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Courtney Reid - Egypt
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"My first few months in Cairo have been, as you might expect, quite an adjustment period. In September I spent my days becoming oriented with the city and learning Egyptian Sign Language (as well as a little Arabic) from the teachers at the Deaf School. October marked the beginning of classes and the children's return to school. At first I felt like I was the one who was deaf because understanding and communicating were so difficult. I remember telling myself then that if I could just make it until November, that things would be different, and I would feel more settled. I was right. Although life during Ramadan was a little trying (in a city where 18 million grumpy people haven't had anything to eat or drink all day, and the day's schedule is turned around backwards, getting things done can be difficult.)
"There are nearly 40 children who board at the Deaf Unit. They are from 6 to 15 years old and generally, though not exclusively, come from very poor homes. In many cases the school provides them with school supplies and clothes especially warm things for the winter. The school itself was recently wonderfully renovated thanks to many generous donations from various groups and embassies in Cairo. December 17th we held an official opening celebration to thank the donors who made the changes possible. It allowed the children to display some of their talents in a presentation.
"One of my fears in coming here was that the children would not accept me, but we get along very well. As my Sign Language skills improve so does their willingness to follow my instructions or to come to me with their problems. Each child is very special, and I quickly found myself with great affection for them.
"There are four other housemothers, 2 hearing and 2 deaf. Three of them are Egyptian, and the fourth is from Iraq. The two deaf housemothers are an incredible blessing! They have been with the school for several years and work tirelessly. Although I am the 'supervisor', I often look to them to as I continue to learn the ropes, and they patiently help me.
"My typical workday begins at 6 AM when I wake up the children and the housemothers. The children dress for school, and then we go down for breakfast. School begins at 8:15, and unless there is a housemother Bible study or meeting, I am free from that time until 2:30. However, since I live on the site I often find a number of people coming to my door. The children running in the hall or up and down the stairs make a lot of noise, but not nearly so much as the metal and carpentry workshop on school grounds which is right below my window! On Wednesday mornings I lead an arts and crafts project with a class of 7 to 9 year olds. At 2:30 when the children finish school and come to lunch, I again assume responsibility for them. After the midday meal it is time for homework and play, and then later we have dinner and shower before the youngest group goes to bed. Finally, at 10:00 the oldest children go to sleep, and I am free to go to my room also.
I am lucky to have three-day weekends during which the children return home, and I go to stay in a room at the Diocesan guesthouse near the Episcopal Cathedral. Thursdays I take an Arabic lesson, which I enjoy very much even though I am learning slowly. It is such a difficult language that to make really great progress requires intensive study. However, being in the school environment with a whole staff of Arabic-speaking Egyptians who are determined to teach me has helped my ear for the language somewhat. I can understand far more than I can speak, but that is a start.
"I have made a few good friends here who can I can go out with to dinner, a movie or go sightseeing. We really do a lot of the same things that I would do at home. A couple of weeks ago I was able to go with a group to climb Mt. Sinai. We started the climb in the middle of the night to be at the summit when the sun rose . . . it was a very special experience. At a few points along the trail I was able to escape the tour groups making the ascent and appreciate the quiet and incredible stillness on the mountain. It was just me and Jesus walking along at those moments, and overhead the stars were more brilliant and more numerous than anywhere else I have ever been. My friend Megan put it most descriptively: 'It looks like someone barfed stars . . . I mean, they are just everywhere.' It was impressive too to look back behind me and see the many, many lights bobbing along the trail as so many pilgrims made the same climb. The mountain is a holy place for Christians, Jews and Muslims alike.
"Egypt is a challenging country to live in, especially for a single American girl, but the culture and people are fascinating to observe. I would have never picked to come to Egypt . . . I probably would not have even considered it as a possibility, but now that I am here I know I was not meant to be anywhere else."
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The Episcopal Church