in-law, 3 year-old, and husband last an hour and leave before dinner because the child is exhausted. After dinner and the female singer’s set, the mother, father, and young sister-in-law leave and it is now just 4 of us --Dee Dee, Asman, his brother and me-- when the male singer starts. With the in-laws gone, we can let lose a little and join the other Egyptians who are inspired to dance beside their seats. There is no dance floor, and they don’t even move to dance in the isles, they just stand at their seat and dance- men and women. More of this seems to happen during the male singers set- I don’t know if it is the later hour or what, but he certainly encourages it more than the female singer did. I love watching all the interaction, how the women and men move, what music inspires them… Eventually Dee Dee and I join in on some of the fun and dance at our seats. The singer, Sameh, spotted me and asks me to come to his side as he sings- “I know you are a dancer,” he says, “Come here.” I try to sit down but Dee Dee won’t let me so now the whole place is staring at this strange blond woman among them. I danced short bit, but as soon as Sameh was into his song and the crowd, I slip back to my seat. There is a large table of celebrities next to us. One of them is a gentleman of 50 who we are told is a very famous actor. Several times he pulls me up to dance in the isle and claps along to encourage me. I’m not sure if I’m just a novelty or what. Oh, well, it is fun to move.

 

Part of the entertainment for the nights is also a raffle drawing. I don’t know what they pay for the tickets, but the prizes that they are all excited about seem to be mostly large white stuffed animals like bears, cats…Asman has bout 10 tickets and but does finally win one item—a 12” high boudoir style lamp. There is no way to describe it and at the end of the night it was presented to me s a gift. If I can get it home in one piece, it will be a great conversation piece and a memento of the night.

 

The club is starting to empty, and after a cup of coffee and tea, we too depart. Outside it is getting light—It is 6:00 AM!!