- Official Portrait of President Barack Hussein Obama*
Cairo is buzzing with excitement (and some indifference), about President Barack Hussein Obama’s visit tomorrow. He will give a speech at Cairo University and the rumor is that he will also be at the Gezira Club in Zamalek. If that is true, it is probably a luncheon event. Among other rumors: a severe curfew all day long, all Cairenes to stay indoors and there will be no phone service, mobile (cell) or land line. I called Vodafone customer service and was told they have received no such directive to restrict mobile phone usage.
Today I watched Nile TVs live coverage of Obama’s arrival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Obama emerged from Air Force One looking very dignified. He received a warm greeting from King Abullah and his entourage. Obama flashed his famous smile as he shook hands with King Abdullah, the Saudi Ambassador to the United States and other Ministers. During the performance of the Star Spangled Banner (the U.S. national anthem), he placed his right hand over his heart: a good thing otherwise there would be a political brouhaha back home.
A friend of mine is a student at Cairo University. Her entire family is wild about the Obama family. Her three year old daughter can identify Obama by name: show her an image of Obama and she’ll point and burst out with a happy chant: Obama, Obama, Obama. My friend asked at the University if students could attend and if so, she planned to try to get me in. Alas, no students allowed as this event is for the “big men only,” (and by big they don’t mean physical size). Tomorrow I will wear my Barack and Michelle inaugural button as I channel surf in hope of finding a live feed of this speech.
* Photo licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Content includes all materials posted by the Obama-Biden Transition project ( http://change.gov/about/copyright_policy )
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