Greetings everyone and Happy New Year! My computer crashed a few days ago, so have been out of touch for a while. Don't think that I posted here when the new site opened, so will briefly offer a few comments about myself.
I'm retired from the University of Maryland with a strong background in international issues (focused primarily on the Middle East, Central Asia and China). Following retirement, I served as the Cultural Liaison Officer at the Egyptian Bureau in Washington DC, followed by service at USDA, USAID's Africa Bureau, FAA, the Fulbright Scholars Commission and as a Project Manager at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Maryland.
My husband is an Egyptian university professor, currently preparing for end-of-semester exams. He hopes to spend his Spring break in the USA for several weeks, then return to Egypt to complete the Spring semester.
My son is a Special Forces Army Chaplain, currently stationed with his family in Europe. He's helping to prepare several thousand soldiers for deployment to Afghanistan sometime in the Spring. He and his family spent Thanksgiving on a Mission trip to Poland, where they (and 60 other military couples) prepared a typical Thanksgiving meal for children at an orphanage.
I'm currently preparing to participate in a book discussion at our local library on Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea, which features his experiences in Afghanistan. My role will be to lead a discussion on Afghan culture, help participants to understand tribal and clan culture, and get a better sense of the historical aspect of this world region.
I've also just volunteered to coordinate a Spanish conversation class for the next 12 weeks, hosted by a local Adult group at an area church, located an excellent Instructor (originally from Puerto Rico), and encouraged folks who have never studied a foreign language to participate.
And, finally, I've recently undertaken the logistical responsibility for the next three months as we launch a Wednesday evening supper program at an area church for individuals, families and single parents in the community who might otherwise not be fed. Our first venture was last Wednesday and I dubbed myself "Mistress of Ice Cream" (of course).
My literary interests are primarily focused on world regions, historical texts, how ancient and contemporary cultural norms interweave and are still reflected in current families, as well as how people of varied backgrounds relocate world-wide (as I have done several times) and their successes or failures impact their lives. I'm also interested in gender issues among individuals born to "repressive" societies, whether determined by misunderstood faith customs or the repression of one gender by another.
I'm from a multicultural (French/Irish/Persian) and multi-faith background - my husband is an Egyptian Muslim, my son is an ordained Southern Baptist minister/Chaplain, and I am a baptized Catholic. I've fellowshipped in many multi-faith communities, including small Christian groups in China (during a tour as a visiting professor) and in small Jewish home gatherings in Iran.
Thanks to all who enthusiastically set up this new site for all of us to enjoy!
Mahlia
