Building our life in Egypt and the people helping us

Life is very different in Egypt and there are many people that most of us hire to help us. Dave and I will hire a lot of people because we have chosen to live in a villa and I do not want to drive myself around town. That means a driver, bowab, night security person, gardener, and maid. Yes, we are setting down roots in Egypt. And hope to have visitors!!!



Ahmed our bowab (left) and Noor the gardener. They are wonderful people and we feel lucky to have them.

Our villa comes with a full-time bowab named Ahmed and a part-time gardener named Noor. A bowab is someone who watches the house, greets people, washes the car if we ask, and generally makes sure that everything is ok. They are both wonderful. Ahmed has worked at the house for 12 years. He knows everyone and everything that goes on in the area. The police station is down the street from us and he knows all the policemen. We are so happy to have him work for us. He works from 7 am to 7 pm, six days a week. We also have a night security man whom I have not met. 



Hamsa, the main bowab for our current building

This is Hamsa, the main bowab for the apartment building. One of his biggest responsibilities is helping to manage the parking lot for the tenants as we live across the street from the American school. It's crazy at 8 am and 3 pm because of all the drivers dropping kids off or picking them up. I greet Hamsa and the other bowabs as I go in and out of the building throughout the day; they are always so kind and welcoming.