Another post where I apologize for not writing anything recently. Sensing a pattern here? What a sad Blog I have...only a few of you die-hards out there reading it b/c of my lack of posts. *sigh*

My excuses? I don't really have any.

Yes, I began classes this week...but that's not really keeping me too busy to write.

Social life? Well, I have been somewhat busy catching up with friends and sitting with people to watch the Africa Cup soccer matches...

But I've still had time at home to do some reading and to watch some movies. I wouldn't want to try typing while reading, but I think I could do it with a movie on in the background. But I just don't.

I know I've promised to get to the details of what's been going on since the holidays, but I guess I'll start with the present and then try to move back in time...

Here's my teaching schedule, if anyone is curious:

Saturday
5-6.30 --> Help with Conversation Class

Sunday, Tuesday
5.30-7 --> Level 5
7-9 --> Advanced Practice Class

Monday, Wednesday
4.30-6.30 --> Level 4
6.30-8.30 --> Level 6

Of this batch, only the “Advanced Practice” is new. We had a large group that finished Level 6 in December and they just don't want to stop studying! (I think that's a good thing) So, I'm putting together this class without a set textbook, just using handouts, Internet materials, etc. It's going to be more work than the other classes in terms of preparation, but I think it's going to be fun to do!

As I mentioned earlier, I've been watching lots of the Africa Cup matches. This includes 2 matches in the stadiums in Cairo last weekend!!! Quite an experience!

One of the other MCC'ers organized us awhile ago to buy tickets early, so we got tickets for 2 of the quarterfinal matches (Egypt ended up playing in one of them). The match we saw on Friday with Egypt was so much fun! We arrived at the stadium 4 ½ hours early so that we could get the best seats in our section.

So what did we do for all that time? Well, we entertained ourselves and also let the crowd entertain us. I don't know exact numbers, but I think there were about 30,000 in attendance. The vast majority were wearing red/black/white, the colors of the Egyptian flag. People had all sorts of clothing with these colors – hats, jerseys, scarves, shirts, even Muslim women with special higabs for the occasion!

People were beating on drums, singing songs, and doing chants. There was such an energy in the air! In the end, Egypt triumphed and the crowd was happy, to say the least...

Then on Saturday, we went to another quarterfinal match between Ivory Coast and Cameroon. We knew that crowd would be smaller, so we only got there 3 ½ hours early for that match. Even at that, we were there much earlier than we needed to be! This was in a smaller stadium than the Egypt match and there were were only several thousand ticket-holders in the stadium and then maybe 10,000 Egyptian soldiers/military to fill the other seats!!! *laugh*

Yes, they gave these guys colored running suits and then randomly dispersed them in sections of the stadium – some guys in green, others in red, orange, and yellow. What a scene!

Now I've been back in Tanta teaching this week.

Well, except for 1 class that I canceled on Tuesday night. Egypt was playing in the Semi-finals and I wanted to watch it on TV (and so did some of my students)! In a lively match, Egypt defeated Senegal 2-1 and will play Ivory Coast in the Final on Friday in Cairo.

Where will I be?

In the stadium!!!!! *smile* Yeah, it's going to be incredible!

Check next week for details about the match.

To see pics and read about the championship, check out: http://egypt2006.com.eg