The human condition....played out on the global theatre. Ohh, what a tangled web one can weave. I have been watching the global deterioration of the human condition from my sofa all March. I had a case of the flu and it seems a "nasty" abscess (per Dr. Tamer, my ever faithful dentist). While enjoying what I feel has been pure theatre, something akin to the Divine Comedy, I have taken to turning the TV off and covering my head with a pillow. Escapism....my next post. I pass this gentleman in this picture on days when I walk home from school. He is our laundry/dry cleaning guy. We do have modern and updated dry cleaners as well, but this is our standard laundry facility. I personally do not use the maquege as we call them here, but many people do. They provide an excellent service by the way. It can get hot and dusty in that small little room and they do not use air conditioning. He could not afford to pay the bill. I want you to imagine working in that small, hot room with only a fan blowing hot air and exhaust fumes in your face all day. I do wonder what this man understands about capitalism vs. socialism? I wonder if anyone told him that American kids are getting assessed for depression in the US school systems? I wonder if he realizes that this global economic catastrophe will literally sweep away trillions of dollars, an estimated 30 million jobs and the life savings of millions more? I do wonder what his opinion is about that? I have come to the sad realization over the past month that my grandmother was woefully wrong when she taught me about human nature. She explained that people are essentially good by nature, and that sometimes when good people are faced with adversity, they can react in a bad way. Well, tell that to the maquege. If that is not facing adversity daily, I don't know who is and I am pretty sure he is not twittering his financial adviser daily. Capitalism, socialism, it all boils down to the same stew, greed. Greed has become a part of the human condition whether you are a capitalist or a socialist. This whole global crisis is the end result of greed and the complete and utter lack of moral restraint played out on the global theatre. I support Barak Obama, but if I were on his economic team I would whole heartedly let GM, AIG and all those banks fail. I wouldn't put one dime of tax payers money into any of them. Our globalized institutions are dinosaurs. They don't operate efficiently and they haven't been operating efficiently for some time. It is all too clear watching their CEO's testifying on TV that they don't truly grasp or understand what is going on in their own organizations. What a comedy, what theatre. A friend of mine works for a large marketing firm here in Egypt. He creates and produces commercials and videos for a certain client base. He went to his daughters school about an issue that required both his and his wife's attention. In the middle of the whole dog and pony show this friend spoke up and said, "Listen, don't sell me illusions and dreams...I create those on a daily basis." That is what happened to the global economy...funds managers, financial advisors, and banks sold people illusions. I am so tired of listening to whining from individuals all over the world about nationalism and capitalism, socialism and all the other "isms." Banks are not capitalists...manufacturers are capitalists...people who create TANGIBLE things are capitalists. There is difference.

Greed.....the essence of the human condition.....on the global theatre.

