Friday, June 17

It's just after midnight here. We finished final exams today. Just two weeks of work days left. (Sigh) It doesn't feel like the end at all. I spent an interesting night tonight with the senior girls. One of the teachers invited me to join her and the senior girls at a pool party at her villa.

She lives in "posh" Egyptian-style villa out in a housing development in the middle of the desert. There are so many of these villas going up in the desert where the land is cheap. She has a lovely pool in her backyard and grass! It was an all girls party so Joe was not invited. Normally, the girls who wear "hijab" (head scarves) cannot swim in front of men, so it was nice to hang out with the girls when they could just be themselves. We swam, lounged around, and ate dinner. It was nice to hang out with the girls on a more personal level. It was interesting because I thought to myself, "I could never do this in the States." People would really look at you strangely if you told them you were hanging out with your students in a teacher's bedroom. The teacher/student relationship is very different. In some ways good, but in other ways difficult for us to adjust to.

It's weird also to see teachers and students without their headscarves. I almost didn't recognize one girl. It's interesting because I can't tell Joe anything about their hair. I think I've mentioned this before. He says it makes him so curious. I find that to be true. I often wonder what my students' hair looks like under their veil. One thing is for sure, I am not going to stare at anyone who is veiled again. When I first got here, I couldn't help staring at women in burqas. Now it's a very normal thing to see.

It's getting late, so I might end here. We are counting the days until Joe's parents arrive and until we can travel home for vacation. Can't wait!