Nawa's International Traveling Academy

18 Days in India

2010-01-29T16:27:00.000-08:00

It's 8:00 AM, the sun is shining, and the eight of us are squeezing into a seven-seat taxi. Our packs form a colossal pile on top of the car. Half of our group is coming down with what quickly turns into a bad bug that, in the next five days, keeps five of us bedridden. We're just leaving Khajurahu, a small, isolated town, surrounded by rural villages, the closest we'll get to fresh air during our whole trip. As we're jostled along the two-hour car ride, we brace ourselves for another painstakingly long trip on the infamously tardy Indian Railway.

We wait in the crowded, filthy station until 2:00 AM for our 7:30 PM train. We board, successfully locate our sleeper berths amidst the chaos, and settle in. We position ourselves defensively around our backpacks on our bunks. Every time I open my eyes, I find another person overtly staring at me. This goes on until the discomfort overwhelms me; I switch bunks with Leanne, pull a shawl over my face, and finally nod off. We wake the next morning to calls of “Chai… Chai… Chai…” and “Samose! Samose!” as locals walk up and down the aisles at each (annoyingly frequent) stop. Fourteen hours from the time of departure, we finally arrive in Varanasi – the most sacred city in India, on the banks of the Ganges.

The next day, everyone except Leanne, YT, and me was terribly ill. Leanne and I left YT to care for the sick, and we wandered off to explore the ghats. What’s a ghat, you ask? Well, all along the bank, there are steep steps leading down to the water. They’re all jumbled up, they’re chaotic, overrun with people, cows, scrawny dogs, and children. The steps are divided into sections, sort of like the beaches in California – walk another twelve yards and you’re on a different ghat. Teenage boys play cricket right in the middle of everything, men bathe themselves and do their laundry, do everything in this fetid brown water. The Ganges is big. Really big. Then again, I haven’t really seen that many other rivers, unless you count the LA River… (I jest.) Seeing the ghats for the first time is exciting – Leanne and I were nearly giddy. We got down pretty far, down to the main ghat, where the action’s at. Unknowingly, we were steps away from the shopping we had been seeking, when we ran out of time and had to run back to the hostel along the ghats, which was very precarious and tiring.

The next evening, YT was full of energy from having been cooped up, and we got the whole group out on a rowboat. We set out on the river at dusk, heading down to the main ghat to participate in a ceremony at sunset. We were given little bowls made of dried leaves, filled with orange flower petals, and topped with a small candle in a clay dish. We made private wishes on each one as we set them floating down the river behind us, taking part in an act of prayer that people in other boats around us were doing as well. We pulled up to the main ghat to watch the nightly ceremony. The Brahmans (Hindu priests of the highest caste) stood on the steps, chanting, ringing bells, and waving sticks on incense through the air in an enchanting ritual.

By the next afternoon, most of those who were sick were feeling a little better. YT took us down to the “burning ghats,” where the Hindus cremate their dead in funeral pyres of sandalwood, right on the banks of the Ganges. There are many complicated funeral rites and rituals, and different customs for different types of deaths, or for pregnant women or lepers. Hindus from near and far bring their dead here, to the Ganges, to cremate them there or to scatter their ashes in the river. Those who can’t afford to have their family members cremated in a funeral pyre have them cremated in a furnace that is located on the same ghat, high above the bank.

After five days of eating nothing but vegetarian Indian food (in the Hindu tradition) we’re feeling ready to leave Varanasi. Yesterday we arrived back in Delhi after a 24-hour train journey. We can’t stop talking about food. American food. Right now, every one of us would agree that we’d kill for a nice juicy burger and fries and a shake and some ice cream and… oh jeez, I can’t wait! We’re relaxing, enjoying our last day in Delhi, shopping around on the hectic streets that now feel familiar to us. Midnight tonight, our journey home begins.

Today, our eighteen days in India culminates. So, here’s what I have to say about India. It’s crazy. It’s beautiful, filthy, shocking, captivating, unnerving, exasperating, ancient, and rich in culture, tradition, history. It’s everything I expected and a million times more.India will try your patience and test your health, but it will open your eyes. Every day, I saw something new, something I had never seen before. Walking on a street in Delhi or Varanasi is complete, total sensory overload. Sights, sounds, smells (most of them unpleasant) crashing in on you from all directions. It really is, just like its tourism slogan, "Incredible!ndia, incredible".

