On "firsts" and the value of persistence...

The past five months have been full of "firsts," and yesterday was no different. I went to my first Arabic class at the new school I'm attending, and I met my friend Marie at Subway for lunch. Subway was a favorite in the States (fresh veggies on wheat bread instead of a greasy hamburger? Count me in!), but until yesterday, I'd never tried the Cairo version. It was lovely - Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki on Honey Oat bread, with any fresh veggies you want. It was a delightful "first." The bathroom experience was entirely another matter altogether...also a first, but only delightful because it was so odd...here is how that went...

"Hello, may I take order please?"

"No, I don't want to order yet, I am waiting for a friend. Is there a bathroom I can use?"

"No. No bathroom"

"Really?? There is no bathroom here? At all?"

"No, sorry."

"Oh. Really? Why is there no bathroom?"

"Well, there is a bathroom, but can't use, because of some construction."

"Oh really?"

"Well, if you want to go down there you can." At this point, the Subway employee is pointing to a square hole in the floor next to the counter, below which one can see stairs descending into a black abyss...

"The bathroom is down there?"

"Yes, you can go, it's ok. You can leave your bag, is ok."

"Umm, how do you get to the bathroom??"

"You go down. Is ok. You can go. Leave bag here is ok."

"I just go down into that hole, and then climb back up?"

"If you want, you can go down and come up. Is ok. Leave bag here is ok. No problem. Is ok."

"Ooook..." At this point, I dropped my bag into the chair, and lowered myself down into the hole, ducked down the stairs, and found quite a lovely bathroom available to anyone who was willing to brave climbing in and out of a hole in the floor. I'm sure I was a sight, coming in and out of there, and I really wished I had a camera with me to document the unusual experience. It was a first, and hopefully a last. But interesting nonetheless. Thank you, Subway.