Thursday, August 31

Today is a memorable day for us as we celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary. Guess we never thought we would celebrate it in another county – especially living there for the next 2 years, but we are glad we have taken the jump. Our school week ends today as Friday and Saturday are the “weekend” in Egypt.

Pat is volunteering in the PK-6 area. On Sundays, she will be with the PK and Kindergarten. The PK teacher is a doctor who has given up her practice to teach here (she has students in the school). On Mondays, Pat is with the 1st and 2nd grade, Tuesday is a project day where she does a variety of tasks for all the staff (such as assisting with the annual play). Wednesdays she is with the 3rd and 4th grade while on Thursdays she is with the 5th and 6th grade. Each day she helps supervise the lunch room for PK through 2nd grade Students in PK through 4th must bring their own lunches while the 5th through 12th can eat in the cafeteria, canteen or bring their own. Today in the elementary the staff performed a skit to demonstrate what a nutritious lunch would look like. Lunch periods are 45 minutes in length so the students of all ages will be found playing soccer, basketball, and of course playground activities for the younger kids. Some use the time to hang out and socialize. Overall the elementary school is much like a typical American school. Each day has been very busy for Pat.

My day is a little different. We are on a block schedule for the middle school – high school. Class periods are 75 minutes in length for three periods and 90 minutes for the 4th period to allow the middle school (5-8) to take exploratory type classes. There is a ten minute homeroom and 10 minute breaks between each class period. I teach a middle school Intro to Technology (right now I have a 5th grade class and a 6th grade class for 45 minutes each every other day) and a high school Information Technology class 3 days a week. Grades are very important to the majority of students as they are seen as a measuring stick for the type of college they will attend. I have two technicians that assist me with technology issues. One is here each day from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm and the other comes from noon to 4:00 pm. Both of the young men are very helpful and knowledgeable. They have strong training in technology and a good understanding of the setup here. Sometimes we have a little difficulty understanding each other – so they are teaching me Arabic as I teach them English. I am very pleased with their assistance.

Our campus is unique. It is a walled campus with security on the outside and a locked entrance that must be opened to allow people in. We have two main educational areas along with other buildings for specials. The high school is a 3 story building with an open courtyard. Each door is brightly painted and all open to an inner open air court yard. Around the high school is an open air basketball court, a swimming pool and a covered all purpose court that can be used for tennis, volleyball and basketball... We have a canteen where students can order food, a serious of connecting building for the clinic, foreign languages, art and PE. There is an adjacent campus with a large open air grassy area, playground and a new 3 story K-6 building. Across the courtyard is the Villa which houses the business offices (finance, government liaison, headmaster, etc.) Our living quarters are located on the high school side of the campus. It is a 4 story building that was once a hotel. The first floor holds the cafeteria, maintenance office, laundry and family room. The upper three floors are the apartments. There are 4 apartments on each floor and each one is different. Other apartments are located on the 3rd floor of the high school building and in a separate building right by the main apartment building.

The campus is very open air and spacious yet it is no more than a 5 minute walk to get from one side to another. It is very handy to be close to everything, yet it is nice to venture off on a regular basis to really experience the culture and lifestyle. Tonight after the fun night Pat and I decided to take a walk before we went to a staff social function. We were talking a lot and turning many different ways and before we knew it we were in an area we had never been before and weren’t sure what direction to go. We remembered that one of our “buddies” told us to go to a pharmacy because someone there will speak English. We located one and asked for directions back to the school. A kind gentleman wrote some out but could tell we looked confused so he had his assistant walk us back. This is just another example of the kindness that people show us here. While they may not like the US government’s policy in the Middle East – they do like Americans. We have found these walks to be a very good way for us to get out and really experience life here as a resident (which we are now considered). Our staff is very close knit and fun loving group. It is interesting to share “tales” with them and for us especially to hear of their travels. Many have traveled extensively through the Middle East and Europe.

