Your Egypt

[poppy]

Hello all - I am currently doing surveys for a car insurance company in Montreal, Canada and am bored to tears! Not only with the job, but this City as well! :shock:

Originally, I came to visit a long lost brother. Only to find he prefers to drink himself to death, above all else. He is completely out of touch with reality. But, that's another story! :cry:

Having just finished doing a TESOL Teaching Certificate here. I now can't wait to leave !!! :roll:

Missing my former home (of the past 5 years, Egypt) and have been in Montreal 11 months too long! So, booked a flight to Istanbul, Turkey for 12th Sept 2008. As, I'm pleased to say I have a secure teaching contract there along with housing too.

I made a mistake by coming here in one way. But made sure I got something positive out of it, before I leave. I cannot wait to see Turkey, as I have never been, and will stay there for at least 2 years!

What's changed on this forum, since I last visited I wonder? I can't remember when I was here last. Feels like years! lol.

Anyone ever been to Istanbul before? Maybe you can tell me what its like to actually live there.

[RoughShod]

Hey there Poppy. Not much happening here other than developing new interesting reading material(which of course just has to have offensive content in order to illicite replies).If you were to be happy with the city of Montreal, would it be happy with you?...doubt it, you would have to kick butt to make anything happen. Same as here in YE. I swear they could talk about the weather all day and think they done their part for society for the day.

Well glad to know the challenge of teaching in a place like Turkey is a 'good' challenge. You haven't perhaps conscidered a post for Al queada have you? Perhaps you would get into that monkey's head ;Then again, I suppose that monkey has his people so tied up believing he is god, they perhaps would intervene if he failed to continue with his philosophy and do away with both you and himself :(

Everytime I see you I am reminded of warpigs by black sabbath....

Oh well, well wishes for your new post in Turkey :)

[moll]

I was in Istanbul over New Year, poppy.........liked it but it didn't 'grab' me the way Egypt did :cry: Very interesting place, though....and I couldn't believe how COLD it was! No idea what it's like to actually live there, though..

It's pretty quiet here these days, nice to see you back 8)

[poppy]

Ha! Ha! still the same satirical R.S. Some things just don't change....

I'm just not up to kicking anybody, even in a metaphorical sense, sorry to disappoint you. I never actually stated that teaching was a challenge. But, now that you come to mention it (although it has political connotations).It IS definitely a rare mix of reward AND challenge.

I would hope that Montreal is NOT happy with me, as I do not want to stay here. I have a different set of moral values and a personal belief system, which if known, would not sit comfortably with Many of Montrealers. Or YOU probably.....

Plus, I'm rather bored with the choice of entertainment (viewing) topics of the norm here. Which tend to be, series on lesbians, gays, drug dealers or addicts. The former, (gays and L's) portrayed as more normal and widely acceptable than Hetro's (which I find disturbing).

While the latter (Drugies and dealers) happen to be the popular source of comedy. To which, I don't radically object. BUT, (there again, find it disturbing. That this sub cultural way of life, is regularly and widely advertised AND aimed at school children. To NOT BE MISSED when you return from school! AND furthermore, in this popular and regular comedy (which, is clearly based on real life events and parodies these. It also, sends out the message of acceptance.

That its completely normal and even admirable to, break the law AND use weapons (mainly guns) to fight your 'everyday' gangland war! I am horrified and sickened by this culture. Sending out a clear message thats its cool to take
drugs and sell them and use violence if anyone crosses your path or gets in your way. AND this is supposed to be funny for children, not JUST AIMED at adults...... Its prime time, and repeated frequently throughout popular viewing, night and day...

Not that I ever watched much T.V. anyway. But now, tend just not to turn it on at all.


I'm sorry if this offends anyone. Its just my opinion thats all.

Thanks for the well wishes for Turkey, where I'm sure I'll feel more at home than Canada. Until my inevitable return to Egypt.


Everytime I see you I am reminded of warpigs by black sabbath.... LOL

P.S. Thanks for the compliments!

[poppy]

Thanks Moll! I'm actually happy to hear you say it was cold! Although, I'm quite confident it could never be as cold as this recent, Montreal winter Brrrrrrr! It was horrible, with mountains of snow! Yes, mountains, taller than I. (And I'm pretty tall) Which, buried cars for weeks. Forcing people to abandon them and use the public transport instead. Which was constantly late and held up by the impossible weather!


While our ears and noses turned first blue and then purple!

oh! Sorry Moll got to dash. My boss just phoned and I got to collect my pay cheque YESSSSSS!

