Still in Egypt, and I'm still loving it!

The week after Halloween, Carrie and I made a presentation for Maura Pally (Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State) on our life in Cairo so far. She came to our school which was very nicely fixed up, with new paint, and soccer goals to boot. During our one on one conversation we discussed how great the YES (and NSLI-Y) programs were and how they should be continued, unfortunatly the YES Abroad program will not happen nest year, but the year after that it should, Inshallah. Over all I think it went very well.

I have been working on essays as well, fortunatly not for school though. I am re-applying for UWC, United World Colleges, a two year International Baccalouriate High School program with 12 campuses around the world. I applied last year and didn't get in, but I was just reading the essays I wrote and they were really bad, no wonder I didn't get in! About 1000 kids from the U.S. apply and 50 are chosen. They are given a full scholarship, with 25 going to the school in New Mexico, and the other 25 spread around the world. Hopefully I will get in and be able to make the decision on if I would like to spend the next two years away from home...and if my parents will let me!

On the other hand if I do graduate from high school next year and move on to university, I will need to apply to a couple. I have just barely begun my search, making my self think what I want to study and possible career choices. Right now, I am still thinking that I want to study Chem, mumkin Bio-Chem, and possibly a career in Stem Cell Research. Though, I also think that I might want to do something involving Arabic. I guess I have time. So mainly, I am looking at Science Schools though I am going to have to visit them all this summer...ROAD TRIP!

Today of all days is crazier than normal in Egypt! There is a world cup soccer match between Algeria and Egypt. It is literally almost not safe to go in the streets! My school is right across the street from the Algerian Embassy, where they have been rallying every day. The traffic is crazy, with flags hanging out car windows and special taxi's painted red, white, and black just for the occasion. I really wanted to go to the game, but was told that no women will be there. I also got an email from the U.S. embassy warning us not to go.

School is going really well, I am starting to make better friends and really like my teachers! This coming week is quarter exams...but I'm not too nervous. We have been discussing our senior trip, and it sounds like we are looking at Paris, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, though we could end up going anywhere! I am really pushing for Thailand as it would be pretty cool to see the country, and my SISTER! We were also discussing graduation and found that is scheduled for after I leave, so I talked to the principal and they are going to have it in the middle of June...you are all invited! :D

The week after next my sister is headed off to Germany for a gymnastics competition...I wish I could go! Thanksgiving is also coming up, I am going to go to one of my teacher's houses (she is American). The next day is the big 3id so my family will go back to the Red Sea, Sokhna. There is a 10 break from school for that.We also just spent this last weekend in Sokhna. It was really pretty and calm, a nice vacation from Cairo. We swam in the Red Sea and found starfish, crabs, shells, and sea urchins to bring home. It was a real blast!

My word of the weekend is: عرقسوس said 3r'soos it means Licorice