tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781059549193677559.post4787324293811874148..comments2023-03-30T16:12:47.125-04:00Comments on I Hate Cilantro: Foreign Types with the Hookah PipesErin Hollingsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15396652776489993100noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781059549193677559.post-66133742007617506202008-05-02T17:16:00.000-04:002008-05-02T17:16:00.000-04:00Hmmm I think I will start a "Written from Cafe Cil...Hmmm I think I will start a "Written from Cafe Cilantro" blog... I wonder if that will compete with you on your SEO index, or whatever you call it... <BR/><BR/>In my reread I noticed mix-up with illicit vs. elicit, but maybe the use of illicit was to emphasize the forbidden nature of my ahwa going inquiries??<BR/><BR/>Love from Cairo...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02202835283470555441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781059549193677559.post-10501718748391002852008-05-01T19:27:00.000-04:002008-05-01T19:27:00.000-04:00I hope Dear Friend is doing some creative writing ...I hope Dear Friend is doing some creative writing in her non-existent spare time. Girlfriend can put a sentence together. <BR/><BR/>You leave me nothing to argue with, I agree completely. Every once in awhile, this happens.Erin Hollingsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15396652776489993100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781059549193677559.post-850849003429272342008-05-01T17:48:00.000-04:002008-05-01T17:48:00.000-04:00Ah, the struggle of the "authentic" experience. M...Ah, the struggle of the "authentic" experience. My Dear Cilantro-Hating Friend has hit on a point, in a word, that I myself go back and forth with much these days... As far as Cilantro Cafe goes, can I really hate having a place for a decent café latte round the corner, even if it is cultural atrophy in cup? Or better yet, can I feel guilty every time I have them deliver this cup of joe for a mere dollar extra? Am I denying myself the "real" Cairo by depending on coffee delivery from a poorly named chain? <BR/><BR/>I wonder a lot if my experience in Egypt would feel more Egyptian if I grew some balls (pun intended...) and ventured into one of these all male, all authentic, coffeeshop establishments. I inquired about this from a very nice man juicing oranges. He said that I could, if I wanted, go into the ahwas, and it would only illicit a few uncomfortable stares, (but I must be used to that, after all I am a woman...). I asked innocently, but sir, I really don't see many women in these places. He clarified for me that it is Egyptian women who are really discouraged from the mud-like turkish coffee, male conversation, and sheesha smoke. As a foreigner, I can do as I want (I do love Egypt for its tolerance). <BR/><BR/>And I was reminded of this cilantro post because, is Cilantro Cafe a victory for women? Is my ability to smoke with the men also a victory for all? Or is it less the growing female empowerment, but much more the ever-present western entitlement (read: money, education, power?) that gives me these "freedoms". Not to down-play the feminists... I do recognize that it was my western muff-bearing counterparts who originally lassoed these freedoms with the very umbilical cords that held them to their young; it was their efforts that have enabled me to practice entitlement worldwide surely. I just wonder how many Egyptian women are enjoying their café latte delivery service, from the comforts of their terrace... Probably more than I think, but still... As an American, and a woman, I guess I better come to terms with the idea that comforts like Cilantro, are a part, not all, but an undeniable part of my authentic Cairo experience. I mean, what would I do without a cappuccino a phone call away?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02202835283470555441noreply@blogger.com