14 - 20 December 2000
Issue No.512
|
Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 14 - 20 December 2000 Issue No.512 |
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Pack of CardsYesterday, Larry Catlin kicked off the beginning of the Christmas music season with a festival featuring the Treble Choir from the British International School, Valerie De Cassas, Carol Ann Clouston, Ashraf Sweilam, Raouf Zeidan, David Hales, the New International Brass Quintet, the Osiris Singers and the Cairo Choral Society. The venue was AUC's Ewart Hall; the only shortcoming, the fact that there seem to be no other performances planned. |
Certain landmarks are difficult to forget, and one of them is the 40th-anniversary celebrations of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Can you imagine: in that brief span of time, DAAD has granted more than 4,000 scholarships to Egyptian students and researchers who stayed at German universities and research centres, while several thousand German students, researchers and lecturers made their way to Egypt's institutions of higher education and research -- all with DAAD support? I find that quite impressive.
Aware of its importance in Egypt's academic life, DAAD spared no effort in celebrating the happy occasion. Following a lively reception at the Service's premises in Zamalek, attended by over 200 guests who listened to an address given by Minister of Awqaf and DAAD scholarship holder Hamdi Zaqzouq, DAAD organised a panel discussion on the experience of academic exchange between Germany and Egypt at Cairo University. Later, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Mufid Shehab and Research Minister of the Land of Baden Wurtemberg Klaus von Trotha discussed the prospects of reforming higher education systems in both countries. DAAD's secretary-general, Christian Bode, Cairo University President Naguib El-Hilali and Abdel-Hamid Galal, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities, contributed to the fascinating debate. |
I was thrilled to hear the announcement made by Michel Tourniaire, regional vice-president of operations for Egypt and general manager of the Semiramis InterContinental: my dear friend Sameh Sobhi has been promoted to director of sales and marketing of the Semiramis Inter-Continental in Cairo. Sameh is a member of the Accelerated Development Programme, which is committed to training and promoting executives within the chain as part of its international human resources programme.
For the past 14 years, Sameh has been with the hotel, joining their opening sales and marketing team in 1987, then moving to the Churchill Intercontinental in London. Sameh has been back in Egypt since 1997, reaping the rewards of his hard work. This new assignment comes with challenges that Sameh is looking forward to with his usual enthusiasm. |
Darlings, in the olden days we used to read about Bedouin culture; some of us were daring enough to venture on a trip to Sinai or more mundanely observe the tent dwellers in Agami before they turned into entrepreneurs. Nowadays we can imbibe the same culture from the comfort of a five-star hotel. I have just heard that Le Méridien Makadi Bay has put together a special programme for its guests to acquaint them with original Bedouin hospitality. You can spend the day in a real Bedouin village and observe different activities such as baking, weaving and cooking, Bedouin style. At night a special dinner complemented by folkloric attractions is served to you under the stars in a pure Bedouin atmosphere. So attractive was this prospect that the crew of Awan Al-Ward, the popular TV series aired during Ramadan, decided to take up the offer and use the day's events in one of their scenes. I must say I am rather miffed to have missed Youssra and Hisham Abdel-Hamid as they enjoyed their own Bedouin experience.
|
Our cheerful layout editor and dear colleague Samir Sobhi has authored yet another book on journalism. This time, he explains how news was disseminated in the past and how we learn about it instantly now. He starts with the days when jungle drums were beaten to announce extraordinary events and leads his reader step by step to the days of satellite television and the Internet. Quite a fascinating read, I must say.
|
With Christmas around the corner, I hope that you have been gargling with honey and lemon and will be able to join in all the carol singing afoot. Headed by the able Maged Adel, Better Life, the charming group we so much enjoyed in previous years, will be performing at Cairo American College on 15 December, and again on 21 December at Notre Dame School in Heliopolis. There will be a third performance for those of you who missed the previous ones (or those who just can't get enough), on 24 December at the Sheraton Heliopolis Hotel. I am warning you though: this is the time to get your warm coats and shawls out if you haven't already: Better Life firmly believe in open-air performances.
|
Imagine yourselves fasting, dears and looking forward to a nice Iftar with friends and relatives, especially if it is Friday, the most popular day of the week for invitations to break the fast together. Last Friday, however, as the rain pelted motorists and pedestrians, the city was gridlocked in no time. Those travelling for a long-awaited meal soon realised they would never make it on time. My dear colleague Nesmahar Sayed and her friend Safwa El-Sarki remained stranded literally for hours near Nasr City. But guess what? In true Ramadan spirit, the inhabitants of the area went from car to car, handing dates, water and sandwiches to the starving motorists, who were busily phoning their hosts on their mobiles to inform them that they were so near and yet so far. "Start without us," was the general refrain.
|
The Townhouse Gallery will be the venue for a rare exhibition of photography by famous photographer Van Leo. The exhibition was opened yesterday under the auspices of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Cairo, the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development and the Arab Image Foundation. The event was organised on the occasion of the presentation of a 2000 Prince Claus Award to the artist. Three cheers for Van Leo, my favourite portraitist!
|
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
| ARCHIVES Letter from the Editor Editorial Board Subscription Advertise! |
WEEKLY ONLINE: www.ahram.org.eg/weekly Updated every Saturday at 11.00 GMT, 2pm local time weeklyweb@ahram.org.eg |
 Al-Ahram Organisation |