Right now, I need a break from all the India-ness, a hot shower and some good American food, but one day, someday, I want to come back here. It is the most radically different place from America than any other country we’ve visited, more different than the ones we have yet to visit. Reading about all the wonders and horrors of India or seeing it on a television screen can never compare to experiencing it. It’s a whole new world.

written by: Rachel R., Senior student in our International Academy

Our Experience in India

2010-01-29T16:16:00.000-08:00

Our trip first began after the exhilarating 32 hours of traveling via airplane with a layover in the international city of Hong Kong to get to our final destination, Delhi, India. Our first historic landmark that we experienced was the Red Fort, which was our first taste of Mughal (the dynasty that ruled from the 16th to 18^th century) architecture. As we wandered around the various sandstone and marble buildings, each adorned with intricate lattice work, each wall covered with captivating designs and empty cavities where semi precious stones once shone, we could clearly envision how magnificent it must once have been. That same day we also had the pleasure of witnessing our first Mosque, the Jama Masjid, which is the largest in all of India. Our group was captivated by the elaborate ceilings and the never-ending spiral stairs leading to the top of one of the minarets.

While being in India it was essential to learn about one of the greatest influences of India’s past, Mahatma Ghandi. As we first entered the museum dedicated to Mahatma or “Great Soul” in Hindi, it reflected how he had lived his simple but inspiring life. The walls were covered with what seemed like a picture of every stage in Ghandi’s life, with plaques and speeches, important events and accurate accounts of his famous life. While visiting these fascinating spots, we were taxied about in the most nerve racking vehicles we have ever rode in, called rickshaws. These are three wheeled motorcycles with a covered bench in the back with fearless drivers who intricately weave in and out of congested traffic.

After our three nights in Delhi, it was off to the home of the magnificent Taj Mahal, in Agra. Prior to seeing one of the “Seven Wonders of the World”, we visited Itmad-Ud-Daulah, or known as Baby Taj. This nickname is pretty self explanatory, if you didn’t know any better, you would think the Taj Mahal had shrunk and moved. This structure is built completely out of marble and was a stunning sight to behold. The next day, the group was able to visit Agra Fort, our second of the trip, which was elaborate with its gorgeous Mughal architecture. This fort was so fancy that it would surprise anyone to learn it was used as a prison for Shah Jahan for the last eight years of his life (the shah was the man who had the Taj Mahal built and did not see the end result). Saving the best for last, the Taj Mahal was our next stop. While pushing through the many other tourists, it was immediately clear why the Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the “Seven Wonders of the World”. The jaw dropping sights and perfectly symmetrical design of the Taj Mahal had all of us amazed. But, learning the history of why the Taj Mahal was created was more powerful than the sights. The Taj Mahal was built for Shah Jahan’s wife who died while giving birth to the Shah’s 8th child.

Heading out of Agra, we boarded a train that turned out to be 6 ½ hours late because of fog and arrived around 13 hours later for a supposed eight hour endeavor. While traveling on the sleeper train (which is loaded with collapsible bunk beds) we encountered several native Indians who wanted to practice their English and entertain us with their simple sense of humor. This train took us to Khajuraho, where we visited the most interesting temples so far, as they were based on erotic poses seen in the Kama Sutra. Kama Sutra is also known as the India art of making love and one could just only imagine what these 7 temples were depicting. But our guide made this experience an eye opening one, explaining different meanings behind the intricate carvings.

India so far has been a different experience from any other country we have visited. It is rich with kindness and ancient culture.

Namaste,

Emily H.

Emily is a student in our International Academy

Hola from Ollantaytambo, Peru

2009-12-11T11:39:00.000-08:00

Hola,
Greetings from the International Academy in Ollantaytambo, Peru. I flew into Peru expecting a Latin American country like Mexico, I was immediately proven wrong. Today, we took a bus into the heart of the Andes mountains into a village as secluded as possible which was a three hour drive on dirt roads. As I begin to write this I can not think of words to describe the divine beauty of this land. I had thought that I seen the most beautiful places mother nature had to offer, but once again I was proven wrong. Driving in the back of a flat bed truck ascending the infamous Andes mountains, I could not help but smile at the presence and energy the majestic mountains demand. Giant peaks shadowed the muddy road as sheets of rain stung our faces. I was overwhelmed, too say the least.

