We have now been here a month and each day we learn something new. We took a nice long walk tonight after supper down to and on the Cornish. Breeze off the Mediterranean was very cooling. It has still been hot during the day but it sure cools down nicely in the evening. Traffic both in cars and on foot was less congested as it appears that many of the Cairoeens (as people from Cairo are called here) have went back after spending the summer here so their kids can go back to school. It is said that the population of Alex decreases by 1 million when they leave.
When people walk it is not uncommon to see two members of the same sex (male or female) arm in arm or holding hands as they walk. This is a sign of friendship. Egyptians are very demonstrative when they meet and greet each other. My two technicians always shake my hand when they come and when they leave and when we talk, they look me squarely in the eye. We are trying to solve some of the technical problems here with the network and the equipment; it is a challenge especially with the daily electrical failures. I used to get real nervous back in Iowa when a storm would happen, worrying if the server of switches might get hit and often would go up to the school and unplug things. Here it is not uncommon for power to go out two or three times a day even in the best of weather. I really wonder what the power drain could be in this city of nearly 6 million.
Pat has been given a new title; she is the chief laminator for the entire school. We are not sure if this is an honor or a curse. Some staff feels that we now have a concentration of power as she controls the workroom and I control the technology. :)
