Sundays

Sundays are usually lazy days around the seminary. For the students, an 8 am Coptic Mass is followed by breakfast and then free time until 8 pm. Because today is Pentecost, the students will celebrate Mass this evening with the parish that worships in the large church at the seminary. Students spend their Sunday free time in a variety of activities – some visit family or friends who live in various parts of Cairo, some spend the day sleeping or watching television, still other run errands or explore neighborhoods with their friends.

For the teachers of the summer course Sunday morning often begins at Lucille’s Kitchen – a restaurant on Road 9 in Ma’adi that specialized in American-style breakfasts minus pork products (sigh ☹ – beef bacon and beef sausage is just NOT the same). Pancakes, French toast, omelettes, hashbrowns are served up along with 70s and 80s era country and pop music. Breakfast at Lucille’s often feels like stepping into a time warp – except for the very modern western prices for food!

Today after breakfast we headed north in Cairo and visited the Museum of Islamic Art – finally open after YEARS of renovations. It was worth the wait. We saw a glorious collection of Egyptian and Islamic art – ceremics, tile mosaics, wood and stone carvings, carpets, weavings, textiles, and much, much more. It was a nicely edited collection that gave us a flavor for the various influences that have shaped Islamic art over centuries, but was not overwhelming as is sometimes the case with Egyptian museums where treasures are piled one on top of each other. There was one especially stunning carpet – maybe 10 or 11 feet by 18 feet – that I would have been happy to bring home! Don’t worry Hans, it’s still there.

On our walk to the Metro station after our museum visit we saw an armored personal carrier outfitted with soldiers and guns parked on the street. That is the first evidence of overt military presence that we have seen anywhere in the city. It was a little disconcerting to be sure. Somehow loaded automatic weapons don’t make me feel safer.

This Sunday afternoon was also a time for reading and a little rest. Tonight I will begin preparing for my classes which don’t begin until Tuesday.

It’s great to have the students back at seminary – though it would have been okay had they not decided to start rearranging furniture at 11:30 last night! I’m eager to begin my fifth summer English course. Starting tomorrow the days will go so very very fast.