Cruzin' with the Druzim...:)

World Traveler Sahar

Last year when I arrived to my first period class, usually only minutes before the starting bell, one student always awaited me there in the hall. Sahar Farraj was one of two exchange students I had last year at Kapa'a High School, and she was always the first to come into my class, usually full of questions.


The mother picking grapes



Sahar was very hard-working, and could write and speak in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. I asked her if she was Jewish or Muslim. She replied that she was neither--she was Druze. I had never heard of the Druze people, or the Druzim as you say in Israel. Upon researching them, I found that they were an Arab-descended people who practice a closed religion. They believe in a mix of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. And since they believe in reincarnation, they think everyone had a chance to join their religion a thousand years ago, so there is no need to go accepting converts now.



Beautiful sisters, Shorok and Hala



Sahar's sister and brother-in-law BBQ-ing



Upon arriving in Israel I had the distinct pleasure to visit Sahar's family. I found them to be the warmest and most hospitable family I had ever stayed with. They showered me with gifts, including olives from their own tree, their own olive oil, olive soap, toiletries, Druze pita; they even held a barbecue in my honor at one of their religion's holy sites, the burial site of Yitro, Moses' father-in-law.

I found the Druze people highly educated, refined, and very inquisitive. Sahar's dad is a retired high school teacher; her mom, famous for her baking in the Arab village of Rama, in northern Israel.  They invited me to live with them; which sadly I could not do, as I have things to do in Jerusalem and later in the Negev. But their food was amazing, and their hospitality legendary, so wistfully I look forward to staying again with this lovely, warm family on the heights of the little village of Rama. :) Saha! ;)



View from their rooftop in Rama



Recipes from the Road

Along the way I have tasted sumptious gastronomical delights, snapped pictures of delicious meals, and highlighted cultural staples and noveau culinary twists. Here are a few recipes from some of my hosts that I thoroughly enjoyed! Bon Appetit! :)

Cool Cucumber Soup
(from my Parisienne hosts the Elmer's)

• Grate 2 cucumbers, and mix with half-pint single cream
• 2 small tubs natural yoghurt
• 1 clove garlic crushed.
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons chopped mint

Leave to cool for at least 2 hours, and decorate with sprigs of mint or gherkins before serving.

Jerusalem Salad
(from my Northern Irish hostess)

• 6 tomatoes diced
• 1 cucumber diced
• 2-4 carrots diced
• 1 bunch spring onions diced
• Garlic diced
• 2 lemons juiced
• Flat parsley
• Mint
• Dill
• Cilantro
• Salt and Pepper
• Olive Oil
• 1 small red chili pepper

Leave it overnight to marinate, eat it for breakfast! or lunch or...;)

Pavlova
(from Parisienne hosts)

• Make meringue base:-
• Whisk till really stiff 3 egg whites.
• Stir in 3 ounces castor sugar or icing sugar.
• Spread mix over a greased papered tray to make a flat circle with higher edges, (like a saucer)
• Bake in very low oven until dry, 3-4 hours

Just before serving spread with fresh cream and put fresh fruit on top. Red or black fruits look best. If necessary cook the fruit and pour the juice over at the very last minute before serving.


There will be more recipes again soon! Enjoy!

pavlova mmm...

Where East meets West--Berlin, Germany

Germany--did I really want to go? Biergartens, Volkswagens, Birkenstocks...I knew so little about this country beyond its WWII history, and I felt little attraction to explore it. I think I had a very real bias against it, due to Nazi history. But what I did find was delightful and encouraging! Germany was actually one of my favorite places to visit!
First, I was touched by the beautiful hilly terrain I encountered on the train from France. It was sweeping and green, with darling hamlets nestled under green mountains. As well, I was suprised to find people looking like the people I had grown up with in the Midwest. The area where I had grown up in Missouri was settled predominantly by Germans. Many of the last names I saw in Germany were the same as my neighbors back in Cape Girardeau, MO!
Not to be left out, their bread is amazing. It is actually a real food group, unlike the refined white stuff so typically consumed in the United States. It was hearty, rich and brown. They have 300 kinds of bread in Germany, and I wanted to try all of them!

And lastly, most critically, I feel an openness in Germany; as if they have dealt with the past and are coming out better on the other side! It seems there are good things for this next generation! I am excited!

In Berlin, I was met by a smiling face I knew! Lea, who had been a student in my second period class this past year on Kaua'i, was there to greet me. She is from Berlin, and had been an exchange student on Kaua'i her junior year. Seeing her was so refreshing; I was overjoyed! From that point on, I experienced complete happiness.
We went out to eat in an Italian restaurant on the corner from where I was staying. The pasta was homemade, and oh so ono(delicious!) We split a dinner, and to my suprise, she ordered an alcoholic beverage for herself! Apparently, the drinking age in Germany is 16, and it is no problem for kids her age to order a beer. Her drink was beer mixed with raspberry juice, some drink peculiar to Berlin itself.

the symbol on the pedestrian crossing lights

The next day we started early. She planned our route to maximize our time in the only day I had in this great city.

at the Wall

Compared to London and Paris, the streets and public transportation are relatively uncrowded. The s-bahn and u-bahn (above and below ground trains) were easy to use, and were never standing room only. For 6 euros, we could ride the public transit all day. She took me to the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, the Parliament Building, the Great Synangogue, and to the Holocaust Museum and Memorial. It was 100 degrees but we had so much fun!
Then we relaxed by the river, in an area where locals cruise in the afternoons under shade trees.  For dinner, she took me to a popular square where kids her age like to hang out, and we tried real German fare for our last meal together.

the Great Synagogue

By evening, I had worn my young tour guide out! We said our goodbyes, and she returned to east Berlin, and me to my little hotel on the west.
I so look forward to seeing my sweet hostess again, and enjoy the wonderful food and beautiful vistas of this progressive country. Auf Wiedersehen! :) Shaloha, Heather

real German fare, beef rouladen

Memorial to Europe's Murdered Jews

From Hawai'i to FRANCE!

