You Can't Make Mistakes.

Where is Grace Kelly when you need her?

The buildings in this part of Cairo are very close together. This goes without saying, of course: it is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Usually I don’t even think about it. I just know that the building next door is right across the narrow alley—or air-shaft, as the case may be—but I don’t give it a second thought.

However, sometimes it can’t be helped.

Recently we were awakened to what seemed like a day-care/pre-school age group of children singing—under the direction of their teacher—at the top of their lungs. They were really belting it out.

After that, I started looking out into the back alley more often. It’s pretty nice, there is a garden down there, a million cats, sometimes a dog. Even birds on occasion.

Then I started noticing the people. There is the woman who cleans continuously. There is the couple who have really loud sex early in the morning. The people who are always doing laundry and hanging it downstairs. The couple who fights most of the time—and when they aren’t fighting with each other, the are fighting with their kids.

Those are just my favorites.

What I soon realized was that my neighbors are often watching me as well. For instance: I woke up the other morning, pretty early. Now, I usually sleep with the curtains open so that when the sun comes out, I have a better chance of waking up naturally, without an alarm.

Well this particular morning, I woke up—chipper and ready to go—got out of bed, and stretched my back and when I opened my eyes and looked out toward the window I realized that the cleaning-all-the-time woman was standing on her balcony was standing there watching me.

A newly awake, stark naked me.

Not really seeing another option, and really having exhausted my capacity to become embarrassed, I just waved. She was entirely unfazed by this, and simply waved back. Apparently I am not the first naked foreigner that she has seen in the window across the air-shaft.

So, maybe this is why she stands on the balcony in the morning.

A little disturbing, but understandable. However, I will be closing my curtains from now on.