Until next time,

A Woman of Egypt

It's peaceful and quiet this last Friday morning of February 2009. It actually looks as if it will rain. It is not unusual to have rain in Cairo in the winter. This year has been an exception, which I attribute to global warming. I am working on lesson plans and activities for the upcoming month. It has been a busy academic year, personally and professionaly. Our school grew exponentially this year. This is only our third academic year, but we have more than doubled our capacity. As we move into the last few months of the school year, I cannot help but reflect on my performance as a teacher; my expectations from my students and if I am close to meeting my goals for the year. After reviewing my curriculum, I know that I am on target for learning goals and expectations. I have some students I red flagged for different reasons; from behavioral to learning problems. I am taking a proactive approach in meeting these individual students needs and thankfully, their parents are onboard. I have now started reflecting on my school community and whether my students are contributing to a healthy and vibrant community of learners. I truly believe they are learning to be a part of a bigger picture. The values and belief system of my school takes a long time to instill in our Egyptian culture. Forming a line, waiting in line, is unheard of here and it is not commonly practiced. For example, asking students to stand in line is contrary to his/her social norms. If you enter any bank, office, or in particular any grocery store you find people pushing through lines to get to the front without any regard for others. I once had an older well dressed, seemingly educated gentleman push his way to the counter in front of me to purchase a coffee in the Gezira Club. When I told him in Arabic that I was waiting ahead of him, he replied to me in English "why are you complaining to me, he took my money." I didn't bother to argue with him. I realized that there was no point. He exemplified everything I find sad, wrong and disappointing in this country that I love so much. Complete and utter disregard for consideration of others. To me, he was no longer considered important enough to argue with. Regardless of his family name, his level of education or his background, henceforth, he was simply ignorant, irrelivant and unworthy of my time. I face this same issue daily as an educator in Egypt. Respect for others, inclusiveness, tolerance and consideration are imbedded in our schools philosophy and belief system. I put credence in it, and I plant it in my classroom as seeds; nurturing it, caring for it daily. The problem with that philosophy and belief system is that it is not recognized outside of my classroom or our school community. Respect for others and self at school does not work well in a class based society outside of school. Each day, for eight hours a day, I remind my students to stay organized, keep up with personal items, pick up and clean up after themselves, put trash in the garbage cans. Once they leave the school, their drivers pick them up, their maids clean up after them, carry their bags, pick up their plates, pick up their garbage. Each day, I try to teach my students personal responsibility, that respect is earned not a given. I am sure at times it is confusing for them. Our culture is based on entitlement; My family name is such and such, so I am entitled to do as I like. I paid the schools fees, so I am entitled to treat you like my employee. I am the brother of such and such, and I can buy you, force you, coerce you to conform. Each day, I try to model behaviors of consideration and compassion. I am sure that is difficult for them to comprehend when their parents teach them that the maids or the workers are beneath them, a different class than they are and they are not worthy of any concern or respect. God has placed them on this earth to serve them, and that is and always will be their only place. It is a daily struggle and many days I feel defeated. I wonder if I have lost my mind, to continue trying to practice what I preach. Yet, I do continue, because I believe in my students and I place my faith in them.

This is my last academic year in Egypt for a while. I will be returning to the US during the upcoming summer. I can only hope with the economy the way it is to find a job in education upon my return. Only time will reveal those opportunities. Whatever those opportunities may be, I know I am up to the challenge. Seven years of working in education in Egypt has prepared me for any challenges that may lie ahead.

Until next time,

A Woman of Egypt

Valentine's Day! Thoughts of candy, balloons, flowers, presents wrapped in bright red ribbon, surprises for loved ones. Valentine's Day has made me take some time to consider what is really important in my life. I read somewhere that someone once said the best expression of love is time. I am short on time these days. The importance of things can best be measured by the amount of time you are willing to put into it. The more you value it, the more time you put into it. I am wondering if I value myself and my time too dearly. I am highly focused and goal oriented when it comes to my profession. I have a tendency to let my personal health and relationships take a backseat to my professional demands. I am unable to find balance at times, and it shows. I gain weight and lose contact with people. When my schedule becomes overloaded, I start skimming on my relationships with others. I am firmly convinced that the ultimate success in our lives is our relationships with other people. Are our loved ones lives better because of our presence? I guess that can only be determined by our ability to be present, giving of our time. Giving of myself at times can be a sacrafice. My own selfish needs put away to give of myself to others. This Valentine's Day weekend I have made a vow to myself to not become preoccupied with my own professional demands. I will make a concious effort to be present in the lives of those that I love and care about. I will give of my most precious commodity...time.

