First Days in Egypt

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So finally I’m getting around to blogging. Sorry my first entry has taken so long. Mostly I’ve been spending a lot of time resting to this point. Partly because I’m trying to get acclimated and partly because it’s 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 Cairo. Fr. Michael Calabria, who teaches at St. Bonaventure University, is one of my co-teachers and knows quite a bit about Islamic art and architecture. He was a great tour guide helping to explain what we were seeing as well as its significance.

As we traveled around the city, it was interesting that as soon people found out that we were American their first response was to say Obama! At dinner on Saturday we welcomed the students back together for the summer course and my dinner conversation, after the usual niceties, was Obama as well. The student I spoke to could not say enough good about the American president, commenting especially on his leadership and his demeanor. Remarking on his recent speech in Cairo he said, “He spoke for 50 minutes and never once looked at a paper.” I took it upon myself to explain the magic of teleprompters but in the end I think he still believes that Obama spoke every word without any prompts. Needless to say this is a pleasant reversal from my previous times in Egypt when the former president raised contempt at best and real anger at worse. I’m only sad that one of the students, Fady, who loves to talk politics and world affairs, will not be here this summer. I was looking forward to hearing his very unique perspective on the world.

I just finished my first day of classes. I'm looking forward to working with these students.

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Comments

[Elaine]

Hello Pastor Amy
I am so glad to hear you arrived safely. You will be in my daily prayers as you once again teach and learn with the students. Blessings to you for this wonderful ministry! Enjoy!

[Ellen]

I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying your experiences and conversations so far, and I will pray for some cool weather (or at least that you find ways for rest and refreshment in the midst of the heat)! Missed you tonight at Pilates :)

[Emily M.]

Praying for you!
Pr. Amy, I'm glad that you made it safely to Egypt! You are very much in my prayers. I know that you will do much good there! Please tell Fr. Calabria that I said hello! I had him for Scripture during my time at Bonaventure. Enjoy your time! God bless you! -Emily M.

[Katie]

obama
I recently went to Disney World (not as internationall as Egypt, I know) and ran into tourists from Europe who wanted to compliment Obama over and over too. Interesting how this world is changing!

[DeAnna Arabaty]

Fr. Calabria
Amy, Im very happy to hear that you are enjoying your time in Egypt. I am a former student of St. Bonaventure and resident of Western New York but I am now living in Ramallah Palestine. I was a student of Fr. Calabria's and I'm trying to find him, as I will be coming to Egypt in the near future. Could you please pass my information along to him and ask him to email me. I would love to see him and you when I can get back to Cairo. Have a wonderful summer. DeAnna