So I survived my first week of Pre K! As the week went on more and more of my kiddos tried to test the waters a little bit. My class is still very sweet. I hope it stays all year. The most common line I hear in my classroom right now is "Miss, miss me finished." It is so cute. Miss Reynolds is hard for them to say. I try to remind them how to say my name, they will get it eventually. I spend so much time trying to get activities prepared and it takes them about 5 minutes to complete it! The week went very well, though it felt very long. Two out of the five days I came home and took a nap. The good thing about my schedule is I have at least two 45 minute plan times a day, plus a 45 minute lunch 4 times a week. (I have duty once a week) So I have a lot of time to complete all the little things that I need to cut out and prepare. The only thing I work on at home is my lesson plans. I got to walk out the door everyday last week by 3:30pm. It is amazing! It seems as if there will be no more late nights! I have a wonderful assistant who helps out so much! I hope to have a great school year :-)

Your tidbit for the week, if you are caught making out on the streets of Egypt, you can be sued. It is rare to even see couples holding hands out on the streets! All of their TV blocks any "sex" scene, "kissing" scene or any other "romantic" type scene you can think of! The kids here actually grow up a lot more innocent.They don't learn as early about adult issues. I like this about Egypt. Especially since I am a teacher!

School has started!

I survived my first day of Pre K yesterday. I absolutely love my little ones. They are so adorable. They are such a great class. Of course this was the first day. Today a few of them came out of their shell a little bit more but got right back into shape when I asked them too. I think the hardest thing was getting the parents out of the room that first day! It is definitely a whole new world for me compared to 2nd grade but I actually really like it. My kids are also a lot smarter than I thought they would be. I was told they would not know very much English, their alphabet or how to count. Mine understand me most of the time, now when it comes to speaking that is a different story. They can sing their ABC's and almost all of them can count to at least ten in English some a little further! I give them high fuves when they do something right so they know. At times when it is really hard and some of them are not listening, I give stickers to those that are and the others straighten right up! I have one little one that has been testing the waters since the first day but today he came in and was a lot better. I am thanking the man upstairs for this class. They seem to catch on fast and have good listening skills. Of course it is only the second day but I am still thankful :-) It will make my first year is Egypt a little bit easier.

I have also enjoyed getting to know the staff/ We have had lots of great conversations. I have had the opportunity to share what I believe a little at a time. I am doing my best to build those important relationships at work. The staff is huge! I am focusing on getting to know the Elementary part of the school for right now, and the people on my floor the most. They are all so great. I can't wait til the holiday season so I can bake them all cookies :-)! Anyway all around great things happening here. Every time I turn around I have an opportunity to share things that I believe and to be a light to those around me. It is just so different here.

I was telling my roommate tonight that the first time I went to church it reminded me of those stories you hear, that when people are in church and outsiders storm in with firearm and start asking those around if they are believers or not. And then they start taking them out. The only reason I was reminded of this is because when our church is in service, we have about a dozen armed guards around our church standing there just staring as we go in. And I know they are there for us to feel "safe" to worship in a non-believing country but it gave me the chills the first time, all it takes is for one of them to decide that they do not want believers in their country anymore and go off. Shortly after I was here, I heard the story of the former pastor from MCC. He was "accidentally" pushed out of a window several stories up and died. It was a real heartbreaking time for the church. It makes me think of how free we are to worship, share and pr@y in the states. It is so different in others places in the world but it was not something I thought about on a regular basis.

Red Sea- September 9-13, 2010

So yeah I need to get used to not being to things on time. Egypt is very laid back and I am an ON TIME kind of person...That is hard to be that kind of person here. I think this has been the hardest transition. So anyway the red sea...I am sure you all want to hear about this...I hope!

We had bus tickets to leave downtown Cairo at 10:00pm. We made it for this time because, the school was supposed to be open to work. But then they changed there minds so I hung out at home until we left. So remember the on time thing well our bus was an hour and a half late so we didn't leave until 11:30pm. Remember in my last blog how I talked about eating Koshari (which by the way I spelled wrong in my last blog, several times!) Well I had eaten it off of a cart in downtown Cairo. Well my stomach did NOT like this. So I was sick to my stomach the whole trip, which was only supposed to last 6 hours...but remember the one time things well...It took us about 8 hours to get to Hurghada instead of 6. We arrived at around 8am the next morning. On the bus there was no sleep because of being sick, plus they blared the TV all night long. So no sleep!

