Hair Coloring in Egypt

Hair Coloring: Mr. Maroun of Les Elites Salon in Mohandeseen (which means engineers) touched up my roots today. I was wondering if I would find a salon accustomed to working with blonde hair in Cairo. He came recommended by the last Fulbright director's wife; and he did an excellent job. I had my formula written down. He had no problem understanding it, translating it into L'Oreal products, and had the latest creation (which doesn't contain ammonia). Maroun is a Christian Maronite from Lebanon, He was born the year the country's civil war started and at age 37 isn't married, because he doesn't want to marry someone outside his religious sect. He has a Muslim girlfriend but attempting to marry her would cause a lot of interfaith friction. The friendly young woman in the chair next to me (half Egyptian and half Kashmiri, speaking excellent English and Arabic) said she would never wear the headscarf. Currently the religious conservatives have politically taken over; and secularists, who were always in the minority, are in retreat. However, she doesn't plan to abandon her views. She also mentioned that the winters (when the temperatures fall below the 80°s and 90°s are getting shorter) in Egypt. Maroun called the party in power the "crazy Muslim Brotherhood." He visits the United States for several weeks every year.

Tips on Finding an Address in Egypt: 1) Take white taxis, which are supposed to be air conditioned and have meters. I was advised in the salon not to take the metro, which is extremely crowded. 2) Have the address written in Arabic; and the taxi driver will ask people on the way for directions, or call the mobile number of your contact at the address, if you have the person's number. 3) When you get close to the place, you may still need to get out and ask around. Near the intersection of Abdel Moneim Riyad Street and El Batal Ahmed Abdel Aziz Street, there are two buildings with the number 42 (the address of Les Elites). So be lucky enough to find two young men (one French, one Egyptian, both speaking excellent English) as I did, who will help you ask around. The Français was working for a German company seeking to establish an online company similar to Amazon in Egypt. He shared his views of doing business in Cairo: it takes a long time to get anyplace; people are late or don't show up; it's hard to reach people and schedule appointments–even if they say call back, they may not be there. Well, I'm here to learn not run the marathon; so I'm sure I'll have gained a new perspective on life and the globe when I leave. Cairo is an amazing city but can have its challenges. Syria: There were anti-Assad protests in front of the Arab League today as well as in front of the Syrian Embassy in Garden City. There areas are near my apartment building. Nonetheless, I didn't see or hear anything. All I did see on return taxi ride from having my hair done was the huge burned-out building of the former National Democratic Party in Tahrir Square, which remains much the same since the events of January 25, when it was set alight and Hosni Mubarak was ousted after thirty years of rule.