Western Fast Food Chains

Egypt is saturated with Western, mainstream fast food chains!!! I was in total disbelief when I drove past a KFC, Subway, Carvel, Baskin Robins, Dairy Queen, Hardee's and a Cinnabon. I was convinced I would be on a four month fast from western fast food during my stay in Egypt. I could not have been more wrong.

My apartment sits on the same block as a McDonald's and a Pizza Hut. Its been more than a month since we've settled here and it's still strange for me to get use to passing by storefront windows advertising a super supreme pizza or a Carmel cookie McFlurry.

The Ibn Tulun Mosque

I have never had the pleasure to step into a mosque, a place of worship for followers of Islam, prior to our group trip to the Ibn Tulun Mosque. Upon request we removed our shoes and the female students secured their scarves around their heads to cover their hair.

The mosque was an architectural beauty. Everything was adorned with intrinsic patterns, that were finely engraved into the ceiling, walls, window-frames and etc.

Fun Facts: "Ibn Tulun Mosque is the third largest mosque in the world. It is the oldest mosque in Egypt that has survived in fairly original form."

www.touregypt.net/featurestories/ibn tulun.htm

Snapshots of Art II

Location : Alexandria

Pompey's Pillar

The Pillar is the tallest ancient monument in Alexandria. ( for further significance hit the link) http://www.touregypt.net/alpompey.htm

Snapshots of Art

Location: Giza Pyramids

Volunteering at Nuba Mountains International

I venture out two evenings a week to volunteer at the Nuba Mountains International association headquarters, where I teach adult Sudanese refugese English. It is about a two hour commute from my high rise apartment in Dokki to the four level cemented building in Hayy el-Asher. The commute alone is a rather humbling experience.

As I peer out of my passenger seat window, wedged tightly, shoulder to shoulder with neighboring seated passengers on an overcrowded microbus, I take notice of the dusty streets littered with trash, debris and young children. A number of the children scamper around with extended arms, in search of a donor to sponsor their next meal.

Here is a brief excerpt of the issues faced by the Nuba Mountain people in Sudan.

"Nuba mountains, which lie towards the southern edge of Sudan's Arabised north. Clashes between government forces and opposition fighters in the region have displaced more than 70,000 people in less than a month.
The conflict caused at least 2 million deaths and the displacement of another 4 million people."
http://m.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/03/nuba-mountains-scars-sudan-war?cat=world&type=article

I am blessed, beyond my understanding and any conceivable reasoning.

I pray that I may be used as a tool to cultivate change within each of my students lives.

NIGERIA

I strategically escaped the blistering winds and inches of snowfall in the states, this year, and fled to Nigeria.

The four lavish weeks I spent in the sandy lands of Nigeria, this winter, were incredible.I was finally granted the opportunity to reunite with my family, both immediate and extended, as well as time to bask in the sun.

During my stay I was left to freely lounge around in our houses located in my fathers homeland, Ifitedunu, and my families now permanent place of residence in Enugu.

I anxiously anticipate my return this christmas!!

IMU

Despite the unique opportunities I've been able to take part in, here in Egypt .. I do miss the night life in the states with a few special people... miss you girls <3

Weekend Getaway II

As if the cultivated beauty of the palace was not enough, each room possessed its own personal balcony view overlooking a portion of the city.

Luckily for me I was assigned a room with a lovely view of the Mediterranean, as well as a portion of the city.

We indulged in a continental breakfast at the start of each morning, and had the option of sitting outside during our meal with a wonderful view of the waves hitting against the shore. What better way to start the day?