When we finally made it to the hotel, we checked in, after a quick breakfast, I found the bed and was out until about 3pm. After a nice time out by the pool and then it was off to "Tourist" strip. We had a nice dinner at the Hard Rock cafe. After a well needed, long night sleep we got up the next day and paid to go to one of the beaches off the red sea. Relaxing on the beach, breathing in clean air (Cairo has a lot of smog) and taking in the beautiful view. The spot where we were at started off very shallow, so I took a long walk out to where it was a little deeper. I sat in the water and just closed my eyes and imagined the wonderful things that happened there.

The next day I got to spend snorkeling. The company was supposed to pick me up at 8am at the hotel, they came at 8:30am. The boat was supposed to leave at 9am, we left at 10am and then the boat we were on broke done so we had to turn back and we had to get on another boat! So, tardiness is a way of life here and a little frustrating to get used to but slowly...I am ! So anyway we finally made it to the first island. Shallow water, but beautiful things to see! I had a one on one tour from one of the guides. I felt a little safer going further out with him! The next stop was just out in the middle of the sea next to a reef. There was a reef on one side and open water on the other. THIS is where I had a small panic attack, which I have never had before! We swam a ways from the boat and saw lots of cool things. When I stuck my head out of the water and realized how far we were and how deep the water was and saw all the strange eel like creatures I started to freak a little. Thoughts went through my mind of all the things could be in that deep, open water! But I also thought, hmmm if there is a shark I can at least faster than one of these people! LOL. But I swam back to the boat pretty quick!
The last stop (Would have been four, but we left late) was also kind of in the middle of the sea, I got in for a little bit, but at this point was very tired and sunburned. Here I saw some of the biggest fish I have ever seen. I really think they were as big as me! Again, I almost had another freak moment! But I survived! And I had an absolute blast. I met a really cool couple from London and we had good conversations.

The last two days we spent at another beautiful beach and watched the sun set. All around great vacation!!! I had a lot of great conversations with people and started to build some great friendships with non-believers. There are so many opportunities to share with people here. Lots of times have come up and I get to start sharing a little about what I believe. My goal is to build good relationships first! I did get home very late or early Monday morning (4am) which ever way you look at it. But it was totally worth it, even if I did have to go to work early Tuesday!

Red sea=AMAZING!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

I got to experience my first worship night in all Arabic. It was amazing. It was a church in downtown Cairo that I was invited to by my friend Joanna from Ireland. It was a 2 1/2 hour music service only. There was so much energy in the room and you good really feel the big man upstairs moving! I had the goosebumps pretty much the whole night and it wasn't because I was cold. I absolutely LOVED this service and I cannot wait to go back! One of my favorite things to do in another country is go to a local church and listen to worship in another language. It gives us a good picture of what it will look like one day, every tongue, tribe and nation together singing praises. We sang three songs in which I  recognized the beat, so while they sang in their language, I sang in English!  I just can't describe how amazing this experience was in words and I cannot wait to go back.

After, we met up with lots of Egyptians who knew English. They wanted to take us out to eat for Kosher. We walked about 10 minutes through downtown Cairo and got to see mass craziness. There are so many people and cars out late. Everyone is walking the streets. Then you have this group of Egyptians (guys and girls) walking with two blonds through all of this. It was definitely an experience in it self. We finally got to the place where we were going to eat. It was a little street cart with lots of Kosher. We stood around in the street, had our bowls of food and fellowship! It was an amazing time. I am so grateful that I met some local believers. They are SO sweet. They would not let us pay for anything. They even offered us a ride home and one of the guys gave us some pretty white roses, which was so sweet.

Egyptians are so nice. Believers or not. They are so willing to help in anyway that they can. Although I have been given the wrong directions before, but that is because they want to help, even if they do not know where you actually want to go. So when you get lost you just ask someone else until you find your way. A smile is the same in all languages. So is laughter. This experience was amazing, I wish I could describe it better in words but in the moment you just had to be there. I am going back next week! I am even going early because one of the girls I met is going to take me to get a pedicure at her place she goes to. A pedicure is needed once a month here because of all the walking around I do in the dirt, in sandals. It is so great to meet locals. I have been around Americans a lot but I really wanted to start meeting more locals. I have now, at this place and at my school! Amazing, amazing, amazing. I can't say that enough. Well it is 1 am I need to go to bed. I was tired when I wrote this but I could not wait to blog about it! It is cultural here to stay up really late. I am in the living room right now and I can hear lots of children still playing outside! I love you all and I wish you guys were here to experience some of these things! He is so good!

