STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

ayo · Coach

RE: Would it be horrible to post an announcement here?

Karina · Chanel

oh my god, what a great opportunity.

i thought you were going to say you were pregnant LOL

will he be practicing law there also?

esquiress · Marc Jacobs

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! that is amazing!! one of my best friends is Egyptian (just like drew's SO, she came to the US very young and her family was also fleeing religious persecution--she's coptic orthodox, btw). her parents liken cairo to new york and i looove new york so cairo sounds fabulous!

relrel · Marc Jacobs

oh my goodness gracious! im so jealous, it's my dream to live in another country. one of my professors lived quite a while in egypt but that was about twenty years ago so even though he tells us stories all the time i doubt any of it would be relevant anymore. but congratulations to your hubby and you! cairo will be awesome!

and i would love to hear "a day in the life of alb" stories from there!

alb · Marc Jacobs

Thanks again everyone for the well wishes and tips.

Drew--How horrible that your hubby's family suffered religious persecution. Did he live in Cairo? Does he have any memories of living in Egypt or was he too young?

McKenke--That is great information, thanks. what did you think when you visited Cairo? Is it true that there is a deficit of fashionable clothing retail over there? I have heard about the potential for harassment--a friend of mine visited there and hated it actually for that very reason. She and her friends inadvertently got on the subway for males (verses the female one) and the men thought they were prostitutes! We are going to live in a place called Maadi. Is that the neighborhood you were thinking of? It's near the American University and I believe alot of expats (from the States and other countries) live there. I talked to my hubby about the dialect issue before reading your post and he told me the exact same thing. He is learning Modern Standard Arabic (starting with the alphabet) and will then learn the dialect. Apparently everyone speaks in the vernacular/dialect but the newspapers are written in the more formal MSA. I am going to be learning Arabic the same way.

Ayo--Wow--I can't believe your hubby used to live there! I'd love to hear what he has to say about it. If he ever wants to go back, you guys should come visit us!

Karina--Neither of us will be practicing law. We are both burnt out on it. He will work as a political officer and I'll be a SAHM for awhile. I'm so ready to do that!

Esquiress--thanks for mentioning the comparison to NYC, that's really good to hear!

-- Edited by alb at 16:52, 2006-02-21

ayo · Coach

yup...he's father was in the foreign service so he was all over the place...

ooooh yay! I'd love to come visit...

halleybird · Hermes

whoa, neat! I have to admit I'd be pretty scared too, but what an amazing experience!

Ally S · Kate Spade

OMG! What an incredible opportunity, I would drop everything in a heartbeat to do a few years in another country. I can offer no advice, but just wanted to say I am thrilled for you.

alb · Marc Jacobs

Thanks, girls!

JMR · Dooney & Bourke

Congrats! I hope you still come and visit us on ST!!

JoceyBaby23 · Gucci

That is really an opportunity of a lifetime. I'm sure you will love it!

Drew · Gucci

alb wrote:

Drew--How horrible that your hubby's family suffered religious persecution. Did he live in Cairo? Does he have any memories of living in Egypt or was he too young?

More than anything I was fascinated by that fact (religious persecution), I mean simply because in grade school I was taught about the original emmigrants to the US and of course many came because of religious persecution. I never thought that 200 years later it was still happening (ignorance was bliss). He vaguely remembers Egypt; he described a few places for me, and mostly remembers the cushy life his mom had (they had two maids and his mom did nothing) before coming to America. They didn't live in Cairo; I'm not sure if they've been or not. They came from towns (the mom and dad) I cannot remember, but were described as country life. His mom still misses Egypt and never wanted to leave. It was his dad that insisted. He was a deacon in the Coptic church and quite outspoken about the discrimination Copts received from Muslims, especially in getting to go to college or get good work (according to SO's dad it was common for Copts and Jews to be discriminated against and it was done by simply looking at someones name; that's how you could tell their religion). He received threats in voice and letter about shutting up or being shut up. So, to potentially save his life, and offer his kids a fair chance in life, they moved to the US, and are truly living the American Dream.

Ok, maybe you can shed some light on what I have been told, about how life is over there now and if you see any discrimination, or not.

I hear Cairo and big cities are safe, and modern, and all that. SO tells me it would be perfectly safe to go there.

-- Edited by Drew at 11:06, 2006-02-23

Magnolia · BCBG

OMG!! I can't believe I didn't read your post earlier!! I'm Egyptian!!! I was born in Egypt and spent my childhood in Egypt until the age of 7 (I'm 19 now.) My family came to US for the same reasons Drew's SO and Esquiress' friend came to the US -- religious persecution (I am also Coptic Orthodox.) The last time I visited Egypt was about 5 to 6 years ago, but I really want to go back for another visit soon (unfortunately airfare is so expensive.) I lived in Alexandria (a beautiful city that I would definitely recommend visiting.) During my last visit, I saw Cairo for the first time and it's a fascinating city. Egypt has not changed much within my lifetime so please pm if you want me to expand a bit on the culture and what to expect from people. Also I've been told that the Egyptian dialect is the easiest Arabic dialect to learn (I still speak the language but with a very strong American English accent.) If you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them.

-- Edited by Magnolia at 16:33, 2006-02-22

alb · Marc Jacobs

OMG Drew and Magnolia I am fascinated by what you both said in your posts. I had no idea about how vast the discrimination was against Coptic Christians there, and Magnolia, that is so awesome that you are Egyptian! I am definitely going to send you a PM, as I would love to pick your brain about a few things. Thanks again to both of you (and to others you have responded w/ stories or well wishes). Again, I found your responses really interesting! I'm so excited about this move and love talking to people about life there and reading, researching, etc.

Misty · Dooney & Bourke

this is some AMAZING news. How exciting, and what a rare and incredible opportunity!!!

When you come back to see the family, give me a ring. I hate the thought of waiting another 2 years to see you.

P.S. I'm calling you tonight. I have to hear about how this came about. Tell A I said congrats.

-- Edited by Misty at 18:21, 2006-02-23

alb · Marc Jacobs

Misty--Not sure if you tried to call me last night--I left my cell phone at work.. Definitely let's touch base this w/e and catch up!

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

I'm going to Egypt next month...I'll post about my trip when I get back! Definitely take advantage of being able to go places not normally easily accessible from the US (Jordan, Syria, Tunisia, Morocco, Turkey, etc...)

Cortney1982 · Chanel

I would be too scared to live in Egypt if you say they harrass! I studied Cairo in 7th grade, but don't remember a darn thing.

alb · Marc Jacobs

Gigembre--How exciting! Please do post and update when you return! If you don't mind my asking, what made you decide to go to Egypt?