Good-bye

Well, my Japan adventure is over (for now) and so is this blog.

School Days

I was told the other day that there is tuition for high school here. School is mandatory until the end of junior high, but after that, if you want to go on to finish high school, you have to pay! It's something like $300 CAD a month, about $3000 a year. High school is 3 years, so it's about $9000 to complete high school. I didn't check to confirm this, but someone high up at a school told me this so I took his word.

Today was my first last day at a school. I have 9 more last days (schools) to go before it's all over. It was pretty sad, mostly because it was one of my favorite schools. Exactly one month before i fly home.

I have no computer anymore, it's dead to the world. So, I don't think I will be keeping this up much anymore. Also, although I did write about my travels outside the country a bit, the whole blog was supposed to be about Japan and I am going to be leaving the country.

I Said No

Some pick up lines that don't work:

Marry me!
Hello! 90% Egyptian?! Sexy!
Nice knees! [nice what?! Marissa got this one.]
Wanna Egyptian husband? 100% handmade in Egypt!

- random men


The one "pick up line" that did work:

Stay for drinks? No pay.

-little guys on the felucca

No, we are not interested in 12 year old boys, but are happy with the honest offer for friendly drinks over marriage proposals.

Getting Lost in Egypt

The pushiest place I've been to thus far is Egypt. People would follow me for 10 minutes down the street trying to sell me something or take me to their hotel or something else that I am not interested in.

I find the best strategy is ignoring people, even when they shout out a friendly "Welcome to Egypt" because sometimes that leads to being hunted. I'm so cautious with being friendly with people it's not fun sometimes.

The best time I had was in Aswan when we spent the afternoon on a felucca with 2 really awesome guys and 2 little guys who taught us Egyptian card games. We wandered about the Nile around little islands, had tea and talked. It was the best.

In Luxor I wandered past the tourist market and ended up surrounded by locals buying fresh veggies, live chickens and other things. It was intense, colourful and a little intimidating. I loved it.

Borders

So out of the 3 of us when we cross borders it is only me that gets the most questions and my bag emptied. Hmm... wonder why?

love the world we live in.

I hope I don't have trouble leaving tonight, I am ready to go home.

Lucky in Luxor

Some highlights of the past few days...

Learning that my traveling companions and I are worth 30 camels (10 camels each, that's not too shabby)... don't worry the negotiation was never finalized (we stumbled away down the market alleyway laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation as the guy we were with grinned with delight at the possibility of trading his new found friends for camels he didn't need.)

Riding a camel into the Sahara then having a cup of tea overlooking Cairo.

Praying for my life in the backseat of cars driving through Cairo traffic which is way more of a wild west than Phnom Pehn is... I think Cairo traffic is the craziest I've ever seen and had the displeasure of being in!! Israel was a little crazy but Cairo is simply mad! Horses, carts, donkeys, camels, and so many cars, and people everywhere!! Traffic lights don't seem to work and the lane markings are mere decoration on the road.

Melting in 50 degree temperatures and burning in the hot hot hot sun of Egypt.

Politely declining to a father who offered me to marry his 10 year old son.

Singing the Indiana Jones theme song while crawling about inside a Pyramid of Giza (and also reminding myself to stay calm and not start hyperventilating at the claustrophobic environment.)

Crossing a road in Cairo!! It's like playing chicken with your life. (I hope my parents aren't reading this.) A really nice guy gathered us in his shadow and helped us cross. The best strategy ever! Find a local and hover right behind them and follow as they cross.

Everyone saying "Welcome to Egypt!!" Everyone is so friendly here! And this one sweet old man today at the train station said to us with a huge grin, "Welcome to the station!"

Andrew and Noa's Wedding

So the whole point of this trip was to come to the wedding and it was absolutely gorgeous! It was on the seaside and at sunset. When Andrew and Noa walked out I got all teary eyed, they looked really happy and stunning. It was an alternative wedding because Andrew isn't Jewish, but it had elements of a Jewish wedding. They took sips from blessed wine, broke the glass and he put the veil on her. It was so cool to see! Andrew read something in Hebrew (very impressive) and we all cheered loudly for him.

The food was delicious and I had this chocolate thing in a cup for dessert and almost died. I could relive that moment forever and be happy. That good. We danced the night away and had a very happy drunk bus ride back to Tel Aviv later that night. We stayed at the beach for awhile and randomly saw a white horse while we were there. I love Vancouver but the beach here is so much better. The sand is fine and soft and the water warm.

The first night we were in town ( I think the first, that time kinda blended together), Noa's parents had a welcome dinner for folks from out of the country. There were heaps from The Netherlands, and the rest of us were from America, Belgium, Canada ...