Another Cairo First

Crossing streets in Cairo is a lot like the old arcade game Frogger. You move forward, step to the side, back up, work your way around another taxi, walk forward, stop suddenly, move right, hit a car, move left, push a car aside, and continue until you get to the other side. It’s like an art. I just walk the streets of Ma’adi, a tame suburb. You won’t see me dashing across 12 lanes of the speeding Ring Road or Autostrade anytime soon.

Well today, I was walking home from running some errands, when I decide to cross the street to the side with the sidewalk. I was near the back gate of my school, on a well-traveled street. It even had a garden median in the center.

Well, I cross the first bit without a problem. While waiting for oncoming traffic to work its way by or decide to turn around the rotary, I just stand at the median. An approaching car seems like it is veering towards me a bit too closely. I think, “Gee, that idiot seems to need to hug the curb for his U-turn.” I don’t move aside though, since it’s a clear shot once he passes.

Well, he slows a bit more, and the next thing you know, a hand is out the window, and the guy grabs a big handful of Carolyn. Yup, you got it--I got groped by some desperate idiot. He said something as well, which I couldn’t understand, because I was thinking, “WTF?!?” and smacking his hand away and then punching the back of his car. I mean, really, mister, are you that desperate for a feel? Look, I’m walking down the street, in a faded old t-shirt with baggy denim capris, flip-flops, and sweating in the 100 degree heat. I’m not looking my best to say the least.

I’ve traveled quite a bit in my life. I’ve had perverts expose themselves to me on four different continents in the course of my travels. This is my first time being felt up. I’m feeling a bit violated, but mostly just pissed that I didn’t hit his car a little harder.