Speak to you later OK. All the best! :D

[SeaBird]

poppy wrote: Hello all

Anyone ever been to Istanbul before? Maybe you can tell me what its like to actually live there.

Hi everyone

Last year's April; I experienced being a retired senior manager.
I enjoy my present lifestyle but now and then miss being belonging to something "serious". Civil Groups? I am a member of several ones but our Egyptian Culture turned them to closed circles of special interest groups, need George W Bush to send them into what he insanely call Creative Chaos, how Chaos could be Creative? don't ask me but ask that religous maniac at the White House.

Poppy

I have been to Turkylast August, enjoyed very much Istanpole, ready to answer yr questions,
just ask.

Take care

Salam

[poppy]

Well Moll and S.B, I'm back with my meager pay cheque! lol. Not much to tell really about Montreal. Oh! more than one Brit has relayed to me. There is not much sense made of British humour here. Its either completely undetected or taken as literal. Most native comedy is too gaa gaa and OTT. :roll: With an overdose of foul language.

(MOSTLY THIS IS A CHANNEL CALLED 'SHOWCASE' I SPEAK OF) I Specifically tuned in to watch the occasional broadcast of British programmes.


Take Lenny and Spenny for example, they are two Jews , they started out as telemarketers and crack heads. Now have their own, base, bizarre, crude form of making fools of one another by deflating each other's egos and mutual, public humiliation. Yes, a comedy show or series. :shock:

Again, it does absolutely nothing for me, and its disturbing to say the least.

Some of the chosen topics I recall are: Who can stay naked the longest. :o

Who will be a good Father to an electronic, crying baby (could have been an OK topic)
Except, the cruel one of the two. Delighted in being cruel, evil and callous with his simulated baby doll. CLEARLY, SENDING OUT SUBTLE, SUBLIMINALS OR CONNOTATIONS OF PROMOTING CHILD ABUSE!
As he proceeded to bash it, burn it and other various imitations of child torture, all the while smiling proudly to the audience. :smt075



Last topic, I recall: Who can wear a dead octipus on their head the longest
(seriously!) And the dominant one, openly mocked and ridiculed the Rasterfarian faith. By wearing a raster man's hat over his and mimicking a black man's accent. CLEARLY SENDING OUT SUBLIMINAL, RACIST CONNOTATIONS. He then proceeded to covertly, deceive his so called friend. By showing the camera, secretly he would chop off the tentacles, one by one. Then sew or glue them onto his Raster man's hat. Proudly cheating and making his burden easier. With the expression and mentality of a warped, five year old cretinous, moron..... :smt075

Oh! and he also dangled a struggling, terrified, live cat. In what can only be described as a noose like, fishing rod contraption. Holding it high in the air, towering above the back of his friend's head. All the while smiling gleefully, like an escaped, mental patient.


He then proceeded to secretly dose his friend's with a drink, laced with about 5/6 LSD Acid tabs. When his friend responded by completely freaking out. He tried various, underhand and devious tactics. to cajole and scare his mate. Into removing his whole octipus body, legs an all! From his head.

(TO WIN THIS SICKENING CONTEST) He tried this, by dressing up as
JESUS CHRIST and mimicking this prophet. By being an over bearing, domineering outmoded character. CLEARLY SUBLIMINAL, BLASPEMY. To any half seriously respectful, Christians or Catholics etc who may have, inadvertantly been tuned in! :smt075


As, I say I don't tend to watch much T.V. But, lately I've gone off it, altogether. That's Montreal for you, don't get me wrong. I'm sure its some people's cup of tea! Or, rather coffee lol. Which to my surprise I'm becoming heavily addicted to. Hmmmm! must wean myself off of this and back onto Tea, when I depart........ :wink:


Oh! and my only male friend, who is somewhat confused about his gender orientation (hardly surprising really). Has been beaten up in the street, was unconcious and awoke in hospital. Having stitches to his face, :shock: blackened eyes and broken teeth. Apparently, when a driver, beeped at him. Indicating he should hurry to cross the road. My poor, deluded friend (in his own words) gave him the finger and the resulting scenario, from then on, is pretty predicable in this neck of the woods.

Needless to say, I don't go out much alone especially at night. I only seem to venture outside in the full light of day. For practical purposes only.

Although I'm told its relatively safe, I prefer, nonetheless to trust my instincts on that one.



So, there you have it Moll .... Montreal mentality in a nutshell.......

