September 12, 2011 Two Egyptian women and my peach cobbler
Sometimes we get lost in the problems around us. A website that crashes, a fundraiser that stalls, emails that don’t get answered, fires that destroy our properties, 911. Some worries are small and some have impacts we still struggle to get our arms around. Then a simple dinner happens and everything clicks into place. That is what happened to me on 9/11 this year. Two young professional women from Cairo, Egypt came to dinner in my home.
Darrell and I have great dinner parties for international leaders who come through this country under scholarships provided by Global Austin (formerly know as the International Hospitality Council of Austin). http://ihcaustin.com/about/ These scholarships focus on projects that increase international understanding and promote peace among nations. IHCA focuses on three international groups: students, government representatives and business leaders.
The group we had last night included Hanan and Nada, two young professional women from Cairo. They helped give me perspective on some of my worries, especially after watching the Twin Towers of New York crumble before my eyes and evoke the same feelings I had in 2001. I just want to thank them for blessing me with their perspectives over tacos and Mexican rice.
Hanan and Nada, both experienced first hand the drama of the Egyptian revolution in July of this year. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/09/egypt-revolution-aftermath.html They were in Tahrir Square, having their voices heard, along with tens of thousands of others during their 18 days of history making upheaval. We talked about this, their feelings of hope for their futures and that of their country. All of this over a simple Tex-Mex meal, followed up by my famous peach cobbler and Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.
This was after I listened to Mr. Saleh tell me how Egypt’s longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak had virtually shut down any and all manufacturing capability in his country for over 30 years. He is going to open the first plant to build airplane engines. This is the “great plan” for his life as he put it. He was smiling as he savored the ice-cream float one of my friends prepared for him, after he finished his plate of peach cobbler. Did I mention that he is only 18 years old and in university in Cairo?
It’s Monday morning, I’ve got computer problems, a major project to complete in the 4th quarter, a couple of non-profit groups that have some challenges and the heel fell off my favorite shoe. One last thing, want to know what the hit of the party was last night-food wise? The canned, pickled jalapeno peppers. Yep, the 99 cent can from Fiesta Mart grocers! Apparently they are sweeter than the thinner, hotter peppers they pickle in Egypt.
Carol Eckelkamp
President of Professional Women of Williamson County
Tags: Cairo, peach cobbler, women of Egypt
- Leave a comment
- Posted under Uncategorized
