For those of you within reasonable driving distance of Albion, check out:
Salman Rushdie to Present Isaac Keynote
Salman Rushdie is speaking on Thursday night!! This is apparently causing lots of issues/questions on campus, so there are pre-Rushdie sessions, too:
Albion College Muslims Offer Perspective On Rushdie Visit
Interesting stuff...
Saturday, April 19, 2003
I just got back from a performance at my church of the "Combined Churches Choir". People from different English-speaking churches around Cairo get together for this traveling group. They're good!!! The music to go with them is on tape, but their voices area amazing. The only song I recognized was "I Lift Your Name", but they were all really good.
One called "My Holy Cry" really struck me, so I want to share the lyrics:
I'm poisoned by the lies this world's been feeding me.
It's no longer an avoidable reality.
Self-centered living never leaves a heart at peace.
I must cut my ties with this world, repent, and turn and flee.
I cry out to You Lord. Will you answer me?
Holy Spirit, flow; come and set me free.
I lift my eyes to see Your face.
Lord, I worship You on high and in Your grace,
I seek Your will. This is my holy cry.
The decadence around me wants to put my soul to death.
And I know full well this compromise
Has caused my soul's distress.
I'm hearing hatred raging like a lion's roar.
Lord, I am for peace, but what they speak is only war.
-----quite a song, eh? Comments???
Our minister and one of the women from our church who is in the choir both asked me if I wanted to sing with them next year, when I told them how wonderful it was... Is that weird, or what? I'm guessing that they really need male voices, since out of a group of about 70, only about 20 were guys. They only perform at Christmas and Easter, so I have awhile to think about it and with me in Tanta, it would be difficult (bordering on impossible) to do, but I might look into the possibility.
After that, I watched a bit of soccer on TV. The 2 big Egyptian teams were playing each other, so I looked at the TV in a coffee shop to see the end.
Arabic is going well, but I've devoted time to it today that I wish I could have given to my teaching course. I need to look things over tonight and then spend most of tomorrow on a lesson plan (for Monday), meeting with my classmates, and working on an assignment (for Wednesday)
----Thinking about fun things…I got to chat with my good friend Mike for about 30 minutes last night on MSN Messenger. Among other things, he told me that I should think about making one main “pictures” page with the links to all my different photos. It’s an idea I had been thinking about, so when I have a bit of time, I’ll try to add that. Maybe on Tuesday?
But now, it’s time for some email and studying…
One called "My Holy Cry" really struck me, so I want to share the lyrics:
I'm poisoned by the lies this world's been feeding me.
It's no longer an avoidable reality.
Self-centered living never leaves a heart at peace.
I must cut my ties with this world, repent, and turn and flee.
I cry out to You Lord. Will you answer me?
Holy Spirit, flow; come and set me free.
I lift my eyes to see Your face.
Lord, I worship You on high and in Your grace,
I seek Your will. This is my holy cry.
The decadence around me wants to put my soul to death.
And I know full well this compromise
Has caused my soul's distress.
I'm hearing hatred raging like a lion's roar.
Lord, I am for peace, but what they speak is only war.
-----quite a song, eh? Comments???
Our minister and one of the women from our church who is in the choir both asked me if I wanted to sing with them next year, when I told them how wonderful it was... Is that weird, or what? I'm guessing that they really need male voices, since out of a group of about 70, only about 20 were guys. They only perform at Christmas and Easter, so I have awhile to think about it and with me in Tanta, it would be difficult (bordering on impossible) to do, but I might look into the possibility.
After that, I watched a bit of soccer on TV. The 2 big Egyptian teams were playing each other, so I looked at the TV in a coffee shop to see the end.
Arabic is going well, but I've devoted time to it today that I wish I could have given to my teaching course. I need to look things over tonight and then spend most of tomorrow on a lesson plan (for Monday), meeting with my classmates, and working on an assignment (for Wednesday)
----Thinking about fun things…I got to chat with my good friend Mike for about 30 minutes last night on MSN Messenger. Among other things, he told me that I should think about making one main “pictures” page with the links to all my different photos. It’s an idea I had been thinking about, so when I have a bit of time, I’ll try to add that. Maybe on Tuesday?
But now, it’s time for some email and studying…
Friday, April 18, 2003
I went to a really good Tri-lingual Good Friday service tonight. Arabic, English, and Sudanese. Very energetic! Good music and such a variety of people.
