As Thursday night approached the anticipation of going on an international trip alone with a 5 month old grew. The children made a little video for me, I took some pictures of all the kids, and the good night routine lasted just a little longer than usual. But at last all the kids were tucked in, my bags were packed, and it was time to get a little sleep. 4:30 am comes awfully early.
Jake was nice enough to agree to drive me to the airport with a (supposed to be) sleeping 2 year old in the back seat, at a little before 5 am. This is a huge sacrifice on his part because he still had to come home and go to work, as well as get the 5 kids up and dressed. But he did it anyway. I won't go into great detail about the waits in airports and plane rides. We've all done it and we all know its extremely dull. So, suffice it to say, I spent the next 20 hrs or so waiting. Waiting for planes to take off, waiting for them to land, and waiting in lines to get checked into countries. A long, dull day. The baby, however, was fantastic. I could not ask for a better experience with a baby.
So here is where the story gets fun. First, I must tell you some interesting things about just flying into Israel. They are so tight on security they have some laws that just seem over-the-top. One: once you are in Israeli air space you can not walk around the cabin. I understand that. They worry about people hijacking planes. We've had that happen to us (9/11). Two: when on final approach all main cabin lights must be extinguished. This one is a huh? So the lights were on, then off for 5 min, then back on once we touched the ground. Again, huh? But there must be a reason. These were 2 things I took note of and thought interesting to share. I hope I didn't just breach some security protocol. lol.
Once on the ground the airport staff were very helpful and friendly. One man went out of his way to assure I didn't miss getting the stroller off the plane. He then took me out of the passport check line and took me and another family traveling with a baby to a separate booth and we sailed through border control. If you haven't been to Israel before, be prepared to answer lots of questions. They want to know why you are there, if you know anyone, and where you are planning on visiting. They have all been trained in reading body language, so its just best to be honest. Tell the truth and you're fine. Lie and you may be turned back. Just FYI.
So we got through border control and the same man helped me get my bag, and out into Israel we went. My instructions were to find the person with a Voyager Travel sign and they would bring me to my hotel. If they weren't there, move off to the left and wait, someone will be there shortly. Well, no one was there, so I sat in some seats and waited. Now would be a good time to mention that my plane landed at midnight and it was now 12:45 am. I sat there until 2am. No one came. I had no phone number to call, and didn't know how to call Jake, so I did the only thing I could think of. I went out and got a taxi. Yes, by myself, in a foreign country.
This is when I found out that Bethlehem, where my hotel was, is in the West Bank. Did you know that? I didn't. This is also when I found out that taxis can't cross the border - either direction. No one from Bethlehem could come get me and the taxi at the airport could only take me as far as the check point. I started to cry. So the plan was, the taxi would take me to the check point and then the baby and I would walk to the other side and I would have to find another taxi to get me to my hotel. It was 3 am by the time we got there. But I received a tender mercy from the Lord. There was another woman in the taxi (really it was an airport shuttle) who was also going to Bethlehem. Her friend came to the check point and picked her up and agreed to bring the baby and me to the hotel. I was so grateful.
We arrived at the hotel and the man at the desk couldn't find my reservation. Later, come to find out, he just wasn't looking in the right place. Anyway, I begged him to find me a room. At that point I was willing to take a janitor's closet if it had a bed for me and David. He got me a nice room with a king size bed and they brought in a crib. David and I slept till 10:30. Tomorrow I will continue my adventure as I finally meet up with the tour group.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
You live where?
You see it on TV all the time. You hear it talked about whenever they talk about poor areas, but to see "shanty towns" with your own eyes changes your life.
The city of Rabat could be compared to DC. It holds the country's parliament building, foreign embassies, the main Royal palace is here, as well as all other major governmental buildings. The standard of living is relatively high here with new buildings and shopping areas being erected all over the city. Yet, hidden behind many of the new buildings or in places tourists do not usually go, are, in some cases, large areas of shanty towns.
The first time we passed one as we drove around I will admit I was a bit surprised to see it nestled between 2 not-so-poor looking buildings. I have come to find out they dot the city; growing in empty fields or any place not being taken over by housing or business. I was, of course, expecting something like this when I heard of where we were heading (North Africa), but until yesterday I did not truly understand the depth of the poverty that is hidden in this city.
I told Jake after getting some ice cream at McDonalds yesterday that I would like to get a picture of the shanty town just down the road a little from the shopping area
for this blog entry. He slowed and I got my first picture. Then he asked the kids if they would like to take a little drive. We headed toward the coast, to the poorer part of town. And there, the kids' and my eyes were open as never before. We drove past old apartment buildings that looked like they could fall at any moment. Clothing hanging from drying lines along balconies and rusted satellite dishes dangling off the sides of buildings. And then we hit the coast.
On our right was the beautiful cliffs that make up the coastline of Rabat. Their jagged rocks breaking the waves and causing sprays of water high into the sky ("Look,
Mommy! Whales!" said Jackie. "No, honey, those are just the waves," I replied). On our left, a wall. You could just make out over the top of the wall the roofs of the metal "buildings" that were homes to many of the poorest of the poor. (I managed to get a few pictures, but keep in mind they are from inside the car and we didn't want to stop and take pictures. I think that would be rude in any country, any language.) Every so often the wall would have a break in it and you could grasp the enormity of the size of these hobbles. The were several miles long and at least a 1/2 mile wide and the shacks were right up against each other. In a place like this, there is no sanitation, no extra comforts, just the will to survive to the next day.
The reaction of the kids was what was most amazing to me. We have been telling them for years how blessed they are . How there are children all over the world that go to bed starving every night. Last night they saw those children and the places they live. Their immediate response was compassion and action. They wanted to lift those families out of poverty to a better living. We, as parents, tried to explain the complicated issues surrounding cast systems, hard work, government aid, and the inability of America to just come to the rescue.
