To Friends and Family,
As we prepare to depart our companions of the previous four months, mixed
emotions of not being able to see each other on a daily basis and gratitude
for fresh faces and new stories overwhelms all of us.
Since last writing, our group took a trip to Alamein and Alexandria. During
our two day respite in Alamein, we celebrated Dave Tonyan's 20th Birthday
with cake and song in both English and Egyptian Arabic.
While in Alexandria, we visited the Qaitbey Fort, and today's Biblioteca
Alexandria. Later in the week, we toured Islamic and Coptic Cairo visiting
churches, mosques, and a synagogue along the way. A short trip to Garbage
City one morning visiting the Cave Churches and the Association for
Protection of the Environment. The association provides training for women
in weaving and sewing using recycled materials from the clothing companies
that the women can sell to help support their families. There is also
training facilities for making paper products out of recycled materials to
alter be sold. The associations also has a literacy program, provides a
medical clinic and a school for children.
Our final exam covering the last 7000 years of Egypt's history was on Dec
18. While we prepare to begin our goodbyes after four months to our
traveling companions, we are also enjoying the last rays of Egyptian
culture Cairo has to offer. In celebration of our final exam and the end of
the semester, our group, with the presence of Stew and Marilu Thomas,
Callie's parents, we will have a Christmas party with dinner on a Felucca
on the Nile.
While Carol Ann, Jenny, Sarah, Beth, Geoff, Mark, and Dave head home,
other's will be continuing their travels through the Holidays and
Interim. On Wednesday, Abby will be the first to depart, meeting her
father, John, in Germany for Christmas. On Thursday, the group will depart
with Geoff, despite not being sure of that until recently. In Frankfurt,
Scott and Johnny will begin their 6 week tour of Europe and Chuck will join
Almut in Munich. Ann, Monica, Kate and Callie with her parents will be
traveling to Israel for the Holidays. On the way back to the states, Ann
will have a layover in Cairo on Christmas Day where she will get to watch
The Nutcracker at the Egyptian Opera house.
After the holidays, Mark will be spending interim in London as apart of the
Theatre in London study abroad program before returning back to St. Olaf
for second semester. Beth will be traveling to Costa Rica to finish her
Language requirement. Monica will be traveling to New Hampshire and South
Carolina on the Presidential Primary Interim program. Kate will be staying
in Israel through January doing an internship, working on strengthening
Palestinian Christian Identity in the Holy Land with the International
Center in Bethlehem.
When second semester finally rolls around, all the traveling will
temporarily conclude until May. At that point, a TIME reunion party will be
in order.
Happy Holidays to all our friends and family at home!
As we prepare to depart our companions of the previous four months, mixed
emotions of not being able to see each other on a daily basis and gratitude
for fresh faces and new stories overwhelms all of us.
Since last writing, our group took a trip to Alamein and Alexandria. During
our two day respite in Alamein, we celebrated Dave Tonyan's 20th Birthday
with cake and song in both English and Egyptian Arabic.
While in Alexandria, we visited the Qaitbey Fort, and today's Biblioteca
Alexandria. Later in the week, we toured Islamic and Coptic Cairo visiting
churches, mosques, and a synagogue along the way. A short trip to Garbage
City one morning visiting the Cave Churches and the Association for
Protection of the Environment. The association provides training for women
in weaving and sewing using recycled materials from the clothing companies
that the women can sell to help support their families. There is also
training facilities for making paper products out of recycled materials to
alter be sold. The associations also has a literacy program, provides a
medical clinic and a school for children.
Our final exam covering the last 7000 years of Egypt's history was on Dec
18. While we prepare to begin our goodbyes after four months to our
traveling companions, we are also enjoying the last rays of Egyptian
culture Cairo has to offer. In celebration of our final exam and the end of
the semester, our group, with the presence of Stew and Marilu Thomas,
Callie's parents, we will have a Christmas party with dinner on a Felucca
on the Nile.
While Carol Ann, Jenny, Sarah, Beth, Geoff, Mark, and Dave head home,
other's will be continuing their travels through the Holidays and
Interim. On Wednesday, Abby will be the first to depart, meeting her
father, John, in Germany for Christmas. On Thursday, the group will depart
with Geoff, despite not being sure of that until recently. In Frankfurt,
Scott and Johnny will begin their 6 week tour of Europe and Chuck will join
Almut in Munich. Ann, Monica, Kate and Callie with her parents will be
traveling to Israel for the Holidays. On the way back to the states, Ann
will have a layover in Cairo on Christmas Day where she will get to watch
The Nutcracker at the Egyptian Opera house.
After the holidays, Mark will be spending interim in London as apart of the
Theatre in London study abroad program before returning back to St. Olaf
for second semester. Beth will be traveling to Costa Rica to finish her
Language requirement. Monica will be traveling to New Hampshire and South
Carolina on the Presidential Primary Interim program. Kate will be staying
in Israel through January doing an internship, working on strengthening
Palestinian Christian Identity in the Holy Land with the International
Center in Bethlehem.
When second semester finally rolls around, all the traveling will
temporarily conclude until May. At that point, a TIME reunion party will be
in order.
Happy Holidays to all our friends and family at home!