This morning, I went to the regular service at my church and heard a good message. Talking about how other religions admire Jesus for his acts, but don’t recognize him as the Son of God. That’s all well and good, but if you don’t believe that part, then your kinda missing the point. If you don’t believe in the crucifixion and rising from the dead, then you’re lacking the most important bit!
Not much today, beyond the Church services, Frisbee, and making some molasses cookies. *yum* I asked my mother for the recipe and when she wrote back, she told me that one of our neighbors brought these cookies over when I was born. That’s a new story for me to hear!
So…looking back at the week.
Monday night, I got to party!!! It was my friend Annie’s birthday and some friends of ours had moved into a new flat, so they had a combination birthday/housewarming. There were about 50-60 people there. Of that group, less than 10 were “Westerners”. The rest were Sudanese. Fun!
Guess what kind of music we listened to and danced to? American R&B/Rap – Usher, P Diddy, etc. *laugh* I was the white boy out there trying to dance with people who can seriously move! I caught one woman laughing at me, but some of the guys thought I had potential!
Tuesday I visited Tanta!!! That’s where I’ll be living, starting at the beginning of June. Then, it’s 2 years and about 8 months after that! It should be alright, but definitely a culture shock after being in Cairo. Where I’m living in Cairo, I see KFC, McDonald’s, Dominos, etc everywhere – it’s really Western. I also see more BMW’s and Mercedes here than I did back in Royal Oak.
That won’t quite be the case in Tanta. It’s still a couple of million people, but more conservative and not as influenced by the West.
Guess where I’ll be living when I first get there?
An old people’s home! *laugh* 15 old grandpas/grannies and me! Why???? It’s right across the street from where the director of the English program lives, near where we will have the classes, and they want me to be “safe and comfortable”.
There will be someone to clean for me and I’ll be able to have my meals there so that will give me more time for teaching. The people we talked to on Tuesday don’t know me, so I think they’re going to be overprotective at the beginning. I’ll just take it slow and show them over time that I’ll be alright.
After awhile, I might move into a flat on my own. We’ll see…
The current plan is that I’ll finish up my teaching class in mid-May, have about a week to do some intensive Arabic study and then move to Tanta after that. In the long run, being in Tanta will be really good for my Arabic, but right now I still need to study/learn a lot in preparation for going.
Wednesday’s teaching preparation never quite came together, so my lesson was rough. Oh well, I still got a “pass” on it and it’s a reminder that I need to keep working hard.
Wed. night and Thurs. night, I had Arabic tutorial. Wednesday’s went alright and Thursday went really well. I’ve been frustrating for my tutor with not having time to study enough, but she said that she was encouraged by these past couple of days. Me too!!
Alright, that finally gets me caught up on what’s been going on!
This morning, I went to the regular service at my church and heard a good message. Talking about how other religions admire Jesus for his acts, but don’t recognize him as the Son of God. That’s all well and good, but if you don’t believe that part, then your kinda missing the point. If you don’t believe in the crucifixion and rising from the dead, then you’re lacking the most important bit!
Not much today, beyond the Church services, Frisbee, and making some molasses cookies. *yum* I asked my mother for the recipe and when she wrote back, she told me that one of our neighbors brought these cookies over when I was born. That’s a new story for me to hear!
So…looking back at the week.
Monday night, I got to party!!! It was my friend Annie’s birthday and some friends of ours had moved into a new flat, so they had a combination birthday/housewarming. There were about 50-60 people there. Of that group, less than 10 were “Westerners”. The rest were Sudanese. Fun!
Guess what kind of music we listened to and danced to? American R&B/Rap – Usher, P Diddy, etc. *laugh* I was the white boy out there trying to dance with people who can seriously move! I caught one woman laughing at me, but some of the guys thought I had potential!
Tuesday I visited Tanta!!! That’s where I’ll be living, starting at the beginning of June. Then, it’s 2 years and about 8 months after that! It should be alright, but definitely a culture shock after being in Cairo. Where I’m living in Cairo, I see KFC, McDonald’s, Dominos, etc everywhere – it’s really Western. I also see more BMW’s and Mercedes here than I did back in Royal Oak.
That won’t quite be the case in Tanta. It’s still a couple of million people, but more conservative and not as influenced by the West.
Guess where I’ll be living when I first get there?
An old people’s home! *laugh* 15 old grandpas/grannies and me! Why???? It’s right across the street from where the director of the English program lives, near where we will have the classes, and they want me to be “safe and comfortable”.
