We began classes on Sunday for three days and began a break on Wednesday for Coptic Christmas. Several students did not attend classes on those three days and opted to extend their holiday break. Both Pat and I have been battling colds so it is nice to have a little extra time to rest before the end of the semester. Today several of us went out to Carrfour for a shopping excursion. The mall wasn’t very busy during the time we were out there – probably due to the holiday and the traveling that many of the middle and upper class Egyptians are doing. Tomorrow we are having a Pizza Night for the resident staff. We are all getting together and preparing pizza – it should be fun. Friday evening 6 of us are headed to a movie, supper out and a few games of cards. It is nice to be able to get together like this socially.
As many of you know, there is a crisis situation right now between Hamas in Gaza and Israel. It is making for a tense time in the Middle East. Both sides have been trading bombing and rocket fire for several days and now Israel has staged a ground strike in Gaza. Two schools have been bombed in Gaza and the death toll keeps rising. Many of the civilian population are under heavy fire and are caught in the middle between the Israeli army and the Hamas militants. Egypt is in a very tenuous position – they are an Arab nation and member of the Arab League and they are also an ally to the United States and Israel. In addition, as a neighbor of Gaza, they are under pressure to accept refugees from Gaza and provide assistance (usually in the form of Medical assistance, etc) to the citizens of Gaza. But because Egypt is not on good economic ground, they are not able to provide for a large influx of refugees. Many in the Arab world are upset with Egypt’s position with Israel. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks. We do not feel in any danger where we are at, but one never knows what turn of events may take place.
