Impressions

So we've been back in the States for a week now and as the jet-lag fades, I'm starting to get back into a routine of practicing. This was something I didn't have any time to do on the road. We were constantly moving and when we weren't, I was lucky if I had the energy to post blog entries while horizontal. As I type this into my iPhone, on which I wrote and took photos for the whole trip, I realize that I miss writing these entries about all the beautiful and wondrous events on our tour. It's funny, as soon as I got back, I ventured to all my favorite ethnic parts of NYC. I went to Chinatown, little Italy etc. and coaxed my friends to leave our lovely Upper West side neighborhood, because as I exclaimed, " There's a whole city out there ". We went in search of exotic food and drink, it was clear that I was hooked on the excitement of seeing new places, new things.
I have to admit that NYC is an amazing place and It felt good to be home with my loved ones. You can really feel like you've travelled to other exotic locales by just hopping on the subway and going downtown.

I started missing the Middle Eastern food right away and went to my favorite Falafel place after a rehearsal. It wasn't the same, but I was transported by those flavors back in time to our trip and imediately so many impressions that came to mind.

The sights, sounds and smells of the Middle East are intoxicating, exotic. I miss the sound of the call to prayer heard five times a day; dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset and evening. I had never heard that in person before and it reminded me of the church bells that I would hear every day. I grew up next to the Church on the Hill and you always knew what time of the day it was, by counting the tolling bells. What both have in common for me, is that they bring you into the moment and listening to the beautiful sounds of the voice or bells, gives me a sense of presence.

The whole tour seems like a dream to me now and only when I look at the pictures can I start to remember it all and put the trip into perspective.
I am looking forward to sharing some things that changed my perceptions of the Middle East, how we were welcomed and recieved.