Day 1 in Luxor

It's almost 1:00am in Aswan, Egypt and I'm paying $10.00 an hour to use the ships computer to write. This blog might be expensive, but I feel the need to write it. Above all things, I am an expressive woman. I feel the unrenting need to share myself with the world, regardless if the world wants to hear it. Needless to say, this leaves me with the feeling that more and more-- writing is my passion. I don't care about sleeping---I won't even be able to shut my eyes until I've had at least a few minutes to type! Moving on.....

I'm so blessed.

Everyday I am aware of my blessings. A year ago, I made choices that left me crossing the line of life and death and almost killed me. Choices that put me in a hospital bed next to a man who's response was not "I love you" but rather "thanks a lot, now my Saturday is ruined". My life has never been so terrible in the comparison to others, in fact--I've always been blessed. But it was in those few moments of my life that I was so wrapped up in pain that I couldn't see straight---that I failed to see the beauty in my own future. It's now just one week after my 24th birthday and I'm visiting my third foreign country for the year. If you would have told that girl in the hospital bed that she'd be here now.....well, I would have never believed you!!! I'm so blessed, blessed, blessed...which is just another reason in which why I praise God for having a much better plan than me!!!! :)

Egypt is unbelievable! I have so many thoughts about this country. Right off the bat, I'd say that I'm a little sad over it. I'm sad to see how everything has a price. Children, pride, the most scared of historical sites, etc...they will all go for a price. Everyone needs to make a buck and they go to whatever lenghts to make it. Yesterday, a guard inside the Valley of Kings told Ryan and I to jump the the guardrail and go inside the tomb. The guard didn't tell us this because he could tell we were fanscinated by the history, he let us becaue he wanted the tip he'd get went we came out. There we were in all our sweaty glory; hot, inside of the tomb, next to the hieroglyphics, living a apart of history--- and all I could think was how this guard cared nothing for the scaredness of the site but for the two euros he wanted from each tourist.

Yesterday's agenda consisted of going to the Al-Deir Al-Bahari Temple, learning how to make alabaster, touring The Valley of the Kings (were we paided extra for King Tut's tomb---FYI: not impressive), relaxing for a few hours, and then taking a carriage ride through Luxor.

Ryan is all about the momuments and pictures while I'm all about learning about the people and writing in my journal. Thus, it's no surprise that my favorite thing of the day was riding in a horse carriage. The carriage ride took us along Karnak and into the city/villages of Luxor. I swear to God, I have never worked in my life like the kids work here. I have never had to suffer, stress, or want---like the people do here. I almost feel sick at times, sick to be on this cruise ship and enjoying a vacation when little kids chase down carriages to make fifty cents. We think we have poverty in America---but I've never seen anything like this. It's strange though, to be apart of this vicious cycle. A cycle where tourists come with ther dreams of history, statutes, and pryamids while children depend on them in order help their family.

I have so much more to say, but I'm exhausted and have to be up in 4 hours. Unlike my Itlay trip, I've been hand journaling so I'll be able to write more later. Unfortunatley, I cannot upload photos now---but I will when I can.