H1N1 and all the People!

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iTWpjE9MFbRKKHauVW5hyx6Ns77g

Here is an article that explains the school closing. Today I heard from P. a teacher in Maadi who said his school is closed until October 7 since there is already a national holiday on the 6th, Armed Forces Day.

On another topic, it is funny how I "know" some people in the Cairo area already. P. was given my email, and we have corresponded a few times, by JL in Saudi Arabia. JL was given my name and email by Lisa, a sorority sister who met JL on an African safari. So, I have never met P. or JL but both have given me a lot of information and seem to be friends already! What a world we live in. I look forward to meeting P. sometime soon as he lives in Maadi. Don't worry! I will be careful and meet in public places with friends along. I think it will be OK. good to have these connections.

One other connection I have is someone in the education ministry who is good friends of two other Nantucket teachers who worked in Cairo. S.E. will be a wonderful resource of info and I look forward to meeting him as well since all those Nantucketers who have met him say so many wonderful thigs about him.

Lastly, I was at the opeining of a play last night at our local community theater. I struck up a conversation with a woman standing by herself and found out she was visiting from Poland and a theater director for a theater academy in Poland. I told her that I was going to miss being a part ( small part) of our local community theater. I am going to miss all the creative people and good fun when I go to Cairo. She immediately said that she is friends with a man who runs a theater in Cairo and took down my contact info promising to get us in touch with each other! Amazing!
Wow!

So, flu regardless - Off to Cairo in 5 days! Yikes excited , nervous etc. all over again!