Pollution in Egypt

One thing that we have to put up with, if we want to live in Cairo, Egypt, is the pollution. The pollution or smog, can get quite bad at times. We happen to live right outside of Cairo, where the pollution isn't quite as bad, but we have to drive into Cairo almost every day, and on our way we can see the black, luminous cloud, hanging over the city.

Most of this pollution can be blamed on so many cars on the streets and lack of regulated vehicle emissions. Plus, many cars on the streets are old, so they lack modern emission cutting features.

Our family rode in taxis for the first year-and-a-half here. Then finally we got a car. One of the main reasons I was very happy that we finally had a car was because of the pollution. Most taxis, even in the cooler months, drive around with the windows down. When traffic is bad, and sometimes even when it isn't, it is so hard to breathe because of the exhaust in the air.

So, if you are reading this somewhere where the air is fresh and clean, next time you go outside, take a huge breath, thank God for that wonderful fresh air, then take another one for me.

I'm Back

So sorry for the long delay between posts. We just returned to Egypt about 3 weeks ago. As we say in America, we hit the ground running, and we haven't stopped. Also, our internet has been a big source of stress since we got back. We just got it back to normal yesterday.

Most of you know that last year I taught the 3rd grade here, but this year I am teaching KG 2. It is such a big change, and it is taking alot of my time to make the switch.

Above are some pictures of some of my students in their computer class and also some pictures of some of the 2nd graders reading to my students. Aren't they cute?

I just love teaching at a school like this. There is so much variety in the nationalities of the students. Our school has Egyptians, Americans, Koreans, Brazilians, Sudanese, Mexicans, and probably even others that I cannot think of right now.

This is just another experience of living in a foreign land.

Thought: The Hardest Part of Living Overseas

The "whole" family.

My parents with my sister and me.

My Mom and Dad. I just love this picture.



The hardest part of living overseas is having to say good-bye to friends and family. We have had a wonderful time here in the States this summer and have really enjoyed getting to see friends and family that we do not get to see most of the year. After living for so many years overseas (8 1/2 years), this part is hard which ever place we are leaving. Of course, all of our family is here in the States, but we have made many, many friends in Egypt as well, and it is hard to say good-bye to them when we are travelling to the States. It isn't quite as hard though because we still spend the majority of our time in Egypt.

Above are some pictures of me and my family here in the States. It is a picture of my sister and her three daughters, my parents, and me, my husband and our three kids. This is the first picture like this that my family has taken, and I think they turned out rather well.

The reason for this "thought" is that we leave to return to Egypt tomorrow. In a way I'm excited. We get to get back to our own home and our "normal" life and routine there, but in another way I'm sad. It will be at least another 9 months to a year before we get to see our family members again, and that is if we don't decide to just stay in Egypt for the summer next year. Please say a prayer for us that our trip will go smoothly and that the jet lag won't be too bad.

Well, next time you "hear" from me will be from my other home, on the other side of the world.