FRIDAY:

On Friday, I got woken up in the best way-Tomer saying my name. Hahaha. I was wearing my retainers and Katie also woke up from his voice saying my name. We were dying of laughter. After breakfast, the first group headed off to go biking. To get to the bikes we had to do this 20 minute hike that was pretty difficult, especially first thing in the morning. It was rocky and uphill. Some people gave up and didn't even do the entire hike-they walked back down the path. When we finally got to the bikes we got onto the bikes and made sure they were good for us. Only a few didn’t do all of the biking-Rach couldn’t because the hills were too steep and her knees are bad. The biking was not easy. For most of the hills I just walked my bike up it. Some people fell more than once by hitting a rock wrong, etc. It took us about 2 hours or so. We would break every now and then. At one point we stopped and walked to see the view. It was so pretty-but I didn’t have my camera with me. Yotam told us that where we were was where the kibbutz used to be, but then they moved for safety reasons.

Towards the end there was the finale giant hill. A group of us didn’t even bother and just walked up it. Even walking up it, it was hard! Once we got up the hill we biked the last 2 seconds. It was really rewarding to do it. I was so happy that I was the first group because the 2^nd group go there and we all looked so dead and tired. Also, they got the bikes and the helmets we just used-and they were pretty sweaty. While walking down, Rach and I told stories of us hiking down things and always falling. I told her about me almost dying on the Grand Tetons and when I got lost on my 15 day canoe trip. I still think that that best thing that happened in my life was when we were running yelling Tamakwa and then all of the sudden we hear a guy yell really loud “GIRLS!” I never thought I was going to hear someone else speak besides Rachel (Schnieder) ever again!

Anyway, when we get back to the school, we eat some fruit and cool off for a little. Then we find out where we can go shower. A group of us went and we just went into different rooms of people who let us use their shower. The Kibbutz has the option of letting high schoolers (not sure what age) live in their own little apartment/dorms. Yotam loved it because he was 10 minutes walking from his house, so he would go home for meals and for the internet and that’s it! Ohad took us to a room that wasn’t the room we were said to go in. The door was unlocked and no one was in there, so Ohad told Rach, Tamar, and I just to shower in here. Tamar showered first and since my “clean” clothes weren’t really that clean and didn’t smell so good, I took some perfume from one of the girls and sprayed it on my clothing. J While Rach was showering one of the 2 girls living in there (their room is really cute and has such a clean, fresh feeling) came in and I scared her. She came in with some people to drop things off/take things. It was funny because I was just sitting on her couch! The shower was soooo nice. It had a lot of pressure and could get so hot! I didn’t bring shampoo or soap, but Rach did, so I used some of Rachel’s and some of the girls’…I couldn’t resist the blue bottles of herbel essance (and face soap!) After the great shower and using a bit of one of the girls’ hair gel, Rach and I went back to the school. The 2^nd group got back so then afre chilling with them for a little- Katie and I shot around a basketball. Everyone was watching because they were waiting in line for food. Luckily, my shots went in. Yeeaaahh!! I love it when that happens. After shooting for little, we had lunch which was so unhealthy. It was bread/pita soaked and fried in oil and then we got it with diced tomatoes. Is that a joke?!

After lunch and hanging out some more, I napped until Kabalah Shabbat. Not everyone went to this. It was pretty nice-before services we sang songs with a guy playing his guitar. Also, the guy leading the services would go so quickly that my eyes couldn’t keep up with what he was reading! Then we had Kiddush with rugula. I really wasn’t hungry, but forced myself to have 3-I knew I would regret it if I didn’t. After hanging out with the scouts for a little, we walked past Tomer and others barbequing hamburgers for dinner. We talked with them for a bit and Katie was goofing off and made everyone watch her and she walked into the smoke and was like “I’m smokin’!!” hahahahaha. We realized that when she is around the boy scouts she always does the same routine: Stupid joke, compliment them, do them a favor. Now that we realize this it is even more funny to watch her interact with them. When dinner was finally ready and I finally got my food, when I went to go sit down next to Katie on the floor, the food slipped from my plate and some of it fell onto the ground. I was so upset and Katie and dying of laughter and cleaned it up for me. We then had Tomer and I think May come sit with us and tell us about themselves. It was nice bonding with them and getting to know their family, etc.

