rowed significantly. We'd entered a densely packed region of buildings, all stone-colored and tightly packed together. Thankfully, the tiny car that the internship

he rearview mirror swayed abruptly, casting specks

med, bolting out of the car. "I'm dyi

u decide on becoming an archaeologist?" It wasn't a glamorous job. Most countries that held internship

ith my sweatshirt tied around my waist and my hair up in a m

ed the driver for unloading her

ed sign that read "Luxor Hostel" was proudly displayed over the front door. Dull brown p

hed over her face. "What

one of her bags through the doors. I supposed she h

splashed all over the walls as paint and tiles. The floor resembled something I had seen once in a 19

Her eyes bounced from the check-in desk to the communal dining ta

who frequented them, I'd expected this kind of atmosphere. My friends swore that this w

uttered under her breath so the gentl

oticing the mosaic tiles on the ceiling for the first time as my sweatshirt tail

ily accented English. He seemed to be a little older than us, may

a Taha, and this is my friend Angela Bowman." I signaled to my friend over my shoulder

gave a we

t. My name coupled with my thick curls spilling out

was born here," I ans

nod with a warmer smi

anger felt some sort of camaraderie with me based on a shared heritage. I hadn't expected that to happen here...I had expected to f

signs behind him as the keys clicked, all written in English for out-of-town travelers

behind me. He passed me a set of keys for each of us. "We serve three meals a day for the entire hostel, but you are

ervice?" Angela huff

anxious to shove Angela in our room

s on her hips, looking at me as if I'd had something

, careful to keep my voice low enough so the receptionist wouldn't overhear my use of the word a

here weren't too many steps, but the stairway was narrow, so I had to stand at t

cles shaking, we m

is it." I slipped the key into the lock of

y and scrunched her eyes shut. "Oh, swe

s and flannel blankets on top. Plain white walls encased the room and the only access to the outside was a small window between the beds. Sure, the décor was lacking, but archaeologist lodgings weren't extravagant. Grants

her back. "I can't believe that I could have been on a yac

. "But then you'd be missing out on 'the adventure of a lifetime,'" I sang,

ic, yet we're such good friends?" For a girl who called on Jesus as much

Now, give me some of your clothes so I can go t

ernship tomorrow. We had to be up at 4 a.m., and I just hoped our mentor was the high point of this expe