day three Banias Springs, Golan Heights, and sermon on the mount

We had breakfast at the Kibbutz which included eggs and pancakes so I was happy. We were supposed to go for a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee first thing but it was really windy and the water was rough so they postponed it. It would have been interesting to see what it was like rough so we could understand the Apostles' fear and why they needed Jesus to calm the sea. But we probably would have all thrown up!

We went to Banias Springs first which feeds into the Jordan river. Yeaster I forgot to mention that we could see a piece of Lebanon from the gardens that we went to. Today we saw Lebanon and Syria! Who would have thout I be this close to those places! We drove by a town the is half in Lebanon and half in Israel. Line right down the middle. Crazy. We saw a lot of barbed wire fence with signs that say "danger-mines" left over from Syria and Lebanon. Our guide Mier says cows get loose and wander around sometimes and blow a mine and they have Israeli hamburger :) it was a depressing ride ther but at the springs there were wonderful ruins. There were pilgrims from south Africa there singing and getting crazy -it was a nice addition to the scene.

We learned that Israel grows a lot of wheat that is perfect for pasta so the export it to Italy. Then they import all the wheat they need to make bread and stuff in from the US. Weird.

Gas is 7 US dollars a gallon here!

We went to the Mount of Beatitudes where the sermon on the mount was given. It was one of the most gorgeous places on Earth. So beautiful with a great view of the Sea of Galilee. An impressive church was built at the site by an Italian designer who did a lot of churches in Israel. It was funded by Muselini. Weird fact.

Then we went to Tabgha -the place where the miracle of the fishes and loaves took place. The Church of the Multiplication is there. There is an alter over the supposed rock where he laid the food. Marvelous tile mosaics that depict it are still there.

We went to Capernaum and visited the remains of a second century synagogue. At a lot of there sites they keep the original foundation which can be one to three THOUSAND years old and then they put some kind of marking to show where the original part ends and reconstruct it higher so you can see what the structure might have looked like. There is a church over the place where peter's house was.

We went to this place right by the sea and had Shwarma for lunch. Then we got in this boat and went on the Sea of Galilee. The weather has been perfect! It was probably in the 70s today and blue skies. Pretty white birds flew alongside the boat. They turned on music and played Chris Tomlin songs ( and some others) seriously got to sing along to "how great is our God" on the sea of Galilee!!

We had a new couple join us today from Hong Kong -they are adorable and always holding hands. The terra Haute family still remains the most sane and I like to hang out with them. Alabama is late getting to the bus every time! She is entertaining though. In her thick accent she said "I think spiders are the most misunderstood creatures on Earth" ok. California lady is loud and argumentative and her husband is pompous. You can get Christian or Jewish focused tours. Our is lead by a Jewish archeaologist so he knows his stuff for both Jews and Chriatians. Well somehow California man and Alabama were talking about beliefs and the man said he didn't believe in any god - he was atheist. And Alabama in her great accent said "it isn't possible to be an Atheist. Every one believes in a god. Sometimes it is just themselves. That's why "I"is in the middle of sin!

We learned that the sand along the Mediteranian sea in Israel is sand from the Nile. Pretty cool.

It was a great day. The sea of Galilee was amazing. The mount of beatitudes and the site of the loaves and fishes were amazing. new Zeland guy said that today was a day he'd cherish for the rest of his life. We agree.

Israel day two-Caesarea, Megiddo, Haifa, and Acre

Day two

I had breakfast at the hotel with gretchen. Oh my. We were talking yesterday about craving eggs, they had boiled eggs and scrambled eggs! They had cereal with real milk. Cheese and bread and fruit. And mediteranian food like olives and figs and dates and Greek salad. Yum. The only thing they had that I eat regularly in India is dahi-which is yogurt.

There are 15 people on our tour.
A South Korean couple who live in the south of France right now- didn't get chance to talk to them today.
A couple from north of Toronto. The man seems ok. Not the woman :)
A couple from California-totally WT (David and Andrea)
A couple and their son ( in his 20s) from Terra Haute IN. We like them. (bill,Joyce and Aaron)
A man from New Zeland I didn't get to talk to
A man from Washington state who we like. (Tom)
A woman from Alabama who currently teaches in Japan. She has a great accent and says great things. I have a feeling many of my stories will be from her. We'll call her Bama. (Betty Ann)
And Ann who sat with me and we hit it off. She is Austrailian and is on a long trip -2weeks in New Zeland, 10 days in Istanbul, a week in Jordan, and now 2weeks in Israel.

