A Day in the Life...

...of a Cairene policeman.

You know, stand around at your assigned corner for 12 hours. Smoke. Spit. Ogle the women. Yell at people who are driving the wrong direction on the street. Occasionally chase young men off the women's car in the Metro.

Last week I left school early - maybe around 11:30 am. For once I didn't have to stay later on a Thursday when I'm done with class at 10:30 am. The Metro was wonderfully uncrowded. There were actually empty seats for most of the ride.

About halfway home, a group of four young men hopped on the car. A policeman forcibly pulled them off while yelling at them. The train started moving, but the men forced the doors to remain open while the officer was pulling them off. The women watched this happen with absolute equanimity. One of the guy's hat or bag or something was caught in the closing door, and the policeman was running along the platform while holding onto it.

Finally, a young woman (and one of quite intimidating size) sitting across from me jumped up and forced the doors open enough for the object to be pulled out. She went back to her seat and dusted off her purse (which had fallen to the floor) while talking to herself. I don't know what she was saying, but I imagine she was chastising all of the onlookers for not helping. She got off at the next stop. I continued home.