verbs

we finally got to verbs today.....so I can now say "i want a million dollars" in fusha!  I know- not something to really start a coversation with- but it is a sentence with a verb, so I am happy!

class

I have a new class- this time, 2 russian students, a lady from Indonesia, one from France and another from Belgium.  And me (of course).  It is a good class, lots of laughs as we mudle through the confusion of "high Arabic."  But today we learned 5 grammar lessons and a lot of vocabulary.....I can now say, "in the living room there is a chair, a couch and a table.!"  I guess that is an improvement and better than "good morning!"

my first Rotary meeting

I went to my first Rotary meeting today in Cairo.  I sat with a doctor, a banker, a guy who manages General Motors here in Cairo, a pharmacist and an engineer.  It was a great meeting (in Egyptian Arabic, so I didn't understand all of it) about cultural changes here in Cairo and the young people that are growing up in this new environment. This is a big deal because just one generation ago there were no mobile phones and now they have internet on their cell phones....big changes in culture.  The same is true for America- but here in Cairo, 50% of the population is under 20.  This means that this new culture will quickly replace the old one.  The Rotary here in Cairo wants to find creative outlets for this new generation to use their skills to make Egypt better.  It was a great meeting- met lots of great people.   Still waiting for my host club to be sorted out......but glad to be connected with Rotarians here.