Friday evening was our annual Galabaya Party up on the rooftop of Roy Hall (the main apartment building for resident staff). It rained a little in the afternoon (the first rain since we arrived in August) and we were fearful that the party might have to move indoors. This would take away from all of the colorful decorations that the workers put up for the party but fortunately it cleared up and dried off. Most of the resident staff attended as well as a few local hire staff. All were dressed very colorfully in their Galabayas – a traditional garb in
Earlier in the week, we had a bit of a scare as on Monday Pat discovered that she was missing the main diamond from her wedding ring. We looked all over the apartment and tried to “retrace” her steps and check wherever she had been. By Thursday, we had given up hope of finding it. Then after school she was moving the coffee table near the davenport and saw something bright on the cushion of the davenport and there it was! During the week we probably look over that area several times and even sat on those cushions a few times We were very happy to find it.
On the weekend we went out to Carrfour to a movie. In the parking lot, there are mobile car washing carts where the operator will wash cars for 10 LE (about $1.70). We saw several cars being washed. After the movie we stopped at a unique fish restaurant and had shrimp (probably 8” in length) as well as grilled sea bass. The place is not much to look at but the fish was delicious. The restaurant shares it’s kitchen area with a couple other places. There are numerous cats around the tables finishing off what the customers don’t eat.
We finished up interviewing for a new head of schools. The Board brought 3 candidates in over the past three weeks. It is a very intensive process for the candidates. They meet with the staff, the students and the PTA as well as several meetings with the Board. Each evening that they are here, there is an elaborate dinner somewhere that they attend. We may know by next week if they pick one or re-open the process.
Letters of intent for the teaching staff were due as the school tries to get a feel for how many teachers they will need to replace. This year we brought in 11 new teachers and it looks like a few might not stay for the second year. Right now we have 5 vacancies with the possibility of an additional 5 more. It is getting very competitive in the overseas teaching market as there are more schools and the demand is greater than a few years ago. Since