[poppy]

[quote="SeaBird"] poppy wrote:
Hi everyone

Poppy

I have been to Turkylast August, enjoyed very much Istanpole, ready to answer yr questions,
just ask.

Take care

Salam

Thank you kindly S.B. Have a great evening! :wink:

[moll]

SeaBird wrote: Hello all




Well hello SeaBird 8) hope you're enjoying your life of leisure.......

Poppy, I hate to tell you, but that's how I feel things have gone here in the UK, pretty moronic TV and homosexuality made to sound like it's just so much cooler than being straight...I'm not homophobic, I'm not anti-gay...but it makes me mad when it's presented to children like it's boring to be heterosexual and gay is the way to go.

When we were in Vancouver a few years ago there was a Gay Parade :roll: I can just see the outcry if there was a 'Straight Parade' with heterosexual people celebrating THEIR sexuality, the anti-discrimination police would have a field day saying it was homophobic and discrimination and God knows what else :roll: all these gay men were dressed up as schoolgirls and french maids and ballet dancers and to tell you the truth, the effect it had on me was just negative so they got it wrong if it was to make homosexuality more acceptable. They can do whatever they like in privacy, I couldn't care less......but I don't need it in my face :evil:

Anyway that's my little rant

I know what you mean about the British sense of humour though and I think the Scottish sense of humour is even more kind of 'specialised', I don't think many people here get mine :cry:

It was cold in Istanbul but that was in december/january, I'd think it would be hot there in the summer.....what I liked about Istanbul (apart from the buildings and the history etc) was that it's on the Bosphorus, having lived near the sea all my life I like to be near water.

I'm just rambling on here bcs I've got an hour to kill before I have to go back out, going to an Art Exhibition by our P7s, they paint abstract pictures then they have to explain the thinking behind them :shock:

Now that I've got my new scanner I'm thinking of showing some of my own artistic efforts 8) I may have a little exhibition one of these days, in fact I'm going to do a quick painting before I go out....

[RoughShod]

Poppy, I am sad to hear about your brother's condition. I read it the first time and then skipped it because it seems to have brought you to that city of perceived pain and you seem to be trying to flee it. Of course I am as disturbed by what you have said about what is shown as normal by the media. It seems to happen everywhere in the world. I t seems to follow that scientific principle That any chemical in its concentrated state will find a means to dissipate into a more homogenious state at the liberation of energy if it is able to.(ask Seabird...I am sure he can explain that a lot better than I)

The liberation of moral energy to enable a more (homogenious) or peacefull solution to people dissolving who they are for the sake of peace is totally unacceptable. Lets go blow up Montreals radio and tv stations;)

:lol:

[moll]

RoughShod wrote:

The liberation of moral energy to enable a more (homogenious) or peacefull solution to people dissolving who they are for the sake of peace is totally unacceptable.

:lol:

Yeeeeah, right on, Roughshod! :thumleft:

(haven't a bloody clue what he's talking about :-$ )

But I am continuing to work on my portfolio of modern art :afro: and I will be mounting my exhibition soon :shock: :shock: :shock:

[SeaBird]

Hi EveryOne

I & Dear Wife just came back from Alexandria Opera House.
As a retired man, I book tickets in advance in the beginning of each month with the release of a new program/agenda. This goes with both Alex Opera house and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina's Art Center.
So; we had 2 tickets to attend an evening concert with:

" Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra "

Commemorating the 100 th Birthday of the Turkish Composers Ahmet Adnan Saygun & Ulvi Cemal Erkin.

Soloist (Piano) : Hande Dalkilic
Conductor: Naci Ozguc.

This is my 3 rd Turkish Evening at Alex Opera House.

As in the other 2 events, Police men/cars were at the front gate of the outer yard of the Opera House, Fancy black cars with green diplomatic plates parking in No Parking side of the Main Street in Alex called Horya (Freedom) Buolvard. Then as we entered the front Yard, there were tables getting ready to serve cookies, french pastery (gateau), soft drinks hot coffee/tea, after the Show and Free (I guess the Turkish cunsolate in Alex takes care of the costs).

We were at 9:00 PM sharp, the Orchestra members were at stage, and the Soloist lady presented to us a brief introduction about the pieces of music which will be performed.

There were an audience mix of Egyptians and foreigners, and I can tell that the foreigners were more in numbers than the Egyptians. The Turks were occupying the first 2 rows, I guess most of them are diplomats and may have a few businessmen as new Turkish factories have been established in Alex Free Zone district.

