Traveling across the globe to work in an international school in Cairo, Egypt, was not exactly the glamorous lifestyle I thought it would be. I cherished my travels to the Red Sea, delighted in visiting the Pyramids, and appreciated the natural wonders of the Nile River. However, I also spent days without electricity or internet, was leered at by rude Egyptian men, breathed in Cairo’s cancerous black smog, and coaxed school work from rich, apathetic students.
Why the heck did I do it? So I could experience the unexpected, explore the extraordinary, and bask in the thrill of adventure!
Whether you’re an educator, a traveler, or just a curious reader, you will be astounded at this honest and riveting account of learning to live in an Islamic society, while confronting the frustrating challenges of being an educator in a Muslim school.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It made me feel like I was there with Jill and her family, seeing and feeling what they saw and felt. I would have not have made it past a week in Egypt. Loved this book just as much, if not more, than the author's first book. It allowed me to visualize an adventure and experience another culture without leaving my comfortable surroundings. It is obvious the Dobbe family is united in their sense of adventure. So glad Jill shares it through her writings.
Kids, Camels & Cairo provides a fascinating insight into Egyptian culture and city life, as seen through the eyes of a Western educator working in a Muslim school in Cairo. I was drawn to this story because of my own stint as a volunteer teacher in Nepal and was curious to see how similar our experiences were. Many scenes were all too familiar yet fun to relive, even the more painful ones!
Her descriptions of the landscape, people, sights and smells of the cities and countryside were also quite good. The way she described Luxor immediately brought me back to my own short vacation to the city.
Anyone who's volunteered or worked overseas will relate to her trials and tribulations, as well as those small successes that kept her going while so far from home. This is a fun, interesting read I would recommend to anyone thinking about moving abroad or wants to know what it's really like to be on your own in a very foreign land.
The author takes the reader on an exciting journey in a Muslim country. For readers who know very little about Islam and its dress code, how males and females should conduct themselves and what is expected from foreigners, this memoir is very informative. The climb up Mt. Sinai, even though very difficult for Jill Dobbe, was fascinating.
Ali, the daughter had a lot to tend with having to spend her final year of high school in a foreign country, a very courageous, young lady. Jill compliments her husband on giving her support. I believe that this kind of lifestyle can only be done if all members of the family are both helpful and positive.
I recommend for anyone interested in learning about life in Cairo, teaching in a foreign country and making sacrifices in order to coincide with the Muslims' way of living.
Global Educator Jill Dobbe has penned a fascinating, intriguing book that details teaching in Egypt, called Kids, Camels, and Cairo. In this book, she reflects honestly about moving a family abroad, teaching in a different country, and cultural adjustment.
What I loved about Kids, Camels, and Cairo is the genuine love for students, learning, and intercultural interaction that Dobbe shares on each page. Life in a different country can be difficult, as can teaching in a different culture. Why do international educators choose to teach abroad? Because they thrive on live overseas, they love the new, they are always learning, and because they love these challenges, and working with students, all over the world.
That’s my takeaway, and why I was so happy to read this book – it’s honest, caring, interculturally sensitive, and clearly shares why international educators continue to do what they do, for years on end. Highly recommended.
Kids, Camels, & Cairo: Tales of an International Educator by Mrs. Jill M. Dobbe chronicles the travels and life of the author in Cairo when she was sent to work in an International School in Cairo. The book reveals the details of how the author learned to live in a Muslim society and also speaks about the experiences of teaching in an Islamic educational institution. Her travels to the Red Sea, Nile River, and the pyramids will take readers on an exotic trip through Egypt to appreciate the culture, religion, and essence of the country. The author’s sense of adventure in experiencing something very different, and adapting to a new culture and language make this book an engaging read.
The book is informative and gives readers an honest account of living in a Muslim country, their way of dressing, and their lifestyle. The lessons learned by the author during her stay in Egypt are useful to everyone and will help readers look at traveling and adjusting to new surroundings with a positive outlook. She also emphasizes how the support she got from her husband, who was also an educator, made their stay in Egypt a memorable one. The pictures shared by the author give a personal touch and readers will be able to connect well with her. Teaching and living in Cairo is given an entirely new dimension by the author, and she encourages everyone to try traveling to new destinations and to merge well with the locals and the living conditions that prevail there.
