In Cairo circa DECEMBER '86

These guys we saw were the Israeli version of the European ex-pat. one would find abroad from their respective motherlands. Though the Israelis were by consignment still avid patriots, one would think. We, as representatives of job-ONE, as if we were of the American ethos, seemed enjoined looking at how the Israelis clean-clarity stood out from the glum cigarette smoking of the Arab citizens i.e. 3rd world is glum and not shiny though 3/4 of what we absorbed was submerged like islands in the deep (Simply speaking, we were just not seeing the whole picture.) These Israelis had built a loft & fixed up their hostel room down from our stark, unglassed windowed one on the corner of the building, 6th floor. I knew I was seeing Jews in an absolute & uncompromised situation (the polite tourist, if you will) than I had ever witnessed before e.g. it wasn't the synagogue or relatives, was going to be unforgettable for me. Rob, there with me exuded confidence & came from the recesses of his experience, but my proffering anything brought to the table had a sense of the provincial & unworldly. Still, in my mind I reviewed what I would tell them. And that was I know them, but I don't, and yet I would remember their aura of the traveler-absurdum (All they're doing is defending, so to speak) of merit because of their travails. (And yes, I see both sides: this is MY sense of things & I HAVE no currency w/the polity of disharmony.) This was also, however, a big brother scenario-they were my big bros., & though I would wear thin thinking familial-ly about the world, it really always gave me advantage at least predeceasing going into new situations because wondering what came next could be as good as intuiting the same.