Finding a new flat

Most things in Egypt take a really long time, usually much longer than I think they should. Although I can sometimes identify the reason for the delay - bureaucracy, eighteen middle-men, a lack of infrastructure, traffic - there are a lot of times when the excessive length of time it takes to accomplish a simple task is just inexplicable.

Earlier this week, though, I discovered that finding a new flat is not a typical takes-way-longer-than-it-should task. Over the past couple weeks I had decided that I would prefer to live by myself than with a roommate, so I thought I would look around at some flats. I saw an advertisement for one that sounded interesting, so I went to see it last Thursday afternoon. It was nice but I didn't want to take the first flat I saw, so I went to see a couple more places on Saturday.

By Monday afternoon, though, I had decided that I was pretty sure I wanted the first place, but I wanted to see it again (and check water pressure, mattress thickness, couch comfort, etc.) to be sure. I called to make an appointment to see the apartment and was told I could see it at 5:00 that evening. I went to the flat, expecting just to take a look so I could then return home to make a final decision, but after looking around and meeting the woman who owns it (who would be my landlord), I was sold. I said that I would take it and within twenty minutes, someone had been sent and returned with the contract. The landlord and I both signed it, and I became the proud tenant of a lovely little flat! I couldn't be more excited, or more amazed at how simple - and quick - the process was!

As a side note, it was a little odd to realize that the first lease I've ever signed on my own is in Cairo, Egypt! Who would have ever thought that would be the case!?