Until next time,

A Woman of Egypt

I had to go out this morning to run some errands. We have been on midyear holiday from school and I needed to pay off my credit card and buy some groceries. I decided to walk to the bank which is only about 25 minutes on foot. My route to the bank takes me through a market called Soloman Gohar. I like this market... it has everything and anything a household might need. It was very early in the morning and since I was in no rush I was able to spend some time pricing the different vegetable carts and shops, absorbing the atmosphere around me. The gentleman in this photo was busy making pillows for a bedroom set. He's quick, and I am sure he made several sets today. I take this route home every afternoon from school. The mornings and the afternooons in Soloman Gohar have a completely different rythm. In the afternoons it is very crowded with people, cars, carts and donkeys, people shoving and arguing their way through their purchases. In the mornings, people are amiable, smiling and there is an air of gentle calm. I saw the woman who works on the street behind my home parking cars near the Kuwaiti Embassy. She had purchased a huge cabbage and was carrying it on her head along with several loaves of bread in a plastic bag. I greeted her when she passed me and her little boy kept smiling at me until he turned the corner. I saw an American woman who works for a school here in Cairo. We stopped and chatted for about 20 minutes and then I moved on towards the bank. I couldn't help but think about those two women during my walk. Two women, from completely different cultural backgrounds, living the same life style, both poor, both struggling to raise their kids, both primary income earners for their families. Everyday I see the Egyptian mother parking cars near the Kuwaiti Embassy beside my home. She's very tall, slim, and carries herself in a way that is almost elegant. She is attractive, and with some new clothes, I am sure she would pass for some of the higher class Caireens in any five star hotel lobby. She always has a smile on her face, moderate voice in dealing with others, and always looks clean. Her son is always playing near her, but I have never seen him misbehave. He is quite and mannerly. Her husband is there too...always sitting in a white plastic chair, smoking his cigarettes and drinking his tea. He doesn't even look like someone she would be married too. He is unkempt, dirty and looks uneducated. I have never seen him get up out of that chair and do any work in all these years. Only his wife. She as an Egyptian female, growing up in the socioeconomic class that she did, probably feels she is doing ok. She is married, has a son, makes some money, and her struggles are not unlike her neighbors, her sisters, or even her mother's. Perhaps to some degree, she is better off in many aspects than others of her class level. I don't know, and I would surely never ask her. I respect her, and I admire her resiliance and integrity. The American teacher....well, it has never ceased to amaze me with all the stories I hear or the women I have met in all these years here in Cairo, how any Americans growing up in the United States of America with our freedoms and the right to choice, would choose to come to Egypt and live like the Egyptian mom I just spoke about. A friend and I were talking about this the other day and her experience with these types of women has been more than mine. She thinks if you are going to end up marrying some poor, uneducated Egyptian, and live in a poor district of Cairo then you should have stayed in the states, married some poor, uneducated nobody, moved into the projects and lived on state aid. For sure you would be living better there, than here. I tend to agree. If I had a penny for every story I have heard about women coming here, falling in love with some poor Egyptian man, someone like the guy in this picture, getting married, immediately getting pregnant, and then realizing that the "love of their life" turns out to be the "biggest mistake of their life." Stories of women buying homes, thinking that they are going to be building lives with the men they love, and then getting kicked out, only to realize that the home was bought and purchased with her money, but in his name. Women who have married these men, and never knew that they were a second wife. Women who have had money stolen from them, their children stolen from them, and their lives destroyed. And there are many, who stick it out, because they don't know what else they should do, don't want to lose their children, and have no other choices. Some do make it out, but many stay. I feel empathy for these women, but I am unable to build friendships with them. I have nothing in common with these women, even if we share the same nationality. I completed my errand at the bank and on the way home I greeted the Egyptian mom and waved to her son. I realized in the lift on the way up to my flat, that I had lost respect for the American mom I had chatted with today in the souk. Her choice to stay in the situation she had described to me earlier was illogical and incomprehensible to me. I felt sad and guilty that I could so easily dismiss her and discount her right to choice. Was it right for me to judge her based on her choices? Was it really correct for me to impose my standards of success upon her? I don't think so, but I still could not help but feel the way I did. I will see both of those women again, perhaps on the street, maybe at an educational conference. The outcome of these meetings will always be the same for me. I will admire the one that is striving to do her best with the social class that she has been born into, and I will always be congenial but reluctant to engage the American, who I feel threw away all the priviliges it is to be American, right to choice and the right to personal success.
Until next time,
A Woman of Egypt

I wrote a note for FaceBook entitled "25 Things About Me" and I decided that I would use it as a blog post as well. The following is copied from my FaceBook post.

