Creepers

Cairo is somewhat of a sociological wonder, with one of the world's lowest violent crime rates despite devastating poverty. Such crimes in Cairo are rarely random, generally committed within family or neighborhood circles. I generally feel safe walking about by myself. However, the city felt quite a bit creepier this past week.

After shopping for groceries last Saturday night, I was walking home from the grocery store which is only a couple blocks from my house. I arrived at my front gate, and while balancing all the groceries in my arms and attempting to unlock the heavy gate at the same time, a man on an electric scooter rode up and began hitting on me. I ignored him and he then started to follow me up to the gate. I slipped into the gate and shut it behind me quickly at which point he began forcing the gate open. I held the gate closed just long enough to lock the bolt and run up to my apartment.

As if that incident weren't enough, every day last week on my walk home from school in broad daylight, a man in a car followed me. Granted, it was a different male each day, but unsettling, nonetheless. I would notice a car drive past me, walk a bit more, and see the same car pulled over with a man trying to get my attention. One man, even drove in circles around my neighborhood- like shark on blood- until I pulled out a piece of paper and recorded his plate numbers. One man with particular bravado stalked me to a taxi, then proceeded to follow the taxi several miles. When I alerted the cab driver that I was being followed, he decided that was reason enough to rip me off. I wasn't having it. I got out of the cab, hailed another, at which time the said stalker proceeded to follow me in the SECOND cab. Ridiculous.

Each day is full of near disasters. Whether I am stalked by creeps, stranded on the side of a desert highway post-bus breakdown, or hit by a car (more on that one later!), I am thankful for the obvious and unseen ways God continues to protect me.