Excitement, thrill, anticipation, anxiety even fear were all the feelings Elisabeth Guilliams had as she headed into the airport for her first international flight. Elisabeth was heading to Israel with her mother and sister. She had never left her Country and was about to embark on an adventure never to be forgotten. After completing the sixteen hours of plane rides Elisabeth and her family was left exhausted. The trio met up with their group and they headed to the hotel ready for a nap. The group began to explore the extraordinary country. They visited City after City enjoying the hot sun of the desert and the cool air conditioning of the bus. Although the cities were like nothing Elisabeth had ever seen the most astonishing culture difference, compared to the United States, was the shopkeepers. The U.S.A has stores that folks can buy essentials or wants for a fixed price. Israel was nothing to the same. A store manager would have their products for a large sum of money and the buyer would have to bargain for less. Elisabeth learned this act of trade during the most fear-filled adventures of her life. The streets of Jerusalem were the busiest at noon and that was where Elisabeth found herself on the last day of her journey. She followed her mother and sister up and down Jerusalem always checking her pockets to assure herself she had her shekels. The first shop they stopped at was a scarf store; it had shelves floor to ceiling covered in scarves. There were small scarves in all different colors that fit around Elisabeth's neck beautifully. The shopkeeper's assistant aided Elisabeth in finding her style. Elisabeth chose six different scarves to give to her friends. Her mother and sister explored the shop as well, finding shawls and headscarves. When finally the three left the shop their arms were full and pockets lighter but their spirits were filled to the max with joy. They continued down the street until they found a glass shop where everything inside was handblown. Although, from the outside, the shop appeared safe and secure the inside was an experience Elisabeth and her family will not soon forget. They entered the dimly lit shop to find shelves and shelves piled with different glass objects. The items ranged from a drinking jar to a fish sculptor. The colors also varied for there was blue glass and green glass and a mixed variety. However, as much as their eyes found the manually blown glass exquisite their purses frowned at the idea. Agreeing with their purses the three tried to exit the shop but the shopkeeper, a big man, stepped in their way. His broad shoulders and large stomach covered the door completely. The voices from the street ceased to exist as if the man pushed a mute button. His face was sketched into a stern scowl. His white tunic was stained with blotches of a brown liquid or was it red? Elisabeth's heart quickened to the speed of a rabbit who was trying to flee the jaws of a wolf. She tried to create an escape plan but her mind only collided with the thought of death. This was the end. She was to be a hostage until her death. Elisabeth was so deep in her despair she had not realized the man's stern face etch into a smile. He continued in repeating that they could not leave the shop until they bought something. His sarcastic tone of voice tipped his serious frown further into a full grin. Elisabeth finally breathed normal seeing he would not hurt them. They then proceeded in buying a blue water jar which Elisabeth bargained to less than half of its price. When Elisabeth and the others finally stepped foot on the cobbled walkway with the hundreds of people walking past them. They finally started to relax and continue shopping. From then on, Elisabeth learned the ways of the Israelite shopkeepers and was never swindled into buying a product because of fear again. Her journey to Israel ended as she boarded her plane to Wisconsin, her home. Although, she couldn't continue without looking back at the incredible country that Elisabeth called her second home. Giving her years of stories to tell, hours of memories to share, and a few unusual lessons to teach.