Random updates...

I'm writing after a brief excursion outside, where it is 43 C. I am dripping sweat on my computer and willing the electricity to come back on so that I can turn on the AC. (Battery powered computer, yes, I'm pathetic...). Brownouts are common in the heat, because of all the AC and extra electricity needs.
[Middle School teachers recently took the students to task at Ball Hockey. Despite having an almost all Canadian team, and although I scored 2 goals, we were beat 6-5 at the end. There will be another game - I don't lose well, especially to my students!]

We have finally "Sprung ahead" here in Cairo. It makes a huge difference in attitude, heat and the amount of time I spend awake now that the sun doesn't set until around 8pm. Sadly, time falls back again on the first day of Ramadan, so that the majority of the population can eat sooner. With Ramadan starting on August 5, I'll come back in September to a dark city.

Countdowns are on... 9 weeks until I come home, and there's a lot to happen in the mean time! Between church and school I have a lot of friends leaving at the end of this year, and that is sad. The expat community is an ephemeral one, and we send people on with a blessing and a "see you again, friend." It means that June is a month for parties and fun.

[Farewell for now to Anne-Marie who will hopefully (was that an Insh'allah?) be back in Cairo in about 4 months time.]

Teaching is going better. Rather, I'm doing better because I had to stop caring so much. Before you take me as a callous, heartless person, please understand that I do still deeply care about my students; I've just decided to care differently, and give some 12 year old children opportunity to see exactly how decisions and outcomes are related :)

[This birthday celebrator is one of the reasons teaching is going better. I have a very supportive principal who stood up to a parent or two for me. Here he is at his surprise 50th Birthday party.]

I am looking for a new place to live, and after months of sadness and frustration, I'm finally excited about this process. I will be living alone for the first time in my life, a prospect which also finally excites me. Because of the endless social opportunities through work and church, I am not worried about becoming a hermit (and a few good friends have promised that they won't let this happen!). I will have more details on this in a future blog post, or I will be homeless next year.

[A view of downtown Cairo from the previously mentioned birthday party yacht.]