Golden Book! and More Friends Moving On

Today Thomas got a Golden Book award in assembly!  This recognizes hard work and achievement.  We are so proud.

Below are some pictures from the Year One assembly put on by his class.  They did a play about a lazy farmer and a hardworking duck.  Thomas originally was one of the head ducks, but somehow got demoted to a cow.  He didn't mind though because his buddy Sam was also a cow.  That's them below with their cow headdresses.

The theme of the show was "People Who Help Us."  They each drew a poster of someone at school who helps them and showed the picture to the audience with a short explanation.  Thomas drew a picture of Miss Iman, one of the aides in his class.  She also works with him some outside with Dahlia.  This is what he said, "This is Miss Iman.  She's someone that I know and trust, and she helped me when I was new at school."  Dave and I nearly wept.  Then, the farmer/duck play, and then the whole class sang, "Lean on Me."  I swear to God, it was the best show I've seen anywhere, ever.

We went to Felipe's 3rd birthday the other night.

Diana told me they are being transferred to Siberia!  She is not happy about it.  We are going to miss them a lot, though maybe not enough to go to Siberia to visit them.

We have been visiting other friends though.  Last week Thomas and Emmett had the day off school to mark the one-year anniversary of the revolution.  Since Dave was going to be busy summing up what it all means, Clare and I decided to go to Dahab and catch a glimpse of Joanna and Greer.  Joanna just got engaged!  And soon they are moving back to Chicago!  So this was a last chance to hang out on the beach . . . 

(we didnt make this)

Check out these cute knees:

We did see Joanna and Greer and John, but we left the documentation to the semi-professionals.  Hope we can share the results soon--- but here's what they looked like!

What about us, do we ever go the pyramids?  Sure!

Road rage

I am such a goofball. I finally learned how to drive a stick shift well enough to drive the little apple red mercedes that's been sitting outside the house gathering dust. So now I can drive myself to pick up T at school and don't need a taxi or driver.

I am, though, ahem, a little on edge still driving stick around maadi. Last Thursday while driving to get Thomas, the car behind me kept honking and urging me into busy intersections. There seems to be a honking rule in Egyptian driving that a car overtaking another car can do whatever it wants so long as it honks. Once there is a honk, the thinking seems to be that the first car is duty-bound to give way. Anyway, I wouldn't do what this driver wanted.

When we got to clear road I knew he would slither around me and gun it, so I slowed down. I also knew he'd give me an angry face or shake his hand at me as he passed. So I didn't look as his car approached but just held my hand to the window, middle finger in the air.

The next thing I knew he had squealed to a stop. A stringy young Egyptian guy got out with white headphones dangling from his ears. He was yelling and shaking his fist. I wasn't scared at all, but I was mad too. I started to get out but then an older man began shouting at the guy to forget it and keep going. A taxi pulled up next to me and both the passenger and driver shook their head at me to stay in the car.

So we kept driving. A little while later the same car passed me again and the driver shook his fist at me. That made me madder. I saw him stop at an intersection to make a right turn. As I passed, I gave him the finger again. In the rear view mirror I watched in astonishment as he pulled out of his turn and began chasing me at high speed. The street was two lanes and I was driving next to an old minibus going slowly. As I rarely top second gear, I, too, was going slowly. We stayed like this for a few seconds with the young guy fishtailing behind us trying to get through. Eventually, when he was behind the bus, I braked hard and he continued on. Instead of speeding off he swerved hard and stopped so he was blocking both lanes of traffic. I was really amazed, and also hoping that no other MBIS parents were around to see this. He was yelling at me and saying what's your country?!! Fuck your country! And I was yelling, not as loudly, what's your problem?!

The other cars were honking loudly in protest, so after a minute he got back in and continued on. I was boiling mad. I wished I knew a corrupt police officer so I could get the guy thrown in jail and tortured. I was still thinking this as I turned on the dirt road where Thomas school is and went to back into a parking place. To my surprise, that same guy appeared walking up the road. He stopped, as all Egyptians do when they see a foreigner attempting to park, and started guiding me backward into the parking place. I got out kind of laughing and said, well, now you've got me confused. Thanks for the help with the parking.

He looked at me and shook his head and said stubbornly, you are a woman, you should not go like this, and he repeated my gesture.

I said, you are as bad as me, you were honking at me and you said to fuck my country.

I only just honked twice.

Look, the only reason you even saw me do that is because you were going to make some gesture to me.

He kind of nodded and said, yes, but in my country, we don't have fights with women.

Ok then, I said.

Yeah, so, ok, no problem, I'm sorry. He said, giving up.

I said, no problem, I'm sorry, too.

Where you from? He said as he walked up the road.

I live here, Maadi. But I come from America.

Ah, America. I am sorry for your country. He looked at me sideways to see my reaction.

I shrugged. I'm sorry for my country too.

He made a small smile and shook his head a little. Ok, well, bye.

He started walking ahead and I realized the only thing left on the road was the British school. hey, I called, do you have a child at the school?

Yes, he said.

What year?

I don't know, it's my bosses child actually. I am the driver.

I thought about this. As we walked down the steps to the gate I said, you know, I don't mind, but you should be careful when you are driving for someone else. I might know your boss.

I know! He said, shaking his head at himself, And also now I am late to pick up his child!

Good luck, I said.

After I got Thomas, I saw the driver again with a few children walking back to the car. We walked back together and he explained that the children were having a sleepover.

Ok, well, bye.

have a nice day, he said.

drive safe, I said.

We saw each other again yesterday and greeted each other like old friends. The whole thing is so Egyptian from beginning to end.


and now here's some shots of new years day in Wadi Degla with Daddy.

Emmett is bowing after singing a song.

And of course, the best news is Clare is here!!!! but that deserves its own post:

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Santa

Emmett met Santa a little while ago at the British School Christmas Fayre.

They reportedly discussed motorcycles, forklifts, and Sarah, the triceratops.

Christmas in Egypt is pretty understated.  There is a sizeable Coptic Christian minority still here.  They celebrate christmas on January 6th.  So there is a general awareness of the holiday.  But the Coptic celebrations tend to focus on fasting and prayer, not so much buying presents or Santa Claus.  Also, this isnt a rich country.  The Holy Family, according to one of the gospels, fled through Egypt to escape King Herod, and there are three or four churches around town that claim to be the site where Mary, Joseph and Jesus stayed when they were here.  To the extent anyone talks about Christmas, it's really the basics: baby Jesus, born at this time, fled persecution.  I have to say, it is so much nicer than Christmas in the U.S.  Except the lack of family, snow and traditions.    

shows

Emmett likes to climb on one little pillar, and sometimes announces that he will put on a show there.  Here is one about a farm and a tractor:




Thomas has now also adopted the spot for his shows.