Newsletter #9 - 7 January, 2004
Hi there,
We're back from two very relaxing and refreshing weeks in Switzerland over Christmas and New Year. So energising was the holiday that it feels like more than two weeks since we were left. Our time included culture shock to both the Australian and Egyptian way of life.
Firstly, we left home in the morning and were having lunch in Europe. (un-Australian) We were met at the airport and travelled in a car where all the seatbelts worked (un-Egyptian) to a large shopping centre where we laughed out loud at the price of lentils in the supermarket and marvelled at the variety of different wines (Egypt only has three different brands).
Then we went to Saas Fee, a chalet village in the Swiss Alps where all travel was by foot or electric car. Two days in and we went to the top of Mt Mittelallalin (3500m) where the air was so thin it was harder to breath. However, the incredible view took our breath away. It was like standing on top of the world and photos don't do it justice. Unlike Australia it took about two hours to ski down from the top, though that could be a reflection on our skiing ability.
Did we get a white Xmas? Yep! We even skied on Xmas day.
We then spent a week just out from Geneva, where we shopped on the main strip, walked around the old town, including seeing John Calvin's house, enjoyed great hot chocolates & cappuccinos, saw a movie in a cinema, froze at an outdoor market, watched dogs enjoying the shops & restaurants, played Nintendo & Boggle to my heart's content and ate stacks of bacon, cheese & chocolate.
The reality of our return to Cairo came when we tried to confirm our flights but no one answered the phone at three different Egypt Air offices. So we get our seats allocated at the boarding gate where the concept of queueing has disappeared. Upon arrival at Cairo airport we're made to wait for 50 minutes by customs officials for no apparent reason and then our taxi driver abuses us about the fare even though I paid exactly what we agreed at the airport. ('Welcome in Egypt' as they say)
However, it's not all negative. Our expectations of different places and cultures are often incorrect. Our bowwab, or building janitor, had organised for the broken lights to be fixed and one of the heaters also works now. (I won't mention that in the middle of the night, the new glass light covering in our bathroom exploded.)
The other contrast was that in the past three weeks I've been at the receiving end of more racist comments from Europeans than I have in my whole time in Egypt. Quite disappointing and for some reason unexpected.
Lastly, for those who tried, the photos on the website are now fixed (http://joshua.kuswadi.com/photos/) and of course there are now some more added. My apologies.
So, for the remaining six months here in Cairo, we're looking forward to:
- resuming our weekly bible study
- Josh being a treasurer for the English Speaking Congregation
- Josh doing more work with Tukul Crafts
- Jo continuing to help out at the different medical clinics
If you are willing and able to support us by praying, some things to consider are:
- The Bishop as he seeks to replace the Dean of the Cathedral who finished in December
- Peace for Sudan as talks continue in Kenya
- Wisdom in deciding what we can and can't do in the short time remaining
- Provision of a new manager for Tukul Crafts
Thanks,
Josh'n'Jo
Email me - joshua at kuswadi dot com
|