Our next item on our agenda is to plan for our fall break. We will have 5 to 7 days off in late October. We are planning to go to Turkey with our neighbor, Dennis. Incidentally, Dennis is from Cedar Falls so he is also a neighbor to us back in the States. He is also a big Hawkeye fan so we will be getting together on game days to listen and hopefully view the games over the Internet. Go Hawks!!

Tuesday, August 29

Today was the first day of school – We will write more about school shortly. The campus looks beautiful. When we arrived things were really in disarray. Everything was in need of an overhaul. It looked like a very monumental task. In 2 weeks, the campus had been reborn. Virtually anything that needed painting (interior and exterior) has been done – walkways were replace, bricks and decorative blocks were updated, bathrooms renovated, bushes and trees were trimmed – all in all a remarkable job. We will include pictures of the campus later on. Virtually all the work was done by hand – the workers here put in very long hours getting things ready – often 15 to 18 hour workdays and it is very hard physical work. Every chance we get we tell them how wonderful everything looks – they will smile and pat their heart in reply. I hope they know how much we appreciate what they do. Yesterday we had all the workers in at 2:00 and served them a large lunch – it was the staff’s way of expressing our thanks. I guess it is the first time this has been done (at least in several years) and you could sense the feeling of pride that the workers felt.

On Monday, Pat, Dennis and I ventured off campus and walked to the Cornish (the very busy 8 lane street along the Mediterranean. What a neat walk – it is fun to go out and see all the people with their activities. Right near our campus the streets are very narrow with little shops and stands. It is a very bustling area. As you continue down towards the sea, the streets widen a little and shops become stores as the economic level rises. But no matter where you are—walking is an adventure. We think back to our walks in our quiet neighborhood with the wide walking areas and compare it to here where you can not afford to take your eyes off what is in front and around you as streets are uneven, sidewalks too narrow to walk-on, people everywhere and of course all the cars trying to get somewhere where it seems everyone else wants to go. Once in a while we will see a fender bender and usually one driver gets out and yells at the other for a little while then they go back to their cars and take off. We did flirt with danger though when we decided to cross the Cornish in all that traffic. They do have a few underground tunnels to cross at but they are few and far between. We drew quite a crowd of young men watching us scurry across the street with cars speeding towards us and honking. We decided after that we would go underground next time!!



Enclosed are a couple of pictures Pat took from our apartment balcony so you could get a glimpse of what we see as we look out over the wall of the campus into Alex. Notice the satellite dishes on the rooftops and the laundry on the balonies.

Saturday, August 26

We had a wonderful time today with one of our staff members who live here in Alex with her husband and two daughters. They have a beach cabin on the Mediterranean Sea in Muntazza (the former home of the last king of Egypt). They have owned the cabin since 1959. Her husband is a well-known surgeon and also a prominent member of the University Medical Administration in Alex. It is hard to describe the graciousness and hospitality that they show us. The conversations were so interesting – to learn about the culture and history of Egypt and Alex. The doctor is very well traveled, having been to most countries of the world (including the US) and offers great insight with world events.



We swam for a little while at a private beach at the club – the water was very warm and choppy again so it was not advised to go out very far. After swimming we went to the “Le Prince” sea food restaurant for what we thought was going to be a light lunch. Instead it turned out to be a banquet – breads, oysters, octopus, two other types of fish, potatoes, vegetables, lemonade and ice cream (to help us digest our meal). All the fish is freshly caught each day – and the service was impeccable.



After lunch we went back to the cabin and visited with the staff person and the daughter we have met previously in the week. The doctor had to leave to go to his clinic. We spent the next three hours learning more about the fascinating culture and history of Egypt. We are finding that there is a great tolerance for differences here – people respect others who may have differing opinions and beliefs and work with them. There is a real focus on what is similar with people and not what is different. You might say the emphasis is on what your strengths are and not your weaknesses. We had an interesting discussion about style of dress for women. It seems that younger women are becoming more traditional in the dress. The daughter who teaches at the University says she is often the only woman in the classroom who is not veiled.


