Pat took part in the big Elementary Day Memory Challenge and Play. Here is a picture of her "dressed' for her role. This activity took place on Thursday and included all of the students in Grades PreK-3 through 6.
The people we have met here have proven to be most interesting and charming. Regardless of their station or position in life they are very warm and gracious hosts. Behind our campus apartment is a small grocery shop. It isn’t any larger than 10’ by 20’ and contains all sorts of items (fresh and packaged). It is truly a family run business with 3 generations in the shop at various times. We’ve met them all and they have been so helpful and friendly to us. This is where we purchase our bottled water and since we started buying here nearly two months ago, they keep a steady supply for us. Friday evening, I stopped over to buy 10 bottles and the wife of the man who normally is there was working along with her son (probably 12 years old). After she bagged up my purchased she handed it to her son to carry back for us – it wasn’t very heavy but she wanted him to do it. When we got back to the gate, I tried to give him a little money for carrying it but he wouldn’t take it – he just kept smiling and shaking his head “no”. We see this type of service and friendliness no matter where we venture in Alex.
We had the Jr-Sr Prom on Friday evening as well. Prom here is much different that the extravaganza it has become in the states. Girls do not tan for 6 months prior to prom – most are already tanned because of the climate (we have yet to see a tanning shop). It was very low-key – just the Juniors and Seniors along with a couple of staff members at the Sheraton. Prom went from
Friday evening, Denny and I went to the Sporting Club along with my good friend Lobna and her daughter to visit a jeweler there. The jeweler is one of the best in the city and we had asked Lobna to help arrange for us to have some pieces made. It was fascinating to watch her “negotiate” the cost of the items. Very few places have set prices (unless they are a food establishment or a store in a mall). They would go back and forth trying to reach a price that both could be happy with. Finally when it came time to pay, my amount was 470 and as I counted out my currency (all 50 LE notes) when I got to 450, she said that was enough and he took that price. We had priced similar items when we were in Sharm last weekend and they were higher and not of the same quality as these were. We are very appreciative of her willingness to help us out in our purchases.
Saturday afternoon the elementary staff was invited by a parent out to Montaza on the shores of the