1. My zodiac sign is a Scorpio...it is the only sign in the zodiac with three animal totems..the scorpion, eagle and the dove.
2. My Chinese sign is the Monkey. I assume this is where my insatiable curiosity about the world comes from.
3. My mother told me I never slept in a fetal position as an infant and I potty trained earlier than children my age. It seems I preferred to potty instead of wearing dirty diapers. Who wouldn't?
4. As a preschooler, I did not like to wear socks. I did not like the way they felt on my toes..I felt constricted. That was a daily argument.
5. I did not like to wash, brush, or wear hair barrets, pig tails, and/or pony tails in my hair. My mother and Nana (the black lady who raised my sisters and I) were both heavy handed and rough. That too, was a daily argument and one that I won on many occasions as witnessed by several preschool photos where my hair looked like a Crisco commercial and let's not even discuss the way my hair was parted.
6. I did not like black patent leather shoes. They were hard and the soles were slick. I refused to wear black patent leather shoes. If I had my way, I would have been barefoot daily.
7. My mission in life as a primary student was to make sure I was at my grandmothers every Saturday morning by 7:00 am to have a cup of instant coffee with a slice of hoop cheese in it, eat eggs and toast, watch cartoons, and help her "clean her house" before we went "shopping" at Roses dimestore later that afternoon. I was making my phone calls to her home by 6:30 a.m. to get my grandfather to come and pick me up....and he always would.
8. I remember trying to get "rid" of my sister Emeri by placing her in the middle of Bonner Street and sitting and waiting on the curb for someone to come and "pick" her up. There was not much traffic, but finally a neighbor came by and got both of us out of the street and I of course got in trouble for that.
9. We lived beside a cemetary and I used to play and set up camp in and around the gravestones. I was so scared when some of the neighborhood boys told us that dead people came out of those places at night and would come to get anyone that messed with their graves and KILL them. That was the end of my play days in the cemetary.
10. I realized when I was ten years old how words can hurt to the core when those very same boys called me a "N**gg*r lover" and I quickly proceeded to ask my beloved Nana (the black woman that raised my sisters and I) what that meant, and I can't forget the look of hurt and pain on her face. That was a defining moment in my life.
11. I refused to learn math in Mr. Tettertons 3rd grade math class. I could not understand why I had to learn division and multiplication tables when it made no sense to me in the "reality of my life" at that time. I would tune him out, turn the class off, and open a book and read through the whole math class. I REFUSED to do it and both Mr. Tetterton and my parents were at a loss to manage me. I never did math that year. I read the whole of the Nancy Drew series in his math class that year.
11. Reading and books were my passion. I found a new passion during the 5th grade and that was about the world. I got a library pass one day for whatever reason (probably math class) and when I went to the library, the librarian gave me a book to read called "Born Free." Elsa and her familys adventures became my new passion. After that, I was onto a whole new level of thinking and I realized there was a big wide world outside of Washington, NC and I needed to see it.
12. When I was 14, I realized that I never wanted to get married and have kids. I can't remember how or why I came to this profound inner knowledge, but I knew that I never would.
13. I did get married, and this is my second marriage. I married foreigners on both occasions. I do beleive I have found my mate in this one. I never did have kids.
14. I once flew back from Dubai with refresh wipes over my face to block the horrific body odor of the passenger sitting next to my husband. I had to ask the steward to bring me extras. My husband was embarrased...but I didn't care. It was either the refresh wipes, or me giving that passenger a lecture about the foul effects of poor hygiene. I think the wet wipes were better.
15. One day while I was studying for my teaching certificate from Cambridge University, I went to the on campus bookstore to purchase some study guides. While making my purchase I had a conciliatory conversation with an African man about the weather and etc. I paid and said goodbye. When I went back to my class, I was a huge hit with the staff and students as it seemed that the African gentleman I was speaking to was Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe. I had no idea who the man was and it seems that all campus traffic was halted while he was ordering books for his schools. I have no idea why they let me in while he was there, but I did start reading more about African politics from that point.
16. I have met many well known people while living here in Cairo. I had a well known female singer tell me that I needed to go on a diet. I met Yasser Arafat's nephew at the club through my husband, and I had a member of parliament ask me for private English lessons. That was a bit shady, and I never did. I also saw one of Osama bin Laden's sons at the grocery store next to my home. I didn't know who he was at the time, but I told my husband "check out that Arab with the dread locks." We later saw him on a local TV program promoting a desert horse race through the Arab Peninsula. He is very attractive by the way.
17. I have no fear of death...and no fear of my immortality. I feel that nobody lives past the time that God has designated for them. I do fear one thing, and that is a DENTAL visit. That is the ultimate test of my courage, the dentist.
18. I suffer from body dysmorphia. In my mind, I am a dynamic, articulate, well read, well traveled, poised, highly energetic, mover and shaker with abounding confidence. When I look at my figure in the mirror, I see some saggy breasts, donut rolls, cottage cheese dimpled skin, a rear like a dump truck, and some serious vericose veins. I think, whoooo, who is THAT, and I have to take a second look. I still can't align the body with the spirit even now at 40+.
19. I dislike men with a weak character.
20. Even more than I dislike weak, cowardly men...I have a distaste for weak women who accept anything less than common courtesy and consideration.
21. I love to eat local and ethnic food from the carts on the streets of places that I have traveled. This is not a good thing, and is a serious cause for hepatitis..but I adore these places.
22. The older I get the more suspicious I am of other peoples motives. I rarely allow people into my personal confidance.
23. I hope to grow old gracefully, without Botox injections and medical interventions with the sags and bags. So far I don't beleive in that plastic surgery farce, but you never know what may happen in 10 years.
24. I am fearful that I will grow old and be a burden on my husband in our old age. I do not want this to happen, and I can only PRAY to God that it will not. I told him if I ever get senile and crazier than I am now, just drop me at the nearest nursing home and drive off, they will know what to do.
25. I am my biggest fan, and so should anything ever happen to me, know that I DID NOT commit suicide.
Until next time,
A Woman of Egypt

