Light?

It's funny that right now, as I am writing this blog, we have no electricity in the house, which means no AC; we haven't had electricity for seven hours. I say it's funny because one of the t"light" is promised here. The city loses electricity very often, a few times per week at least. I don't mind going without light so much, but it is so hot here that it is unbearable to sleep at night without AC. I would sleep on the couch, which is cooler than my bed, but I'll get bitten alive at night without my mosquito net.

This weekend was fun, Friday I went to the World Thai boxing event in EG, which was really interesting. I heard the EG national anthem for the first time, which about 50% of the citizens don't even know, and the EG fighter won, so the stadium was in an uproar, the enthusiasm was infectious! On Saturday night we went out to dinner to a decent Chinese restaurant, then we went to a club and met some of Mark's friends which was fun. Sunday, Valentines Day, we went to the Mobil compound and ate hamburgers by the pool with many of Mary's, and now ours, friends. The burgers were amazing! Mary spoils us :-) After that we went to our second hash, which is an even where a lot of Ex-pats (mainly Americans and Europeans) get together and walk about a mile on a trail, reach a half way point and take a "refreshment" break, which includes mainly beer, water, Coke, and Fanta. Then we walk back and we all drive to someone's house for what is called the "down down", where we all get together in a circle and each person is called to stand inside it and chug a cup of beer while everyone else sings a funny cheer/song. The people who run the event are English and Scottish, so it's a hilarious event with lots of singing, laughing, drinking, and eating. After the singing we all eat a huge feast. Next month we are arranging the hiking route, probably to an old fishing pier Mark knows about where we can go swimming during the "refreshment" break.

I'm looking forward to Thursday, when we get to meet and talk with the US Ambassador in EG, we also teach our first environmental class/lesson to local school children. Talk to you all soon!

: ) Isys