The name of this town was " Frio Negro", or Frozen Darkness, located at roughly 13,000 feet and comprised of no more then 10 or 15 stone structures with thatch roof. No electricity or running water, these people live with only the bare essentials. The people who live in these villages can grow little more than potatoes, being as they are one of the only foods on earth that can grow up to 18,000 feet. We brought with us food to feed the local school like bread, tuna, sugar and treats for the school children . The Quechuan students were all no older then 10 years old and their skin was caked with dirt, feet worn tough like that of an old man and noses dripping with snot. In freezing cold weather high in the mountains, they wear no more then pants and small jackets and sandals on their feet.

They had not seen gringo´s since the last time Nawa visited them two years ago. There are N.G.O.s that help feed the poor closer to Ollantaytumbo, but this village is too far out of the way to help. So it was up to us. The International boys played soccer, while the girls prepared the meals and enjoyed the company of the indigenous children. We all hear about starving children around the world, but to most Americans it means absolutely nothing. We are all so comforted, with an unprecedented standard of living that is not rivaled anywhere in the world. Until you can experience something like this for your self , starving children in 3rd world countries won´t mean anything, but an ad on the television. As we left the school, we waved goodbye to the children, knowing that the food we brought them was more then they had had in weeks. Once again we drove up the mountains, but this time the rain stopped, clouds parted and the sun had come out, even rainbows painted the ominous Andes peaks. Soon after a condor flew by ( a symbol of the Ican heavens) and again I smiled for I felt like a good deed had been done, and we were being rewarded. I thought I understood beauty in nature, but now I see nature is beautiful in so many different ways. The Andes were no exception, perfect in their own way; giant, green, lush, and fertile. My words can not explain the true divinity of this land. I wish that all people had the opportunity to experience all the beauty this world has to offer, in whatever form it may be.

Although this was by far the highlight of our time in Peru, it is only one day. We spent a few days in the beginning of the trip in Cuzco, learning about a modern city built on top of the destroyed culture of the Icans. Ancient Ican ruins, conquistadors, and Spanish classes filled our days. After Cuzco we left to Pisac to a extravagant market filled with the finest goods from the Sacred Valley as well as climbed the 1,500 foot ruins. Tomorrow we go to the world famous Manchu Picchu. Our days are full but are filled with the best Peru has to offer.

Adios Amigos,
Casey Rhea,
International Academy Student

test

2009-12-11T11:35:00.001-08:00

this is a test post with edit

International Academy is in Mexico! 3-23-09

2009-03-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

Hola,

Once again the International Academy is off on another adventure that required ten hours of travel to get to Mexico City and the state of Oaxaca.

After some tacos of carnitas in the colonial district and a good chunk of rest the evening we arrived, our group headed out the following day with 25 other travelers from around the globe to see the impressive sights of Mexico City (pop. 20 million) and the surrounding areas. Through our hostel we arranged a tour to take us to Tlaloc or Temple Mayor, the Basilica de Guadalupe and Teotihuacan. Our first stop was the Temple Mayor, which was the Aztec spiritual epicenter in the middle of the capital Tenotichlan that was built on a marsh in the mid to late fourteenth century. We then went to the Mexican Church of Mary where we witnessed the devout passion of Catholicism in this country with men and women walking on their knees to gain entrance into the main cathedral. While riding a moving walkway we gazed at the miracle that Juan Diego brought to the Catholic bishop of that area which was an icon of the Virgin Mary in his poncho. We then headed off to the impressive city of Teotihuacan, which was built between 100 and 600 A.D. We learned of the ancient culture through our impressive cultural guide and were able to climb the third largest pyramid in the world, the Sun Temple (The grandest is Cheopes in Egypt which we witnessed on camel back in December).

The next day we headed to the Museum of Anthropology where we learned about all of the ancient cultures of Meso-America. In all of my years in this job I still can not think of a more impressive piece of art than the Aztec sacrificial slab that is seen on the back of the ten peso coin which is located here. The twelve-foot, 25-ton piece of art is only the centerpiece for one of the most impressive anthropological museums this world has to offer.

We then headed south to the state of Oaxaca de Juarez to the quintessential Mexican city of Oaxaca. Our first day was spent on a scavenger hunt walking the streets in this extremely safe city, asking locals directions to popular tourist sights. In comparison to our first experience with this type of activity, which was in Flores, Guatemala, our students shined with their confidence in the acquisition of the Spanish language. I think a bit of gratitude needs to be given to Kalan for the outstanding job she has done teaching our students how to speak the language.