The drive home was a little less hectic today, we must have hit a good time in the day. We did see an interesting sight as we came up a one-way street with cars parked on both sides, we met a man driving a donkey cart filled with watermelon going the wrong way!

Again we marvel at the graciousness of our hosts and hope that somehow we can repay them for their kindness.

Thursday, August 24

We’ve had several days of workshops and training. I am getting trained in the school administrative and grading program so I can serve as the resource for it. The trainer was a very interesting man from Bangkok. He was extremely knowledgeable not only about the programs but with many aspects of networking and technology. We spent several hours straightening up the server and getting the security tightened up. His training sessions were very lively as I think he love the banter with the staff.

Last night (Wednesday) we went out with the trainer and our headmaster and his wife to Chili’s for some good old American food. The service is always so very good no matter where you go. You know how in the states when you finish eating, the server will come by with the check and usually say “I’ll take care of that when you are ready.” Here, they will wait so as not to disturb any conversations because meal time is such a social and visiting event. You have to almost get up and get your server when you are ready to o. The traffic on the ride home was extremely hectic as there are so many here to enjoy the beach this time of year.

Discussions at faculty meetings are very interesting – it seems like that bargaining is a major part of the culture of Egypt. Students bargain for grades along with their parents, much like the vendors bargain in the street markets. I think our faculty has really picked up on that as there is much bargaining going on during meetings. The HS staff is very colorful – I don’t think school will be considered dull!!

I have two young men serving as Technicians for me – one speaks very good English and one is limited in his use of English – but both will be a very big help for me. At least one will be here each day from 8 to 4 to help out. Once we get settled in they will be able to do a lot of tasks for me. I get the impression that upkeep will be a challenge because of the climate and the uncertain electrical conditions.

There seems to be a number of weddings in the neighborhoods. Weddings in this area, while short in duration, can be very loud occasions. Cars are decorated and they have a little parade around the neighborhood with horns honking and people singing and yelling. They can occur at all hours of the night usually after dark. Of course that makes traffic quite a bit more hectic on these narrow streets.

Tonight we had a barbeque around the pool here at the school for all of the staff (teaching, administrative and support). It was almost like a formal affair except for the casual clothing. The servers were dressed in white with hats, while the serving tables were like a fine restaurant. Our head cook really takes care of all of us. If she sees something you like, she will make sure to fix it again. It was very enjoyable sitting around the pool visiting with all. There is really a camaraderie that exists here among the staff due in part to living in the same area. It reminds us of married student housing in college where everyone just helps each other out.

Pat will be helping our in the elementary most of the time – she will work with PK and Kindergarten on Sundays, 1st and 2nd grade on Mondays, 3rd and 4th grades on Wednesdays, and 5th and 6th grades on Thursdays. I think she will be very busy during the days doing a variety of jobs with the students and staff.

Tomorrow we are possibly going to the beach. One of the staff (the one we had tea with the other day) has invited out to their beach place near the Muntazza Palace we visited earlier. When owners lease these out they often go for $1,000 a week. Most have been in the families for a very long time.



It is still hard for us to follow the days -- since today was the last day of the work week -- we automatically kept thinking it was Friday. Hopefully we will get use to it.

Monday 8/21

It has been a busy couple of days. “Old” staff are coming back as we start workshop officially on Tuesday so we are meeting lots of new people. It will be quite an experience as we essentially live and work together. I think the staff is very close knit and supportive of each other. Today after our day was finished, Pat and I were invited for coffee and tea at one of our staff’s home (she is a wonderful Egyptian lady who lives downtown). Her husband is a surgeon and they have two daughters. One of her daughters teaches at the University. It is customary in Egypt for family members to live at home until they are married. There seems to be a very strong family bond here. We had a very lovely time visiting with the daughter and mother. Their apartment home was beautiful – filled with many antiques and family heirlooms (some dating back over 400 years).

