31 May 2007

Lena - Egypt & Italy


Egypt was interesting. It was the one country where none of us had any idea what to expect there. We went and saw the Pyramids and for me it wasn't all that it's cracked up to be, personally I didn't see what the big deal was. But it was mind blowing to think that they accomplished such amazing architecture that long ago and that it lasted for so long.

Going to Bahariya Oasis was really worthwhile, we connected with some really nice people who were doing good things with the environment. Staying one night in the desert was also interesting, though I kept on expecting to see the sea over the next hill because of the sand. Ha! And after vowing never to spend another night sleeping on sand, here I found myself sleeping on the sand yet again. I had a pretty good sleep though. I know I shouldn't but nothing compares to staying on the beach in New Zealand, not even the desert.

At Sekem we also did some really good interviews. The teacher that we interviewed said that at home his children each have a special role to play. One is the Minister for Electricity and has to make sure that lights that aren't being used are switched off and the other is the Minister for Water and makes sure that everyone uses the water ecologically. I thought it was such a cool way to educate children in a way that is fun and interesting for them.

Well after 3 ½ months our whole family is all back together. Emma came and met us in Milan. It was kind of weird at first because we had been apart for so long and so much has happened in that time, but now it's all good. In Rome we got to go see the Colosseum for free because it was cultural week, that was awesome. It might just have been because there were so many people there at the time, but it was smaller than I imagined, maybe because it's a ruin; it would have been magnificent when it had just been finished. We also stumbled across the place where Julius Caesar was cremated. Rome has so many layers; all the different people who have lived there left a mark, and in places like the Colosseum, you can feel it is just so old. I know now what people mean when they say that New Zealand is still a young country in comparison.

Right now we are staying in lovely little place looking over a valley in the region of Umbria. For the first time since we left NZ we get to cook our own meals and are staying in a homely place. It's been so good just to relax as well even though we've gone out almost every day to explore around the area.

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