The following day we went to Mitla, which was a Zapotec spiritual center where we learned about the roots of the famous indigenous pattern, the curling wave, which is found on every South American carpet in the department store World Imports or other stores of that genre. We bartered for masks and other art work of this area as well as rode the local transportation which is called the secondario classe autobus where women dressed in typical Mixtec clothing sat next to our students imploring what they were doing here in the Valley of Oaxaca.

On the day of the Solstice we ventured off to Monte Alban, which is the only archaeological sight on the back of a Mexican monetary note. Our students gazed at reliefs of defeated rival rulers who were castrated when the Zapotec captured them. We also climbed pyramids and participated in spiritual circles on top of the impressive precipices of stone.

Today we went to the market in Tlacalula where our students bartered for hammocks, clothing and rugs as well as ate local street vendor tacos and burritos. We are now working on current Mexican affairs project, which they will present to the class when we head off to Puerto Escondido, where we will complete our novel, Reefer Madness, by Eric Schlosser, as well as learn about illegal immigration in the U.S. After our time at the coast we will migrate back to Oaxaca to write our final research paper and then back to Mexico City for our last night.

Blancito (Whitey)

Back from the Philippines and Off for Ecuador

2009-02-20T14:35:00.000-08:00

After a safe return from the Philippines, our International Academy group is preparing for their departure to Ecuador next Wednesday. Stay posted for updates from their adventures in South America.

Update From Ecuador 2-12-09

2009-02-20T14:33:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

Today is the first time we´ve had internet access since we left Quito. The last week has passed rapidly for us all. We are well and in good spirits. As a group the students continue to demonstrate camaraderie and support one another. Not only is this our opinion, but also a comment that I´ve heard from more that one outsider who has contact with us on the road. We really are becoming competent travelers and a solid group!

The first two days of our trip we laid low in Quito, Ecuador´s capitol city. There we spent two days and three nights at the Secret Garden, a fantastic international traveler´s hostel. Here we slept a lot, started academics and concentrated on getting all group members healthy and ready to dive into the Ecuador experience. One highlight of Quito was meeting up with Dillon´s aunt and uncle. They provided transportation for us to visit the equatorial line followed by a fabulous meal at their home.

Saturday we left Quito and headed north into the high Andean region. Our first stop landed us in the famous indigenous market of Otavalo where we all cleaned out our wallets considerably. The Otavalo region is well known for it textiles and I don´t doubt that more that a few of you will be receiving gifts of this nature. Here in Otavalo we also met up with Paul and Sue, our contacts for the next four days in Pimampiro.

Paul and Sue are the founders and directors of Mountains of Hope, a non-profit that promotes education in Pimampiro (look at their website www.mtnsofhope.org for more info). They are partnered with Colegio Artenesal, a middle-school aged all girls textile trade school. It is hard to express in a short paragraph how much dedication and love they have for this village and people here. In reality, they have instigated incredible changes within the school and community and are accepted readily by the locals. One of their most important projects is a sponsorship opportunity for folks in the states to sponsor one of these girls for a year of school, costing only $125. Only primary education is free in Ecuador resulting in many children to working in the fields along side their parents at the age of 11 or 12.

While in Pimampiro we had no internet access. They don´t even have a postal system, which is why we've been out of communication since we left Quito. From an educator´s standpoint this added immensely to the experience by keeping us in the here and now. The city sits perched on a mountain hillside at 5000 ft and is surrounded by higher peaks. The slopes are green and lush at this time of year and patch work of agricultural plots extend high up on the ridges and into the valleys. Most people here make their livings through agriculture. Most make no more that $6 a day.

Our first day in PP we formed a minga, the qechuan word for work party. Danila, an 11 yr old girl lives with her seven brothers and single mother in an adobe house. They needed help hauling mud brick from a field to build an addition onto their home. Our many hands truly made the work light. Her sons, some as young as 5 and 6 worked hard along side us. Watching these small children carry stones nearly half their weight encouraged us to work harder. Two hours later, as we ate the empanadas the mother made for us, we felt a sense of true accomplishment.

Monday morning we awoke early to arrive at the Colegio. Today would be our much anticipated home stay experience with local students. The school welcome ceremonies included dance and song and much obvious warmth and welcome. Our students had prepared music and a puppet show to perform for the girls, all of which was well received. Several highlights of the ceremonies included the school director demonstrating the Afro-Ecuadorian bottle dance and Dillon rapping. Following the ceremonies our students mixed with the school kids for relay races and then lunch. During lunch a lottery was held to determine which of our students would go to which home.

