More News Of Egypt From The Man In Ma’adi

Tahrir Square 1

Flag waver in square

Neil and Egyptian friends in Tahrir Square

I include this post mostly for those of you around the world who have been concerned about friend Neil in Cairo.  Here’s the latest from him via a short intro from Mary-Jean, who is of course in Toronto.:

“Good morning.  I’m still in Toronto playing with family and locals while Neil is enjoying the new Cairo, of sorts.  The following is a biking experience to Tahrir “the morning after”:

“The school buses are going to start on Wed (Tues is the Prophet’s birthday, so no school) and students will be told they are to be in school unless they have an ironclad reason why not. I did perk up after that and, in talking to a couple of people (coffee with John H in a.m. and John Stav later) it seems several went up to Tahrir square yest. John S. got some amazingly powerful shots. I was pissed off with myself, so decided to ride my bike up, invited Beau, then Mike R. and we were on the road by 4. BUSY traffic…quite a first experience for Beau! We went up mostly on the water-side sidewalk and wow – the square was still certainly still VERY charged, and what was so nice was how we were welcomed and how people wanted their photo taken or to take photos of us with us. About 1/2 hour was enough…the traffic was slowly trying to make its way back thru, but citizens were doing a great job of controlling it with big flags as you’ll see in one of the pictures. We were losing daylight, so roared back down the Corniche in about 1/4 the time it took us to get there. I feel better now; actually, Beau’s legs are killing him and Mike’s back is sore, but of course Mr, Bikeman doesn’t feel a thing.”

So there you have it–seems to many that Cairo is back to normal in many amazing ways.   The exit of Big M so that there didn’t need to be a military standoff made the difference between a massacre and “just another day at the office” to which we add our eternal thanks for wisdom and peace to prevail for the time being.  Blessings, Neil and MomJ.”

It was great to receive this today along with a personal note from Neil in which he said 80% of teaching staff were now back at his school along with 30% of the kids.

Goodbye for now and God bless.  Martin

From The Man In Ma’adi.

Scene From Cairo

Hello everyone. I’m sure that you are still keeping the occasional eye on the news from Egypt.  I’ve been watching with great interest to see how the events of the past days will unfold, particularly as our friend Neil is still in Cairo.  We had our trip to Egypt planned, the political marches escalated into violence and death.  We cancelled our trip. President Mubarak made promises but the Egyptian people don’t trust him.  Mubarak supporters appeared on the streets and violence erupted again.  Now things have quietened again, and we all wait for the next instalment in the lives of the Egyptian people.

I thought I’d provide you with some “on the ground” info on the situation with an email sent to us today by our friend Neil, who is at his school in Cairo.  See what he writes:

“So now back to here and today. I awoke about 4 to hear big diesel motors and signif. road noise and knew right away they were moving tanks in the neighbourhood. Sure enough, on my way to school as I popped out of Rd 256 at the mall, there was a biggie blocking the entry to the mall parking area and then another one down by the CIB cash machine area. Why they chose now to move here is hard to say – maybe the folks need the support in order to open the mall.

At school we had up to 40% in some classes and as low as 0% in others, with an overall % of probably 30+. I had 4 in 1st class, 7 in the 2nd and 5 in my 3rd. Naturally, most were Egyptian, but some came from as far as Heliopolis and Oct 6 and said that there was little traffic to deal with. Pretty well all of them were proud and energized by what’s happening, tho’ somewhat concerned about what’s next. Lots wanted to just sit and talk it over and over – some had seen and heard some pretty nasty things and were somewhat shaken up by it all. They’re pretty well all sad that Week Without Walls is cancelled (as is my going to Dubai with the tennis team in a week or so), but agreed/recognized that they were living in a powerful historical moment and needed to keep things in perspective. It was a lovely sunny day, well over 20 and kind of nice to see the gang around again. (Name of a billionaire Cairen whom we know and admire) was interviewed on Bloomberg TV and he is part of the significant “wise” persons being included in the dialogue process; it bodes well that he’s there (the inclusion of a powerful Coptic business man) - he’s the guy who’s able to negotiate with the N. Koreans to supply their cellphone service, so he’s well aware of how to work with dictatorial demagogues and, I would think especially in his native tongue.”

So you see that Neil, and some of the other teachers who stayed with him at the school are trying to do the best they can with what they have and the students left at the school.  I’m sure it is a very difficult time for students and staff alike, but knowing the Crouch man he will carry on and make something good happen for the kids in this situation.  Cynthia and I, along with many of his friends here in the valley, continue to pray for Neil’s well being and for that of the Egyptian people as a whole.

