The End is Nigh at Hand

I am only here for 3 more days before my plane takes off for the States. Its hard to believe how fast this month seems to have gone by! I've had an excellent time!

I am sad, though, that I will be missing the fourth of July. BTW Happy Birthday in a day in advance to you, Comrade Tony! I realized just a few minutes ago that, if I do indeed leave for my mission in December like I would like to, than I will not be celebrating the 4th properly for 3 years!!! That is some what disappointing, though me and my airforce friend CJ are going to have a little patriotic 4th of july moment while we are in alexandria. Hopefully we will atleast beable to find an American flag.

So yesterday I decided I was going to try and go to the Commissary here in Cairo. The family who teaches insitute here gave me money and a shopping list, they were desperate for some Pork! I contacted someone from institute who works at the US Embassy, and clarified that I could get in with my military ID. That was the simple part. I called the place and had the worst time trying to find it. I caught a cab to Maadi, the rich part of town. It took 30 minutes to get there. I then found out that the Commissary wasn't in Maadi, but New Maadi, another 15 minutes out. Once there, the people knew exactly what I meant when I said "The American Building" in my bad Arabic. The security was tight, the road was completely blocked off from vehicles. There were several Egyptians filling out files of papers to be granted admittance into the complex, I just had to flash an ID and they let me march right in. However, must to my intense disappointment, when I got to the commissary they asked me "Are you Stationed here?" No, I am not. They told me only soldiers who were posted here could have access to the commissary. I asked them to show me the order in writting. Unfortunately, the flipped to it instantly "Military personal who usually have access to Commissaries do not have access to the Cairo Commissary. Only miliary personel who are stationed in Cairo on Active duty may be admitted. No one vacationing, studying, or passing through in Cairo may be admitted." Sadness. It had taken me an hour and a half to get there! It took me another 45 minutes to get back. I have to say, though, that it was an experiance. I actually tried to go by the Embassy to see if I couldn't get any special exemption, but because of the VIA 4th of july party it was closed. I don't think I've ever seen more Egyptian police and military personel in one place. They had a humen wall along the road, as though they believed their bodies would make great buffers against raging car bombers.

Oh yes, and Susan, we are getting new Class A uniforms that look very much like old calvary uniforms. Whats worse is people who are actually in the Armour MOS get matching cowboy hats!

Anyway, we are off to Alexandria tomorrow. All of my work and schooling is done here, we are now in chill mode. I will see you all soon, I hope everything is well back in the States!

Greg