Since my last post I have in fact returned home to Sydney. It has been 2 weeks now that I have been back on home soil and there are already times when it feels like the last year has already been packed away in a box. I have to constantly remind myself that it happened. That 2 weeks ago I was in Spain, 4 weeks ago I was in Israel and that 2months ago I was living in South Africa.
For those that didn't follow my journey over the last year I travelled in between 3 continents, 6 countries over the previous 12months. The only part of any of that travelling which was planned in advance was the part where I left my home in Sydney, Australia on the 28th of May 2010 bound for 1 year of volunteer work in South Africa. Not even the return date was completely set. So from South Africa I ended up in Uganda, Malawi, Spain and now for this blog post Israel.
I had been hoping and praying for an opportunity to visit my big sister Melody who has been serving in the I.T department at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel which is the administrative and spiritual centre of the Baha'i Faith. However it was soon becoming apparent to me that this wish of mine was not going to be able to become reality at this point in my life. As I had been doing volunteer work for so long I really didn't have a cent to my name and my parents who had 2 daughters overseas doing volunteer work were not in a position at that time to sent me the cash so I decided that when I arrived home I would work and send myself to Haifa some other time.
When my uncle called me asking if I wanted to see my sister in Haifa and saying that he would help with the ticket I was absolutely overjoyed and when the time finally came to take a 1 week break from Spain and leave for Israel I was enveloped with excitement.
The hardest part about going to Israel is the whole thing, especially when flying with Israel's very own airline El Al. I arrived at the check in counter and the process began. Having flown to Israel 3 times before and having used El Al once before I was more than aware that I would go through the very tedious precautionary procedures. So the first interrogation began... "Where are you going?" "Why?" "Who are you going to see?" "Where does she live?" "Where were you staying in Spain?" "What are you doing here?" "What did you study?" "What does you uncle do for a living?" "Where was he born?" "Where were your parents born?"... etc
Knowing that I have nothing to hide I answered all their questions without complaint and then I was given permission to check in to my flight.
Then came interrogation number 2 which occurs at El Al's private chambers before you board the flight. They took me through all these security doors and in an elevator, I felt like I was on that show Boarder Patrol and they were taking me because they thought I might be bringing something illegal into the country. Here they checked my hand luggage, did a body search of me and ran through all the questions again. I spent about an hour or so hanging out there and the staff were actually really polite, very courteous and as friendly as anyone who is searching your body can be.
Best part of it was getting escorted onto the plane. Now for the part I dreaded, interrogation on arrival at Tel-Aviv airport. I get taken to that little holding room every single time and it is always as a result of the same question; What is your grandfather's name?
This time I had learned a trick from my aunt and that was to say any very middle eastern sounding names with a really western accent. The lady asked me to pronounce my surname which I did in the most Aussie way I could, then the name of my father and I tried my hardest to make Behrooz sound like I could have said Bob but then there is no accent that can make Mohammad Hussein, the name of my grandfather, sound any less sinister in the eyes of a country that is constantly under threat from some fanatic, extremist group fighting in the name of Islam and so I got sent to the room. The room is this small area with a couple of TVs and 2 drink machines and that's where you sit while you wait to be called in for an interview. I have in the past spent over an hour in that room but luckily this time after a few minutes and a repeat of the same questions they let me enter the country.
I was shaking with excitement, couldn't wait to get to Haifa and see the beautiful glow of the Shrine of The Bab again. The entire Baha'i gardens in Haifa is structured around this beautiful Shrine which has always been a place of peace and refuge.
When I did arrive in Haifa it was already dark at only 7pm, this was a contrast to Spain where the sun didn't set till after 9pm. My big sister met me where my taxi dropped me off and we began our first catch up after not seeing each other in 1 year.
Baha'i Gardens- The Shrine of The Bab
Shrine of The Bab
Me and my big sister Mel
Baha'i Gardens