This has been a very exhausting week and I am so happy to see it wrapped up. If someone told me on Saturday what my work week would be like, I may have taken an exten
ded holiday. Living in Cairo is not for the faint of heart. Its dense population has created horrific traffic challenges, short tempers, and a mindless disregard for others. I faced the aforementioned as an educator this week. The mother of one of my students came to school and interrupted my first class to tell me that she had informed her son that should any student hit him, then he should hit him back, with force. I explained to this mother that we had a "Hands Off" policy at school and are trying to teach our students to use words not fists when facing a problem. She said "No, this is wrong, and it doesn't work." She felt that each child has the right to defend himself and that our school policy should be changed. After realizing that I would never be able to convince her otherwise, I asked her to please speak to my principal about the matter. On one hand, I do understand the complex reasons behind her feelings and I can appreciate her logic. Even armed with an understanding of the complexities of our culture, I still felt let down that she didn't trust the school enough to support our endeavors to create change within our school community. That was just the first day of the week, things deteriorated even further. Our fourth and fifth grade class were scheduled to go on a field trip. The day arrived, the kids were outside ready to board the bus, and from out of the blue two of the fourth grade parents showed up and would not allow the bus to leave with the kids on it. Their sons were in in-school suspension and were not allowed to go on the field trip. Both sets of these parents created a scene in the middle of our street, in front of our school, used inappropriate language, took the keys from the bus driver and refused to give it back until their children were allowed to board the bus. Cars were backed up on the street and began blowing their horns and drivers started yelling. Our school director arrived to take care of the situation and the bus finally left for the trip. It seems that several threats were used by the parents to persuade our director to let the boys attend the field trip, and thankfully, our director held firm to her position. After several other issues cropped up during the week, our school secretary decided to play quron and burn bohur in the early morning to rid our school of the evil elements. Even though this is a nice thing we do as a part of our culture, it didn't seem to work. My week ended with a parent and her two sons in the principals office confirming what we knew to be a family living in a very difficult and trying family situation. Each person in that meetings was brought to tears and I ached for this family. I left immediately after school with a very heavy heart. I reflected on the week on my way home. How can we as educators try to instil in our students respect for others, respect for self, community awareness and philanthropy, and small acts of kindness when our parents are not modeling approprate behavior nor supporting our efforts... or if providing support, then only superficially? Where did we go wrong as educators in communicating school policy? Have we lost the parents trust in our school and its judgement when it comes to school policy and enforcement? Could it be that we live in a city where just getting out the door of your home is a struggle, to move your car out of a parking space on the street or garage costs you money, a city where we don't have space to move, a city where Peter robs Paul, then Paul robs Peter back, just to stay afloat? A city where nobody trusts or beleives in the other? I am not sure....but it is depressing. I hope that the upcoming week is going to start on a high note.