I left Ireland from Dublin on a jet from Ryan Air. Flying on Ryan Air is an adventure in itself. Their new baggage requirements came into effect the day I first flew on them. To check a second bag now cost over 100 American dollars! I wish you could have seen me, I was wearing half my luggage, or as much as I could put on and fill in pockets, to get down to one checked bag, one carry on (and that includes purse!)

I arrived in the small southern town of Carcassonne. Next to me on the flight was a Moroccan couple, who kindly offered me a ride to my fortress abode.
My hostel was nestled atop the mountain overlooking the city, surrounded by a fortress wall! For $30/night, I was sleeping inside a large medieval stronghold!
One of my first pleasures was an authentic French crepe. This was not any ordinary crepe, it was filled with the delights of banana and nutella, topped with chantilly! Yum...nutella became my new best friend in Europe for a few weeks. Having never tried it before, I was now enjoying its rich pleasure between crackers, on bread, to-go with miniature breadsticks...you name it. The French invented it, and it is a welcome upgrade to America's peanut butter. (Though not necessarily a welcome upgrade to my physique.)

I didn't realize that salads were not a universal cuisine, at least not in the form I was used to in Hawai'i. The Europeans do not know seem to know how to do salads, at least not in the California/Hawai'i style I have grown accustomed to. Often, I found iceberg lettuce atop some cooked grain. (I laugh, as in one Starbucks, they actually had Salad Indiana and Salad Dakota, both places not particularly known for their delicious salads!) Another time, as in this instance of Carcassonne, they piled my salad with seven different types of French cheese, and gave me honey to pour on the cheese! (I actually tried the cheese with they honey, lovely!)

Toulous was....interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip there by train. I had ordered last minute a Eurail pass, not sure if I would be able to navigate the train system without knowing any language but English (and Pidgin, but you know...) It allowed me to travel anywhere within four countries, and on 8 travel days. I had picked France, Germany, Austria, and Italy. Toulous, France was my first stop.

The hostel was conveniently located not far from a Metro stop. I stayed two nights, and was assigned a room on the fourth floor. There were only a few minor problems. It was 100 degrees. There was no A/C or fan. I was sharing a room with a complete stranger, who knew not one word of English. And she wanted to have the only window to our room closed due to noise issues. I had never slept in such warm situation! It was an experience!

I was happy to leave that city for Paris. It was a seven hour train trip, and I was overjoyed that my hosts at my next stop had offered to pick me up at the train station. I was carrying about 55 pounds of luggage on my back in the midst of a heat wave, and her car pulling in the station was a welcome sight!

I had been turned on to a network of host families that will take in a traveler for anything from $15 to $35/night. Some include meals, some laundry. My hosts happen to be gourmet chefs, and my stay with them not only included A/C and laundry, but sumptious five course French meals with a glass of wine! Needless to say, I didn't want to leave!

I only walked around Paris one of my days, enjoying my time in the countryside with my hosts. They are a lovely British couple that had come to France over 20 years ago. The wife has since become a published author, with many interesting stories to share.

I left Paris on a train, bound for Berlin. My first experience in Germany! Aurevoir Paris! Aurevoir France! See you again! Shaloha, Heather  :)

From the ends of the Earth back to Israel

Greetings ‘ohana! I left Kaua’i May 30, embarking on a journey of a lifetime!
I flew to Seattle to see mom and sister :) then on to Indianapolis to see my brother and his sons(xoxo); over to Kansas City to the House of Prayer, then up to NYC to experience the tantalizing tastes and sites of Manhattan!
Sara, my friend from Kaua’i, is living in New York dancing with a hip-hop academy. Her company raises up leaders, not just dancers. Manhattan was a rush, lots of fast walking, and delicious food! I even went to Crown Heights to get fresh made challah!
From New York I took a train to Boston! My aunt Jo lives an hour away in New Hampshire! I hadn’t seen her in 12 years, nor met her new husband. I also enjoyed my dear cousin Kathy, who came over with her other half and son. It was lovely!!

I flew out of the United States to London with a free overnight in Iceland! I got to visit these geothermally-heated pools that are a brilliant blue. Relaxation to the utmost! I was served whale sashimi and lamb stew. I liked this little island! The people were sweet. I would definitely go back!

Next stop: London! My colleague at Kapa’a High School has a first cousin in England; he is a talented actor, starring in Broadway and London theatre. His children are adorable. His wife is an accomplished dancer who also performs in musicals. They were so very gracious, giving me their son's bedroom for my stay and helping me sort out travel plans.
On to Belfast, not far from my grandfather’s homeland!