Boozin', schmoozin', and cruisin'

Friends,
I have finally come to a place where I am ready to give a reliable update of life and perhaps through in some unrealiable doctrine to make things interesting.
The semester in Cairo has certainly been a growth point for everyone here on so many levels. I think that rhythm and flexibility have become my two favorite words when describing life here. We have not exactly had the best semester due to different factors. Without going into too much detail, one girl dropped out in February since she felt like she made a mistake coming here; next we discovered that over half the group(12 students) had broken covenant by either drinking or smoking sheesha; we currently have 4 "couples" who we've had to speak to various times (this is crazy since we only have 7 guys, 2 of which have girlfriends the the States already which leaves one non-dating male who is currently being pursued by a girl with dreads on the program). Well, all and all, it has been a great semester despite the drama, immaturity, and uncontracted responsibilities of playing camp councelor. The fun and learning has outweighted the hard times though and considering the alternatives, such as active defiance or those kids I've seen from the college students gone wild commercials, I consider myself lucky. Maintaining rythm admist chaos and achieving flexibilty under rigid circumstances have been good lessons to learn.
How am I personally? Well, my job ends in one week and I have plans to study arabic for a month in Cairo before heading home on Mayb 22. I look forward to this time to rest and pursue my own interests as most of my life and energy goes to the attention and needs of the students. Our travel component was really incredible. Over the month, we drove through Turkey, Syria, Jordan, and stopped in Jerusalem for 2 weeks, just in time for MoHammed's Birthday, Passover, and the Protestant & Orthodox Easter. We met with Turkish, Palestinian, and Israeli youth at various colleges and had a handful of honest speakers and a few repressed diplomats.
The challenge of maintaining an intact spirituality after a monolithic spread of religion is bearable especially if you can hold onto the basic truths of life and faith. I have also spent much more time thinking about the students than I have really been able to focus on the conflict and understand it more but surprisingly, after 2 weeks in Israel, fewer people(esp. conservative Gordo's) might view me as anti-semitic and pro-Palestinian which I consider to be a important balance when dealing with any issue. To meet Israeli Jews and Palestinians in candid candid situations, seeing from their perspectives, has shaped my opinions about the region must more comprehensively. Bethlehem is a great place to learn and live if anyone ever comes here. Check out holylandtrust.org if you want to do a summer internship learning arabic and serving in local organizations. All and all, it is not about finding the right answer but asking the right questions. Can we create uni-ethnic Jewish and Arab States? How do you hold monolithic religions responsiblie for unethical doctrine without denying their humanity and rights?
Anyway, I have a lot of time to think and process this summer. Hopefully I will be studying classical arabic (necessary for reading books and newspapers) in Damascus for a month in July. The Iraqi refugee situation there is both difficult for Syrians and of course Iraqis as they have less rights and ablities to get a job and equal treatment but also, Syrians are facing a difficult econimical crisis from the rich Iraqis who are able to buy up land and flats which is creating inflation that Syrian society is slow to adapt to. Also, the major popluation spike of 1.3 million Iraqis is having major cultural and politcal influence. My aim in gong there is to try to learn more about the future on a needs based level both in Syria and the potential return to Iraq. On a personal note, I was able to meet the MCC couple who live in Damascus and also work with the L'arche community there. They have such a good reputation there that they are friends with President Asad's wife who helped to build one of the day programs called "House of Peace." Not too bad for family that America has considered an enemy for the last 50 years.
I look forward to seeing you all in the States in May and June when we hopefully will overlap our times there. Kangas I heard will be in Texas next August. Rach is in Alaska. Matt? Josh? I don't know? Heather, holding strong in DC. Dev, you are moving back to the States? Ray? Neil?
Eric, a dotor. Peter and Gina, parents. Lex, mrant? I guess I'm out of the loop, perhaps a good group update would due us right. Or a beer? Don't drink it in Egypt. Its a cross between the Nile and Budweiser.

See you soon friends.
Steve