The holiday season

Another few weeks have passed so I figure it’s time for another update on goings on here in Egypt. Since my last post I’ve had a visit from my grandparents, made a little progress on my work here, and had a week holiday as most of the country celebrates the Eid el-Adha, the holiday on the Muslim calendar that is equal in significance to Christmas.

To start, I got to spend part of an evening with my grandparents while they made a brief stop in Aswan as part of a two-week tour of Egypt and Israel. While it was a short visit it was great to see people from home, as well as receive a hand delivered care package. While I appreciate any mail sent my way, this tops them all as amongst a few special requests I put in myself, my mom sent along a gingerbread house kit for me to put together. For anyone who is aware of this longstanding tradition in my family you’ll know how happy I was. I spend the better part of an evening putting this masterpiece together. It doesn’t really fit my current context, living in the desert, but it’s a little piece of home.

On the work side of things I’ve been able to work with a translator over the past few weeks and will continue to do so for the rest of my stay. My Arabic continues to improve (I think), but I obviously have a long way to go. She has been really great, not only for bringing more clarity to communication between myself and my coworkers, but also great enthusiasm and friendship. Since she has started it feels like there is a growing mutual understanding of the work we’re trying to do which should help things move along more smoothly in the next few weeks as well try and complete some of the stories we’re developing with the kids.

Leaving the best for last, I spent much of last week in a desert oasis in the far Northwest of the country. I traveled to Siwa, a small town on the edge of the Great Sand Sea, aka the Sahara Desert. An amazingly peaceful place on the edge of the desert I met up with friends, made new ones, and had a great time along the way. We spent a day in the desert, rented bikes to explore the oasis, and ate great food…way too much of it I might add.

me in the desert

Emily on top of the Shali ruins

Brianna and I in a very cold spring

Even the donkeys get to relax in Siwa

I'm now back at work in Aswan where it is much warmer than the desert.  I know I get no sympathy from those of you back in Canada, but my body has started to acclimatize and winter isn't so hot here, especially at night.  The next few weeks will be busy with work which will keep me busy as I count down the days until my parents arrive on the 31st!