Photos, Photos, and Contest

I have been painstakingly been going through the thousands and thousands of photos that I took while in both the United Kingdom and the Middle East. I did not even realize that I was taking this many photos (I am truly my mothers daughter). I've also decided to enter a photo contest so VOILA!!! This post shall be my entry.

Todays theme is colors and boy did I get an array of those while I was abroad. Who knew that water could possibly be such a pure shade of Cerulean blue or the grass be made up of such a plethora of different greens.

Red

The artificial and violent red of graffiti stands out amongst the greens that make up the Wicklow Mountains outside of Dublin, Ireland. This was a on the path to a little creek that I had found while everyone else was buying stuff at a tourist shop in a small village. The only graffiti I had seen since we had left the actual city of Dublin, it stood out because it contrasted so well with the background of the constantly green Emerald Isle.

White

One of my favorite statues from the Tate Museum in London. A museum that could swallow you for days, as most of the museums in London are apt to do. Marble statues have always been a favorite of mine which explains why I am not too fond of modern art. A stone that can be so many different shades of white and ivory, is perfectly solid, and yet it has such a frail appearance in some statues, I can't help but love it.

Yellow

Relaxing in the nature that surrounds a Kibbutz outside of Haifa, Israel. We were just taking a tour of the Kibbutz after a nice time by the pool. These beautiful flowers just hung down from the tree right into our path. For a such a dry place, the Middle East has some of the most interesting and delicate flowers I have ever seen. I am not quite sure what kind of flower this was, all I know is that it was worth getting a little behind in the tour to take a picture of them.

Blue

 A lake in the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland. This was the most beautiful day to travel around the countryside near Dublin. The sun was beating down on us as we explored but that same harsh sun, made the beauty of the countryside come out 10 fold. In this photo, the lake is a dozen different shades of blue from Sapphire to Midnight. In real life, it is even more beautiful and has colors that can only exist in nature.

Green

This category was the hardest to pick for. I have over 1000 pictures of Ireland and Scotland combined, 99.9928% of which are mainly filled by the green highlands or grass that make up most of the region. Yet, I could not pass up this graffiti from outside Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives, near the Garden of Gethsemani. This was only the 2nd day we were in the region and already the Israel/Palestine conflict that we had studied so hard and so long was beginning to show itself to us in person. A cry for peace was a common theme that we saw around cities in both Israel and Palestine and continues to be something that I, myself, cry out for. Hopefully, these people can get there one day.

So random photos from the travels, but it is just so hard to try to explain it all to you. I'm still adjusting to being back and it is really hard. Maybe this is a better way to share my experiences with you. Pick a theme each day and then post. Hopefully this will give me a more consistent posting regimen.

Home Sweet Home

So it's been three weeks since I left for my Middle East trip and I have now finally returned. This trip completely changed me in so many ways (many that I have yet to understand or comprehend) and has thrown me for a bit of a loop when it comes to my future plans.

From Washington D.C., to New York, to Israel, Palestine and Jordan, the past few weeks have opened my eyes to things that I could have never known and showed me how much I have left to learn about conflict, the region, and people. We left a group of about 20 wide eyed college kids from UCI and UCLA and returned a crazy family that has constant debates at the dinner table. I wish that I could have kept you all updated and posted things while I was in the region but sadly the WiFi situation was not the best. I think I preferred it that way though. It gave all of us time to focus on what we were doing there and really get to know each other.

OTI at the Washington Monument

First meeting in D.C. at U.S. Institute for Peace

                            

Meeting room at the White House Executive Offices

                   
Little by little, I will post things about the trip and the different experiences that I was so privileged to have but for now, I will leave you with two amazing things that I experienced.

