The end of our trip is here...and we, of course catch ourselves saying, "boy time flies when you're having fun." My journal/blog writting has been sparatic because adventures have filled our days and most of our evenings. The team was warned about how tired we will get, and I know we all thought, "psshhh, us tired, we're young we can handle it." Menashe Livnat our "Abba" here in Israel, and the Group Study Exchange committe chairmen said it well Friday in his speech at Israels Annual Rotary Convention; "We did the best we could, but at times, I felt how difficult it was for the visiting teams. Personally, I don't know if there are many of us who could put up with the schedule, especially waking up every morning in a different place exhausted from the previous days, and trying to find the right way to the bathroom."
Menashe was right...about the bathroom part. However, when you have adreneline running through your body you can do most anything, especially in the most Holy Place in the world!! Yes, we may have gotten a bit tired along the way, and we did look somewhat glazed over at times, but he made sure we had adequate rest days swimming at the Mediterranian Sea, or Gan Haslosha Lake. I am pretty for sure both teams would of pulled through even if we didn't have rest.
Each bit of exhaustion was worth it. Rotary District 2490 of Israel, rolled out the RED carpet for Texas District 5730, and The Netherlands District 1600. We saw Israel from top to bottom! The young vibriant, tiny country has so much to see. In 4 weeks we cover A LOT of ground, and met a lot of people. People who have become our extended family. As Fenando says "We have Abbas (fathers) and Imas (mothers) all over Israel now!" They have opened their hearts and their homes to us. I admit I was a bit skepticle about staying in other peoples homes in a different country. I prepared for it like they would have weird shampoo, or no iron, or no wash machine. I am just a person who likes to be prepared.When I got to Alon and Sari's house in La Vaheim, I sighed a breath of relief...Everything was normal, they even had Bamba the sweet bird, and Tiger the big dog. No, I didn't think I was going to a third world country, I just didn't know what to expect.
This district has gone ABOVE & BEYOND. When someone says to me "I've been to Jerusalem." I can't say, "me too, me too, and I have been to Tel Aviv-Jaffa Ashkelon, Sderot, Rehovot, Elait, Nahariya, Akko, Kibbutz Hazareim and Sde Elyahou, Nazareth, Karmiel, Haifa, Ein Hod, Benyamina, Be'er Ya'akov, Zichon Ya'acov, Caesarea, Modi'in, Lod, and Ramlah...and that beat goes on!" Not to boast or anything, I am proud and overwhelmed...in a good way. It's been a definate humbling experience as well."
I wrote an essay towards the GSE application, and I can honestly say it was quite ammature to the real deal. It's ok though, that's what the GSE is for, to enhance your knowledge on another culture so that you can grow in your lives, and be able to share your experience with others. I mentioned a few times throughout my essay, how it would "change my life," I don't think it has changed my life, but taken what I know and made it a katrillion times better. I have a better understanding of this 60-year-old country.
In my essay I also wrote about the "modern Israel" and how they have McDonalds, and that's pretty modern...HECK, this country invented Intel..how more modern can you get? It puts good ole' Micky D's to shame. We visited Tefon Industrial where "Scan Disk" was created, where the "naked/pink chickens," were thought up at the Hebrew University Agricultural Faculty for the hot climates in South Africa-WOW- I've seen and touched "a few" of the most holy and sacred sites to Major Religions...Dead Sea, Red Sea, Med Sea, the Jordan River...were I Baptized myself, the Leaping mountain, the church where Jesus taught, and the one where he wept, I've touched Adams rock, and the rock where he was laid after the took him off the cross, Church of the Beatitudes, the 12 Apostle Orthodox church, the Sea of Galiee (which is really a lake), streets with Mosques, Synagouges, and Roman Catholic churches, Greek Orhthodox Churches, and the Ba'hai Garden's and Temples that are ABSOLUTELY gorgeous..this beat goes on as well. Yesterday was the best day our adventure took us to the Old City of Jerusalem, We started our tour where Jesus is thought to have walked during his short on Earth. The walk would take us eventually to where he was crucified, buried and where he arose. Most everything I have learned or read about in the Bible I've seen with my own two eyes. UNBELIEVEABLE, it's going to take me another 4 weeks just to comprehend all the amazing places I've seen not only Religious but Vocational, and histrical as well.
It's crazy how many times I have had to remind myself that I wasn't dreaming- or maybe I was because I was so tired- LOL-
I was told by Ted Holder a Texas Rotarian and a member of the GSE board, that we would never be able to pull off this kind of trip on our own, he was correct. We have been completely submerged in the culture- staying in peoples homes, eating dinner with them, taking their children to school with them, talking and learning who they are and their different stories.
I did enhance my listening skills here-Big time- I have had to concentrate because of accents, not only that everything the people we came in touch with said, was worth listening too.
I could ramble on for days about this unforgettable experince, but I am going to end here, that way I will have 3 times as much to visit with you all about when I get home, (Monday 6/9/09 at noon)
Thank you Beth Duke, Amarillo West Rotary Club, and Rotary International, District 2409 DG Yael Lazurus, and Menashe Livnat.....for this most amazing, wonderful, life experience, word can't express this. Thank you to everyone at Krause for your support, help, and taking care of things while I am gone, I havn't worried once.
And now I'm tearing up!
Here's to John...the super calm, super chill leader, who Shirley says should be the 5th Beatle, To Aida whos warmth, captured the hearts of all she met, and her name was sang everytime it was mentioned because of the musical, to Fernando, the man of the hour, well trip, who knows a bit about everything, and to Shirley our comic relief, who had a background song for every part of the trip, dancing queen. I am very blessed this trip brought you all in to my life!
This isn't all I could say about them....I would also be here forever if I told you all that I thought about our team..District 5730 you couldn't of picked us any better...We were asked many times how long we knew each other before this trip, because we acted as if we met a lifetime ago, when really it was just in January.
To the Netherlands team, Coen, Willemin, Carolien, and Stay-Funny, I mean Stephanie, and Ed, you all have special place in my heart. I enjoyed sharing our journey with you all and getting to know you and your culture as well.
Thank you to my family and friends for the encouragement to take this epic adventure...
I miss you all very much!
Mom, Dad thanks for keeping Bug and giving me your blessing to go...I love you very much!
BROTHER...ANSWER YOUR PHONE, and WRITE me an email....
Shelby thanks for all of your funny emails and encouraging words!
Nikki thanks for helping me pack, I would of never gotten it done!
Ann Elizabeth thanks for helping me get my suitcase closed...and taking me to the Air Port...
I miss and love you all, and can't wait to see you!
Shirley said to Aida and I "You know what I'm gonna miss?"
We all waited for her "smart remark" that she is so good at.
"What?" we said..
"Each Other." Well said Shirley, well said.
La Heim (To Life)
Love, Love, Love, Love!!!
Katt
I can't wait to share the rest with you!
