Dahab, this time climb Mt. Sinai

Some people have asked about the title "Dahab, Habibi" on my previous post. "Habibi" or "Habiba" is an Egyptian Arabic term of endearment, like "mijo" or "mija" in Spanish. It is used like "my sweet little one", or "my love".

Anyway, this little girl reminded me of all this. She was selling handmade bracelets along the beach.


Jasmine knows some super cool people in Dahab and they graciously offered us the use of their spare room. From what I gathered, Robert and Vi (sp?) divide their time between the UK, Singapore and Dahab. They are renting a home right on the water, from a Bedouin man. This first photo is basically their drive way. Then their backyard, and home, a stones throw from the water.


















Just across the water are the mountains of Saudi Arabia.










The hammock in the living room clues you in to the Dahab lifestyle.





"Welcome" indeed. Thanks Robert and Vi!



















These photos were taken just outside their backyard.
I wish you could have seen the stars at night! Amazing!





The water is very shallow (the light green water) and then supposedly there is some of the most breathtaking coral and marine life where it drops off into the deep.





















Robert prepared a tasty meal. It was greatly appreciated after our 7 hour drive.









Our hosts watching us drive away.


















Day one was all relaxation and recuperation after a tough school year...



I guess we missed having a daily challenge (work) because we certainly found an adventure for ourselves for our second night in Dahab. Jennifer, Leah and I decided to climb Mt. Sinai.

About 13 of us crammed into a minivan at 11pm, ready for our 2 hour drive out to the mountain where we met our guide and began walking up the rocky path (with hundreds of others).

The stars were fantastically brilliantly amazing... the few times I was able to glance up from focusing on my footing.


There were any number of camels one could hire to walk you up the mountain... they're not very comfortable though. Well, maybe on the way up they are, but Leah and I tried to ride a camel on the way down (so tired!) and that got old real fast. The camels didn't seem to like bracing themselves on the rocky path with the additional weight on their backs. They complained with a loud moaning and the going was very slow. Also, the saddle horn type things that you hold onto were digging into our backs, as the camels leaned into the decent. The boys leading the camels were none too pleased to let us down. They wanted to charge us the full fair, but we refused... Leah got off first and my 10 yr old camel jockey was keeping me up there, holding me hostage, until he got some money out of us.


Anyway, back on the trail.... Leah said climbing Mt. Sinai was possibly the stupidest thing she'd ever done. Two hours into it, I believe her exact words were, "I don't know if I had ever made a dumber decision than climbing a mountain in the middle of the night with 400 strangers."

I have to admit it was really tough going there for awhile.





The guy in the purple was our guide.













Jennifer was all energy and smiles, not like some of the other hikers.










Once at the top, after 3.5 hours of steady climbing, what a view! We made it as promised in time for the sunrise. It was surprisingly freezing up there after the heat of the day and our sweaty hike. Of course, the Egyptian entrepreneurs had blankets and mattresses one could rent.

...and then the treck down. We did it!





Here I am, pretending to be happy and then later, at the top, watching the sunrise.

Sudanese English Lessons

Leah has been tutoring Sudanese refugees every Thursday for several weeks now. Nancy (in the right corner) has been 6 or 7 times. I've been 2 or 3 times and am in awe of the positive, eager attitudes. One would think it would be depressing, going to this rundown, basement gathering place... But these men bring warmth and joy to the building. Those who come here are always smiling and wearing their best clothes. These men (and sometimes one woman shows up) are hopeful that there will be peace; that will be able to return home. Many of the men say their motivation to learn English is to communicate with the UN peacekeepers once the violence has ended. And to find work in the meantime.
Adam, taking a knee in the center, runs the community center, where English lessons are provided.

These men have lost everything, in many cases their entire family has been wiped out. And yet they hold onto their faith and hope. They say that the only help they've recieved is from local Christians, mostly Americans and teachers like ourselves. They are literally relying on the kindness of strangers. At my school, AISE, during charity week, the students raised over 6000 LE and are contributing a portion of this to pay 5 months of rent for the sudanese community center.

Most Egyptians dislike the Sudanese refugees being here. The men tell stories of rights refused. They were made to turn in their passport (and visas?) for refugee status certificates, and once the documents are taken from them, no paperwork is issued, so they are held in limbo. They are not able (legally) work in or leave Egypt. They are stuck here, in a country that does not want them here. They share stories of racism, even when trying to pray in the mosques. They talk to friends and family, other refugees in places like Lybia who are bad off, but much better than here. The few that have attempted to return to the Sudan turn up dead.











Words of inspiration hang on the walls: "One is never too old to learn" , "That what cannot be cured must be endured", and "God helps those who help themselves."

Sequoia on the Nile

Miss Jennifer celebrated her birthday by inviting friends to dinner at Sequoia. We've all heard (first yr teachers) from the "veterans" that this place is fantastic, but none of us had been yet. What a treat. They had good wine, at least 20 flavors of shisha (flavored tobaccoa smoked with a water pipe), and a SUSHI menu as well. I was in heaven; we all were!
The front entrance, and long boardwalk up to the restaurant.








After turning the corner, this is the first thing you see, the large, open eating area.




















Ed, Mark and Jessica check out the shisha tray. I tried melon and apple. smmmoooooooth!










yumm!









Jennifer pointing at one of the small containers of flavored tobacco (and the sanitary/disposable bong hose in her right hand)

Fagnoon with 7th graders

FAGNOON ART CENTER



















So we took our pre-teen monsters on a field trip to this neat-o art center here on the outskirts of Cairo. It was such a great place. The kids were encouraged to climb, crawl and run around this big hammock-like area made of tightly-pulled fabric strips. They loved it.

Then we divided them into three groups and headed off to the art making areas. They made clay objects using rustic pottery wheels, they silk screened using paper templates, and then they painted on a wall and on small canvas boards.

I was able to purchase a small silkscreen kit for under 10 bucks!

A fun day for all.