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Written by Keith Rhoades
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Thursday, 23 November 2006 |
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Hello all....the sun is setting in Israel as I write this....this is my last night here. It is Friday evening and the Sabbath is beginning. Nearly everything is closed down and the streets seem so empty. It's been an interesting and emotional last day.....Tel Aviv really has nothing in the way of tourist site seeing stuff so most of the interesting stuff has come from happening and people...as is usually the case even when you are at a tourist site. For all those worry warts, I found out that my hostel was a block away from the US Embassy. Last night I walked over there to see it and see if I could go in. One of the US military guards said it was closed and I asked why..and he said "Because it is thanksgiving" which I had totally forgot about. I talked with the military guy and he said that all the officials were off and that only military was there on guard. We struck up a conversation and he invited me to join some of the military for Thanksgiving Dinner...which was not traditional...it consisted of Pizzas and listening to American Rock Music. But it was nice to have a "thanksgiving dinner" with some other Americans. They were explaining to me about their tours of service...some had been in Iraq while others had just been stationed at the US Embassy. I got back to my hostel and met Andres, a Columbian who was studying Middle East Political Science at the University of Virginia and was touring Israel and Egypt. We went out last night and he gave me a crash course in Middle East History and Politics. This was his first trip abroad. I then called it a night. This morning I woke up a bit late and then went for a walk. I stopped at a run down cafe, smoke filled, playing some sort of Hebrew Folk Music. I met two Israelis and had lunch with them. They were secular Jews but very anti-Palestinian and one explained how his brother had been blown up in the Gaza Strip. These two Israelis were very inquisitive about the US and very philosophical...discussing fate, God, luck, the Wrath of God, what is justice...They were both very sad people. I then went to the beach with my Walkman and I became very emotional looking at the ocean and listening to my music. I think perhaps because I have been so busy each day running around I had not yet had time to think about all that I saw. I felt so very overcome with gratitude. I sat there thinking about the last three weeks realizing I had stayed in the homes of Turkish Atheists, Jordanian Diplomats, Gay Jews, I had danced to Madonna with Palestinians, I had broke bread with US Troops, Bedouins, PLO members, Israeli supporters. I had been to the birthplace of three great religions, and visited the lowest place on earth; I had been in cathedrals, mosques and synagogues. I had seen battlefields dating back to Troy and the countless mute graves of Gallipoli, I had crossed into the West Bank and pass the wall of Bethlehem, I walked the final street of Jesus Christ and visited Ancient Greek Mythology.....it is overwhelming when I think of all of it and I am so grateful and joyful that I could experience this. It makes tears well up in my eyes as I write this. For the first time in a long time...I missed my dad today. I wish I could tell him about all this. I know he would have thought I was crazy..but inside he would have been proud. As I thought about this, I felt like..."it's ok...he's here with me...smiling down on me" I've traveled a lot...but I have to say this trip has been my crown Jewel and I am not sure how I can top this trip. I can't say it was the best trip I've been on because each trip is special and different in its own way...but I will say this trip probably opened my eyes the most and let me experience the most life has to offer. It's been a thought provoking day as I reflect back upon all the people I met on this trip...the fact that all of them were so different..and yet so similar...the fact that I will probably never see one of them again and yet for a day or even an hour..they touched my life in some way. In spite of all the perils of the middle east and the differences between people...this trip has reconfirmed my notion that the basic essence of humans is goodness and kindness. It has also reconvicted my belief in the interconnectedness of all people and I wish that more people would realize this...perhaps the result would be less war, poverty, hatred, pollution. I only hope that my interactions with people in the Middle East may have influenced them in some small way. I hope that some of my emails back to you folks...may have been influential in some way. I have to head to the airport at midnight as it takes 3 hours to just check in here. This is the part of the trip...I love/hate. I am happy to be coming home...to see my mom and to see my kitties and to see some of you real soon. But The flight home always seems so much longer...I'm tired, I get agitated, and I just want to get home...I fly from Tel Aviv to Milan to Atlanta to LAX...and the whole ordeal will take 30 hours...with layovers, luggage, customs, etc. I have 5 hours in Atlanta...at least you can smoke in that airport and use internet! Plus it is hard to face Monday...back to work, back to the routine...laundry, groceries, etc. and jet lag. After being on the go and on such a spiritual and emotional high...I always find when I come back to fall into a let down..a sort of post vacation blues...but this time I did something to solve that and booked a short cruise over the MLK Weekend with my mom...so that softens the blow of coming back to reality. And if I feel sad...I just remind myself of this wonderful trip, my wonderful people I was able to email, being sober for 10 years, and the upcoming holiday season :) So with that my friends.....thank you for "traveling with me". I will see some of you Saturday night, some Sunday, some Monday...and some...when our paths will meet again :) Take care and peace be with all of you.With love and peace,Keith
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