It was 2008, but I have a vivid recollection of the first week I
met Tamer Samuel. We were finishing a week of theater training with his peers
from around Egypt. They were youths who were leaders of drama teams associated
with their churches. I had the delight of teaching a track for actors who
wanted to learn a new form of improvisation. Only the Leaders of teams were allowed to participate in the track on Playback Theatre.
In the very first session Tamer stood out among these leaders. He
is a witty, magnetic, encouraging and humble young man. I couldn’t understand
Arabic, but these traits were clear by observation. I watched as he interacted
with his peers, discovering ways to use this new form of applied theater. He quickly grasped what was difficult for
some of the others. They needed to think on their feet, rather than relying on
a written script. I challenged them find ways to show concepts symbolically rather than literally. Culturally, it seemed to be a stretch for many of them.
The students explained that, as Egyptians, they had never had to
use these skills. Tamer caught on quickly and in a winsome
way modeled ideas to his peers to help them grasp what I was trying to
communicate.
During the week, he would intentionally find
opportunities to interact with the other foreign guests. We had
all come to Upper Egypt to teach various disciplines of theater. His
English was strong, and he asked intelligent questions while in conversations
over meals. I watched as other students leaned in to hear answers to the
questions he had asked the teachers.
I had a second time to teach at such a leadership camp in 2012,
and have not been back since the Arab Spring. At that time, Tamer was clearly growing as a leader with his
team and other youth leaders from the region. I could tell they looked to him
with respect and admiration.
He eagerly told me of the ways they had
put into practice the skills I’d taught in 2008.
He is a caring young man, who loves people, and loves his country.
He wants to give back because of the
gratitude he has from his faith, and the example he follows in what he knows of
Jesus’ life. I am glad that he has been in a profession that serves people as
a dentist. However, he is clearly a gifted
artist/leader and I am thrilled for an opportunity for him to study in the
States.
I lived in Asia for 17 years, teaching arts and mentoring young
people. I returned to USA in 2014. I often tell people an irony of my journey.
I lived and served in South East Asia for all those years, it was my two weeks
in Egypt that are highlights of my life. As an artist, teacher, mentor, and
explorer, my time Egypt gave the most sense of fulfillment.
Seeing the potential and giftedness of Tamer Samuel was
a large part of what made those trips so meaningful and memorable to me.
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