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Last post before I leave. (I think)

Anyone interested enough to be reading this blog is absolutely invited to a going away party on Thursday night, July 30th, at "The Garage" on south 48th St. and Hwy 2 in Lincoln. I'll be there from 7:00 p.m. until as late as you can stand it. I know it as Bonanza, but many still call it the Penalty Box. All are welcome, bring friends.

Sorry if you are feeling like this is late notice for that event. Due to my continual traveling this summer, things kind of happened late. I hope many can make it and all can have a good time. There will be snacks, and as far as I know this place still serves adult beverages.

I leave Saturday. Omaha to Chicago, Chicago to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Cairo. 13 hours and 42 minutes of flight time plus six hours and 52 minutes of layover plus eight hours of time zone changes will leave me in Cairo on Sunday, August 2nd, at 3:05 p.m.

Thus my journey begins.

The past three months are three I hope I never forget. I've had the luxury of enjoying one of those "transition" phases we are all lucky to get once in a while. I most quickly compare it to the summer after graduating high school. The pressures of college or working full time are delayed a bit, and 100% of the focus is on reconnecting with friends, enjoying good times and often this comes with a respite from responsibility. I've been there again this summer, and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

I'm especially grateful for those who have reached out, who've pushed for time in my stretched schedule for a quick lunch, a relaxed dinner, a night to chat. The friendships I've made over the years are ones I cherish, and I know leaving those behind will be taxing.

But, while I resisted utilizing many technology resources while here - resources that are meant to help people stay connected but often I feel allow us to disconnect from real communication too readily - I will be relying on them when I'm away. I hope utilizing Facebook, Skype (fosterinegypt), email (scott_p_foster@yahoo.com) or other technology resources will facilitate communication to a degree I hope will satisfy.

For those who crave more depth, keep watching the blog, and rest assured I will be home next July. Some may know of the 4th of July contest in the works. At this point I'm only willing to say it might be worth finding out more about it before 7/4/2010.

I'll take this time to answer the top 10 questions I've received to date, just in case some of you have them as well. (And yes, there are bad questions, but I answer them too.)

1. What language do they speak? Egyptian?

Actually, that's close. But it's an Egyptian dialect of another big language - Arabic.

2. Do you speak Egptian/Arabic? (Some don't bother asking #1 first, so I get it this way, too.

I've spent endless hours listening to Arabic tapes designed to teach me, so I can confidently still answer this question with a resounding "No."

3. What will you teach?

3 sections of 10 English. In them we'll cover Animal Farm, The Crucible, MacBeth, Lord of the Flies, Glass Menageries, and also study topics like Nuclear War in literature and cinema, comparison of Al Jazeera to CNN and other world news networds, analysis of anti war poetry, Hound of the Baskervilles, Sherlock Holmes short stories, Inspector Calls (drama study) Alfred Hitchcock films, many short story authors and more.

4. Are you insert one: excited, nervous, anxious, scared, etc?

Okay, no. Not yet. I'm ready to go, but getting worked up about things is not so much in my nature. I'm ready for a challenge, and I'm ready to get back to working on a daily basis. I'm looking forward to living in a new place and seeing more of the world.

5. How long will you be there?

Two years. I'll be back in the US next July for about a month. I plan on having a get together planned when I'm back, and I'll advertise it via Facebook and this blog. It'll be a "Hi I'm back home" party from 7-10 and a "Yeah I'm leaving again" party from 10-1 or something like that. I'll let you know more when I do.

6. Will you have a car?

No. I don't want to bother fighting the traffic. They provide transportation from my apartment to school and back each day. I've been told my driver will have my phone number and call me if I'm not waiting on the side of the road!

7. Will you have to wear a turbin to work?

No. I have to wear a tie. I'm going to try to get away with a Andy Sipowicz look (the guy from NYPD Blue who always wore short sleeves with his jacket and tie) but I'll be careful not to upset anyone's standard of dress code.

8. What will your students be like?

95% Egyptian, and either wicked smart or pushed very hard. *See the curriculum plan listed under question 3. Discipline will be tough with the male students. But class sizes are guaranteed to stay below 16 students. I've never had a difficult class of that size. Being the infidel might not help matters much, but I'm prepared to deal with that if it comes, I think.

9. Are you going to visit the pyramids?

Not until I get a visitor who asks to go. But, I'll possibly be able to see them quite often. I think they will be within 10 miles of where I live.

10. This one I call "the Jade question" Will you teach in a pyramid? (Often followed with will you ride a camel?)

No and No. You can see photos of the school at www.hayahacademy.com. It looks nice. You can see photos of camels by searching google images for "camel".

On another completely unrelated note: Lucas (for those of you who don't know him you're missing out) showed me something called "Google Voice" today. It makes me wish I was staying here, and might possibly the best thing I've seen in telephones since cell phones came out, except for maybe text and SMS messaging. I wonder if it will be available in Cairo...