I am back in Canada

Yup I am back to the country of the Maple leave and into the province with no Maple trees whatsoever. Sometimes I feel guilty for loving Canada so much but then again I feel guilty every time I eat ice-cream.
But let me tell you about the one thing I do not feel guilty about. I do not feel guilty for enjoying the company of the bestest friends in the world.
With two of them I went hiking another day. Ones we got to Rockies it started to rain very badly and we got kind of lost. We hardly got out of the car; except just long enough for me to take this picture of them. Have you ever had friends with whom it is great to be together even when everything goes wrong? I would not traded this afternoon spend with them even for the very best planed vacation. Friends make life just a little bid more bearable, don’t you think.
Another day I was talking on the phone with one of my other friend in Toronto. As I was listening to her wrong opinion on the war in Lebanon, I realized that I love Canada not because of its money or nature or even climate. I love Canada because some of the very best people I have ever met live in the country of the Maple leave and in the province with no Maple trees whatsoever.

Sout Africa report # 16

In 2 days I will be leaving South Africa. There is a saying that they kept repeating to me since the day I came. “When you will leave Africa your heart will remain here.”
It appears that this saying is true.
There will be many things I will miss from South Africa – People, culture, and nature. But let me tell you about the one thing that will be in my heart forever as long as I will think of this place. It is African sunrise.
Imagine early morning and as far as your eyes can see the horizon is stretching in front of you. All sky and ground and trees are coloured in all the shades of red. All nature seems to become suddenly quiet; noises of the night disappear in this sea of red. Animals and trees in total silence are anticipating this miracle of the new day. When you begin to think that it cannot become more red new shades of red paint heavens in the new thickness of scarlet. And then suddenly it appears. The disk of sun as big as horizon, bright yet gentle to your eyes, majestic and gigantic in its redness comes to bring a new beginning for all who are waiting for it while holding their breath. Now I understand why Egyptians worship this star and pharaoh started his day with the ritual of worship. When you look at African sun so powerful and glorious it is possible to confuse creation with its creator.
As soon as sun steps over the horizon heat waves start to elevate from the ground. Another moment and trees, antelopes and even flies will start the run of a new day. But this one moment just before the nature comes to life is the spirit of Africa and that is what I want to remember about this place.

South Africa report # 15

Sometimes things happen that are worthy of sit-com. This story is almost too funny to be true.But first let me apologise fo my spelling, this computer did not have a spell check.I am known in this area as a foreigner who likes to learn and participate in cultural traditions and ceremonies.One day I was invited to go to visit a village not far from the one I am staying at.There I met this man and we were sitting in his hut and tolking about the local traditions and life. Eating traditional African food - microwaived Pica. But let me tell you about this initiation ceremony which I did not know about when I was tolking to this man.At the age of 14-17 young men are led to the forest (they call it bushes) and there they are being tested, phisicly abused and humiliated to make them stronger and at the end of this they get sircumsised right there in the bushes. One of the 5 men usualy dies of infection and never comes back. But house who do are considered to be a men. Local people call this "going into the bushes". I did not know about this ceremnoy at the time when I was talking to this African man. So we are sitting at his house and he is telling me about the Africa I am telling him about the things I experienced so far.Then he askes me, "Have you been in the bushes?"I am thinking that he is refering to some kind of walk in the forest so I say, "Oh yes, several times!"Man looks at me funny and says, "Oh I know, my son wasn't able to do it with the first time either, only with his second time he managed to do it."Now I am thinking what so dificult about the walk in the bushes."I loved it," I say to that man, "In fact I am planing to go there again in a week or so!"Now the man is confused. He is thinking about going into the bushes and be sircumsised. How can this white guy like it?"When did you go into the bushes?" he asks me."A couple of days ago," I said to him."Are you in pain?" he asks me again."A little bit sore, but other than that I am ok," I am referingto my blisters.Now the man looks at me like I am not saying the truth.At this point the friend of mine who took me to this man is laughing so hard I was getting woried about his life.He said something in local language and the old man started to laugh as well.Only on our way home he explained to me what was going on.I was thinking but what if in stead of asking if I have been there he would ofer me to go into the bushes and I would say yes becasue of my ignorance.