There will be someone to clean for me and I’ll be able to have my meals there so that will give me more time for teaching. The people we talked to on Tuesday don’t know me, so I think they’re going to be overprotective at the beginning. I’ll just take it slow and show them over time that I’ll be alright.
After awhile, I might move into a flat on my own. We’ll see…
The current plan is that I’ll finish up my teaching class in mid-May, have about a week to do some intensive Arabic study and then move to Tanta after that. In the long run, being in Tanta will be really good for my Arabic, but right now I still need to study/learn a lot in preparation for going.
Wednesday’s teaching preparation never quite came together, so my lesson was rough. Oh well, I still got a “pass” on it and it’s a reminder that I need to keep working hard.
Wed. night and Thurs. night, I had Arabic tutorial. Wednesday’s went alright and Thursday went really well. I’ve been frustrating for my tutor with not having time to study enough, but she said that she was encouraged by these past couple of days. Me too!!
Alright, that finally gets me caught up on what’s been going on!
Thursday, April 17, 2003
I’m a putz. I had plenty of time to study my Arabic today, but I didn’t do it! *shakes head*
Instead, I read more in “The Count of Monte Cristo”. What a great adventure/mystery. I highly recommend it.
But now it’s story time for me. To tell a story, that is. This is the story of my new #2 “Small World” experience. It’ll make more sense to the Albion crew, but should be ok for everyone.
Let me start out by saying that I went to Albion College from 1993-97 and each year, there were 1,500 students on campus.
So…
I’m at my teaching class on Monday evening. We were there late b/c it was the evening when we observed some “real” teachers doing their stuff. We watched 2 classes and at the break between the 2, I was waiting to get a cup of tea…
My friend Mark and I were standing there and I say to him,
“Wow, that woman over there looks really familiar, but not from here – I think I know her from somewhere else.”
Mark gave me the typical, “oh…she just has one of those faces” responses, but I’ve had enough coincidences in my life, so I don’t accept that.
So, I went over to talk with her…
We started chatting about where she was from and she that she was American and that she had been living by Detroit (Plymouth) until that last year.
“Yeah, but that’s not it – tell me more”, I said.
Her response?
“Well, I went to Albion College…”
*jaw drops*
It turns out she graduated in 1995 and was in the choir. Her name was Heather Berlin. Anyone remember her?
She’s been working here for about a year or so and is taking Arabic classes where I am doing my teacher training course. *laugh*
What are the odds?
Well, I have a pizza on the way, so I should go.
Instead, I read more in “The Count of Monte Cristo”. What a great adventure/mystery. I highly recommend it.
But now it’s story time for me. To tell a story, that is. This is the story of my new #2 “Small World” experience. It’ll make more sense to the Albion crew, but should be ok for everyone.
Let me start out by saying that I went to Albion College from 1993-97 and each year, there were 1,500 students on campus.
So…
I’m at my teaching class on Monday evening. We were there late b/c it was the evening when we observed some “real” teachers doing their stuff. We watched 2 classes and at the break between the 2, I was waiting to get a cup of tea…
My friend Mark and I were standing there and I say to him,
“Wow, that woman over there looks really familiar, but not from here – I think I know her from somewhere else.”
Mark gave me the typical, “oh…she just has one of those faces” responses, but I’ve had enough coincidences in my life, so I don’t accept that.
So, I went over to talk with her…
We started chatting about where she was from and she that she was American and that she had been living by Detroit (Plymouth) until that last year.
“Yeah, but that’s not it – tell me more”, I said.
Her response?
“Well, I went to Albion College…”
*jaw drops*
It turns out she graduated in 1995 and was in the choir. Her name was Heather Berlin. Anyone remember her?
She’s been working here for about a year or so and is taking Arabic classes where I am doing my teacher training course. *laugh*
What are the odds?
Well, I have a pizza on the way, so I should go.
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
I’m so far behind! It’s been a week since I made a proper entry in here, with details and everything… Terrible!
I’ve already written a bit about my trip to the pyramids last week, but here’s some more about that. I had no idea what I wanted to do there, other than “see them”, so I just went and did whatever struck me. Of course, I got pestered by guys wanting to do horse rides, so I went with one.
It was alright, but it took me a long time to get the feel of the horse. My guide also took great humor in making the horse go faster than I really wanted to go! *laugh* This included the time that we were going along at a good gallop and I fell off the horse! *laugh* Fortunately, I managed to miss all the rocks that were around me and just land on the sand!