When dinner was over, after helping clean up, Guy and Tomer were supposed to do an activity with everyone, but people got really drunk, so they couldn’t do it. I was so annoyed. Why did all these people come if they were just going to drink for the entire weekend? They should have just stayed in Bat Yam! UGH. A group of us played cards and for ERS I got really aggressive and was screaming and slapping. Just for the record- so was everyone else! Then there was a dance party outside?! Kids on the Kibbutz were DJing and it was so fun. We were just dancing crazily and it was old American rap songs that everyone knew and could sing to. Towards the end, everyone was sitting, except for the people who were sober (Rach, Monica, Michal, Julia, me, Katie). After watching people play ping pong, I was peeing the boys bathroom (girls was on the 2nd floor and no one did girls are only allowed in girls and guys only allowed in guys (boys would go shit in the girls bathroom, because those toilets had toilet seats) and then I hear someone cough and start puking into a trash can. Oy. It ended up being Charlie whose stomach had been killing him all day. He was puking so much that he couldn't breathe and it was so sad and gross to hear him puke because he was gasping for air. He slept where the drunk guy slept the night before, right under me.

THURSDAY:

On Thursday, I slept in and got out of bed around 10:30. I then was productive and showered, did some homework, cleaned, and packed for the tzofiem weekend. I then went to lunch and learn and got good food and we talked about the exodus and how the 2 maidservants saved the Jewish nation. Also, we talked about Menashah being the first one to go into the water. Then we talked about Miriam. After lunch and learn I hung out with shir for a bit and she helped me write the 3 minute thing I had to talk about in front of the class. I chose to talk about my family (obviously the easiest one!) I talked about their names, how old they are, and a bit about Shabbat dinners. I was so proud of it. I then had a meeting at 3:30 with everyone in my section.

First, Joe told us how a girl from a different section went to the bathroom alone in the central bus station (in Tel Aviv.) In case you don't know, the bus station is not so nice like the one in Jerusalem. It is pretty sketchy and just huge. She didn't know she needed a shek to open the gate to get in, but then this guy gave her a shek, but he went in before her. It was the girls bathroom, but I've seen Israelis just go into the wrong bathroom for whatever reason. Not a big deal. She goes in and goes pee. When she is washing her hands, she looks in the mirror and he is staring at her from a stall and tells her in hebrew "come here." She pretends she doesnt understand him, finishes washing quickly so she could get out. After him saying this a couple of times she is about to run out when he grabs her and starts to drag her towards a stall. She hits him, making him loosening his grip, and runs out. Then our madrich told us to not walk alone and for girls to always stay together and if a guy sees a girl alone, to walk with her wherever she needs to go. It is so scary and crazy that this happened. I went into numerous bathrooms in the tel aviv central bus station alone. eeeeek. After that we met the new director of something to do with year course. Not sure what...he is a brit and he talked to us for a little. He seems nice and he was enthuseastic and bubbly. At the end he read his last entry he wrote in his journal on his plane ride home from being on Year Course years ago. I forgot to mention that he was a Year Courser and was also a madrich (he ended up married one of his co-madrichiem!!)

I then had ulpan, which was fine, but when we had to do our oral exam, it wasn't in front of the whole class. Just in front of her! It was annoying because she freaked out when I had my paper and told me I couldn't use it. Great. I spoke and she asked me different things and I thought I did pretty good. She gave me a 75. Is that a joke? A brit who didn't even practice or prepare got a 70. Also, 2 girls went together and talked for 2 seconds and they got an 85. Cara too. What the heck?! I was so pissed, she said I can do it again next class. UGH. After ulpan and waiting around for over an hour, everyone was on the bus and we headed towards Yotam's Kibbutz. His Kibbutz is the biggest dairy producing kibbutz in all of Israel! When we got there and put our bags down into the school (where we would be sleeping) we went down to where a bonfire and mattresses were set up. We sat around and then Katie and I danced in a corner to the reggae music that was being blasted. Katie also made me do my shriek a couple of times and we were all over the tzofiem just being ourselves (...crazy.) At 11 the dinner the kibbutzniks made us was ready. It was chullant but really good. My plate broke and got all over my jeans. I was going to wear those jeans for the rest of the weekend.