I just love attending these concerts for the music and also enjoy seeing the most beautiful Egyptian women of Alexandria nicely dressed for the evening. Also, most of the men in black toxidoes but I can't stand a jacket in June's humidity, so I had a halfsleeved white shirt with a necktie having stripes of black & red colors, my trousers were in black.

After the concert, we had a 5 minute walk to Roastery, where we are used to spend sometime in that place after attending each event at the Opera House. I ordered my favorite Ice Cream (2 balls milk one ball checolate) Dear Wife ordered her favorite capatchino. We enjoyed lovely soft western music while swallowing my seemingly endless supply of Ice Cream!

[poppy]

moll wrote:

Poppy, I hate to tell you, but that's how I feel things have gone here in the UK, pretty moronic TV and homosexuality made to sound like it's just so much cooler than being straight...I'm not homophobic, I'm not anti-gay...but it makes me mad when it's presented to children like it's boring to be heterosexual and gay is the way to go.

they got it wrong if it was to make homosexuality more acceptable. They can do whatever they like in privacy, I couldn't care less......but I don't need it in my face :evil:


I know what you mean about the British sense of humour though and I think the Scottish sense of humour is even more kind of 'specialised', I don't think many people here get mine :cry:

It was cold in Istanbul but that was in december/january, I'd think it would be hot there in the summer.....what I liked about Istanbul (apart from the buildings and the history etc) was that it's on the Bosphorus, having lived near the sea all my life I like to be near water.



I may have a little exhibition one of these days, in fact I'm going to do a quick painting before I go out....




Hello Moll, I'm not homophobic either and I know that the UK has gone to the dogs. In many different and diverse ways. Its one of the reasons that I determined to leave it in 2003. Thank you for such an informative and interesting reply. Don't worry Moll, I also lived for a short period in Aberdeen some years ago. And of course I'm a Brit! So I can appreciate your humour! :lol:

I imagine the weather in Istanbul is pretty much what I'm hoping it will be. From what I've read and your comments so far. :wink: Me too, I love to be by the Med sea.

Speaking of which, here in Montreal we just had a freak storm! Much thunder and lightning and heavy rain. Then the electricity in the flat, was dipping wildly. I thought nothing of it, until I just went shopping. :cry:

I can forget that idea until tomorrow. All the supermarkets and the pharmacy in my area, have no power. So of course the cash registers won't operate. So they are all closed, unbelievable! No milk in the coffee tonight, which probably means (as the T.V. is absolute crap) Glued, wide eyed to the computer for several, speedy hours to come lol.

How I love Canada (NOT!)

Yes Moll, lets see your artistic talents here on line. I'm sure they're worthy of an exhibition or two. Who knows, you might get discovered this way! :)

[poppy]

moll wrote: RoughShod wrote:

The liberation of moral energy to enable a more (homogenious) or peacefull solution to people dissolving who they are for the sake of peace is totally unacceptable.

:lol:

Yeeeeah, right on, Roughshod! :thumleft:

(haven't a bloody clue what he's talking about :-$ )

But I am continuing to work on my portfolio of modern art :afro: and I will be mounting my exhibition soon :shock: :shock: :shock:


Heee! Heeee! Moll go girl go! Me too, what IS he saying? Exactly???

OOOh! I detect a hint of violence in his Intellectual ramblings. Thats it, I'm off to hide under the sofa til he's gone! [-o<

[poppy]

SeaBird wrote: Hi EveryOne


" Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra "


Then as we entered the front Yard, there were tables getting ready to serve cookies, french pastery (gateau), soft drinks hot coffee/tea, after the Show and Free (I guess the Turkish cunsolate in Alex takes care of the costs).

There were an audience mix of Egyptians and foreigners, and I can tell that the foreigners were more in numbers than the Egyptians. The Turks were occupying the first 2 rows, I guess most of them are diplomats and may have a few businessmen as new Turkish factories have been established in Alex Free Zone district.

I ordered my favorite Ice Cream (2 balls milk one ball checolate) Dear Wife ordered her favorite capatchino. We enjoyed lovely soft western music while swallowing my seemingly endless supply of Ice Cream!



Hello S.B. Its nice to know about the multi culturalism of Alex and Istanbul at what sounds like an entertaining and prestigious event. And I love the way you write in such painstaking detail. It is totally absorbing and I could read it for hours.

But, OOOh! all this talk of such delicious delicacies and foodstuffs and ICE CREAM emmmm! Has made me soooo hungry now!

I shall just have to go and raid the freezer! lol :smt110