Superman and his team have been out voicing their opinion and encouraging people to vote. We are praying for good news tomorrow.
Superman Takes a Stand in Tahrir Square
09 Dec 2012 17 Comments
in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: 2012 photos of Cairo, December 2012, Egypt, protest movements, Superman, Tahrir Square
“You’ve got to see what my crazy father is doing,” Mojo said when I woke up this morning.
He showed me the photo on his Ipad. Superman was sitting in Tahrir Square protesting President Morsy and his constitution. His slogan was simple and to the point. “NO.”
My eyes brimmed with tears.
“Egypt has been a Muslim country for fourteen hundred years,” my father-in-law had told me during his visit. “We don’t need an Islamic government telling us how to behave.”
Mojo’s family holds Egypt’s memories. Since the beginning of time, his mother’s family has lived in Egypt. Her great, great-grandfather was the Grand Mufti of Cairo married to Rifa’a al-Tahtawi’s sister. Al-Tahtawi wrote about the patriotic responsibility of citizenship and how a divided Egypt would fall to outside invaders.
For generations, Superman‘s family married into the royal family, acted as military officers, and managed the royal land. His father was a senator who drafted legislation to turn land over to the fellahin. His presence in Tahrir Square, the garden of his youth, is a positive sign. This 78-year old man represents generations of moderate, tolerant, Egyptians.
The light of his ancestors shines on him.
Superman to Save Egypt
05 Dec 2012 3 Comments
in Island Tales - Expatriate Living, Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: anti-islamists, Egypt, Egyptian constitution 2012, Nile River, revolution, Saving Egypt, Superman to the rescue
On Thanksgiving, as we toasted three generations of the family celebrating together, my visiting, Egyptian in-laws received a text. President Morsy was grabbing power.
The last few days, around our kitchen table, the December 15th vote on the new Egyptian constitution has been a key conversation. Declaring the 230 articles approved by the Islamists as “ridiculous”, my father-in-law decided enough is enough. Donning his cape, he flew home to Cairo this morning.
My question is – will he make it in time to save his beloved Egypt from a second revolution?
Creating A Storm During A Cyclone
04 Nov 2012 16 Comments
in Island Tales - Expatriate Living, Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: 50 things to do with children, Cyclone Nilam 2012, expatriate living, ipad movies, kids docudrama, Sri Lanka, travel, Vacation stories, video
StormProductions27 executives meet in Galle, Sri Lanka.
One of expatriate life’s purposes is to open our children’s eyes to the world.
After thirty plus hours of research and negotiation with the travel agents, I thought we had an excellent Sri Lankan itinerary. Our seven days were a mix of beach resort, an elephant safari, a bit of Buddhist and Hindu culture, a little walking adventure, some calculated exposure on how other people live, and a glimpse into Sri Lanka’s colonial history.
Plus the unexpected, Cyclone Nilam.
After thirty plus hours of hotel room research, the children scripted their own Sri Lankan docudrama. When the lights went out, the adults drank wine and reviewed our old fashioned, digital photos while Ace, Mark, and their friends produced then posted three movie trailers to YouTube.
Is StormProductions27 the next generation of James Camerons? Take a look and vote.
Will We Make It?
02 Nov 2012 4 Comments
in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: flooding 2012, jungles, photos, Sri Lanka, travel
62 kilometers to Colombo to catch the plane home. Leaving at 12:00, will we make it in time?
elephant clues
01 Nov 2012 1 Comment
in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: Asian elephant, safari, Sri Lanka, Tourism
Opening her eyes, Susan asked, “Are we at the elephant park yet?”
“Do you see any signs?” I asked.
A Mojo Two Degrees of Separation Story
22 Aug 2012 4 Comments
in Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: Fiesta Days, Khobar, networking, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara California, Saudi Arabia, six degrees of separation, Tourism
We cruised the Fiesta food stalls contemplating the Mexican fare. When Mojo was told “we are out of shark jerky”, the dedicated carnivore set out to track down the beef ribs.
By the time our fish tacos were ready, Mojo was sharing a table and chopping on ribs. The other diners scooted closer together to make room for our plates.
We started chatting and discovered the Filipino couple lived in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. They worked for the same oil company Mojo had worked for many years. Like us, they were vacationing in Santa Barbara to escape the summer heat.
Of the 20 odd tables Mojo could have chosen to sit at, he gravitated to the one most connected to him.
Tales of Dragons, Rabbits and Roosters 