From here I´ll let the words of your son´s and daughter´s describe their home stay experiences:

¨We met with our host students in the center of town and we all went in the direction of their houses. The girl who I stayed with lived in a community that is 5,000 feet higher than the school she goes to. We traveled in a truck and it took us about a full hour to get to our destination. The scenery around us was incredibly beautiful and entertaining. On the sides of the mountains we could see cows, pigs, sheep, horses and more. I also saw a lot of old people who dressed in traditional Ecuadorian clothing and they were constantly working on their fields on the sides of the hills next to all of their animals. It was amazing to see how successful their agriculture could be at such a high elevation. All of the crops were planted by hand, and it seemed impossible to plant that much without machines.¨ Stephanie D.

´We ate dinner which was soup with a chicken leg in it. We stayed up a while talking about American politics and Barrack Obama. To my surprise, my Spanish is good enough to carry on a conversation about politics. After I heard what they thought about the President of Ecuador we went to bed, which was a wooden frame with a sheet. ´ Tess G.

¨My home stay was an awesome experience of how happy a family can be. They were content with everything they had and simply loved each other unconditionally. The two younger sisters were so cute with their little hand games and play kitchen set. I have to admit it was awkward at first because my Spanish was rusty but gradually it was refined and I was able to engage in simple conversation. The sisters would hold my hand and count to three as we walked and jump and I would lift them up into the air. The smile from the whole family warmed my hart and made me feel like family. ¨ Dillon F.

¨I hope that I had the same impact on these people s they had upon myself. I came to the realization that we are all the same people. Our skin color and culture may vary but we all have the same blood, we are people of the Earth. After this home stay experience I feel that I can relate more the Andean people that I could of before. I´m not going to say that I have seen life through their eyes, but I do feel as if I have empathy for them. As a middle class American, they would say that I am rich. I would also say the same about them, not in a monetary sense but a cultural sense. They will forever be in my heart. Andreas, Stephanie and the baby girl are the salt of this earth.¨ Clay B.

¨Later I found their miniature Guinea pig pen. I was so fascinated by it because they are used as food, not as pets. I found one that I like a lot and it took 20 minutes to catch him. They are fast and they make funny noises. After dinner, I helped the father fix their power. We redid some wires. Sparks flew everywhere when we turned on the breaker and so we did a little more adjustment. We eventually got the power fixed and the family could watch TV.¨ Chris W.

¨My homestay in Ecuador was so different than anything I have seen. The house I stayed at was made out of cow dung and smelled like dead cow. Down the road I saw nothing but dirt and rock. When I went to the kitchen it was dark and cold with a little fire pit. For dinner we ate some kind of soup that was the best I have ever had. When it was time for bed I laid in my bed that was as hard as a rock but I had lots of blankets next to me. When I was going to bed I could imagine what life would be like to live as a true Ecuadorian: not having running water and always picking your food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have so much respect for them doing everything and anything.¨ Michelle C.

As you can see the homestay was an unforgettable experience for all and the definite highlight of our stay in PP. But Paul and Sue had one more surprise up their sleeve for us, well actually two! After we had rested and cleaned up from our homestay´s we piled into local transportation and rode for an hour high into the mountains. Our destination was Rigoberto´s farm for a fresh trout lunch. All I will say is that the food was incredible. Post lunch he rigged up his four year old bulls and gave us a plowing demonstration. Brian and Chris both had a chance to try it out, or rather the bulls had a chance to try them out as they were dragged behind the powerful animals trying to keep the metal plow blade in the earth. We left suitably amazed that this farmer, Rigoberto, can produce such bounty from his farm which clings to the mountain side.

The last surprise involved an orange leaf. After dinner, our goodbye party got under way with Las Tres Marias, an African-Ecuadorian music group from down the road. The three sisters we 70, 67 and 64 years old and their adult sons played the drums, the cheesegrater and the leaf. Such music we had never heard and it rocked our souls and moved our feet. Ruben has vowed he will learn to play the leaf since oranges are so plentiful in Florida.

Yesterday we spent 10 hours on the bus to arrive here in the Amazon Basin. We are in the city of Tena which will be our jumping off point for jungle exploration and rafting. You´ll hear about our upcoming adventures when we return to Quito next Tuesday. We hope you are all well.

