Faroukh and his wife have permanently moved into another house in Talat Dargham, which, as Azza explains, belongs to Faroukh’s mother (female government program applicant? – check this!). In the past, the family used the house as an animal shelter only, but recently renovated it with the help of extended family from Mansoura and other people from within the village. Faroukh’s mother and father have moved to Abu Minqar permanently now and stay in one of the rooms in the newly renovated house. When asked how long they were planning on staying, the mother smiled and says: “until we die!” The family has 3 guests from the extended family in Mansoura visiting for a few days. In a few months time, Azza’s sister from Mansoura is scheduled to marry Salah, who owns a house in thevillage of
Umm Abu Minqar. Thus, in the case of some families, there is increased in-migration from within the same family once one couple has established itself under a government resettlement scheme in the oasis.
After asking me about the two weddings in Bir 5 and 1 in January 2007, and enquiring “how the brides looked”, Azza remarks that weddings in the oasis are much less glamourous than in Mansoura. “In Abu Minqar brides wear veils on their wedding day, in Mansoura brides go to the hairdresser and also get nice professional make-up for their wedding day”. In Mansoura, the wedding takes place in the street and the entire community takes part, and often the wedding is celebrated in the community centre, Azza says.
