Yesterday (Thursday, June 4th) President Obama was in Cairo. After giving his speech to the world, he came to the Giza Pyramids and all US Embassy people were invited to come to the "meet and greet". Because security was crazy and they told us that we would be standing (no sitting) in the blazing hot sun for about 3-4 hours, we decided against bringing all the kids (turned out to be very very smart choice!!) In the end, Brent told me to take Josh (the only kid interested in going....sorry Mr. President) and he stayed back with the girls. Josh and I did stand in the sun for about 4 hours. I was right by Josh almost the whole time, but then they asked parents to stand back a bit so more kids could shake Obama's hand. After a short speech given by the President, Josh did shake Obama's hand. Also, we brought a hardback copy of an Egyptian children's book to present to him (of course I wrote on the inside cover our family name and reason for being in Cairo...thought about including email address and blog, but shame got to me!) Josh said to him, "this is for you and your children from our family", and gave him the book and President Obama said to Josh, "that was very thoughtful. Thank you." Then he took Josh's hand and shook it....all while I looked on from behind a bit. It was cool. It was worth the burning sun:)
Brent got back on
Wednesday
morning, after flying all night, from his trip to Ghana. While there, he also flew to Burkina Fasa. He took the camera, but only took a few shots. He got to go to the temple in Accra and said it was just like the temple in Spokane, WA. He said he saw: giant termite mounds, flat grassland vegetation (very humid and so seemed really hot--it was in the 90's), very busy dirty city, lots of people riding motorbikes, lots of ladies carrying stuff on their heads and a hospital that had mosquito nets....that is good! He was there for Malaria purposes. He brought me a tribal, wooden, carved door that was made in Mali. They are made by the groom for the bride to put on their new home together. They are mostly all antiques now and very beautiful. He also brought us a family of 7 elephants carve
d out of wood and of course....a magnet!Well, kids are out of school and I am making plans to keep us busy and not too hot. We will have "Mom's summer school" and also try to do some service around the community here. Yesterday, while Josh and I were gone, Brent and the girls picked up trash for awhile. There is so much trash on the ground that we could do that every week and never run out of a job! Some Egyptian people saw them doing that and told them thanks.
Here are some pictures:
President Obama
termite mound in Ghana
the city of Accra, Ghana
the "door" Brent brought me
7 comments:
That is really cool, Amiee.
WOW, a lot is going on! I love the door and that is so cool that Josh got to meet the president. My sister spent some time in Accra and really enjoyed herself when she wasn't studying.
You are awesome Sis. You are such a great example everywhere you are!! That's awesome you got to see the President and Josh got to shake his hand! You guys are getting some pretty sweet experiences over there.
I love those doors. My cousin got one when she worked in Mali and I've coveted it for many years. Now I'm going to covet yours! What a fun experience and what a cool idea to give a book to the Obama girls!
Is that president cute or what? Seriously, he's got a very warm smile.
So what does Brent do? (Feel free to have him speak in first person.) It sounds to me like he just flies around to exotic, non-touristy locales and picked up a pay-check at each one. Seems a little suspicious if you ask me...
Love the door!! I don't think I could have dedicatd 4 hours in the sun for Obama LOL
It's so awesome reading about everything you and your family is doing. You make me tired just reading it. I especially love the service that you perform everywhere that you live, it's something that you have inspired in me to do with my own family. I love being able to bring your exotic life into our boring one. One of these days we would love to come and visit and see some of these places that you are seeing especially the pyramids. Brent is becoming quite the world traveler. Anyway, we love and miss you guys and are excited about the experiences that you are having. Send our love you each of you.
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