Women's & Fishing Retreats

Last weekend was packed full... I got to attend a retreat for women held south of the city at a farm owned by one of our students. It was a large, well maintained fenced farm with ostriches, antelope and assorted random large birds located right on the Nile. Some 50 women gathered for a few days of relaxing, wearing casual western clothes (yikes, I haven't seen that much skin in a LONG time!) and sharing. It was a wonderful weekend- so many like minded people encouraging each other in their endeavors.

Whilst I was away, Eddy busied himself with a rousing game of Risk one night and fishing on the Nile the next day. Unable to find worms, Eddy sought the advice of locals who told him to use the trimmings off beef. After visiting the butcher and armed with borrowed poles, three of them made their way to the western banks of the Nile to test out their luck. It was a long, rather uneventful day of NO fish.

Half-Marathon: We both had to run alone as the other was MIA... and we both agreed that running alone was a dreadfully lonely experience.

Basketball: The season is winding down, our 2nd and last Under 11 girls game and the Under 14 tournie is next week. Phew, except that the soccer season starts in January, pretty much the day we step off the plane from our mini-furlough in December... so try-outs will be held in the next few weeks... Insha Allah!

Mini-Furlough: We will be heading to Florida for some R & R in the beginning of December. Leaving this place takes a little more effort than just hopping on a plane. We have to apply for an exit/re-entry visa and show proof of taxation for our business "Eddy Ice Creem". More offices, bureaucracy and red tape... But we have found favor so far and grace has been poured out in abundance. Insha Allah these tasks will get done quickly!

FUNdraiser Day: Our school is putting on a "fair" of sorts to raise funds (didn't know we needed it...) this Friday. There will be the usual booth-type games for kids to play with an assortment of well-loved favorites like: The Bean Bag Toss, Fishing Hole, Ping Pong Ball Race, Hole in One... There will be some sort of stage area where Eddy and I will entertain people with our musical talents- little ukulele interludes and jambe solos- irrisistible! But the highlight will surely be.... drum roll please... the Soak The Teacher Booth! As we are in a Muslim country, only the male teachers are at risk for this event. And as we all know, teaching tends to be a female dominated vocation... Our school has only three male teachers: Coach Eddy, Coach Jeff and our computer teacher Johannes. Johannes got out of it by being "too techy". Which leaves the the infamous coaching duo!! Coach Eddy will be demonstrating the full scope of this homemade bucket-dumping contraption tomorrow at the start of school. He's thrilled.

Photos: Some ladies enjoying the cookout at the Nile during the womens retreat... a wall in the farm compound... The Basketball Under 14 boys catch a ride to the game- 12 boys in an Amjud (hold 5 normally, and these are not small boys by any means!)... Coach Jess and Coach Stef pre-game talk... Coach Eddy talks with a parent...