Iftar during Ramadan

During the month of Ramadan, it is common to be invited for Iftar (break fast) by people you know. Since it is a very big culture celebration in Egypt, traditionally the Muslim who are fasting will have different plan on their daily Iftar.
We were also invited to the American School for Iftar and parents came with different food to the school.
Since I was living abroad in Europe for many years, I have hardly even notice when it come to Ramadan. Of course there are certain percentage of Muslim population there but it was not really a big celebration among my European friends.

We were invited by the host for Iftar on Friday. We and few other guests arrived before the break fast (Iftar) at 17:50.

They hosted a very big 50 thousand acre of beautiful greenery land surrounding their property. There were hundreds of horses as they were breeding horses and growing of palm trees.


We had 10 mins before Iftar, so we have a quick walk around to see nearby the stable and surrounding.



We came back to the house to eat when we heard the prayers. There were lot of dishes served and everyone started to walk over to the table where they served the buffet dinner.

After dinner, we walked around the whole area looking at their horses. Guided tour was their beautiful daughter Dee Dee who also loves horses.
We sat and watch different horses which were brought out to run.


This is one of the first white horse which they took out.



There we were sitting and watching the horses running.

Sheikh Khaled wanted Gabriel to get use around horses, so he have bought a horse out for Gabriel to pat. Gabriel is so afraid of horses and he would never come near them. Peter carried him and we slowly makes him feels comfortable by just touching it once.

After the first touch, he was still feeling nervous to be near them. Few mins later came a little beautiful spotty white and grey pony who are ready for Gabriel to have his first ride.
At the beginning he said straight "NO" when the horse came but eventually somehow he offered himself to ride after thinking for few second. We were so surprised that he would sit on that horse.





Sheikh Khaled helping Gabriel to the horse.

Nervously grabbing on to daddy's neck while they are adjusting the saddle.



Look at the sweet smile after all is done and ready to start ridding. Gabriel and Shiekh Khaled

Of course he is not ridding on his own for the first time. Daddy and a boy hold him while they ride around. He is very happy and said that he would want to ride the next day again.


He went down Pat the horse and said thank you. A very big smile on the happy daddy face after.

Since my daughter Veldiner has been ridding in Sweden for the past 3 years and would like to start again, we are coming back to their house the next following weekend and meet the French ridding instructor. Possibly if she found suitable with the ridding, we would sent her there every weekend.

Obviously, Gabriel will also take the chances to have his small ride each time when we are there.



Here is Gabriel knocked out in the car on the way back home. It is over his bed time and he is very tired. We got home at almost midnight. It was a nice beautiful day spent.

Namer American College

The kids started schooling on the 2nd September 2007, Sunday, after their long summer holiday for almost 3 months. Strangely Sunday is the first week in the Arabic world. They are free on Friday and Saturday.
As for Elrener and Veldiner, they were nervous at the beginning but they came back home from school that day feeling very happy. They have no difficulties in making friends in the school. Veldiner had tonne of homework on the first day which she never had homework on the first day when she was in the Swedish school.
Elrener started in the 12th Grade while Veldiner went to the 10th Grade and Gabriel went to KG1(Kindergarden).








Elrener found her Math a little difficult for her but knowing her, she will somehow make it. She is very intelligent and hardworking. As for Veldiner, we are trying to help her and support her in her studies.
Gabriel has never been to school before except when he was 1 1/2 year old where we sent him to the Swedish childcare when we were still living in Sweden. Ever since we left Sweden, he had never been to school. On the 2nd September was a very big day for him. He has talked about school for months and was excited to start immediately. On Saturday we were out buying school shoes and a spiderman school bag which he choose himself.


The first day of school for Gabriel, everything went well, he loves to be there and he was also playing and singing. He didn't cry even after we left him there.
It has been a week now, he does not really seems to be happy in school. He always says that he didn't want to go to the school. Peter and I started to get worried as we do not feel nice leaving our son to school if he does not feels good. On the 4th day of school, he cried when Peter left him, so I decided to follow him to school the next day. After we left him in the class, I saw that he was controlling his tears when we left.
We decided to sit and talk to him to find out the reason why. He does not like to sleep which all other children in his class sleep for an hr in the afternoon. He was not forced to sleep, but he was not able to play either when they sleep. He was asked to sit quietly on the floor mat with the rest of the other kids who are sleeping. he felt restless.
On top of that he always says that he doesn't understand the rest of the kids when they talked. Probably they were speaking in Arabic while he speaks English. I understand it is only a week and it is a big change for him to be in school for long hrs. I know it is a Private American International School and the teachers are American and they speaks English to the children. It will also takes time for the Egyptian small children to learn how to be able to speak in English.



Just few mins before following them to school. The girls wasn't that much interested to take more photos as it is not glamorous in school uniform. On the other hand Gabriel is just continuing his posing.



I took him inside the classroom where one of his classmate a boy has already started crying. Mrs Doleres is holding on to the boy, talking to him gently and comforting him slowly. Gabriel hold my hands tight. His teacher asked me to sit and start playing with him to make him feels comfortable, which I did.
Mrs Doleres is the teacher for KG1. She came from Virginia and a very sweet, gentle and soft spoken lady.
Gabriel started looking around the classroom and walked over straight to the corner where there are so many toys. He asked me to sit beside him and start playing. At this time he didn't bother much about the screaming boy anymore, as his mind is focus on the new toys in the classroom.
Very soon one by one started to come slowly into the classroom, accompanying by their parents on their first day.All the small kids are very shy at the beginning and more minding their own business.
I was told from now till middle October I would have to bring, lunch, snack and drinks for him. Gabriel had nothing with him as we wasn't aware of this. So the teacher gave us a lists of things which he have to have in school.
We were there for an hr and afterward we told him that we will be back again with his lunch box. At first he said no but I convinced him that it will be fine.
We came back after 45 mins with lunch boxes and drink for him. He was sitting with the rest of the classmate singing along with the teacher. Soon after they were taught how to walk in line and out to play.
I know he had a good time.