Heron on the Nile
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  Kamal Fish Women Drivers Thu 16 Dec 2004  

Thu 16 Dec

Today is Neil's last day of teaching (he'll be returning to London after Christmas). In the afternoon we meet with students from his various classes in Omdurman Park. It's pleasant and sociable except no one has brought any picnic so we sit around in an ever increasing circle of plastic garden chairs sipping chilled mango juice or Pepsi. I am (still) feeling under the weather and despite the afternoon sunshine there is a chill on the breeze. Of course we are celebrities with everyone relishing the opportunity to chat informally.

I am surprised how fixed the minds are of the young male students regarding equal opportunities and am delighted later when Maryam explains (unwittingly) in front of them that there are still men in Sudan with "primitive" thinking. She is studying to be a doctor and, unlike her male peers, has no qualms about a woman driving a bus, flying a plane or even becoming president.

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