We drove along the coast to Caesarea. We saw the Ampitheater, the Roman Theater, aquaduct, and other excavated ruins. It was so beautiful. The Mediteranian sea is so blue!

As we drove he would tell us about the region and history. In 1948 when the war started the Palistanian Muslims were told to take a vacation somewhere until the fighting stopped.  When a cease fire was called no one allowed to cross the borders either way so all those people were stranded and became permanent fixtures in refugee camps in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon etc. The Muslims that didn't run away got to stay and become Israeli citizens. They are exempt from the mandatory military service all Israelis must do. Mostly because any fighting would be with Muslim nations and they'd have to fight relatives so they can't be trusted.

We saw the site where Elijah prayed and his sacrifice was consumed by fire while all the other people were praying to Baal and were ignored.
We had a lunch of falafels.

The coolest thing today was Megiddo. It was a very important place because it linked the three continents together It is also supposed to be the site of Armageddon-the final battle. What struck me about the valley of Armageddon is that it looks like it is ready for the battle. It is a clear, flat field- no buildings or other structures.

We went to Haifa and saw the Persian gardens at the Bahai shrine. The gardens were gorgeous! we then drove to Acre and saw a mosque and some typical alleyways with shops.

The weather is nice. In the 60s, sunny and windy. I have to wear a jacket! The roads are nice and smooth. Most road signs are in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.

We are all staying in the same Kibbutz- kibbutz Lavi. It is a lot bigger than I expected. we had a buffet style dinner that was decent.

Before we left, I looked up the electricity situation and it seemed Israel has same plugS India does. Well anything I bought in India that only has two prongs-my hair dryer and camera work fine. My cell phone which has three prong does not fit in the three prongs here. Neither does my powerstrip that works in India and should work here! I got an adapter I got in The gift shop that works for American plus like my I-pad, but not my phone so I won' t have an alarm clock once the battery dies!

Day one Israel trip

Day one -flying to Tel Aviv

I try to make these things somewhat interesting but sometimes it just turns out like an online journal -which is what it is i guess :) we had a half day of school on Friday Dec 16th. I went to the doctor to show him the test results I got done on Monday. I went to the Hinduja hospital in Khar  which is a section of Mumbai near Bandra where I live. khar is very different than Bandra! Dirtier, lots of oxen everywhere :) but they have a beautiful, brand  new hospital there. Much more western looking than The one I went to on Monday h -it was filled to the gills with pushy Indian people! I like this doctor -he doesn't push meds. Quite a few of my lab numbers where abnormal but they  weren't so severe that he's going to load me with meds. My sjogrens markers were high - which is causing severe dry eyes and mouth. My eyes feel like sandpaper and I wake up Choking because my mouth is so dry. Sjogrens can be really awful where it damages the eyes etc. Mine isn't that bad - i'm going back in 6weeks for him to monitor it.

On Saturday I went running for 3 miles which is so sad considering my half marathon is in ONE month and I have NOT trained for it :(  I went home and packed then went for my body combat class! I love this class! It is mixed martial arts with loud upbeat American music. I also take body balance class which is tai chi, yoga and pilates. I am not very good at that one! Years of running have left me inflexible! But I give in my best!

I went to one of my favorite restaurants - Eat Around the Corner - to meet my friend Andrea. Then I ventured down to the craziness of Hill road to peruse the Christmas stalls. I'm really glad I decided to give myself a day in Mumbai before leaving on vacation -it would have been too stressful to leave the day school got out.

I went to bed around 8:30 because a school driver was going to pick me up at 2:20 am to take me to the airport. At 2:15 Darshan was out waiting for me -he's the driver that drives my morning bus. It's been a little cooler lately - like 80s in the mornings and Darshan was wearing a sweater!!  :) We picked up Gretchen and off we went. Gretchen is a student support teacher and is in her second year here. It is always amazing how busy the airport is at 3am. The good thing about India is all the stores And food places are open in the airport in the middle of the night. I had a sandwich at 4 am.  Bad thing about Indian airports? People pushing shoving all the time. Augh! It drives me insane! We are all boarding a plane To sit on for 7 hours - why are you pushing and shoving???!?? They also push and shove getting off a plane, in stores, on streets. I guess it is learned behavior from living in crowded spaces.

I watched 3 movies on the plane. One was with Steve Carrel and Ryan Gosling -Crazy Stupid Love I think. Funny. The I watched Contagion. Yikes! A little too realistic especially with there are Asian people on the plane with masks on!  The I watched Black Swan and that was just disturbing.

