Stu's visit to Egypt (year 2)
10/01/02
Autumn is in full swing. A new layer of dust has turned the leaves an attractive shade of beige, and the temperatures
are dipping below 100 degrees. Sweater weather is just around the corner.
I have taken on a part time job. Teaching 8th grade is not stressful enough, so I am working at a local scuba diving
shop twice a week. I am also studying for my dive master certification so I can lead trips in the future.
I haven't been in town on a weekend yet, so I don't have much Cairo news to report. Although I heard there was demonstration
downtown against Bush's war mongoring policies. The demonstrations in Paris and London were apparently
rowdier.
8th grade is going well. I have already ranted to my teacher friends, who i thought might commiserate. For the rest of
you, suffice it to say that children are a delight to teach and I enjoy fostering a safe and creative
atmosphere where each child can reach their full potential. Only when I'm not busy reprimanding the hormone raging,
belligerent, disrespectful mutants for doing a myriad of stupid things. Here's what a typical class sounds like:
"Ahmed, stop bugging Mohamed. Hana, give Ahmed his pen back. Ahmed, get off the chair. No, the other Ahmed.
Yes, that chair. No, Mohamed, you may not sit there. Ahmed, get away from Mohamed. Mohamed, don't sit there.
Ahmed, give Hana her pen back. Ahmed! No, the other Ahmed. "
A three ring circus. And I have been told by administrators that I'm one of the better teachers they've seen. I feel like
a stereotypical schmuck from some teenage romp movie. Mr. Hand (Spicoli!) and Ben Stein
(Beuller....Bueller...) with a touch of Schwarzenegger (It's not a tooma!) thrown in.
A three day weekend coming up. Armed Forces Day. October 6th. It must be an important date in Egyptian history.
I keep meaning to look it up. All I know is that it's an extra day at the beach. I've spent four straight
weekends on the Red Sea. I'll get around to seeing those pyramid things one of these days.
Enjoy autumn everyone. Make a leaf pile for me. I'll build a sand dune for you.