After dinner and hanging out, we all hung around the campfire and some people got really wasted. When we finally headed for bed in "the sleep room," (which was really smelly with so many people in it) so many drunk people kept on coming in and everyone was yelling at them. Also, katie and david did exercises and it was so funny to watch (lit up phone so it was like a spotlight.) Then this drunk brit came in and said he was going to sleep. After arguing with him, everyone just let him sleep. After him being there for like 5 minutes he starts to cough. He then pukes all over himself, his pillow, on the floor, and on someone else's sleeping bag. Katie took the initiative and helped him as he continued to puke. Then when we finally got him out of the room, there was this pile of throw up on the ground. EWWW. It smelled bad. Who was going to clean it up? All of his friends were pissed (british term for wasted) and wouldnt do it, so Katie did it. She used his pillow case and picked it up and threw it in the trash can. She said that it felt cold. She was so nice to the kid, but after he stopped puking she was saying how pissed she was and how big of an ass he was. She also yelled at his friends (in a joking way.) Finally I fell asleep around 3ish.

Yesterday I had to wake up for volunteering and I was so tired from only getting 6 hours of sleep. When I got to volunteering I was the only one there. Great. Basima wasn't happy and she kept asking me where they were. I told her I didn't know! I finally realized that she thought we all lived together, so I let her know that we don't live in the same apartment. I just helped her in some classes by walking around, or if she was teaching I just sat and listened. Some of the students make fun of me! I go up to them to tell them to do their work. When they don't understand what I am saying in English, I say it in bad, broken hebrew. Then they just turn around, laugh, and continue talking. So, I just walk away. So mean! After volunteering I came home and napped for 30 minutes. Oh, the dead cat is no longer on the sidewalk- I think someone moved it. Then I made myself a good lunch and then I went to class. The classes were not good, once again. In my philosophy class the teacher is always repeating himself and some people are just so stressed about what exact question we are on. So annoying and boring. In the Israel Advocacy the lesson was Jewish pride and it wasn't so interesting-just different video clips. Also, this really smart brit joined the class today and he just talks all the time, like most brits. I know he makes good points when he argues against something, I think I was just grumpy.

After class I had to stay and did a video with Michal for Garin Tzedek. Rach and I walked home together and we just vented to each other about our apartment. It is possible that we are just pmsing and just exhausted, but I think there is a bit of tension in our apartment right now. I won't go into more detail on this public forum. When we came home we made pasta for dinner. It was so good. Then I hung out with some tzofiem that came over and then once they left I had the apartment to myself. I was just on my computer, it was so nice. Then people came home and Rach, Shir, and I watched some of 7 Pounds. It is so weird and confusing right now, but really interesting. We didn't finish it because we were so tired. I then talked to Boaz on the phone for a bit and got to bed around 2:30ish.

Note to self: cdf

Yesterday I didn't wake up until after 10. We had to be at the ulpan center at 11:30 for our shevet siyyur. After talking about Judaism and the importance of being eco-friendly as Jews, we got on a bus and went to a place where 3,000 pounds of trash are taken on a daily basis 364 days a year (dont work on yom kippur) from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, and other cities. It used to be the place (1950-1998) where they built a trash mountain. They didnt properly bury it, so it was really not steady. There were so many birds that it became a hazard for airplanes, so they had to stop putting trash on the mountain. Now it is just the area where all the trash comes together and then trucks take it to the negev to bury it there. We then went up on the mountain and saw the view-Israel plans on building a huge park on top of this old trash mountain. There were some Israeli soldiers there, so obviously we stared at them. Then we went to the building that was built to educate people about pollution. We learned about recycling and what it is exactly. The best thing to do is reduce though. A big problem is plastic bags. The building was really cool--ill post pics soonish? They took stuff from the trash and made it into art, chairs, benches, decorations, etc.

After the siyyur we got dropped off where we walked to our siyyur- Samaritans in Holon. We were at this woman's house and she didn't speak english well, so yoni translated for her. Samaritans follow just what the Torah says. They are from the tribe of Menasha. They also haven't left Israel since the 1st exile. The Samaritans didn't help rebuild the 2nd Temple, but I don't remember the reason why. Also, instead of the Kotel being the most holiest place for them, it is a mountain of tears or something like that. Then she took us to the shul where before entering we had to take our shoes off. It is carpeted with not so many seats. One reason for this is because it commands them in the Torah to sometimes go down on your knees and bend down to pray. They also don't have a special place for women to go-just out of curtsy the women are usually in back. Also, for the parsha of the week, they don't go to shul, but read it in their own homes. Women can also read the Torah. Children go to secular school and then starting at age 7 start to learn the Torah. I think their Torah is written in ancient Hebrew. When someone reads the Torah they wear a white robe to represent that before God everyone is the same. We also found out that the woman's father was the first to not only marry a Jewish woman, but also to move to Holon. They started a neighborhood and oh since they only believe in the Torah, they believe Moshe was the only Prophet. Hmm what other facts did I learn...Oh! So many men marry Jewish women and it is completly accepted because we are all one nation. It is interesting because the children get the best of both worlds. For Jews, the mother's religion determines if the child is Jewish or not. For Samaritans, it is the father.