Prayer Candles in Church of the Holy Sepulchre

 The first would be while I was in Jerusalem, we stayed in the Old City. I got to see and experience a ton of stuff while running around the city. The most amazing thing, for me, was going to the Church of Holy Sepulchre. We went at 6am and it was quiet, serene, and peaceful. I was able to see so many different places and stations of the cross within that church, it was a lot to handle, emotionally for me. What really got to me was when we saw the Catholic Alter within the church and the organ went off. We just happened to be there when the Catholic mass was starting and that was just too much for me. I was able to stay for the beginning of the mass to watch, pray, and cry. I cried so much in that hour span that we were in the church. I was overwhelmed by how spiritual the site was, how surprisingly spiritual I was, and was realizing how much I do depend on my faith. That was a huge internal epiphany that occurred on the second day that we were actually in the Middle East and continued throughout the trip.

Crusaders Cross

Slab that Jesus was laid on after being taken off the Cross

               

My main habibti and I in front of the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, and Church of the Holy Sepulchre

 While the group was in Jordan, we had the opportunity to visit a Gaza refugee camp and have lunch with a family there. Having lunch with the families was one of my favorite parts of the whole trip. The group was split into two, so as not to overwhelm a family with 25 people. My group consisted of Daniel (our leader), Monica, Noor, Maia, Toni, Abeer, Bahjat, Hassan, Neil, Elizabeth and 4 Palestinian girls who were our age and acted as our translators. Our hostess was a lovely 90 year old great, great grandmother who had lived in camp since 1948. She was so grateful to have us there and be able to talk with us, even though she only knew Arabic. Just being able to sit and talk with the family and with our translators was so...relaxing and joyful. It was very homey and a ton of fun. We ended up singing songs with the girls that we all knew, belly danced a little, heard our hostesses story, ate an enormous amount of food, and I even got to meet the baby of the family while I was helping clean up. This short little paragraph doesn't do the experience justice but being able to just sit and talk was what I truly wanted out of the trip. Those personal connections and stories that you can't get out of a history book and can't really understand until you hear it come out of someones mouth were really eye opening and made me feel really connected to our hosts. We were so sad to leave and I hope to be able to visit them again someday.

Neil and kids from the camp

Our hostess, Daniel, and our translators and friends.

Leaving the camp and passing by a wedding

More to come once I recover from jetlag. Hopefully I can make a post a day and relive my awesome experiences for y'all.

The Dead Sea 

House of Palestine

True student diplomats glued to the TV screen in Tel Aviv as Obama makes his speech about Syria. This is also at the same time that the Iron Dome system gets deployed over the city and gas masks are being handed out incase of attacks.

It's been a while

But this has been a really busy transition week for me. Got back from London last Wednesday and headed straight to Vegas for an early bday trip thanks to my amazing older sister. Day beds and Thunder From Down Under, always a good idea. It was a really good trip with my older sister and lil' sis Shira. I found out that I am still a Vegas newb but I will try to work on that. 

This whole week I have been working as an RA at a great camp for under privileged girls at school. It is through the business shill and teaches them how to deal with money and also encourages them to go to college. It is awesome seeing these girls grow and learn. They are such high achieves at such a young age, it is quite refreshing. But at the same time it is super tiring. Watching 31 eleven and twelve year old is a huge task. We have already had some.....instances and difficulties but I have had a great time with them. 

Tomorrow I leave for my student diplomat trip to Israel/Palestine and Jordan trip. We start in DC and get to do so many amazing things. I will be gone for about three weeks and will get back on Sept. 1st. I can't wait to share all that I get to see and do. This is really going to be a life changing experience. I wish I could describe how excited I am and what progress this trip will help me make towards my future goals. Plus, the group of UCI and UCLA student that I am going with are the brightest kids on campus. I can't wait to see what I learn from them and the trip itself. 

Until we meet again Cali!

Finally back in London

First, I apologize for the time between my posts. Second, this is long. Sorry!!! but lots and lots to say :D

After a finishing finals and a stint in both Scotland and Northern Ireland, I am back in London. Only 3 days till I come home.......then I leave for the Middle East. But I will be in the U.S. for a small time which is what matters.

Seriously missing home and my bed and especially my cat Tabbi (yes, i'm that cat lady).