So, how does seeing these areas change your life? For one thing, it is humbling. The first time I felt truly humbled was when I found out our housekeeper doesn't even have a washing machine. I have taken for granted for so long that everyone I know has, what we consider, basic appliances. Here, however, there is no such thing as basic anything. If you have the money, you can buy appliances, but most people don't have the money. We are considered middle class in the states. Here we are rich. We have a washing machine and dryer. We have a dishwasher. We have cupboards full of food. That is something many people here do not have.
Another way my life changed? I have realized how petty the things are we worry about in the states really are. Children freak out when their parents tell them they can't have a new iphone. Adults, too, have tantrums when the newest electronic isn't available immediately. Here, food is what is important. Sure, there are iphones here. There are some very wealthy people here. But I have never felt the focus on food as much as I have felt it here. You do not need electronics to live, but you do need the fruits, vegetables, and bread they sell on the streets. I will never look at food the same way again. I will never take it for granted again. And because this is a blog all about me and my opinion, seeing as what is happening in the states with the downgrade in credit rating and the stock market tanking, may I suggest instead of buying the new iphone, you keep your old one and use the money you would have spent to make sure you have extra food saved in your house. Because, after all, you can't eat an iphone.
So, my final thoughts. We, in America, see so little poverty, and I mean true poverty, that we tend to forget it really exists. We have become a nation prideful above all others. We are the most charitable nation on the planet, it is true. But at the same time, we take for granted all the blessings we have. We take for granted that we can drive a car a few miles to a nice grocery store and buy foods from all over the world. We take for granted that we can wash our clothes in a washing machine, not by hand. And we take for granted that we have a roof over our head and shoes on our feet. These are things that I will no longer take for granted.
The city of Rabat could be compared to DC. It holds the country's parliament building, foreign embassies, the main Royal palace is here, as well as all other major governmental buildings. The standard of living is relatively high here with new buildings and shopping areas being erected all over the city. Yet, hidden behind many of the new buildings or in places tourists do not usually go, are, in some cases, large areas of shanty towns.
The first time we passed one as we drove around I will admit I was a bit surprised to see it nestled between 2 not-so-poor looking buildings. I have come to find out they dot the city; growing in empty fields or any place not being taken over by housing or business. I was, of course, expecting something like this when I heard of where we were heading (North Africa), but until yesterday I did not truly understand the depth of the poverty that is hidden in this city.
I told Jake after getting some ice cream at McDonalds yesterday that I would like to get a picture of the shanty town just down the road a little from the shopping area
for this blog entry. He slowed and I got my first picture. Then he asked the kids if they would like to take a little drive. We headed toward the coast, to the poorer part of town. And there, the kids' and my eyes were open as never before. We drove past old apartment buildings that looked like they could fall at any moment. Clothing hanging from drying lines along balconies and rusted satellite dishes dangling off the sides of buildings. And then we hit the coast.
On our right was the beautiful cliffs that make up the coastline of Rabat. Their jagged rocks breaking the waves and causing sprays of water high into the sky ("Look,
Mommy! Whales!" said Jackie. "No, honey, those are just the waves," I replied). On our left, a wall. You could just make out over the top of the wall the roofs of the metal "buildings" that were homes to many of the poorest of the poor. (I managed to get a few pictures, but keep in mind they are from inside the car and we didn't want to stop and take pictures. I think that would be rude in any country, any language.) Every so often the wall would have a break in it and you could grasp the enormity of the size of these hobbles. The were several miles long and at least a 1/2 mile wide and the shacks were right up against each other. In a place like this, there is no sanitation, no extra comforts, just the will to survive to the next day.
The reaction of the kids was what was most amazing to me. We have been telling them for years how blessed they are . How there are children all over the world that go to bed starving every night. Last night they saw those children and the places they live. Their immediate response was compassion and action. They wanted to lift those families out of poverty to a better living. We, as parents, tried to explain the complicated issues surrounding cast systems, hard work, government aid, and the inability of America to just come to the rescue.
So, how does seeing these areas change your life? For one thing, it is humbling. The first time I felt truly humbled was when I found out our housekeeper doesn't even have a washing machine. I have taken for granted for so long that everyone I know has, what we consider, basic appliances. Here, however, there is no such thing as basic anything. If you have the money, you can buy appliances, but most people don't have the money. We are considered middle class in the states. Here we are rich. We have a washing machine and dryer. We have a dishwasher. We have cupboards full of food. That is something many people here do not have.
Another way my life changed? I have realized how petty the things are we worry about in the states really are. Children freak out when their parents tell them they can't have a new iphone. Adults, too, have tantrums when the newest electronic isn't available immediately. Here, food is what is important. Sure, there are iphones here. There are some very wealthy people here. But I have never felt the focus on food as much as I have felt it here. You do not need electronics to live, but you do need the fruits, vegetables, and bread they sell on the streets. I will never look at food the same way again. I will never take it for granted again. And because this is a blog all about me and my opinion, seeing as what is happening in the states with the downgrade in credit rating and the stock market tanking, may I suggest instead of buying the new iphone, you keep your old one and use the money you would have spent to make sure you have extra food saved in your house. Because, after all, you can't eat an iphone.
So, my final thoughts. We, in America, see so little poverty, and I mean true poverty, that we tend to forget it really exists. We have become a nation prideful above all others. We are the most charitable nation on the planet, it is true. But at the same time, we take for granted all the blessings we have. We take for granted that we can drive a car a few miles to a nice grocery store and buy foods from all over the world. We take for granted that we can wash our clothes in a washing machine, not by hand. And we take for granted that we have a roof over our head and shoes on our feet. These are things that I will no longer take for granted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)