Alas! Some good news!

For some time it has been difficult to write an engaging blog entry as there has been little to discuss for several months now.   I go to school, I do my research work, make music, learn language, and wander between mediocre restraunts and the gym.  Perhaps if I left Egypt for a little bit, I would see it with fresh eyes and have more to speak of, however I don't see that happening any time soon.  Fortunately, within the last few days, a few eventful things have indeed happened, or are at least starting to do so.

I suppose the first matter to mention is that my "career" as a graduate student is potentially coming to a close as I complete the diploma at AUC in about 2 months in addition to finally finishing my affair with UC.  My final thesis revisions are nearly finished and I am applying for spring graduation this week.  My official Fulbright grant will also conclude around the same time in early June, and for several months I had been anxious, not really knowing what to do for the following months.

Yet a few days ago I recieved an email from Fulbright, promoting a competitive oppurtunity to work with UNESCO (United Nations Organization for Evironment, Science, and Culture) in Paris, France.  Normally I would be reviled at the idea of going to Europe (as developing countries are far more interesting!), but as I am only a 5 hour flight away from Africa, I thought it is worth the application.  The oppurtunity is available to all Fulbrighters in the world, with only 5 positions available, each with a specific concern.  One of those positions is "Education in Post-War and Post-Disaster Reconstruction," and I suspect I might have a decent chance given my academic research and experience.   I realize that it is a long shot, but I am excited nonetheless.

Even if I did get selected, my time in Paris would not start until next September or January, so there is still a demand to fill my time in meanwhile... an issue of great distress until last night.  After class, Mallory and I went to a local bar called Horaya (if you want to call it a bar... its a bit of an exaggeration), with my boss Natalie and our professor/department director, Ray Juredini.  I had recently written a research proposal to map the distribution of home based businesses among African migrants within Cairo and to illustrate that relationship between informal home based businesses and the establishment or development of informal neighborhoods.  It turns out that Ray was very excited by my research proposal and over the course of the conversation agreed that if I formally submit the proposal with a budget etc., that the Center for Refugee and Migration Studies can provide funding for me to conduct this research over the summer months or perhaps longer.  This is the first time that I have ever been offered funding for research, particularly of my own design, and it is very big step in my career.  I am so excited!



In the same evening, another moment of good fortune occurred when Nattalie introduced us to some of her friends who work with St. Andrews Refugee Services, the same place where Mallory provides resettlement and legal assistance to Iraqi refugees within Cairo.  It turns out that one of the people we met is interested in establishing formal child care services for refugees, one of Mallory's major interest.  She had also recently completed a research proposal to document the range of child care services available within the Sudanese community, and it appears now she might be able to pursuit this study (paid) in cooperation with the child care service project.  Since working with marginalized children is her primary interest, it was really exciting to hear that she will be able to do this very soon!

Overall, it was a very satisfying evening.  It appears that both of our projects will receive funding and that we now have some steady employment ahead of us.  With institutional support, my paper will absolutely require publication (finally!), and I am in good position for future employment.  If Paris happens, that would be nice, although I really do not want to go to far from "Real Africa." 

And for the present, spring break is next week!  That can only mean one thing... back to Sinai!