But finally have some time to relax and write a bit for the blog. Have only had a brief time to journal so I have to catch you up on everything that has happened.

We finished up finals and said goodbye as everyone dispersed to their various destinations. It was super sad to leave our London home and especially each other. Before I left for London, I was super afraid that I wouldn't have time to make friends and be able to experience the U.K. with other people. That fear totally disappeared after a few days in our flat. Flat 18A was my family away from home and we all got along super well. They have all since returned home, making London quite lonely at the moment but we made some awesome memories.



After a picnic of food and wine for dinner/lunch (linner?) by the Thames and London eye, we went home to pack. What a horrible, horrible thing to pack away such amazing experiences. Even worse when you realize how much stuff you have to try to bring back. Our last night in London we fiesta'ed of course. Cassie and I ended up wandering around to say our goodbyes to London. We somehow ended in Trafalgar square and I accomplished my dream (not really a dream, but more something on my list of things to do) of climbing the giant lion statues. After climbing off the lion, we ran since the cops were coming to yell at us and found ourselves outside of Heaven, the gay club, on the banks of the River Thames. Seriously the best club ever, we made tons of new friends and didn't have to worry about creeps. Plus we still managed to get free drinks while dancing our way around the multiple rooms of the club. My favorite was the disco music in the main room. Totally my fave jams.

 

Castle AAAaaahhhhhhh.... from Monty Python (Scotland)                Highland Cattle: The big one in the back is called Hamish

Since then, I went to Scotland and saw the beautiful Highlands and Loch Ness. The weather was ridiculous and everything was just so beautiful. Hoping to one day go back with the family. The hostel that I stayed at was in an old church and super cool. I even made a few friends and we went out to this awesome rock bar called Banshee Labrynth. It's in an old dungeon and has plenty of different rooms you can wander around in. My new Irish friend Rory made me get up and sing since one of the rooms had an open mic night. Totally embarrassing but still super awesome. I ended Scotland with a tour of the beautiful city of Edinburgh and a Harry Potter tour (which was equal parts embarrassing equal parts awesome since we all got wands and our guide was dressed in wizard robes). Edinburgh is seriously the best. They have a castle that just looks over everything....all the time. WTF, all we have is disneyland (which is awesome but still not as cool as a castle on a giant rock).

 

Loch Ness                                                                          Edinburgh Castle and the Observatory

Belfast was an...interesting city. It is definitely not like other cities that I have traveled to. More like L.A. but with a ton of tension. The first day I met with Liz and she took me to where I was staying. My teaching got cut short a little bit because of the royals babies arrival. The Loyalists decided to march a whole bunch to show their British pride, causing the school where I was supposed to teach to close down for a few days since it was made up of both Protestant and Catholic kids (which is why I went to Scotland for a few days). But still, it was awesome getting to teach the little kiddies. I only helped out for like 3 classes but it was fun. Little kids with accents are the freaking cutest. Also, everyone has a ton of musical talent their. They may not be able to read music but it's just...in their blood. They all have a ton of rhythm and were just so cute. I can't wait to see what they turn into later on. Hopefully I can go back someday and visit them. I taught a sea chanty to little little kids (about 5 years old) and some other songs. Then did a little fiddle with Liz and some older kids (about 7-10 years old). Taught them some easy stuff since a lot were beginners. I cannot express how wonderful it was to be working with them.

 

I got to learn a little more about the background of the conflict (aside from what I learned in classes) by going on a Black Cab tour. It's a tour in a cab of the murals and the peace wall. Our driver was an amazing guy who lived through the troubles. He took part in the protests and is a devout Catholic. His story was just amazing and the wall just blows my mind. The recent G8 conference took place in Belfast because it was a "post-conflict" society. Which is a joke considering everything that I had seen and heard. From a lady screaming at a marching band calling them traitors, to a few teenagers loudly applauding the boys who were marching. It really blew my mind. The city is truly fantastic though. I even had some free time to go and see the Giant's Causeway and walk across a rope bridge (I can't remember the name right now). Even saw some amazing castles and places where Game Of Thrones was filmed. Super awesome. So many historic places and buildings in these countries. It is ridiculous how much history a random field or pile of rocks can have. My last night I went out to a great bar, it was more like an Irish saloon where they had a ton of musicians just jamming. I even sang a song and got up to dance with the bartender who showed me some Irish dancing. It was completely awesome. I was in heaven. I ended up staying up all night at the bar and with some Liz before I packed up my stuff. I had a really early flight and had to be at the airport at like 5am.