Until next time,

A Woman of Egypt

Change....the new buzz word. Change is coming to America, change is coming to Washington. Yes We Can t-shirts, bumper stickers, and pins can be seen everywhere. On January 20, 2009, America will embark upon creating a new history for itself. Personally, I am more than ready for this new president to become a part of creating America's new history. The world is ready to create a new history. Change on a global level, a national level and a local level. Change is relative. For instance, while waiting for my husband to do some shopping for his son on the day after Christmas, my sister Jackie and I sat in the center of the mall and did some people watching. After about 20 minutes I told her "I have not seen one authentic person walk past us in this mall since we have been sitting here." In the time that we sat waiting, all the women that walked past us had the same style haircut. The inverted bob, like Victoria Beckham. They carried the same style handbag, the knock off from Dooney & Burke...the one that looks like cow leather and they all had the same style shoes. It tells you a lot about society.....change is relative on many levels. My stepson is the same way, not one authentic thought in his brain. If society says Gap is cool, he will wear Gap...if society tells him Gap is out, then out with all the Gap. I find the "herd mentality" draining. Authenticity and character are high on my priority list. Authenticity is one of the reasons I voted for and support Barak Obama. The man is completely authentic. As soon as he held a press conference and addressed the issues of race in America, I knew he would be our next president. Not many people have the balls to go against the "herd mentality" and address the American public in regards to race relations in America as he did, and so eloquently. Even that garnered respect from his critics. The second reason I voted for him is that he is culturally aware. He has substance. The third reason is because he is pragmatic. I hope that he will use those same character assets to go against the "herd mentality" regarding American foreign policy. America has never really changed its status quo in regards to foreign policy in the world. Some issues are impervious to change. I am not banking on Obama doing much "changing" there. One can only go against the herd for so long before getting trampled. I have faith that he will find a pragmatic way of dealing with America's foreign policy problems, though. He certainly seems to have the substance to do so. I do believe he will take on a different posture from the previous president. On a personal level, I embrace change. I started making significant changes in my life after my parents died. I have never looked back, only forward. Change for others is not so easy. It takes skill and confidence to live a life without regret. My principal told me the other day she wished that Obama had never won the US presidency...maybe then I would not be leaving her and my school to move back to the states. Change on a local level....perhaps for her it's not so easy. Obama is not the reason I am moving back to the US, but the change in the American administration sure is a perk. I need to make some changes in my own attitude towards people. For instance, I have zero empathy for weak men. Once I realize that a man has no backbone, no strength to stand up for what he knows to be right in the face of adversity....I immediately lose respect for him and can completely emasculate him without regret. I am putting a half hearted effort into changing this tendency, primarily due to the fact that I cannot get past the point that if a man doesn't have the balls to stand up for what is right on his own, why should I empathize with that? I also have zero tolerance for whimpering, simpering women who tolerate maltreatment from others and never take responsibility for their own happiness and well being. I am working on developing more empathy in this area, too. It is not easy, but I realize not everyone is a lion heart. I also need to change my tolerance level for others that have no interest in becoming more aware of what is happening in the world around them, or their uncanny ability to be superficially informed from only one news source??!!!! Change...it is all relative. Americans are pinning their hopes on Barak Obama to bring about change in the US and our image abroad. I wish him luck and I have no doubt that he will be a faithful steward to the United States. I just hope that Americans realize that the word change can be used as a noun and a verb......which requires action. Action not only on a governmental, state and local level...but an individual one as well.

Until next time,

A Woman of Egypt