Community or neighborhoods are much the same. We have seen instances where people who live in the upper floors of apartments will lower a basket down with money and a list in it and a neighbor on the street will go pick up what the person needs (milk, eggs, etc) at a local shop and send it back up in the basket.

In the evening we had a little get together with the rest of the new staff and three other “old” staff who have been with us most of the time here. It is so interesting to learn of life here. Tonight we were discussing medical care and discovered that a typical trip to the doctor costs about 20 LE or $4.50. Pharmacies are a good place to stop at if one gets lost because all pharmacies have someone who speaks very good English. Many drugs that are sold only by prescription in the US are readily available here without a prescription and very inexpensive. It is a common practice to go into a pharmacy and describe your aliment and they will mix something up to take care of you.

Saturday 8/19

Pat got her exercise walking up and down the stairs during laundry – fortunately she did not have to iron as the school has a person who does that for the staff – he is a wonderful older man who is so helpful when you go into the laundry room. We have been so impressed with the staff and their willingness to go the extra mile for us.

I worked with the server and tech coordinator workstation most of the day. Each person has their own way of setting up a server and it takes a while to learn how the previous person did it. Towards the end of the day, the power went out and I had a heck of a time getting the workstation back up and running. Power outages can occur here at any time.

Tonight we went out to supper with another couple – we had a great meal at a Chinese restaurant at the top of the Cecil hotel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It was a beautiful site – unfortunately we left the camera home, so you will have to take our word. The hotel was used by the British in WWII as their Africa Command Headquarters. After supper we walked to a Baskins-Robbins for ice cream. The shopping area is one of really nice areas of Alex. In the parking lot a young man “watched” our car and cleaned the windshield – of course for a little tip.

The trip to and from the restaurant gave us our thrill for the night. It is much like riding on a dangerous ride at Adventureland. You just hope for the best – we drove along the Cornish – a famous roadway that runs all along the Mediterranean in Alex. At one time tonight there were 5 marked lanes with 9 lanes of cars negotiating for space. I forgot all my driver education concepts and just held on. Now maybe Pat won’t be so antsy when I drive back in the states! On the Cornish, we past an area where a demonstration was being held regarding the evnets in Lebanon. Over 8 trucks were parked along the street with the Arab military force in full riot gear standing between the protestors/speakers and the citizens walking along the Cornish.

Friday 8/18

Today is the holy day for Islam – This is the day the new staff head to Cairo. Cairo is the largest city in Africa or Europe with nearly 16 million people in the metropolitan area. We headed to the Alex train station to take the “fast” train to Cairo. First thing we noticed today was the lack of traffic on the way to the train station – since it is early (7:30) and a holy day, traffic is light. The “fast” train is so named because it runs non-stop to Cairo and is air-conditioned with individual seats for passengers (much like trains in the US). While we were waiting for the train, one of the other trains came in from the country. It was very crowded with people coming into Alex with their wares to sell – food, products, crafts and even live pigeons.

Our trip to Cairo took about two hours. Along the way, we saw a lot of the country side (agricultural land). Crops are grown right up to the roads and tracks – there are no ditches. We saw corn (looked pretty good), rice, vegetables, etc. All of the farm labor is done by hand. On the trip down and back, we saw maybe a half a dozen tractors (mostly small ones like the old Fords in the 60’s). The country side has a less trash than the cities do but I’m sure the work is very hard and the homes ranged from huts to block/brick homes. Homes aren’t really a good term as most are apartments with an entire family living in small quarters. We saw a variety of transportation in the country (donkeys, donkey carts, ponies, pony carts, very small car, vans, bikes and a lot of foot traffic. Like the city, people will wait by the road for someone to pick them up. All of the vehicles are usually full (if it seats 4, there are 4).



