Pyramids of Giza

view of Nile from Gezirah Sheraton

It was early October in 2002 when we landed in Cairo – familiar place for me but totally new to Vidya and kids. We checked into Gezira Sheraton (now SofitelGezirah ) – our favourite hotel in Cairo. Located in the island of Zamalek, it has wonderful views of the Nile from any room. From the time I visited Cairo first in 1998, this was the second home for me and all I took to Egypt for a visit/ work.

Jaideep & Family with Vidya & kids

We had arrived but I couldn’t get to work as some clearances were unexpectedly not through. What was to be a week to 10 days at the hotel lasted for over a month. A long period of uncertainty punctuated with meetings and discussions without end. I would go out for the day and Vidya got to manage and do something with Pranav (6) and Thejas (3) getting to see the city, schools and waiting with anticipation if and when we may shift to a home. We had our first visitors, when still at the hotel, when batch mate and colleague Jaideep visited with family. We had to decide between staying in Zamalek or Maadi the two main localities for expats and we chose the more residential Maadi. By early November the road cleared for me to start work and for us to shift into a house.

Dr.Khalil & I with long time Scibbers

Pranav Steering Dr. Khalil's boat

Starting to live in a new country not very familiar, a different culture and language, while new and exciting is difficult. The only thing that makes it easy and manageable is to have people and friends who go that extra mile to make you feel at home. We were fortunate to have a whole lot of them. Hope to capture them over the next few pennings. From the beginning was Dr.Khalil Hafez, the founder of SCIB, a great man at heart who personally took care to make us feel at home. From pleasantly surprising us by having Mrs. Lamia who assisted him receive us at the airport, to having his chauffeur be with us for first month or so, to countless tips on settling down to me and Mrs.Khalil with advice for Vidya. He was fond of fishing and an early trip to his weekend chalet at Sokna and fishing trip is etched in memory.

Pranav & Thejas with Neeraja & Niyant

From the Indian community there was Rajanbhai Patel, an elder brother to most people landing in Cairo and Late KierenGandhy (Kirit as we called him) and his wife Kamal who knew what it takes to for an Indian family to settle in. Fortunately soon after our arrival there was a Dussera get together of the Indian community a bunch of new friendships opened up. Anita- Shankar with their children Neeraja and Niyant gave the company that family needed especially Pranav and Thejas.

US Invasion of Iraq

At work it was taking from Dr. Khalil who had passionately and tastefully built the company, a towering figure revered by all. Broadminded and gracious he quickly took the ring side view encouraging changes many of them breaking away from the legacy. The company was downsizing as a division was being shut down. Egyptians from their experience in Gulf perceived India and China as countries that sent in labour. On my back would be this murmur of people losing jobs and me importing Indians for the jobs. Only 3 more from India joined me Sunil, Swapnil and Sathish.

The lead team at SCIB of Badr, Saad, Yasmine, Jo, Lamia, Late Md. Moty were a lot motivated on pure hope. Very carefully choices were made as to who stays and who goes. I still remember asking my driver Mohammed what do people say in those early months and what he said still rings in my ears – ‘’it is clear for everybody that if you are willing to work hard there is work for you’’. The team had been through few rough years and not sure what to make of this change. Then came the currency devaluation by  20% from 4.85 to 6.25 to a US$ and Bush decided to invade Iraq to oust Saddam plunging the region into crisis. There were months where there was no money to pay full salaries. It took 6 months to work around and get to plan for a relaunch post acquisition – an interesting period where making the team believe they can do and then to make them have confidence that once we decide what we will do, we will stick to it was the biggest challenge. Looking back, pure hope and the will to succeed made the team prevail. 

Pranav in Wizard of Oz

India stall @ International day

At home, the kids were settling into school. Pranav within a month got spotted to play the lead role as Donald in the Wizard of Oz play at the British school – an amazing thing. They had fun and International schools are great on kids. Difficult osay what all they went through but Pranav would innocently ask me Dad why did you not name me Peter or David – my skin would have been white? Weekends would have Swadhyay – a spiritual meet at Rajanbhai’s place and it was a vibrant Indian community which had a couple of dinner get-togethers every month.  

@ Fayoum with Srikanth

The Great Pyramids crossed everyday on way to work

Our first visitors at home in Cairo came – Srikantand Bama and we also started exploring Egypt. It was 60 km each way to work from Maadi to 6th of October city and I crossed the Pyramids of Khufu Kafren and Menkaure on the plateau of Giza twice everyday –something I was going to do for the next few years…