Carolyn's letter

Dear EF,

To begin, it is best to first describe our son Kamal. He is very quiet and reserved. Some may call him an introvert. We like to refer to him as a deep thinker. When speaking to him, it is best to ask probing, open-ended questions. Otherwise his responses are cut and dry, short and sweet.

At first we wondered if he were mature enough to really appreciate the magnitude of traveling to Egypt. The verdict: YES … he was! This experience has changed his life. This sounds like a coined phrase, but it is most fitting.

Kamal returned with a new sense of appreciation and purpose. When asked how the trip was, his initial response was AMAZING. We were shocked that we didn’t have to follow up with the usual probing questions. He described at great length not only what he saw, but also what he felt during this experience. He said that he felt a connection to his ancestors and a sense of pride. He got a chance to stand next to the bust of Hatshepsut, a queen that he recently studied in school. Kamal stated that seeing this in person can’t compare to looking at pictures in books. What touched us most was when he said this entire experience was humbling. He went on to explain how the kids of today think that we are advanced because of computers and technology. He now feels that the ancient Egyptians were advanced for their time and for our “present time.” He said that he really enjoyed meeting the Egyptian people because they were very warm and were happy to share their culture.

Traveling to Egypt ignited Kamal’s foresight in such a way that he recently stated that he wants to pursue a career in international business. He now wants to explore the world. He decided to take Mandarin as a language because he read that China is opening up to the world. It’s hard to believe that this was the same child who showed little emotion when discussing choices for high school, just a month prior to the trip.

Words alone cannot describe what we feel when seeing the spark in Kamal’s eyes as he continues talking about his experience. As parents, it is a joy to see personal growth in our son. Mrs. Sevano, his language arts teacher, said it best when stating that Kamal seems to be more outgoing since he returned from Egypt.

We hope that one day Kamal will be able to give back and make a difference in another child’s life.

Sincerely,
Carolyn Kendrick
Mother of Kamal
Teaneck, NJ
Egyptian Kingdom tour, February 2008