A driver met us at the train station and took us directly to the Pyramids. One thing we noticed about the streets was the speed bumps that are all along the streets to slow the traffic down. The Pyramids are located just on the edge of Cairo. They are an awesome site to see. Actually there are over 70 throughout Egypt but the most famous are where we were at Giza. The first thing we did was ride the camels into the desert. This was quite and experience. We negotiated the price before hand but of course the person with each of us (in our case both of us) wanted to be our friend so we would tip him. My camel was called Snoopy and Pat road Moses. They were good camels – the ride was very smooth, kind of swaying. We were struck by the size of their feet (quite large). Once we got out a ways into the desert, the handler pulled my camel aside so I could tip him without the boss of the operation seeing him – quite common.

From the camel ride we went to the Great Pyramid. Pat took a picture of me on the first step – the stones are nearly 5 feet in height. It took over 30 years to build this one. From there we walked to the Great Sphinx. At one time this was nearly buried in sand – it is a unique site. The entire area is overrun with locals hawking their souvenirs. You can hardly walk 10 feet without being grabbed. If they know you are from the US, they will really stay after you. We began telling them we were from Canada and the Trinidad. That didn’t really help so you just keep saying no and walk on. It was very hot there so we took off for lunch at the Marriott. The Marriott was once the Queen’s palace which has been restored and had two towers build around it. Lunch was very good (especially in the AC!!). As we were walking out we ran into someone who was a graduate of the U of I and it was so nice to talk to someone from back home in ENGLISH!!

From the Marriott we head to the Kahn (the most famous shopping area in Africa). We dropped the ladies at the Tent Mart and the men headed to a coffee house. We were dropped off in front of the most famous mosque in Cairo. Nearly a dozen trucks were parked in front and there had to be over 200 armed Arab military men in full riot gear near the mosque as often after the noon prayer on Holy Day there are demonstrations of one form or another. Today was a quiet day. In addition to the Arab force, the city is filled with other police, military and security guards. Far more than you would ever see in America. One reason is that once in the military, all expenses are paid. Even though the pay is low they are taken care off.



Once in the Coffee House we relaxed while the women shopped. One of the Egyptian staff members ,moked a shisha pipe, a common custom for men. When the ladies came back, Pat brought back a beautiful handmade needlecraft wall hanging (5’ by 6’). To purchase this, she had to bargain, the custom in the Kahn. They began the price at 600 pounds but Pat got it for 300. She was a tough bargainer. We both walked around the Kahn for a while before heading to the train station. Traffic in Cairo is quite a bit more congested that in Alex. It is like they have 3 lanes pavement for 6 lanes of cars. Once we got on the train it was time to relax for the two hour ride back to Alex. When we got home both of us were exhausted from all of the activities of the day. Tomorrow is work day for us on our own and then we are going out for supper with another couple at a Chinese restaurant.

Thursday 8/17

Started out the day with another Arabic lesson -- Honestly Pat and I studied hard last night but it didn't seem to make much of a difference. We did find out why one man looked at us very funny the night before when he asked where we were from and we said "Iowa" -- IWA in Arabic (which sounds very close to Iowa) means "yes" so when we kept answering "yes" to him he kept asking us "Where we were from??"

Had several more meetings today (financial, governmental, business, support, etc). This afternoon Pat and I worked in the HS lab -- getting computers ready. Ran into a bit of a problem which we will need to get worked out at some point in time -- but not right now.

This evening we went to an authentic Egyptian restaurant, "Balboa Galley", right in the heart of Alex. When you walked in, the meat, chicken, etc was on display it was a large colorful establishment. All menus were in Arabic and the employees spoke very little English. We did manage to get our order in OK and when the food came (very quickly this time) -- it was fantastic. All the meat, chicken, etc was cooked over an open grill and was so tasty. We had Egyptian bread, vegetables and a variety of sauces to dip the bread in (it is what they served at the place we went to in East Lansing with Aaron). The servers kept coming back to check to se how we liked everything -- one of them reminded us that he was giving us great service (which he was). By the way there were about 12 of us in the party with enough food to feed twice that many. When it came time to leave a tip -- the head waiter got it so one of the teachers made sure that the server who was giving us "personal" attention got a little something as well -- the custom in Egypt is not to divide up the tip but rather first to it gets it.