We didn’t get right down on the pyramids plateau, so that will be a future trip. Instead, we went along the edges, to some of the smaller pyramids, and got a decent view of the Sphinx.
I was sore! After all the riding, my butt was sore for days!
But no rest for me. It was an early morning on Friday, as Darren had made plans to go with some Sudanese friends to the Burkesh Camel Market. Thousands of camels bought and sold, several days each week. Friday is one of the main days, so things were busy. It took awhile to get there and several busses, but we made it. *grin* The Sudanese guys were named Iha and Amel. Two of Amel’s uncles are camel merchants, so we went to see them while we were there. They let us touch the camels, get lots of pictures, and all that fun “tourist” stuff, without really having to be a tourist!
Here’s a bunch of recent pictures:
Username: jpics
Password: easy
pics of Alex at:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4290375505
and the Pyramids:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4290375445
...and I haven't even sent out the mass email yet for:
Camel market pics:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4290365449
It’s late now, but Thursday will be a quiet day. That means I might have time for more journal writing.
I still need to write about the party on Monday, my “small world” story, and my visit to Tanta! So much to say!!!!
I’ve already written a bit about my trip to the pyramids last week, but here’s some more about that. I had no idea what I wanted to do there, other than “see them”, so I just went and did whatever struck me. Of course, I got pestered by guys wanting to do horse rides, so I went with one.
It was alright, but it took me a long time to get the feel of the horse. My guide also took great humor in making the horse go faster than I really wanted to go! *laugh* This included the time that we were going along at a good gallop and I fell off the horse! *laugh* Fortunately, I managed to miss all the rocks that were around me and just land on the sand!
We didn’t get right down on the pyramids plateau, so that will be a future trip. Instead, we went along the edges, to some of the smaller pyramids, and got a decent view of the Sphinx.
I was sore! After all the riding, my butt was sore for days!
But no rest for me. It was an early morning on Friday, as Darren had made plans to go with some Sudanese friends to the Burkesh Camel Market. Thousands of camels bought and sold, several days each week. Friday is one of the main days, so things were busy. It took awhile to get there and several busses, but we made it. *grin* The Sudanese guys were named Iha and Amel. Two of Amel’s uncles are camel merchants, so we went to see them while we were there. They let us touch the camels, get lots of pictures, and all that fun “tourist” stuff, without really having to be a tourist!
Here’s a bunch of recent pictures:
Username: jpics
Password: easy
pics of Alex at:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4290375505
and the Pyramids:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4290375445
...and I haven't even sent out the mass email yet for:
Camel market pics:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4290365449
It’s late now, but Thursday will be a quiet day. That means I might have time for more journal writing.
I still need to write about the party on Monday, my “small world” story, and my visit to Tanta! So much to say!!!!
Monday, April 14, 2003
I found my funny!!!! *laugh*
That's either a quote or a paraphrase from a movie, but I have no idea what.
Anyone???? Help me out here!
A crisp 10 piastre note to the first person who can tell me...
At any rate, I feel like my old self again, even though I didn't know until today that I wasn't feeling like myself. Basically at class and with my classmates today, I was cracking jokes and acting like my usual, cynical self. *grin*
Must sleep now, for on Tuesday morning, I go to visit Tanta and get a glimpse of what the next 2 1/2 years will hold for me.
Plus, it's story time! Most Albion folks remember my #1 "This is a small world" story from Australia, right?
Well, I now have a good #2 that comes in fairly close behind. Sorry, but it'll only make sense to the Albion-related folks. Hopefully I'll post that story on Tuesday night or Wed.
That's either a quote or a paraphrase from a movie, but I have no idea what.
Anyone???? Help me out here!
A crisp 10 piastre note to the first person who can tell me...
At any rate, I feel like my old self again, even though I didn't know until today that I wasn't feeling like myself. Basically at class and with my classmates today, I was cracking jokes and acting like my usual, cynical self. *grin*
Must sleep now, for on Tuesday morning, I go to visit Tanta and get a glimpse of what the next 2 1/2 years will hold for me.
Plus, it's story time! Most Albion folks remember my #1 "This is a small world" story from Australia, right?
Well, I now have a good #2 that comes in fairly close behind. Sorry, but it'll only make sense to the Albion-related folks. Hopefully I'll post that story on Tuesday night or Wed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