On a different note, I’d like to thank all of you out there who have contributed to my effort in the 2011 Ride To Conquer Cancer from Vancouver to Seattle which takes place in June.  For those of you who don’t know, our team (Team  Flip Flop Shops) and over 2000 other riders will cycle between the two cities over two days to raise funds for cancer research.  For those of you who would like to see my progress so far and/or donate through my personal page and find out more of the ride, click the “Donate Now” button below.  In a future post, I will be sending out, a training update and news of a fund raising event we have planned.  Please stay tuned, and once again thanks to those of you who have already helped me reach one-third of my goal.  Good night and God bless.

Related Articles

• Egyptian Police Clash With Protesters in South – Voice of America (news.google.com)

Mary-Jean Is In Toronto, Neil Remains Behind.

Mary-Jean in Frankfurt (She has the grey hair)

Hi folks…many of you who receive these posts have written expressing your concerns about our friends in Cairo, Mary-Jean and Neil.  Andy, Mary-Jean’s son, was reading the Globe and Mail When he spotted this picture with his Mum in the background.  At this point, she was in Frankfurt airport.

This morning we got the good news that she is now in Toronto, though Neil is still in Cairo.  Later in the day, we actually got a general email from her.  Here it is below.

Hello all and thanks so much for love, prayers, tears and support.

I arrived in Toronto this afternoon about 3pm  after a few lengthy and comfy flights.  We were met by hordes of media in Frankfurt and then again today in Toronto and got interviewed for CTV tonight and on BBC fm here in Toronto tonight.  Isn’t this NOT the vision of our exit from Cairo?

I’m happy to not be in Cairo and Neil is pretty convinced that it is safe in Ma’adi (but then this guy bikes the traffic in Cairo and whips around army tanks during curfew so who’s to trust the guy’s judgement?  Not ME, clearly!).  It’s anybody’s guess about the next step but Neil is there because his school is about the only int’l school in Cairo that didn’t close and send their teachers out of country. Manyof his teachers aren’t happy with the stand CAC has taken however.  Neil is content.

I’ve had almost no sleep in the past 3 nights so will just send love and thanks out to you all and will update you tomorrow.  SOOOOO sorry to Martin and Cynthia, the Kossacks and Jennifer and Demitri for the cancellation of visits–we are open for rescheduling but will just be watchful.  I have no idea about my own planned return if at all.

Blessings,  a demain!    mj

If you’d like to see the interview containing MJ’s brief comment click here.  When the link opens click on: CTV Toronto: Canadians Leaving Egypt Touch Down In Toronto.  Once again, she’s the one with the grey hair.

It was such a relief to get the news this morning.  Now, Cynthia and I begin the games with KLM to see how we deal with the cancelled flight.  We have applied for a full refund, but I’m not holding my breath as we wait for a reply.  Our second option is to apply for a travel voucher with them for the same amount which will probably have to be used within a year.  We could handle that,  Finally, if all else fails, we will have to make an insurance claim.

We are also working on a plan to get the shoes we collected to the Found School children.  If we fail, we will make sure they go to children closer to home, possibly Mexico or even here in less wealthy parts of Canada.  We will overcome!

Goodnight and God bless.

Related Articles

• First few Canadians trickle out of Egypt on charter flights (thestar.com)
• Most Canadians opt to stay in Cairo (thestar.com)

Trip To Egypt Finally Cancelled

Hello everyone.  We finally made contact with our friends in Cairo last night.  We talked to Neil for about twenty minutes.  Here is the content of a note Cynthia wrote to friends here who are also concerned about Neil and Mary-Jean in Cairo.

“Hi Everyone,

We just got off the phone after talking to Neil. They are fine. The school is closed for the next few days and then things will be reviewed. MJ is hopefully leaving on a flight tomorrow (Mon,)for Toronto. She has a friend with connections in Air Canada and they will leave early for the airport and probably wait all day at the airport to get their flight. Their taxi driver knows the area well and will skirt any trouble spots but must be back home before the curfew is called.

Neil sounds upbeat and says that people on the street during the day are as usual. There is no shortage of food or drink or any necessities at present. If the situation deteriorates and the school deems it necessary to evacuate they will get them out at no cost. Quite a few of the school families are leaving and they may not have many students when and if they reconvene.

If I hear anything else I will update you. Blessings Cynthia”

So, that was the good news from Neil and Mary-Jean last night.  Today, we will take steps to cancel our re-scheduled flight to Egypt.  We hope to be able to get a credit from KLM which we might use at a later date within the Sky Team Alliance in which KLM is a partner.

 

Failing that, we will simply cancel the flight and then apply for reimbursement from our travel insurance company.  They have already told us we will receive complete coverage for the flight as it was booked so many months ago.

Sad though we are that a visit to Egypt will have to wait, we are so glad our friends are safe.  Thanks to those of you who have written to us concerning our safety and the safety of our pals in Cairo.  We appreciate your notes very much.  ’Til the next time, goodbye and God bless.

Related Articles

• Hundreds crowd airport hoping for flight out of Egypt (ctv.ca)
• Ottawa schedules first two evacuation flights from Egypt (theglobeandmail.com)