September 5-7, 2010

The blogs will definitely slow down even more when school starts. I hope I do not stop altogether because I am also using this as a journal. I have been going to school since Sunday to have meetings and start setting up my classroom. So not that we are in the Dinosaur age or anything but yeah I have to trace letters and then cut them out. There is no going to the teachers lounge to di-cut on the Ellison  machine or going to the local teacher supply store to buy the newest bulletin board set that goes along with what theme you are teaching. So as you can see I am in the process of recreating the wheel and making my own stuff! And with school starting so soon, I am running out of time. I would LOVE to bring some work home with me but the construction paper is HUGE pieces and I have to walk or take a taxi home, so it is hard to bring everything I would need home with me.

But....Today...I met my assistant! She is AMAZING! I cannot tell you how much I already love her! She has been a Pre K assistant with the teacher I took over for. She was one of three that I could have gotten. Everyone begs and asks for her and I didn't think I had a shot but guess what I think the man upstairs knew I would need some help this year, especially with no years under my belt with 4 year olds. She is bilingual, but not really allowed to speak to the kids in Arabic because it is supposed to be total immersion. Of course if a kid comes up and says they need to use the bathroom, she can help me with that. She sat right down and started helping me with ideas and things that they used last year.

But she knows her professional boundaries and she always asks me if she can do something., I think she wants to make sure that I know she is not trying to take over. I told her that I welcome her help. She is just so sweet. She also said she would help me with my Arabic. So that was awesome! I think I am really going to enjoy this year more than I thought. 12 kids, 2 plan times, an assistant and a great staff. Which by the way, today I met the entire staff of teachers. Being a Pre K- 12th grade school, the staff is very big. I will not remember all of the names but I will work of the elementary half at least. Eventually I will learn them all. Plus there are a ton of support staff as well.

I went to a woman's coffee tonight with the ladies at the church and learned a little bit more about the town I live in. I also learned about a refugee school here. I almost broke down crying listening to this story. This is a school that the church I go to supports. They meet in a basement of an apartment building. There are about 3 kids in a room about the size of a bathroom. They only have desks. No room to put anything on the walls. No real teachers. Just about 18-19 year olds who have a heart for children that escaped their country with these kids. They have no supplies, these kids have not shoes, socks, ect. Vitamins, toiletry items and the list goes on of things they do not have. Not to mention school supplies or books. I am setting up a visit to check it out. There is just so much need in this country and my heart can be stretched in a million directions. I need to really take time and decide where I really want to volunteer and where I feel the man upstairs is leading me. I also need to remember not to stretch myself to think too fast. It seems so easy to do here!

Anyway there is so much whirling through my head right now. And so many possibilities here. If anyone ever wants to experience Egypt or get involved in a short "work" trip there are plenty of possibilities here! I am sure I am missing something I wanted to share but it is late and I am very tired.
Miss you all!

September 3-4, 2010

I had my first experience on the metro. It was not as bad as people describe. It only cost 1 L.E to go any stop. That is about $0.18. So super cheap! Alanna, Meg and I took it yesterday and went to visit the Coptic area. It had beautiful churches. We got to see the famous hanging church, its name comes from its location on top of the southern tower gate of the old Babylon fortress with its nave suspended above the passage.It was really neat to visit all of the different churches. After visiting the Coptic area, we headed for downtown. We had lunch and just had a quick look at the Nile and some of the shops.

After heading back to Maadi, we went home to freshen up (which is needed if you walk just a mile in this heat!) and then we headed to our church picnic, where I saw several familiar faces and then also met some new people.

Today, I finally had orientation at my school. I got to meet the rest of the new teachers and got to start setting up my classroom. Carolynn and I (she is the other new Pre K teacher) got to go through tons of dusty boxes of supplies and tried to sort through everything. It is not like in the states, if you are missing something, you can go to Target or Walmart and buy it. They do have a lot of stores here but not really places to buy "teacher" or "office" supplies. We were told to make a list of things we think we need (more of a wish list) they called it. So this means I guess we may or may not get it. So I will have to make due with what I have!