We flew Turkish air to Istanbul. The airport in Istanbul was really nice. We walked through the shops and I got some Turkish delight. And bought some Popeyes  chicken nuggets that were 9 Usd! This guy asked if I spoke English!! Then asked if I'd see if his wife was in the toilet. I've never been asked if I speak English! It is always assumed I do.

We were placed in the very last row of the next plane. One thing I do like about Indian airlines-they board from the front and back so it is quicker!

We were told so many horror stories about immigration here. I went up to the counter she asked how long I was staying, complied with my request to not have an Israeli stamp in my passport and I was literally through in 45seconds! People warned me not to bring my laptop.  Now I wish I would have-they didn't even ask if I had one.  Let's hope the land border crossings go as smoothly :)


Our hotel was the Leonardo Basel in Tel Aviv right next to the the Mediteranian Sea. It was an adorable hotel with a comfortable bed and hot water. We went for a walk by the sea and through the town. Everything and everyone is so nice. Families out on the streets, cute little cafes every block. Wonderful fruit stands where we got a great smoothy. Too bad we only get tonight here. I would like to explore more! 

Hospital Adventure

I made an appointment over a month ago to see a Rheumatolagist and today was the first available appointment they had.  The Indian hospital system is tough to navigate so I didn't really know how this would go.  Carol, who is a colleague that has lived in India over 20 years agreed to go with me.  She ordered a Cool Cab to pick us up at the school and she speaks Hindi so that was helpful.  The driver took us to Hinduja Hospital where I had an appointment with Dr. Balakrishnan.

When we showed up at the hospital we were told he was at a nearby clinic.  It was crowded and crazy.  We found the doctor's office and went in.  It was a teeny tiny exam room with just a bed and a sink and little consultation room.  He came in and asked if I had a folder.  Dozens of hospital staff had passed us/seen us and no one said I needed to do that.  We find the counter to do that and fill out the papers.  I had to pay 900 rs to be seen.  (not quite $20USD) The doctor spoke perfect English and seemed to know his stuff.  He took notes and said he doesn't think my Lupus is too active but ordered tests so we could see what we are dealing with.  I could get them all done right there.  So we went down to the first floor and stood in line to pay for the tests.  Then we went to Radiology and waited to be called for the chest xray.  Got the chest xray.  went to the ground floor and waited for urine test and blood draw.  They took SIX vials of blood!!

We asked the cab driver to wait for us - we left our stuff in the car with him - our school computers etc!  We would never do that in the States!  Carol got a cab to take her home and I went in the cool cab where he dropped me off at my door - the school van doesn't even do that!

The hospitals are not as clean or pretty as the ones in the US - they are very crowded and they make you deal with three times the paperwork as you would in the US.  BUT I got to see the doctor and get 13 tests run for about $150.  and the cab for 2.5 hours?? $12.  yep 12.   The results should be in by Thursday.  Carol is going to have her diver pick them up Friday morning and bring them to school so I can take them with me to another hospital to meet with the same doctor about the results. 

Hopefully the results are good, but he can do something to make me feel better!

This is our last week of school before Christmas.  I had my sixth graders the last two blocks today and they were actually really good!  They are doing a CamStudio project where they record their voice and their actions on the computer - making their own Khan academy video.  I made one in class as an example and the kids were gracious enough to clap when I got done - they know my technology skills are LOW.  They were so proud of me!

The perfect song

My sister mentioned yesterday that it has been awhile since I blogged.  I've been really busy with school and other things and nothing really spectacular has happened except for day to day stuff.  But today was different.

I have an appointment tomorrow with a Rheumatologist.  I started having Lupus activity awhile back and found a hospital in Mumbai that has a Lupus clinic :)  I made the appointment over a month ago but tomorrow was the earliest they could get me in.  I've been pulling out my medical files and trying to get the important stuff ready for the doctor.  Looking through those papers reminded me of how sick I was.  Lab reports for blood work where the normal was 1-99 and mine was at 564. 

When I was at my sickest, I was hospitalized several times for days or sometimes over a week at a time.  When I wasn't in the hospital I was going to dozens of doctor's appointments.  When I would get bad news or no news (which in my mind was bad news because they couldn't help me) I would get in my car and cry all the way home and put a Matt Redman CD in and listen to one song over and over.  I had to do a series of tests in the nuclear medicine department (gallium scans)  they would shoot me up with this radioactive isotope   (I was pretty sure I would start glowing in the dark) and I'd lay in this scanner and I would play this song over and over.

