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.