Day
5
Thursday,
3rd of August
As usual, I managed to make it at almost 7:30
AM, thanks to Adam alarm clock! A quick shower, then to breakfast. I was
dressed in a blue shirt and shorts. After the breakfast, I headed to the
core class. I met Amanda there, and actually took my seat beside her. She
told me that I would be invited by Dr. David Brumble, who gives her travel
writing class to talk this afternoon or so!
The core class was half boring when they
were speaking about the oil business, half interesting when they showed
Umm Kalthoum video, which was cool! After the class, Amanda introduced
me to Dr. Brumble who asked me to attend his class, at about 2:00 PM to
speak.
So, I hurried to my room, to bring my
pencil and journal to think about something. BUT, that was not all! Jobbi
told me that I would speak at that night as well in the pre port talk!
It was an extensive talking and presentations day!
 |
David's class is about travel writing.
Therefore, I had to think about what a traveler should seek in Egypt. As
my friends know, I am fond of presentations and public speaking. Yet, David's
class was the ice-breaking opportunity for me!
I identified some points, such as: the
Egyptian identity, role of religion, culture, civilization, history and
future. I spent the day until the class thinking and thinking. What I normally
do when I have any presentation is to do a rehearsal in which I say all
that I am going to |
say. But, this time..I made it directly!
I spoke..without any note cards, any transparencies,
any slides,..anything..for almost 1 hour. I think I did okay! Yet, after
the class, one of the survivors who used to attend that class came to me.
She told me: "You speak very well, but you should speak a bit slowly!"
So..the high feelings that I got..and the broken ice, started to solidify
again!
Some people were impressed, and one of
them was Amanda! I think I got some questions after my talk about my English
and how long I've been learning it, whether I graduated or not, and about
my major..surprisingly enough..mechanical engineering!
I hurried to prepare for the other presentation.
I wrote down about 13 different points, but I preferred to omit number
13 from the list, and made it 14 because I know people do not like 13!
:)
I wrote about food, drinks, exchange,
phone, email, transportation, safety, hygiene, souvenirs, mail service,
sights in Cairo and Alexandria, etc...
At about 6:00 PM, I took my dinner. Yet,
all of sudden, the sea turned out to be a bit windy and I had a waggling
feeling in my stomach after this. So, I went to the room, took another
shower, and dressed up for the presentation! :) Because I felt that I am
going to fall sea-sick, I started a jogging session around the ship, in
which actually I was thinking more about what I was going to say.
A photo I had at AUC
September 1998. |
8:00 PM, the Union. I was there giving
my presentation. It took about 30 minutes, and I think it was okay..!..I
really like public speaking. That time was different because at some moments,
because of the rough sea, I felt that I am dancing or about to fall, or
that the podium is about to fall!
I was glad to speak, and to make some
fun as well..and I think people did enjoy this talk. At 9:00 PM, I had
to rush into my room to get dressed up (for the second time) for the Ambassador's
ball. I was dressed in a way that is pretty close to the one in this photo.
I like blue shirts, but mine was a bit dark blue this time, with a very
dark trousers, and a cool C&A tie (my dad's tie!) :)
Since Adam thought that he knew how to
make the knot, I preferred to do it myself..and it was ok! :) |
So, the ball was so cool! I was searching
for my claimed date (Michelle)!! Yet, I found other people who pulled me
to dance..especially Amanda and Cheryl! The ball was over at 12:15 AM!
Yet, I stayed until 4:30 AM this time with Samantha and Jennie. Samantha
was dressed exactly like Whitney Houston in the Body Guard movie! At that
night, Sam took my invitation, and wrote something on it..then she sealed
the envelope. She asked me to open it in Cairo. I followed her advice,
and I opened it just 2 days ago, where it had inside:
"I will miss you! Love, Sam. Semester
@ Sea 200"
:)
Day
6
7
Days with SAS