No visas, but the Canadian events are happening anyway
It was a cliffhanger. At the last possible moment the Canadian visas were actually approved. But then we discovered that the Embassy would need up to five working days to issue them. By then, the Canadian portion of the tour would be over. Reluctantly, we fell back on Plan B, which was to conduct the events electronically, by forwarding the video and PowerPoint presentations and by having Amena and Umm Akram participate by SKYPE.
By all accounts, the Montreal presentation went very well and the attendance was good. Yesterday was Toronto and if you were there, we welcome your impressions. The first “broadcast” was from Hartford, but Ottawa and the rest will be from Chicago, Samir’s home.
No sense in giving you the news about the Please read the excellent description of some other portions of the trip, written by Samir on the Facebook page that he created for the tour. You might also enjoy Amena’s Page.
Amena and Mariam in New York (photo courtesy of Joe Catron)
The audiences seem to be getting bigger as the tour continues, but still no controversy or provocations at the presentations. Will someone please make our ladies angry? They’re great when they’re angry. OK, they’re great when they’re not angry, too, but we prepped them for all kinds of confrontation and it’s not happening (except occasionally outside the presentations). In any case, everyone is raving about the events, so you won’t be disappointed.
Amena’s Stuffed Animal Stampede for Palestinian Children is moving slowly. Perhaps it’s because they need to be mailed to us, since there’s not enough room in the car. If you wish to contribute a stuffed animal, please send it to Amena’s Stuffed Animal Stampede for Palestinian Children, 405 Vista Heights Road, El Cerrito, California 94530. It must be in new or like new condition and not too big, please. Amena will take them as excess baggage and then personally distribute them among the children in the camps. We can include anything that arrives by June 1st.