It is definitely going to be a different kind of learning experience, both a new grade and a new place. But it will be fun :-)

September 3, 2010

Well today was fun, what else can I say. I went to the pyramids and had the tour on a camel! First we went in a taxi and met the boys we were going with (Peter and Billy) somewhere in downtown Cairo, then it was off in another taxi to head to Giza. When we are almost to Giza we picked up what we came to find out was our tour guide off the side of the street. He sat in front seat on Peter's lap. It wasn't until we got to the gate that we realized he was our tour guide. We waited around and then our camels and horses showed up. Into the Sahara desert we go. Luckily it was a pretty nice day, no sand storm but a nice little breeze. Although I did come home with a red face.

The scariest part about riding the camel was going up and down to get on and off. I felt like I was going to fall off every time. I had a mini tour guide along with the other. Mohamed was an 8 year old little boy who was adorable as can be, sitting in front of me on my camel directing my camel and the camel behind me. We went all over the Sahara and saw the pyramids and the Sphinx. We got to get off several times to take pictures and also got a little mini tour of the tombs and got to climb a little up one of the pyramids to take pictures.

It was neat to see Cairo meet the Sahara. You look one way and see the city in the distance and you look the other way and it was all desert. I had so much fun today! look for pics on facebook!

After the long day in the desert we went for lunch and a break before church. Church was amazing!!!! I l have only been there twice but I absolutely love it!

September 2, 2010

Another day to sleep in. The culture here goes like this: Get up in the morning, work all day, afternoon nap, stay up really late at night; (children are still playing outside our window at midnight) , go to bed, repeat. I am sleeping in, exploring all day, maybe an afternoon nap, staying up really late and then repeat! This cycle is going to HAVE to change when school starts!

I got to go up to my school again today and meet the superintendent that hired me. My roommate and I walked all the way up there! It took a while but I think I can make my school within walking distance, at least walking home after school to start out. I have blisters on my feet from how much walking I have been doing lately! But they will go away.

We took a cab to road nine after to meet a co-worker, who then took me a place to buy my bus ticket for our trip. I am going to get to go to Sharm el-Sheikh for a holiday that we have before school starts. It is a place to stay by the red sea! It is a 6 hour bus trip but it will so be worth it! I am surprised to have a holiday before school starts but it is right after Ramadan and everyone takes off and goes somewhere. I am hoping to go snorkeling. A

Anyway we also crossed the metro bridge today, which brought us into another part of Maadi. It was definitely a different place compared to the area I live.  None of the stores are in English/Arabic. They are all in Arabic and you just have to know what you are looking for. We went to the best outdoor produce stand though. I got to get plums, apples, and potatoes, all really cheap. I enjoyed seeing another part of Egypt that has less foreigners in it. I definitely want to go there more often. It had a good feel.

I went into a used book store today and bought a "tourist" book on Egypt. I want to study and see all the history and culture that Egypt has to offer while I am here. I am not sure when I would have this chance again. It is amazing, when you look around, how much there is to learn and see. I have a couple years to do it in!

Funny of the night: So last night on my way to Heliopolis, I saw some ladies carrying huge bags of supplies on their head. And a teacher also told me that when our textbooks our delivered they deliver them this way and stack about 10 high. And I thought hmmmm this gives a whole new meaning to being hard headed!

September 1, 2010

Yeah so I slept in way too late today! 11am! Oh well. I had a slow starting day today. I walked out to road 233, which is near my house. I had to get a new sim card so when I went to jailbreak my phone tonight, it would work.


Then Meg and I took a 30 minute taxi ride to Heliopolis for dinner at Kenny and Ashlee Osborn's flat. They are actually from Tulsa. We did not meet though until we were at the Atlanta airport on my way to Cairo. So it was neat to meet people from the same town, who were going back to Cairo to continue their work there. They have a cute little 3 year old daughter who wanted to play with her as soon as I got there. She remembered me from the airport, so that was good. After dinner and good conversations, Kenny worked on my phone. I now have a working phone here! The taxi ride on the way to and from was a little scary but only because I am not used to the highways yet. So to keep it real I came up with some jokes to tell Meg on our walk home. But of course you may not understand them but I will tell you anyway.

Q. Why did the human cross the highway?
A. Because he lived in Egypt

Q. Why did the motorcycle go down the road with three people and a kid?
A. Because they were on a road in Egypt.

Q. Where did you see the donkey pulling the person and their crop blocking up all the traffic?
A. In downtown Maadi, Cairo Egypt

I love living here so far. I see things everyday that keep the humor in my life. I am not sure what I am going to do when I get back to the states, where I see people driving in lanes and obeying traffic laws!