More later,

Kalan

Adventuras en Ecuador

2009-02-20T14:26:00.000-08:00

Last update for Ecuador, 2009

The last update was written in the high mountain village of Pimampiro. After a truly wonderful experience in Pimampiro we took an all day bus ride to Tena. Tena is on the outskirts of the Amazon river watershed where the Jatunyacu river, a tributary of the Amazon, flows through the middle of town. In Tena we stayed at the Welcome Break Hostel. It was a very nice hostel. During our stay in Tena we explored the town for two days.

After a few days of exploring Tena, we headed to the small village of Shandia where Dillon's uncle has done some missionary work with the local people. We arrived a few hours before lunch, so we were led by a few local children to the local swimming hole on the river. After crossing a small river we arrived at the Jatunyacu river where the brave members of the group went swimming and floated down the river. When we were done swimming the local school children were waiting to play us in a friendly game of soccer. However our skills weren't good enough to conquer the opposition. At the end of the day we hopped in our taxis and returned to the hostel.

The next day we were all excited to head off into the jungle. After arriving at a bridge spanning across the Jatunyacu river we got out of our taxis and got ready to make the journey to our hostel deep in the jungle. We all got on our rubber boots and put on our backpacks and prepared ourselves for a fifteen minute journey through muddy trails to our hostel. After having some relaxation time, we went on a jungle tour with a native Quechuan guide. He showed us what the rainforest has to offer in medicinal plants, and how to use them. Many of us were complaining about the mosquitos in the jungle so our guide broke open a termite nest and told us to rub them all over our arms. We all thought it was a very odd thing to do, but it is his home and the mosquitos seemed to bother us no longer.

For lunch we headed to a local shaman's house where we prepared talapia with a palm heart. We wrapped it in palm leaves and cooked it on coals until the leaves were blackened, it was delicious. After lunch we returned to our hostel and had some time for academics. A few of us who were done with academics were brave enough to go swimming in the river while it was raining . We had a delicious dinner of spaghetti and chicken and after dinner we had time to do more academics and prepare for the next day of river rafting.

The next morning we all awoke awaiting a 26km day of class 3+ river rafting, the rafting was described as world class by YT. On our rafting experience we stopped three times to see the amazing sights in the amazon rainforest. One of the three sights was an amazing canyon which was virtually untouched by humans where we got to sample lemon ants which were quite lemony. After tasting the lemon ants we continued floating down the river and when we finished rafting Kalan treated us to some ice cream.

Shortly after we returned back from rafting we had dinner and then we headed to a shaman's house to see a demonstration of how he diagnoses sickness. Ruben was picked to have the ceremony demonstrated upon him. However, it was dark in the shaman's house so we couldn't see much. Ruben described it as a once in a lifetime experience. He said, "who can say that they have had their head bitten by a shaman in the rainforest." After our shamanic experience we went back to our hostel and got ready for our bus ride the next day to Quito. Kalan planned a stop at some amazing hot springs in the middle of our bus ride. The hot springs were amazingly beautiful and there were pools of water ranging in temperature from warm to scalding. After enjoying the hotsprings for about 3 hours we got back in the bus and drove to the Secret Garden hostel in Quito where we stayed for three nights and finished all of our academics. This trip has been an amazing cultural experience .

Written by Clay B.

Egypt - final update

2008-12-16T21:09:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone –
We are now back in Cairo, and the students are taking final showers, packing their belongings and gifts for safe travel, reviewing their pictures, and preparing for the long journey home. Although we stuff our bags tightly, we have all found room to carry our most prized possession – the incredible memories of this beautiful country and its beautiful people. We are all leaving Egypt with a deeper understanding of its rich ancient history, its struggle to operate in the modern world, and the pivotal role Islam plays in everyday society.
Since our last update, we have visited what is believed to be the largest single religious structure in human history (Karnac Temple), the infamous Valley of the Kings (home of the ancient burial sites of many of the Pharaohs), explored the West Bank of Ancient Thebes, ridden in a felucca (traditional Nile sailboat), had a spectacular cultural exchange with some local Egyptians, and watched the sunset over the Red Sea, the Eastern Desert, and the Sinai Peninsula.
Fully explaining the impact of this trip on the International Academy is better saved for the in-person exchanges you will soon be having with your young adult, but until then, I hope that some of the following quotes can satiate your interest for news while only whetting your appetite for the tales that will be told over the upcoming holiday…..

“Today we went on a felucca ride on the Nile River. We went on the boat, and watched the crew work the sails and rigging. Since it was a simple sail boat they had to pull us out of the port with a rope by hand. We eventually got into the open river, but there was very little wind….”
- Chris W.