Today I was reminded that God knows what is going on in all our lives all the time.  No one at my church knows I have an appointment tomorrow.  No one knows what this song means to me.  and this is what they played as the closing song at church today :) The first two stanzas is what I would play on a continuous loop.  God is in control whether we are going through good times or bad.  He is still soveriegn whether I am sick or well.  and He should be praised in all circumstances because I know He is working all things out for the Glory of His Name.  I don't need to worry about how long I'll be sick or how sick I'll be.  I will either get better or I will go Home to Him.  Either way I win.  and eventually I will get a new body in Heaven :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qp11X6LKYY

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing you pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing you pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord Blessed be your name

still much to be thankful for!

Some of you that have kept up with my facebook posts know I was horribly ill this week, but there is still much to be thankful for!!

 - I am thankful my school is computer based so I could chat with my kids and answer questions if needed.
- My Lesson plans were all electronic too - no need for printed copies - and kids could turn stuff into me
    electronically.
 - I have a great teaching partner and he told the school I'd be absent and helped some of my low babies in
    one of my classes
 - the doctor at school sent a prescription home with a neighbor and she had her maid call it in and have
    it delivered.
 - at one point I had lost 7 pounds!  now it is more like 5, but still :)
 - I am thankful Indians deliver anything!
 - I am thankful for friends that called to check on me.
 - Thankful for my maid who cooked me food and took care of me.
 - thankful I work for a school that allows us to leave if we aren't teaching.  My last class tomorrow ends
    at 1:30 so I can come home.   I could also go in late if needed.
 - thankful I have some "babysitters"  who went with me places to make sure I didn't pass out :)
- thankful this is a short week also!!


I was expecting this week to be fairly easy - we had Professional Development on Monday so only 4 days with the kids :)

Wednesday was a rough day because I received several negative parent emails.  I was bummed, but a friend reminded me of all the parents who do appreciate me and think I am doing the best for my kids.  It was good to hear.  I worked really hard on math stuff Wednesday night and was planning to be super teacher on Thursday and Friday :)

I woke up Thursday and went for a walk at 5:20 am like normal.  I started to feel queasy half way through.  By the time I got to my flat I ran to the bathroom and was so sick. For two hours I was violently ill- I couldn't even get to my computer to send lesson plans etc.  I was texting a co-worker two words at a time in between getting sick trying to get things settled for being absent. 

Jessie is my maid - I haven't laid eyes on her since the day I hired her (she leaves at three every day to work at another house).  She came in to find me curled up on the bathroom floor :)  She got me into bed, got me a puke bucket, cleaned up my bathroom and made me tea.  Have I mentioned she is a saint????  I spent all day Thursday and Friday sick as a dog!  I couldn't stay awake for more than an hour at a time.  Just the thought of taking a sip of water made me gag.  By Thursday night I was so dehydrated the doctor said if I didn't get some fluids in the next few hours I'd have to go to the hospital.  Spending the night in an Indian hospital did not sound like fun!!  so I asked for anti - nausea meds.  My friend Madeline called a chemist and had the meds delivered.  I took one and threw up less than a minute later!!!  That was the last time I threw up so I guess it worked - sort of....

I spent Saturday sleeping - literally could not stay awake.  Would get up to eat a cracker then have to take a nap!!!  I asked Molly and Amanda to walk with me to Pali to get some yogurt so I could get out of the house for a few minutes.  Those 15 minutes wore me out!!!!


Sunday was a little better - I could stay awake for a couple hours at a time - long enough to watch some Christmas movies :)  My math teaching partner and i needed to do some school work and I thought this would be a good test run to see if I would be strong enough to go to school Monday.  I go to school every day, you think it wouldn't be a big deal but today it was!
- I had to walk down the stairs to meet my coworker.
- We had to stand still a few minutes to find an empty rickshaw - i thought I was going to faint.
- Once we got to school I had to walk up three flights of stairs to my class room
- He did all the lifting and moving around. I just sat in a chair and did inventory and rearranged  
    bookshelves.     I had to rest every 15 mintues or so.  It was exhausting!  I managed to walk
    down the hallway to the bathroom without collapsing.  but it was close so I decided it was
     time to go home.
 - this involved the walk down the three flights of stairs.
 - ricks don't come up to the school so we had to walk a few blocks to a busy street
 - the rickshaw ride was a little sketchy so I was a little queasy
- got home and had to walk up four floors to my flat.

Now I do all this without blinking every day, but today - it was a stretch.  I was exhausted and nauseated.
but I did it!!  and am confident that I can teach two classes tomorrow!

