On holidays in the Middle East

20 odd years ago I lived in Israel for a year. Working as a volunteer in a Kibbutz appealed to me with its easy going carefree approach to life. I was in my late teens, blond, blue eyes, alone and had no other concern than showing up at work on time. Other than that I was taken care of. No bills, no deadlines, I handed my clothes in at the laundry service, I showed up at mealtimes, I was given free alcohol and cigarettes (if I wanted any), there was a pool available and if I did not want to take the bus (which then was an easy and convenient way to travel) a car was provided if I ever wanted to go somewhere. I had a good and carefree life with perks noone could sneer at or brush aside as trifling.

Two years ago I took my family back to the Middle east. My kids were 2, 8 and 14 years old. I thought I was going to familiar grounds. That I was going to show where I spent a year of my life totally different from the life I have here.

My kids were so impressed by the temperature, the beaches, the food in the restaurants, the vivid people and friendly attitude. My sons got their hair ruffled by almost every person who passed us by, complimented with a smile, and I had to explain to them that it is still not common to see natural light blond people in Israel.

However: what impressed the kids the most was how we could walk around in a museum, go diveing with dolphines, wander about in some historic ruin and then end up in an amusementpark. Just within short distance and hardly any travellingtime at all. And for this reason they wanted to go back this year as well. When children that different in age agree on something a mother is thankful, and to me Israel is the ideal country to go on a holiday.