After the siyyur we came back home and then I had dinner before going to volunteering for Garin Tzedek with Michal. I slept on the bus and when we got there we went into a bedroom with the boy and his friend was there. We played a couple of rounds of Taki making them say the number and color they put down. We then did some homework with him and then played hangman for the rest of the time. The first time he did his name, which is Sawzi. Now I know how to spell his name! It went really well and we were joking around and I think they like us. We still have to speak mostly in hebrew. I saw that they had a copy of avatar...so typical. I remember when my hebrew teacher came into school with Defiance when it was still in theaters. He told us to just not ask him how he got it. So sketchy, but I love it. After being there for almost 2 hours we left and then went straight to the ulpan to try and get there in time before tzofiem night (soda and sing) was over. We walked there quickly and we were there for like a half hour. It was fun...we missed all of the singing, but then we just had a dance party.

When I got home after some chillzning with the scouts Rach, Maya, Shir, and I watched Coach Carter until past 2am. I have never seen the movie and ah it was so good. The next time I go to Jerusalem to see Boaz I MUST force him to take me to where he plays basketball so I can shoot around. I really miss it! Katie and I have been wanting to play for so long.

MONDAY:

On Monday while walking to volunteering, on the side of the sidewalk there was a wet, DEAD cat. It was on it's back with its paws up. It looked like it was frozen. It was so sad. Volunteering was a little boring today because Basima had a meeting and then left with the rest of the school (except 9th graders) to go on the field trip to see the people who play drums perform. When she left, we followed someone else. In one class we just took girls out and talked with them. Then in the other class none of them wanted to go out of the class and talk with us! The teacher claimed that they weren't comfortable with their english. I saw girls in the back playing taki, so I sat down and then joined them. I won. Woo hoo!!!! After that the teacher said that there is no point for us to be there, so we got to go home early!!

After chilling for a bit, Rach and I decided to skip shevet optional classes (yet again) to go do our laundry. I feel bad that I dont go to the optional class anymore, but I always seem to have a valid reason. We stuffed everything into the laundry backpack and when we got off the bus, this man who was on the bus asked where we were from. When I told him MI he said that he had been there and has family in southfield and oakpark. When I told him I was from West Bloomfield he called me rich and told me about other people who live there...we then talk about what we (rach and I) are doing here in Israel. When we tell him we volunteer he said that he was off to go volunteer and wanted to know if we wanted to join him. I was carrying this huge black backpack with a towel sticking out from it. Then he wanted to know if we had numbers and he asked where we lived. I'm used to strange, Israeli men, so I handled the situation well by giving him my number, directions to my apartment, and my social security number. Rach and I then went to different stores to get 5 shek coins (because that is all the laundry place takes). 2 of our friends were there so we sat with them and talked for a bit. I did some hebrew homework. At one point this lady came in just so she could sit down in the chair! Right after we finished washing and just put things in the dryer, nicola and james came. We hung out with them, which was really nice because we are all busy and never have time just to sit and goof off. At one point, out of nowhere there was a huge puddle of water where we were sitting that got the backpack wet. It literally came from nowhere!

After having our clothes dried and folded (for so much cheaper then sending it off) we headed back home. When we got home we only had a little bit of time before ulpan. When we got to ulpan I thought we were going to take the test right away. Instead we reviewed and then she wanted us to start learning something new! We (all 10 of us) freaked out and then said we had more questions and wanted to review more. hahaha. I missed class the other day and apperatnly we had a quiz, so she wanted me to take it during the break, so I took it and it was really easy-just past tense. After the break, we took our test and that was so so so easy. It was fun it was so easy! I felt like I was doing it wrong it was so easy. (Don't worry, I talked to Cara after the test and she did the same things as me.) After class I came home and had some soup rach made that morning for dinner. It is pretty chilly here-but obviously nothing like Jerusalem or Michigan weather. Except, in Michigan I am never walking outside for more than 2 minutes.