The ride back home was again very colorful and exciting. The custom for weddings in Egypt is to decorate the car -- we must have seen at least two or three wedding processions on our way back -- firecrackers, horns, yelling -- all making for a very exciting trip home. The Egyptians are a very vocal people and seem to want to talk louder to get their point across.

Tomorrow we head off for a full day at Cairo. We take the train down -- visit the Pyramids and go shopping in the Kahn before heading back. Should be quite a day.

Wednesday 8/16

We had our first Arabic lesson today – it would have been hard to keep a straight face listening to us say some of the most fundamental words. Our goal is to learn just enough to get by if we need to – not sure if there is enough time for that!! Our instructor told us that Arabic is the most difficult language to learn and after today we would agree. We have three more lessons before the rest of the staff comes back – maybe we will make it yet. Some of the words have a different ending depending of if you are speaking to a male vs. a female. One of the teachers who taught in Saudi Arabia said the Arabic they were taught was quite a bit different than what we did today.

The rest of day was spent in a series of meetings with the administrators going over the calendar, class expectations, schedules, and other routine teaching matters. Throughout the discussion the idea of involvement and teamwork kept coming through. Because we are such a small school and staff, there is a need for everyone to pitch in wherever needed.

After supper tonight we had a little dessert get-together of the new staff with two of the administrators. One of the administrators is an Egyptian who graduated from the school. He provided a lot of insight into the history and culture of Egypt. It was interesting to here about the government and its organization as well as the relationship with the United States. Egypt is not a democracy and while the current US administration would like democracy to come to Egypt, it could very result in a strong Islamic government which might not be real friendly to the US. The general feeling seems to be that the present government is doing an adequate job and is likely to outlive the next two years of the Bush administration and if the Bush administration pushes too hard it might not like the end results. One of the more lively discussions was on the traffic in Alex. What we as Westerners see as chaos, the Egyptians see as a system that eventually works. When they are taught to drive, little if any instruction is given about signs – the focus is on starting and stopping a car, parking, etc.

Tuesday 8/15

We had a fun day today out at the Hilton Borg El Arab Resort right on the Mediterranean Sea. The sea was a beautiful blue. We couldn't swim much in the sea cause it was so rough but we did go in up to our waists and enjoyed the beach a great deal. We also swam in one of the many pools the resort had. They were great. Played a beach game called bache (like darts only with balls tossed into the sand at a target). Of course Mike and I beat Pat and Mike's wife Helen. We were there for about 4 hours and then went to a shopping mall kind of like Lindale in Cedar Rapids -- ate and shopped a little. Pat had an interesting experience in the bathroom -- it was prayer time so the bathroom was packed -- she saw water coming from under a stall, when she went into the next one she noticed the sprayer to use when she finished -- anyway she turned as it turned on and got her pants all wet. She sure got a lot of stares when she went into the mall.

Drive over and back was very hectic constant honking and weaving in and out of traffic. They have white vans that are private taxis that just pick people up on the road -- we were told to avoid them as they are called "White Coffins of Death."

We noticed all the gas stations are full serve as labor is so cheap and people need work. Same way in the stores -- there are so many clerks and security. You cannot take a bag from one store into another. You either have to check it or they place it in clear plastic and seal it. We have more of a regular day of orientation tomorrow. Service at restaurants is a little different. If you have more than one in your party, all will not be served at the same time -- they will bring the food out as it is ready. Also at a fast food place such as MacDonald’s, you will be served -- you don't carry your own tray.

Another difference that we have to adust to is the electrical current. Everything here is 220v and in the US we have 110 so we use a voltage converter that we plug a power strip in to use the computer, curling iron, etc. Otherwise things will fry very quickly. We may have to get a curling iron and hair blower for Pat as it is pretty awkward to use the one power strip attached to te converter. Of course all of the outlets have round two prong entries so you need to use adaptors.

