Don’t know how many of you have been following the recent news out of Egypt concerning the unrest and demonstrations. We’ve tried to get in touch with some of our friends there but the government shut down the internet. Things look pretty tense there right now. This comes at the beginning of prime overseas teaching recruiting which may affect schools in that region as they attempt to hire new staff. This is also a prime season for tourism, probably the major industry for Egypt. A few years ago, while visiting Jordan, we spoke with a person who told us that she felt that Egypt was primed for a revolution because of the disparity of wealth within the country. As food and housing prices continue to rise and unemployment at a all-time high, her words seem prophetic now.
We hope that people in the West do not form their opinions of this wonderful country based on video clips on CNN or Fox News. If you do, you will have a false impression of what the people are like. The vast majority of people are friendly and warm towards Westerners and the unrest you see portrayed on television is the pent-up hostilities towards a government that has not been responsive to the needs of their citizens. We hope that the events of the past few days do not open the door to radical elements to seize control of the government and institute a radical Islamic state. We certainly hope that peace, order and stability are restored soon to that area.