“…after that we went to this huge, and I mean “HUGE” temple called Karnac Temple. There were 134 huge pillars but I only counted 124, but these pillars were massive…. The temple had so many relics you felt like you were in a giant outdoor museum… and on the pillars there was a lot of graffiti that was done by Napoleon’s men….” - Brian F.
“…The last archaeological site we went to was the Valley of the Workers. That place was amazing, especially since the tombs looked like they were painted yesterday, for it was so vibrant in color that it just made you say “wow.” - Brian F.

“Egypt is a developing country and I have seen the poverty only from a bus or train window. This country’s economy is dependent on tourism – without it, Egypt would just be another struggling African country….” - Kyle J.

“In one entire day I think I was told ‘Welcome to Egypt’ over 50 times.” - Kyle J.

“…I had trouble believing that all of these amazing structures and stories we have been seeing and learning about were real until I was able to actually see the mummies and the human sides of the Pharaohs as displayed by Tutmosis III’s spiteful response to his step-mother’s manipulative suppression of his right to the throne.” - Ruben B.

“…The thought of seeing an ancient wonder of the world left me with the feeling of butterflies in my stomach, though by the end of the day I felt as if someone had dropped an anvil upon my head. The sights I stood in front of have forced me to rethink my opinions I held for the people in the ancient times. I was truly speechless, insignificant against this stone wonder which stood before me as it had when it was built 3000 years ago. I feel that it will sure remain when I depart this world. My thoughts have reordered themselves - since that day and I now give the ancient people my respect….” - Tim G.

“ …The old faded wall lamp shines brightly, casting light over all within the room. The old rotting wood closet tucked into another corner of the room nests a leaning dresser, for two legs were built a bit longer than the others. Pictures lean out from the thinly painted walls of the room, as if threatening to jump on to whoever gets too close. My bed, of the three in the room, creaks and moves as I shift positions…” – Tim G.

As you can see by the excerpts from student writing, the sights and sounds of both ancient and modern Egypt have made an indelible impression on all of us. These are just small portions of the stories, pictures, and memories we are bringing home, and we all look forward to sharing more when we get there.
Happy Holidays and We’ll See You Soon from everyone on the International Academy

- Jake Weld

Greetings From Egypt

2008-12-15T14:58:00.001-08:00

International Academy writes us from Egypt, 12-9-08

Salam,
Our group is now in Luxor, known in ancient Egypt as the capitol city of Thebes. From our roof-top dining terrace we over look the famed Nile river and Valley of the Kings, where we will be touring on Sunday. We arrived here yesterday morning after a 10 hour night train from Cairo. Since then we have been resting, exploring the city and concentrating on academics. Below are excerpts from student's journals chronicling our last two days in Cairo. As you will read, the imagery of those two days remains vividly engraved.

Eid El Adha: Islamic Holiday of Sacrifice
"Today was one of the biggest Muslim holidays.Everyone in Egypt was sacrificing cows and goats.They were walking around with blood all over their shirts and hands. It smelled like dead animals through out the streets but everyone was as happy as can be while they celebrated the day Abraham was put to a test to sacrifice his son Ishmael....When the day turned into night we got back on the metro. I had an experience of a life time. People ran on and ran off, one kid even opened the door while the metro was about to take off and jumped out. Once we got back to the hostel I went to eat. While eating I saw a cat looking at me for scraps of my food. So I tossed a little here and there, 'cause it's a holiday and cats need food as well." -Michelle Cvitanovich

"We traveled to a really weird part of town. We saw kids dressed up in white robe things with blood smeared all over them. As we kept on traveling we saw a bunch of kids playing drums. They danced towards us and we started to dance also. A kid also turned on some English rap which was pretty cool and it was different from the rap we know. Kids were standing all around us, asking so many questions." -Brian Fazio

Coptic Christian Cairo
"The Coptic district of Cairo was an intense look into the early stages of Christian development. The churches, the people, the tombs, the steeple: All of which shared their strong connection to the history of one of the most powerful faiths in the world...Each individual Church of the Coptic district was so unique. The most striking thing for me was the art depicting different religious idols, who were all white skinned." -Ruben Backer

"The Coptic district in Cairo was such a historical experience. We walked in the streets of the walled in city and I was surrounded by religion...We met little kids and left them with huge grins and facts about Obama. They followed us as two of the bigger kids filled the neighborhood with the sweet noise of conga drums. We took a walk to the church. Walking in was comparable to that of walking back in time. Women and children were walking around kissing statues and lighting candles. After we left the church we walked in the cemetery. Street after street were filled with huge burial houses. After paying our respects to the dead we got on the subway and headed back to our hotel"
-Tess Gallagher

