Over the past week, we have been immersed in a quick but surprisingly deep education about the antiquities of the ancient world. From the pyramid ruins and new Grand Egypt Museum in Cairo to the wonders of Luxor and a thrilling sunrise balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings to a dahabeya (small boat) named Amunet, we are currently slowly motoring the Nile south towards Aswan in “upper Egypt.” The journey down the world’s longest river past palm trees, sugar cane fields, and multitudes of crops growing between small villages, is giving us time to savor and relax over the next five days.

The sheer expanse and sophistication of the Egyptian realm 2000-4500 years ago on display here evokes nothing but awe and wonder at what human beings can achieve. While at the same time, modern Egypt struggles with all aspects of infrastructure, education, health and transportation. The contrast is startling.

Also as jarring and poignant is the fact that every single day of the past two months of travel outside the US, the distant impact of and life vastly improved by USAID is evident everywhere. Such a positive American effect worldwide for so relatively little expense all squandered away in a matter of weeks, heartbreaking.