Libyans Go To USA Space Camp

Space Camp cake for all !

Ambassador Cretz with the 2 Libyan teachers going to Space Camp .

Ambassador Cretz with a few of the Libyan students selected to go to Space Camp in the USA .

Libyan documentary film maker Tarek Al Baghdadi already on the job .


Libya is sending a select few students to the prestigious NASA Space Camp this year in Huntsville , Alabama, Ambassador Cretz announced recently at the Tripoli American embassy . . This is the 1st ever Space Camp Exchange Program with Libyan youths . This encompasses 24 high school student, 2 teachers , and 3 film makers . How excited they must be !I have furnished Ambassador Cretz's speech below for further explanation of the camp and the program .

"Ambassador Cretz's REmarks to Space Camp Participants

Good afternoon.

I am very pleased to be here today to congratulate you all on your selection for the first ever Space Camp Exchange Program with Libyan youth. As the first American Ambassador to Libya in 36 years, I have repeatedly said how the Embassy of the United States of America in Libya has embarked on a series of “firsts.” This time, you all are embarking on a first – the first Libyan young scientists at Space Camp.

As you have probably done your homework, you already know that Space Camp was founded in 1982 to promote the study of math, science, and technology. The school couples classroom instruction and hands-on activities that teach teamwork, decision-making, and leadership. At the Academy, students learn about the mental, emotional, and physical demands astronauts must face. Among their experiences, they will explore an Apollo 16 capsule and a Saturn V rocket, and experience the sensation of weightlessness. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s daughter Chelsea Clinton is a Space Camp alumna, from the Class of 1993. Chelsea and other young leaders participated in the prestigious Space Camp program and benefited from the scientific and educational exposure.

This group is full of future leaders of Libya, and we are proud to be sending you all on this program. You all - 24 Libyan high school students, 2 teachers, and 3 filmmakers - will make the unprecedented journey from Tripoli to Huntsville, Alabama to participate with U.S. students in a special session of Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center facility.

This Space Camp program is being conducted under the U.S.-Libya Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement. In recognition of your hard work and the history you are all making, Libyan Ambassador Aujali and Alabama state officials will be attending your graduation at the end of your program.

We are working to bring the Libyan and American people together, to continue the process of communication and open new doors for the first time. You are representing your country in the United States and we look forward to hearing your views of your experience when you return to Libya.
Thank you for representing your country, congratulations on making history, and best of luck to you all! "

Some Of This And Some Of That

Yesterday was the 4th of July . In America it is known as Independence Day and celebrated by by BBQ's , cook outs , picnics , fireworks at night , and in general just being happy to be a American .

Celebrating the 4th here in Libya is very different for me . For one thing , no one here cares what day it is , including the embassy . They have decided this year to invite the registered citizens to a thing at the ambassadors residency this year , along with local big wigs , BUT not on the 4th of July !

This is like the 3rd year they have celebrated the 4th on a different day other than the 4th . I just find this weird . Why bother if you can do it right ?And in the middle of a work week at that . If you are going to post pone the event , at least do it on a week end , right ? Well , that's my 2 cents worth on the situation .

This month we have a lot of birthdays in our family . My niece , her younger brother , my son today ; Happy Birthday Kamal, and my oldest grand daughter will celebrate her 1st birthday this week too .

It is definitly beach weather here in Tripoli today ! It is over 100 Fahrenheit . The beaches were PACKED yesterday. On Friday especially it was bumper to bumper cars on the freeway coming back into town from the beaches .Amazingly, as I drove by the beaches today , I noticed the beaches were fairly trash free.It is so nice to see more and more peolpe taking their trash back home with them instead of littering the beaches with garbage .

This year many of the Libyan Boy Scout troupes are having their annual summer camps here in Tagura on the different beaches scattered around. I see their tents and their camps all neatly set up but haven't seen the boys yet .I imagine it is pretty hard to keep them out of the water all the time , lol !Hope they have a great time !