Background on Going to Cairo

So perhaps a little background is needed on our adventure to Cairo.

Amy and I have always wanted to return overseas ever since leaving China.  Well, that was 15 years ago.  We came to South Carolina to earn our teaching certificates and Anna was born in December 1998.  Life happens and Columbia is wonderful place to raise children.  So, we bought a house, got a job and put down roots.

Fast-forward to 2010 and we decided to if we were really going to go for living overseas again, we had to do it soon or the kids would be too old.  We signed up with a search agency.  We had some interest early on, but nothing really fit with job options, location and the kids education.  About a year ago, we connected with the current superintendent of Cairo American College in Cairo.  We had a great conversation and looked forward to options.  Anna wisely said, don't you wait until next year (2013) when I am finished with middle school and Elliot is finished with elementary school for us to go.  Great idea! 

And here we are.  Amy was offered the Head Media Specialist job and I was offered the Curriculum Coordinator position.  We will be at Cairo American College (they have a great website too.)  We have a two year contract, but will be back in summers.  If everything goes well, we will stay and Anna will graduate in front of the pyramids in spring 2017.

Our neighborhood is Maadi.  It is calm and quiet with lots of greenery.  We are 14 blocks east of the Nile and about 5 miles from the pyramids.  Our school is about a 15 - 20 minute walk.  We will not get a car.  We have a great four bedroom apartment in a four story/8 apartment building.  Four of the apartments are rented by the school. 

School is smoothing our transition into Cairo with orientation to the neighborhood, school, and Cairo next week.  They even stocked our fridge with food!

We will likely have internet, phone, and texting capabilities.  We will know the details as they come.

We depart tomorrow (Thursday, August 1) at 3:15 pm (9:15 pm August 1 Cairo time.)  We fly to Atlanta, then Paris and then Cairo.  We arrive there at 6:20 pm Friday, August 2 (which is 12:20 pm Columbia time.)

We look forward to the  adventure and experience that await us.

Empty

And the house is finally empty, well the phone and a box to go.  A wonderful for about ten years. Many fantastic memories created there that we are taking us.  Anna and Elliot grew up there and the stability in that place, we think, provides them the strength to adjust to our next step.

Guest room

Anna's room

Packing Room

Putting all clothing and items into the livingroom as a staging area.  We are hoping for 8 bags and then up to 8 carry-ons.  That's the maximum.