"Darling it's better down where it's wetter, take it from me!"

I hope that you are all singing along with Sebastian and friends in your head...But really this little crab was on to something.

A few weeks ago we had a lovely day to start off a wonderful vacation. It was a week off for Hajj, the pilgrimage that Muslims make annually to Mecca. Elements of the Hajj trace back to the time of Abraham, around 2000 BCE. It is believed that the Abraham was ordered by God to leave his wife Hagar and infant son Ishmael alone in the desert. While he was gone, the child became thirsty, and Hagar ran back and forth seven times between the mountains searching for water for her son. Miraculously water sprang forth,a source of water that still runs today and is called the Well of Zamzam.We replicated the whole thing for the kids. We all wore traditional Hajj clothing (even I wore all white and a hijab!). The day started off with an assembly - the highlight was my students performing a song that was half in English and half in Arabic...I am pretty sure it took me longer to learn than it took me to teach them but in the end it was fantastic. I was standing in front of them mouthing the words and doing the actions, beaming with pride at their little faces. Then we were all given our plane tickets and passports, both personalized with our names. They did a wonderful job and the kids were very excited. The bus picked us up and took us to the airport, where our passports were taken and stamped and then off to board the plane, made by the art

teachers - so realistic and the kids could step in and everything! The events that take place at Hajj were also recreated beautifully from the seven circuits around the Kabaa while saying "In the name of God, God is Great, God is Great, God is Great and praise be to God" in unison - of course it sounds a little different in Arabic to mountains that Muslims walk back and forth between to signfy Haga's frantic search for water to the areas where the pilgrims sit to pray to the stones that are thrown to signify their defiance of the Devil. This is done to symbolize the trials experienced by Abraham while he was going to sacrifice his son as demanded by Allah. The Devil challenged him three times, and teach time Abraham refused. A lovely day. I have so many great pictures - if this wasn't the internet I would put them up...anyway - we had a great time.

And then I was off for a week. I went to Dahab, on the Red Sea and fell in love with the place. It was perfect. I would wakeup to watch the sunrise on the water, curled up with my newfriend (read super sweet and friendly stray dog that would meet me every morning) then spent my days getting my scuba diving certification and my nights on the water. Imagine a waterfront of all restaurants where you leave your shoes at the door, sit on cushions on

an all blanketed floor, with twinkle lights and candles. At one point, listening to Jack Johnson sing about how " livin ain't as hard as it seems" I watched a sting ray swim by. It is true: living isn't as hard as it seems. The place put me in a trance, the week was like a dream. I have since been back several times.

I am also completely addicted to diving now....I go every chance I get. It is a totally different world - one that I am so grateful to be able to experience. Life is slow and peaceful under the water. Everything is new and remarkable. It is like underwater yoga...but you are admiring fish and coral that look as though they were painted and marveling at the way these organisms work together to create this untouched world. It is breathtaking. Last weekend I went w

reck diving which was also amazing. Swimming through sunken ships and imagining what they once were and seeing the way they have now become a part of the underwater life - with things growing on them and living in them.

I am one lucky girl...