Monday 8/14

It is now 9:50 pm here -- we just got back from another shopping spree. Tonight we walked to a mall that is owned by parents of students here. It is exquisite -- better than we have ever seen. It was quite a site right in the heart of Alex. You had to go through security to get in. Again all of the clerks and mall persons were so nice and helpful. It has four floors for now -- theaters, food court, and fun zone along with many nice stores. Stores are not real large -- they aren't likely to be large department stores, rather more like specialty stores. We got an embroidered coffee table scarf and matching table cloth. We also got two large colorful beach towels as we are going to a resort on the beach tomorrow.

Then we walked over to a "family mart" kind of a combination grocery, variety type store to get an alarm clock, clothes basket, etc. The paying for items is kind of unique. If something costs 5.76 pounds, they will round it up or down to the nearest .25 and give you a piece of candy or gum to make up the difference. No coins are used -- it is very rare to get a coin -- bills look really worn -- they must change hands hundreds of times.

We walked both there and back -- again you see such a variety -- especially among the women. A few are western, some have scarves, some have veils and some are completely covered except for their eyes. Doesn't seem to make any difference what age.

On the way back, one of the teachers with a son, stopped at a stand to get a cold Pepsi to drink. It was in one of the old 16 oz bottles. After the clerk opened it for the boy, he wouldn't let the boy leave until he drank it all there -- the mom had to pay for the bottle in order to leave. The mom really didn't know what the clerk was saying and it was confusing until we figured it out. The clerk wasn't angry but he just wanted the empty back. Pat stopped at one of the stands to get an ice cream but didn't have to eat it all there!! The streets are just so fascinating to walk

Sunday 8/13

We wanted to let you all know that we made it here to Alex safely and without much delay. Flight from Chicago to Frankfurt took about 8 hours but the service was very good. They even gave us hot towels near the end of the flight!! We had 4 hour layover before the 4 hour flight to Egypt’s Borg El Arab airport (an old military airport about an hour from the city). Got here around 1:30 AM (Sunday) and took a little while to get through customs as one of the staff did not have an American passport. The school government liaison officer must have the right connections because she got her through. Got to the school and apartment around 4:30 am. Was surprised to see all the people in the streets of the city but they told us the Egyptians sleep during the day and come out in force at night (all ages). Met by some workers who carried our luggage (yes it all arrived safely) up to our apartment. We have a nice 4 room furnished apartment with AC. Our cafeteria is down on the 1st floor (we are on the 3rd floor). No elevators only steps (75 one way) but that will be good for us. Slept in until noon Sunday then ate lunch, unpacked, took a little tour of the school, got our US currency changed to Egyptian pounds and then after supper walked about 10 to 12 blocks to a supermarket.

The school is located in a working class neighborhood -- one that is old and very typical of what Alex is like. Streets wide enough for one car and there is usually one parked on the side as well (often on the sidewalk). Drivers hook constantly to let people know they are coming as most of the people walk on the street rather than the sidewalks. They drive with no lights on and only flash them if they approach an intersection which of course is unmarked. Couldn't tell which streets are one way but they all seemed to be!!

The sights, sounds and smells of the city are very unique -- the people are very friendly to us -- smiling and saying hi. The workers here at the school are very pleasant, friendly and polite. They have quite a staff (security, grounds, maintenance, business, kitchen, etc). As we mentioned to you before we left, the per capita income here is very low -- it is a third world developing country with extreme wealth and extreme poverty. There is a constat buzz of activity at all times in the neighborhood.

We are experiencing a little jet lag as both of us were up at 3:00 am today--we had some fruit the staff left us. We have orientation, meetings, and travel this week for new staff -- we go to the pyramids on Friday! Next week we have regular staff orientation and work time then school begins around the 27th.