http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Amy-in-Egypt/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Amy in Egypt en-us Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:43:05 +0000 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:43:05 +0000 On Wednesday night I was sitting in my room compiling my comments on the summer course and the students when my phone rang. It was Kadry the friend whose family we visited last summer. ldquoPastor Amyrdquo he began ldquoGeorge Samer and I are on the roof and we have 4 beers. Do you want onerdquo Itrsquos fair to say that I hate beer. Most days Irsquod rather drink warm water than a http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-417657.html George was in his second summer course in 2009 and asked to be moved up to Level 2 for more of a challenge. This meant that he was in my class 3 days a week. I admit to being worried when I heard that this change would be made because last summer George came across to several of the teachers as a sullen angry young man who was often unresponsive in class. The one day I interacted with his class l http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-417655.html When I came to Egypt for the first time three years ago I was invited to preach in the morning mass. It was a big deal. I felt it. The students felt it. My friend John asked the question of his students that morning after my first homily do we need to check the foundation to make sure it doesn't have any cracks in itI have been privileged to preach in the morning mass each year that I've been http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-415006.html Those of you who followed my blog last summer heard about the baptism that we attended of a little boy named Mina. As I shared last summer Mina was born with a hole in his heart and is in need of surgery. He's been quite sick for the last year though he is still alive. In the past weeks Mina's condition has continued to get worse. The size of the hole has increased and the doctor has told the http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-414830.html Without doubt the two question that I am asked most often by people when I tell them that I've visited Egypt are Have you seen the pyramids Followed closely by Have you ridden a camel I saw the pyramids on my first visit to Egypt two years ago. On Sunday I went and visited for the second time the pyramid complexes at Saqqara and Dashur older than the site at Giza. And now when I'm asked I http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-413741.html One of the diversions of the summer program is the parties that the students throw on occasion usually two in the course of our program. Last night we experienced our first party of the summer to recognize a few celebrations but mostly to let off some steam. The parties include a mixture of terribly serious and sincere moments sidebyside with dancing laughter and games. Last night's party in http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-412779.html Life in Egypt is unpredictable. The best laid plans will be set aside because of something that happens that is entirely out of your control. Often you hear people say in sha'Allah God willing Which is often a way for people to say we can hope but ultimately life is out of our control.Case in point. Saturday afternoon we had scheduled an afternoon pool party for the students and teacher http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-411409.html I have not been writing as often as I did in the last summer because frankly I have been busy. As one of the three coordinators of the summer English course I've been involved in a lot more prep time and a lot more conversation and discussion about the program itself than in the past. I enjoy this very much but I notice that when I have down time I'm tired and I want to rest. I think I'm also http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-410406.html Despite my presence at the seminary for three years in the summer English course it seems that there are students who still don't quite know what to do with me. Some are intimidated to speak English in my presence and the presence of the other teachers some still don't know what to think of me as an ordained woman and some don't know what to do with me as a woman period ordained or not. Wh http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-409032.html So finally Irsquom getting around to blogging. Sorry my first entry has taken so long. Mostly Irsquove been spending a lot of time resting to this point. Partly because Irsquom trying to get acclimated and partly because itrsquos been really hot. I think this summer is going to be brutal temperature wise.Saturday the teachers traveled to the Citadel and the Sultan Hassan mosque both in Ca http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-408711.html Friends and Family I depart on Tuesday for Egypt. I plan to blog again this year. Thanks to everyone who's given me such great feedback throughout the year. I ask for prayers for traveling mercies as I depart and I also ask for prayers for Hans who will not be traveling with me this year. It will be hard to leave tomorrow. More from Ma'adi http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/blog-406609.html Friends and Blog ReadersI just got word that Mina the baby who's baptism we were privileged to witness and share with all of you is in the hospital in Assiut Egypt tonight. What I didn't tell you in my blog initially was that Mina was born with a hole in his heart and with asthma. Health in Egypt is not what it is here and so Mina will very likely die. When I spoke to my friend Kadry this even http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/Finger-Lakes/blog-308353.html Just to let you all know that we arrived home safely about 11 pm on Saturday night. Our flights were uneventful and everything went very smoothly. Al Hamdu LillahMany many thanks to all of you who have followed along on my time in Egypt. I will continue to keep this blog open for my future time in Egypt but I will be posting on a less frequent basis. I can't wait to speak with you all in person http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/Finger-Lakes/blog-302316.html Contrary to what you might think life in Egypt like life in many places is not all that exciting. Day in and day out life is often just the same routine over and over. We were reminded of this on Wednesday night when we spent our last night in Amshoul with the Habib family on the roof. As we talked to Hala Nagat and Osama Kadryrsquos twin sisters and his twin brother we got a new sense t http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Middle-Egypt/Asyut/blog-302301.html Yesterday I experienced what it is to be cared for by others when you are sick. Irsquoll spare you all the details but let you know that I had a mild case of heat stroke for which I was finally treated last night with IVrsquos to restore my fluids. Rest assured that I am feeling infinitely better today. As I waited yesterday for what I thought was a case of the flu to pass I was attended to http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Middle-Egypt/Asyut/blog-300422.html It will come as no surprise to any of you that every day in Egypt is a good day for me usually a great day. Yesterday was no exception. What made yesterday a great day was not a special excursion in the morning or lunch with the bishop. What made yesterday a great day was the ordinariness of the day. In the afternoon Kadryrsquos mom and sisters taught me how to make tagglia and amazing tomat http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Middle-Egypt/Asyut/blog-300058.html 554 amIf you a light morning sleeper like me you are apt to be woken up each morning in Amshool by the sound of the animals waking for the day. I first heard the roosters around 430 but now there is a full chorus surrounding me. The donkeys are also waking up early this morning so their brays are added to the chorus.I write early on Monday morning from my new favorite place in Egypt another r http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Middle-Egypt/Asyut/blog-299435.html For the last month as well as all of my time in Egypt last year I enjoyed living in Maadi. Itrsquos a beautiful part of Cairo that is very westernized. I have always known that the way we live in Maadi is not how most Egyptians live and while I have seen glimpses of real Egyptian life it is not until now that I have actually experienced it first hand.The village of Amshool is ldquorealrdq http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Middle-Egypt/Asyut/blog-298706.html July 11 118 p.m. Amshool EgyptFirst things first. We are safely arrived in Upper Egypt. We left seminary with a group of 5 students at 545 Friday morning and took the Metro to Ramses Station in Central Cairo where we caught the 7 a.m. train south. Last night was the hottest and most humid night so far which was miserable for sleeping but probably good preparation for the next week. Even earl http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Middle-Egypt/Asyut/blog-298705.html Today was the last day of classes in the summer English course. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. You have read about some of my struggles at times but what you don't hear about is every marvelous experience that I have had. And there have been many more than I can count.I'm so very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this program and I'm hopeful more so than I was a few wee http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Lower-Egypt/Cairo/blog-297490.html