If you are familiar with the blog, then you most probably know Lol, my son and treasure Ali. If you are not a frequent visitor here, let me tell you something about him. Ali is not an ordinary 19th year old son; he is the apple of my eyes and the one person I trust with my life and feel totally comfortable depending on. For his twin Nora and I, a day without Lol is an ugly one, let alone a whole summer without him.
This summer, Ali decided to pursue an adventure in Africa. Despite my feverish attempts to make him change his mind, he won all the arguments. He packed his bag and his twin Nora and went off to the farthest part of the dark continent, South Africa. He could have traveled to Europe, like any young man would love to do, but he insisted. He had his mind settled on an educational program in Eastern Cape. For the first ten days or so, they had to stay on a camp where there was no electricity or running water and the weather was freezing. They had to ride daily to the school to get it ready for students. They painted the walls, fixed the roof and built a bicycle parking. Nora, got bitten by a nasty insect and felt sick all the time, decided to come back. She could not take the harsh living conditions and I hoped Ali would do the same, but he did not.
On his own, it was time for Lol to rise and shine. He taught math, physics, and English to students who were his age or older. Some of them were thirty and married with children. He made a wonderful impression on the students and staff and on other volunteers and made friends with some of them. He cooked them traditional Egyptian food and helped them bake bread, things he had never done at home. When he completed the program, he decided to tour the country and visited some of the most spectacular places in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Finlay, Lol is back home. He had the most wonderful summer and I had a terrible summer without him but he made me a very proud mother as he always did. It looks like I will have to spend many Loless summers since he is already planning his next summer trip.
On his own, it was time for Lol to rise and shine. He taught math, physics, and English to students who were his age or older. Some of them were thirty and married with children. He made a wonderful impression on the students and staff and on other volunteers and made friends with some of them. He cooked them traditional Egyptian food and helped them bake bread, things he had never done at home. When he completed the program, he decided to tour the country and visited some of the most spectacular places in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Finlay, Lol is back home. He had the most wonderful summer and I had a terrible summer without him but he made me a very proud mother as he always did. It looks like I will have to spend many Loless summers since he is already planning his next summer trip.