Peace Wall Graffiti

City Hall in Belfast

The early flight really took a toll on me. Allnighters while traveling are totally exhausting. Not to mention that I am feeling a little sick. Slept all yesterday to recover and am sitting in drinking tea trying to study since it's all rainy outside. Only 2 more days till I get to the U.S.

It's been 10 days

since my last post! So sorry to keep you all in the dark about my adventures.

I have been super busy trying to finish up all my final papers for my classes. But I AM DONE!!! No more work, and only adventures  :D

So on July 10th, my class did a tour of the Globe Theatre (my favorite place in London).

Outside the Globe

The side of the Cathedral

On the walk over we visited the beautiful St. Paul's Cathedral. It was an amazingly sunny day and the walk was refreshing.

My whole class with our teacher

Inscription outside the Church

World War I memorial statue by the church

Me outside the Cathedral....with my weird twisted foot (idk why that is happening)

 We also walked across the Millennium Bridge (featured and destroyed by the Death Eaters in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows film). So that was exciting, especially since I was going to the Harry Potter Studio Tour that day!

On the bridge with the Shard in the background

The actual tour of the Globe was not all that interesting but we got a sneak peak of a new play called Gabriel, as they were rehearsing for their opening that was about to occur in a few days. Seeing the cast rehearse was an new and awesome experience. They had to do some stuff over cause some people forgot their lines, but it was great to see the different choices that an actor would make the second time around. It really makes me wish I could act.

Cassie trying to get someones attention while we were trapped in the theatre

After we had the tour and talked about the play we were going to see the next night, A Midsummer Nights Dream, in one of the rooms. Myself and two of my friends got locked in the room as we were trying to leave! You need an employee card to open the door and, because we are slow grandmas, got a little behind the group and locked underneath the theatre. After about 10 minutes of trying to get someones attention, a random Danish chick who was on a different tour told someone we were locked in. A really nice worker finally came and set us free. After opening the door and seeing us, she exclaimed "My Prisoners!". I would get locked and trapped at the Globe theatre. It was hilarious but also super embarrassing.

May the Road Rise Up to Meet You

May the Wind Be Always At Your Back

Just got back from Dublin, aka THE MOTHERLAND!!! It was so amazing getting to see where Dads family came from back in the day. A weekend was not enough, I definitely need at least a year there to see everything. I really wish I could have seen more of the Isle but I was glad to spend the weekend there.

I went out in Dublin but I also took a small tour to Wicklow and the Irish countryside. It was absolutely amazing. Here is a little taste of everything I did.

Visited the beaches of Dalkey

 The Lake in the Wicklow Mountains, Wicklow National Park

The fields where they filmed the battles in Braveheart.

Jameson Whiskey factory

 Guinness Factory

I promise to write more about my trip to Dublin once I finish my work for the day.

Dea Bhail

Docklands and the Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf

Everyone in the program at Isle of Dog

The best guest speaker we have had so far has been Dr. Alastair Owens from the University of London. We talked about gentrification in London and the regenerating of different parts of the city such as Canary Wharf and the Docklands. The best part were our role plays as different companies and non-profits that take place around Canary Wharf (which is a huge financial district).

Roomies strutting their stuff (Freshta, Jessica, Brittany, Brenda)

"Pie Hard" at the pub down the street

150th Anniversary of the Underground

We took a tour of the Dockland's Museum and of Canary Wharf and it was pretty cool and interesting. The area is super nice and I definitely wanna go back.