Carl in Cairo

  As the call to prayer issues from Cairo's minarets, I lay here, scrambling to fire off emails to tie up loose ends, looking around me to size up how big of a job packing everything up will be this weekend.  I can't believe my Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship period is drawing to a close already.

  Yesterday as I relaxed on the beach in Alexandria (a much needed daytrip), I began to think of the lessons I've learned and what sorts of things I hope to talk about in my speeches.  Despite my acute displeasure with my situation in Egypt right now, overall I am so thankful for this experience.  I have learned a great deal and am sure I have a great deal more still to learn when I return.  

  I saw my friend Quin off this morning.  We were both tired, as I'm sure Marise and her brother Pierre were after we bargained at the Khan, hung out at Al-Fishawi Café, and took a calming late night felucca ride.  It's sad to think that Marise and Pierre will likely be out of Egypt by the time I get back, but given my penchant for globe-trotting to keep in touch, I'm sure we'll meet again.

News:

Cairo University to host President Obama

NYTimes "Memo from Cairo: Why Freed Dissidents Pick Path of Most Resistance"

Sec. State Clinton urges Egypt to respect human rights; also says Obama clear about the halting of illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine

Egyptian Minister of Culture apologizes for anti-Semitic remarks