Besides the Brits chatter I got no sleep because I was just not tired! Luckily, though, today I was not exhausted. For my first day in Israel, we had to be ready by 8:30am. It is so weird because this means that we have to have already eaten breakfast...I'm so used to being somewhere at a certain time TO eat breakfast. We chose which volunteer job we want to do. I'll let you know when I find out what I ended up getting! After this we drove to the Judaean Hills and did a 5 hour hike. Not being used to Israelis, many of us just listened to them when they said sneakers would be fine for the hike...we all wished we wore our hiking boots. During the hike we went through a tunnel and there were so many bats in there! Because no one told us to bring flashlights, me and this other girl Cara were gripping each other and trying not to fall. There were steps and we couldnt see! There was a railing that we were told to use as a guide but there was bat poop all over it!
When we finally got back to our apartments we had an hour. I forgot to mention that we only have 2 showers and 3 bathrooms for the 16 of us. Luckily I got to shower but some girls did not have time. We then met up again (just shevet this time) and we were told we are going shopping for food! Because there is so many of us in this apartment we split up to 8 and 8. We then got together with each other and made a list.
After getting lost and going to the wrong grocery store, we finally make it to the right place. We then had to get shopping carts (or as the Brits call it, trolly). They are all chained up and cost 5 shekels but luckily I spot one that is unchained and I ask a guy who is unloading a truck if I can take it. He says yes. I am about to grab it when all of the sudden this man takes it. UGH! Then I spot another grocery cart so I start to go for it but someone else takes it...another failed attempt! Finally, I see this woman emptying her groceries and is done with her shopping cart. I ask if I can take it and she is angry and demands 5 shekels from me. Why won't she just give it to me?! I didn't have any sheks on me so she just goes to return it. A Brit comes out with 5 shekels and then tells me that you get the shekels back after you return the cart! Apparently they have the same system for their trollies in Britain. I felt so bad because that woman was so annoyed with me!
We walk in to get groceries and it is so hectic! We are all exhausted and we are overwhelmed. Well, at least I was! When we are in an aisle though, am older woman comes up to us and asks where we are from (because we are speaking english.) We say Britain and America. She then asks the Americans where we live. I was the first to answer and when I said Michigan she asked if I was by Detroit. After I said yes she asked if I lived by Farmington Hills. She then tells me that her cousin lives in farmington hills with the last name of Weiner. I didnt know her. She also had family that lived in Oak park but past away a few years ago. We then talked about where I live and she knew where Knollwood Country Club was! She was so happy to see someone from that area and insisted on giving me her number in case I need anything. She then said to call her whenever and invited me over for any shabbas dinner. I don't know if I'm gonna take her up on that offer, but I was so happy.
It took a long time but we finally got everything we wanted. Because we had so much, we decided to take the cart back to our apartment with our groceries. (Mom, you would be proud--Rachel and I both brought our reusable bags!) It was an adventure going uphill and on the bumpy pavement. It was a big relief when we reached our apartment without anything broken. After we got the groceries up to our apartment, our madrich, Moran, said that we should take the cart/trolly back to the grocery store tonight. Rachel and I decided to take both of them. So, after we ate dinner (which was shnitzel in animal shapes and french fries! it was really good) rachel and i went to take the carts back. We decided that we would get ice cream after we walked the carts back. We couldnt find our original carts (which had the 5 sheks in it) so we took 2 broken ones. One had a bad wheel and the other had a huge dent. When we started walking guys come up to us and ask about where we live. We try to explain to them our program. They then want to hang out with us but since they didnt know how to say it in english one of the guys called his friend to ask how to say it in english. it was so funny! they then wanted to hang out but we told them we couldnt and then they asked for our numbers. we lied and told them we didnt know our numbers by heart yet (we dont, but our numbers are on the back of our phones). They gave us their numbers and told us to call them...dont worry mom..i dont THINK we will call them :))
Now I am in my room and I must finish unpacking!!! woo hoo I have written my first blog!
ps- the airplane ride wasnt too bad...i did end up sleeping pretty well but I am still sore from sleeping in awkward ways. I ended up having 2 dreams! I never have dreams when I sleep on planes! One dream was about me waking up and breakfast being served. The only problem is the flight attendants have already served my row. I really want breakfast so I ask the guy if I can have my breakfast. He gets mad and tells me that i cannot have 2nds. Even though I tell him that I just woke up and they skipped me because I was sleeping, he still doesnt believe me. He keeps saying that everyone these days wants 2nds for every meal and it's not allowed! He then asks a flight attendant he's working with if she already served me. She told him no and that I was sleeping. Reluctantly, he gives me my breakfast. That was the end of the first dream. I cant remember the other dream. sleecha!
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