Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Countdown to Cairo: 10 days!


So the time has finally come for me to pack up and head across the Atlantic to complete my student teaching semester at Cairo American College in Cairo, Egypt! (www.cacegypt.org) I walked at UNI's commencement in May and "kinda graduated", now it's time to really finish up my studies and earn that Art Education degree.

I will be in Cairo from August 1 until December 22. I am fortunate to be welcomed into a very hospitable school, with very personable faculty working alongside me this fall. I will be living with a fellow teacher at the school in an apartment directly across from the school. My first 8 week placement will be in the 6th grade classroom and my second 8 weeks will be spent in the high school to meet the requirements for a k12 certification. I will actually be in Cairo longer than 16 weeks, due to their generous offer and request for me to attend new teacher orientation for two weeks before class begins that should help me get my bearings and find my nitch in the staff and school.(Me pretty excited the night the offer was extended to join the team at CAC this fall during the overseas recruiting fair in Waterloo last February)

Thank you all for the love and support you've given me so far, and you will provide me as I set off into this journey. It is my first time abroad alone, and I am nervous about that not to mention the whole student teaching part of this trip.. However I am strengthened and encouraged knowing that all of you are right behind me every step of the way :)

Yet to do on my "to-do" list: haircut, pack, farmers market in Des Moines, pack, preach in Winterset on Sunday, pack, visit Cedar Falls one last time/buy last minute panther gear for gifts and.. oh yeah.. I need to pack...