Then people were going to go to Mike's Bar tonight and the tzofiem convinced me to go. I just dressed warmly. I bought my first drink that was more than 20 sheks. It was called Maduri Sour or something. It was really good. Julia and I ordered a chocolate thing, but it took at least 30 minutes for it to come. It was so ridiculous. We initially wanted to take the bus home, but that ended up not happening. A lot of other year courses came in later than us and after we paid for our drinks and stuff we sat inside to listen to the performers. Some were really good. Some Year Coursers convinced the guy to let them go up there and they sang Wonderwall. Then after this girl who was really good sang, everyone convinced Ashley to sing. I knew she had a good voice, but ah she was sooo good on stage. She sang the song Save Tonight and she would sing high and stuff. AH so good. People (including Rach) wanted to leave at like 1 something, but since there were 5 of us and only 4 seats, I decided to stay with the tzofiem (because there were 3 of them.) Only like 15 minutes after the girls left we left. It was so great because since they are Israelis, we told him we would pay 40 sheks. When we got back, on the meter it said 52 sheks. Woo hoo!!!! I was exhausted, but since I had going into my bed when I'm dirty-especially with freshly washed sheets-I showered before going to sleep. Then Rach was snoring really loud so I had to blast my iPod.

Today I didn't have zman madrich at 9, so I got to sleep in, but only a little. Rach and I wanted to do laundry, so we woke up and then showered. After some shmoozing and searching for my laundry backpack, we put our laundry in the backpack. By the time we were finished, we didn't think we would have enough time to do our laundry. Ugh! Instead, we went to the park close to the ulpan and I did homework until our 12. I thought our madrich thing would only take like 15 minutes, but we had the evaluation of bat yam and we were talking to a person. It was really annoying because I guess feedback is good, but EVERY brit wants to say something. I'm not sure if they are saying it because they want the person to know, or if they just like to hear their own voice. The most annoying part is for the last part where she asked us about noa she wanted us to go around, so everyone would speak. The lady told us to only say something if it is something new, otherwise just say that you agree with what someone else said. Of course all the brits said that they agreed with so and so and then would just repeat what they said and make it more specific. Then by the time it was my turn (i was towards the end) the people who talked and talked and talked were like "can we go, because we want to have enough time to go home and eat something before class starts." I almost freaked out. I think smoke was coming out from my ears. MAYBE IF YOU DIDN'T SPEAK SO FRICKING MUCH THEN THIS WHOLE MEETING WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN OVER AN HOUR!

I then quickly finished my homework and then went to class. I got a little lost in my philosophy class. I think a problem with my teacher is he only wants to hear his answer, so I am always saying things, but it seems like he ignores me because it isn't his exact answer. I always end up giving up in class and just not speaking. I rushed through the reading for the homework and since I don't have a book, I want to go to the beach and read it because I think it is interesting. A couple of problems though, I am really busy this week and it has been raining...Anyway, after class I got an ice cream and then became nearly broke..AGAIN because I paid 200 sheks for the tzofiem weekend which is this weekend-we are going to Yotam's kibbutz!! I'm excited. The David Project was pretty good, today we just practiced ARM to different accusations. He wanted me to read mine, obviously I said no and then he laughed.

After class I rushed back home, helped clean up the apartment, ate something quickly and had to get back to the ulpan for a 6:15 interview. At the time I had no clue why I was going, but then a guy talked to a couple of us (everyone else was doing it at 7, but we had garin tzedek then.) We basically have to get interviewed to try and go on two 3 day seminars in Jerusalem that is about being a Jewish leader on your college campus. 80 people apply/get interviewed, but only 25 people get it. I couldn't get interviewed because there wasnt enough time, but the guy is going to call me and we are going to do it over the phone. It seems really interesting. I probably won't get it, but it won't hurt trying!

Then it was raining, so Michal and I took a bus to the bus stop where the bus that would take us to where we need to go was. Like 15 minutes after we got there and were waiting for the bus, Rach is walking towards us sopping wet. She didn't realized that we took the bus just to get to this stop! hahaha. I felt bad, her feet were soaked and the rest of the night they were wet. When we finally got the bus (it was raining and windy out-so cold!) we had to walk a little to the boys house. When we got there we were given juice and we watched the great race or whatever it is called. Michal asked the guy who knew English about when they came to Israel and their story. There is 10 of them and they left Sudan because of the conflict, and I think he said they were in Egypt for a year or 2. Then they came to Israel and lived on a kibbutz for a year-it ended up being the Young Judaea kibbutz!! Then they moved to tel aviv. I found it really interesting when he told us that after it is safe to move back, they want to go back...they don't want to live in Israel. He also told us that his mom is in a camp there, and I think he was tearing up :( Later, when I came home, Leah told me that there are 3 groups of them. One group came here so they could rebuild their lives and then move to Europe or America. Another group came here to resettle-they want to stay in Israel and the other group is people who are just here until things are safe in Sudan. Anyway, the dad then showed us that the boy was sleeping and had a bad headache...oh! We were about to leave and then come back on Tuesday, but then they told us to sit. We finished watching the show, but they fed us. We felt bad eating their food. They gave us pita and they had this meat dish that was really good. I finished my juice, to be polite, but then they filled up a new cup with pop for me. I didn't drink it...it is theirs!!! After the show, michal and I left.