I am super hopeful I will be able to enjoy thanksgiving dinner Wednesday night!!

Slums are my Favorite Part of Mumai

Running has been a really big challenge here and I am in no way going to be properly trained for the Mumbai marathon in January.  Since running the actual mileage I am supposed to is not feasible, the best plan I can come up with is to walk alot and on Saturdays I walk 3-4 hours continuously.  That's how long I will have to be on my feet for the race so I am hoping that "training" will help some.

So on Saturdays I usually walk to Juhu beach which takes me an hour or so to get there, then I walk/run on the beach and walk home.  Today's goal was to explore alternate/ shorter ways to Juhu Beach.  that did not happen.  On my exploration, I fell in my favorite experiences here in Mumbai.  I wandered into a slum.  and this one was FANTASTIC.  It was one of the most disgusting ones I've ever been in but the people were great.  Most people are shocked to find out my favorite parts of Mumbai are the slums.  Most people avoid the slums :)  Not me.  I seek them out.  There is a strategy to getting the best experience though.

When I start into a slum I get stared at.  A LOT.  They don't see white people in there often.  If I continue and people are gawking a lot, usually a man that speaks some English will come up to me and ask where I'm going and why I'm there.  They think I'm lost and are trying to help the poor, scared white girl out of the slums.  :)  I thank them and smile and explain I am there on purpose.  Which usually leads to more staring.  So... if I want to be welcomed I usually start showing interest in their livestock.  Today it was a goat community.  They had a lot of goats and they all wanted to show me which one was theirs.  They immediately asked if I had a camera because they wanted picutres of them with their goats.  I did not have my camera with me :(  They didn't believe me - all white people have cameras :)  They asked about my mobile - which they were shocked to find out does not take pictures!!  My friend Andrea says that "If Bobbi Jo gets separated from the group, look for a large gathering of children - you'll find her there"  so true.  You gotta hook the kids first.  If the adults see that the kids like you and that you'll invest time in their kids, they will warm up to you.  There were probably 20-25 kids gathered around me all trying to show me their goat, tell me out their goat, tell me how they fight their goat and who won the latest goat fight :)  They were very proud that they went to school and know English.  I high fived all the kids who said they liked Math.  :)  They told me all their ages and says a man standing nearby was 100 ( He was probably in his late 30s) so they all laughed and I said he looked pretty good for being 100.  That's when a bunch more adults joined the group and became for interested.  I talked with them for a long time and eventually the adults told the kids to let me go.  The "road" was a narrow pathway that seemed to end so I asked where the road is and how i get to Juhu.  The path went behind a building and became far less than a path.  I followed and ran into a couple of other kids who showed me where to go - the older kid said "watch out, very dangerous"  the "path" turned into nothing and you had to walk sideways on these rocks.  He proudly tells me has a goat and asks if I want to see it.  Of course I want to see it!!  :)  so he leads me to another group of people.

They also want to introduce me to all their goats and tell me about the latest goat fight.  The have a goat there that has his horns all decorated and they have me pet him. Some holiday is Monday and they invite me to join them for their festival.  But I have to teach :(  They also want a picture of their goats, I told them I'd come back next Saturday.  They guy said that would be too late.  Apparently this goat is part of the ceremony and will be dinner :)  ha!  I talk to that group for awhile.  The kids are also very proud of their english speaking schools and told me their favorite subjects.  I told them the words I knew in Hindi and they were appreciative.  maybe I will bring my flashcards down there and let them help me with my Hindi.  At some point in the conversation the goat totally butts me in the crotch!!  They said that was his invitation to fight me.  Ha!  bet none of you fought a goat this morning!!!!  ha!!  They asked me if we had goats wandering around in America. Nope.  So this kids asks about chickens, dogs, cows and when I say no to all of them he asks "not even buffalo"  nope.  especiallly not buffalo!!!  Animals don't wander freely in america kiddo - that is why it doesn't permanently smell like feces there!!!!


I think I will go back tomorrow to take pictures before the goats meet their maker :)  maybe I'll play some cricket and fight another goat too :)


Great things about the slums:

People are much more likely to talk to you and explain things (once you hook em)
They are very proud of their education and whatever they do for their livlihood
People are usually a lot nicer than in Banda - the wealthy part I live in
no begging - no one ever asks me for money
no cars or honking - generally not big enough paths for that
You realize that happiness is not dependent upon your income or social status - I meet some of the
           funniest, happiest people in the slums.