PORT ANGELES — Although their separate languages required a translator, no ideas appeared to have been lost in translation as two Egyptian college professors spoke with a senior city staff member about their common interests: electrical systems and architecture.
Adel Bastawros and Hassan Hassan, both of the Matria Technical Institute of Cairo, listened closely Tuesday as Port Angeles Public Works and Utilities Director Glenn Cutler spoke about the Elwha River dams and the history of the city’s electrical utility.
They appeared most surprised by the difference in electrical rates, which the two Egyptians said through their translator is about three times as much as what Port Angeles charges.
Bastawros, an architect lecturer, and Hassan, a general electrician lecturer, were later that day given a tour of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, and on Wednesday, they were shown the garbage transfer station and The Gateway transit center.
Federal program
They are both spending nine months at Highline Community College in Burien through the federal Community College International Development program, but visited Port Angeles after Cutler made an offer to show them the city’s facilities to Highline Professional Technical Education Dean Alice Madsen, who he knows through the American Public Works Association.
The program allows foreign professors to visit a U.S. community college to learn new teaching techniques and how to apply technology in the classroom, said Oussama (Sam) Alkhalili, their translator and Highline business technology instructor.
But in Port Angeles, their visit focused on how the city’s facilities operate.
Everyone benefits
Cutler, who spent a lot of time overseas during his Navy career, said he finds that everyone benefits when they can share how things are done differently in other countries, whether it be supplying power, architecture or education.
“It’s always good to interact with people that come from different cultures,” he said. “I always gain something positive from experiences like this.”
He added that it also gives him an opportunity to “show off the city.”
Hassan said, through Alkhalili’s translation, that he admires Port Angeles’ natural setting and is eager to learn anything related to the city’s electrical system.
Bastawros, also through translation, said he was interested to learn how the city separates its solid waste, but the architect in him came out when he added that he was quite impressed by the Hood Canal Bridge on the drive to Port Angeles.
Cutler said the city has provided such tours to professionals and students from Poland, Indonesia and Japan in the past.
He also has filled the role as a guest as part of a Port Angeles sister city delegation about four years ago to Mutsu, Japan.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
