Its better than a tent located behind the third dune to the left, that's for sure.

In the middle of July all of the people who signed up for AUC's student housing received an email notifying them that the dormitories were not going to be completed in time for the fall semester (AUC is relocating to a brand-new campus in New Cairo). In the email they offered three options:

1) Defer admission to the Study Abroad Program until the Spring. Um, completely not happening. I'd been planning on studying abroad in Cairo for the entire year. Also I had no housing in DC nor was I registered for classes there anymore.

2) Withdraw from University provided housing and find your own apartment. I'm sorry, but I speak no colloquial Egyptian Arabic and am only sort of capable of conducting a conversation about apartments in Modern Standard.

3) Live in the emergency housing being arranged by the University that could be up to an hour away from campus. An hour away from campus? Each way? Ugh.


Upon receipt of this email I might have made a few hysterical phone calls (Sorry Tommy, Mom). Of course I then immediately had to go to work, where I might have also ranted to my co-worker and a couple of homeless people (Also sorry) about the unbelievable contents of the ResLife email.

After my hysterics subsided I decided that the only logical thing was to go for the Emergency Housing. Two weeks after the first email they notified us that emergency housing would be provided by three hotels in Heliopolis. That's supposedly a twenty minute shuttle ride to campus. I immediately decided I'd take the emergency housing.


Today I received my housing assignment: I will be living in the Hotel of the Engineering Division (El Dar El Handasseyah). This hotel just happens to be operated by the Egyptian Armed Forces.

Okay. well. The description sounds pretty decent:

The hotels host military families and international civilians, visitors such as national athletes and official government visitors. The facilities are located in a quiet district, yet within walking distance from Cairo’s metropolitan areas. All the hotels are on the same qualitative standards and offer the same quality of service. Each room contains 2 beds, a closet, TV, mini bar, a desk, a balcony and a private bathroom. The hotels are self-contained facilities with recreation, gym, internet, and restaurants with moderate government subsidized prices.

Hey, its a place to live. I'll take it. At least now I don't have to worry about trying to fit a tent in my carry-on luggage.