Old Muslim District: The Bazaar
A short taxi trip and we were in the old Muslim part of town which had a huge bazaar. Inches of dirt covered the streets. In some places you couldn't even see the tiles of the streets below. The Egyptians have a garbage disposal like we at home do, but theirs is a little different. They burn theirs which makes a terrible smell. It's not just burning plastic and paper that make this smell but also animal carcases and diseased fruit and cats roaming around." -Chris Hayden

We are all doing well and for the most part in good health and spirits. We'll write more on Sunday evening after our visits to the temple of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.

Salam,
Kalan and the crew

International Academy in Egypt

2008-12-15T14:39:00.000-08:00

December 7, 2008
Greetings from Cairo.
Tonight is the eve of Eid El Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, the Islamic holiday, which commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his only son to God (Ishmael in the Muslim tradition, his half-brother Jacob according to Jews and Christians). Almost the entire Muslim world will come to a halt, as families all over the region make sacrifices of lamb, goat, cow, or chicken. Food is shared within the family, but the best cuts of meat are given to the poor, as a reminder of those in need. As we traveled through Cairo today domesticated animals seem to have flooded this bustling city of 22 million, bringing modern Egypt momentarily into her pastoral and religious roots.
We, too, spent the day traveling back in time. As travelers have done for thousands of years we mounted a caravan of camels, the early morning light casting the long shadows of our silhouettes across the edge of the Sahara. The camels led us, rocking and swaying, through the ever-shifting dunes and into the heart of the Giza Plateau and to the feet of the Great Pyramids. From there, we traveled on foot to the Sphinx, marveling at the size, complexity, architectural and engineering masterpieces that are nearly 4500 years old. The rest of the day saw us traveling south, up river (the Nile, of course), through the enormous burial complex, physically tracing the evolution of architecture and engineering back in time, from the advanced symmetry and symbolism of the Great Pyramids to the earlier building efforts of the Red Pyramid, the Step Pyramid, and other, more primitive mounds and temples. We saw the invention (almost 5000 years old) of the use of stone as a building material, and walked among what is left of the first stone columns ever constructed to support a ceiling – still so primitive the columns were attached to the wall, in case they weren’t strong enough. The walk through history included steep descents into the bowels of pyramids, where we explored false chambers and burial rooms, witnessing the first-ever vaulted ceilings constructed of cut granite, breathing the stale air of the fortified tombs of Egypt’s greatest god-kings.
None of the pyramids of the complex hold their treasure, other than what could not be chipped from the walls. Those great antiquities are found in the Egyptian Museum of Cairo, where we spent the yesterday readying ourselves for Giza. We wandered the galleries admiring the fascinating artifacts, monolithic sculptures, ancient knickknacks, intricate beadwork, fine silver and gold, and sarcophagus so thick with hieroglyph that it boggled the mind. We saw the artifacts of King Tut, the possessions of the kings from almost all of the ruling dynasties, and of course, the mummies. Blackened, shrouded, but miraculously preserved, the mummies lived for us in the museum, a testament to the success of their ultimate goal of immortality.
Cairo has been a study in the hustle and bustle of the developing world. Massive, smoggy, and crowded, burdened with high unemployment and a 50% illiteracy rate, and yet, the Egyptians are wonderfully hospitable, inviting, and encouraging. They smile easily, often, and much, and more than once a friendly English-speaking Egyptian has gone blocks out of his way just escort us to a landmark, museum, or across the street. Hospitality is a well-refined art in a country that has been a crossroads nation for her three neighboring continents for almost all of human history.
Every day we are treated to the Call to Prayer, which echoes from minarets five times a day, calling the faithful to take a moment from the bustle of the day to face east, toward Mecca, and pray. Men unroll neat carpets, perform ritual washings, and kneel down to Allah. We have come to enjoy, even look forward to this daily ritual, but today was perhaps the most moving. As we stood 30 meters up the face of the Red Pyramid, watching the sun sink lower in the sky, again shedding long shadows over the barren stretches of the Sarah and the Giza Plateau a refreshingly cool breeze carried the muezzin’s melodic chanting, calling us all to stop, to sit, and to absorb the wonder of Egypt.
Jake Weld