When I got back to the apartment I hung out, talked to steph and dad on skype for a bit, talked to Boaz (who said that the kibbutz I'm going to is really cool). He also helped me with my hebrew homework. Then I showered, but as soon as I was in I realized that I showered this morning. OY! I got to sleep around 12:30.

Today I woke up around 10, but didn't get out of my really cozy sleeping bag until 10:30. A couple of us sat outside the shul just relaxing, drinking tea. After shul we "frolicked" with goats and a donkey in the moshav's meadow. Then we headed back to get ready for lunch. Everyone helped get everything ready. Lunch was pretty good. After benching and singing and talking, Rach and I went straight back to the caravan so we could take a nap, or at least shut our eyes. Others came and after talking for a bit we all fell asleep for a nice, short shabbas nap. When we forced ourselves out of our cozy, warm sleeping bags, we were planning on going to talk to a Holocaust memorial nearby, but got distracted when we saw boys playing soccer. It was fun to watch-Israelis and brits playing. Even though it was fun to watch them, I really wanted to go see the memorial, so a group of us walked there. It had names of some towns in Poland and had them on stones in a similar format to what Treblinka now looks like. It was only about 10 stones, rather than thousands. Then you go down steps and on black, mirror walls have many names of people who died in different towns. It is really meaningful when you read each name. It was also crazy how many people's names there were when it was only from towns I have never heard of.

After looking around and then looking at the view, we started to head back on a dirt path that was through the woods. I forgot to mention that the moshav is right in the middle of the biggest forest in Israel. It is beautiful. The walk back was really nice, even though it was really muddy. When we got back we hung around outside the shul and then went back the the house where a couple of us sat outside on a rock and just looked at the remarkable view the rabbi and his family has right outside their backyard. The 3rd meal was also good-there was rugula! After the third meal we sang for about 45 minutes. I zoned out and thought about what to do this summer. I think I have decided to go back to camp tamakwa! This means that I need to fill out the application and when I come home I need to be a certified lifeguard. Also, though (mom this is mostly for you), there is this David Project seminar at BU June 13-17 or something like that. I really want to go-especially because then I can have a mini reunion with rach and other close friends!! The seminar is a more advanced version of advocacy and is more focused on preparing students when they go on their university campuses. Let me know what you (mom) think! The wife told a couple of stories but one point she made that I found interesting was the idea that shabbat can be seen as one's best friend. Anyway, after the 3rd meal, we all helped clean up. Then we went to havdallah, which was really nice because the people on the moshav have such nice voices! Then we went back and packed up and got on the bus.

When I got home, rach and I decided to walk to aroma to get out of our apartment. We both were just checking emails and I was updating my blog. We were planning on walking there and taking the bus back, but because we left aroma after the buses stopped running, we walked back. It was so weird because at like 12 all of the sudden so many couples came in for dinner. I swear, Israelis do not need sleep. It's crazy. Anyway, on our walk back, rach stepped on a snail. She was so casual about it...she was in the middle of telling me a story and then was like "...sorry snail..." and continued with her story. I had to stop her to go back and look at the smushed snail.

FRIDAY:

Katie and I wanted to catch a 9 am bus, so we all woke up at like 7:30, so we could leave by 8. Rach was going out for a breakfast with her friend, so she would take a later bus.We left only 10 minutes after 8, but then walked so so so fast. Actually, Katie walked fast, and I would jog or else I couldn't keep up with her. I'm not sure if I just couldn't walk that fast, or that it was just too early to do that. We were sweating by the time we got to the CBS. We got there right in time. I was so thirsty and just exhausted. Katie carried my heavy bag and I carried hers. She is so great. Since I didn't wear my retainers, I wore the top one and of course I bumped into Rachel Jacobson. I was so uncomfortable with my retainers and I'm just awkward. Ugh. I said hi and at first she didn't recognize me, but then she did. We ended up being on the same bus, so after saying hi and walking past, we started talking while waiting in line for the bus. She introduced me to her husband. They were going to go hiking. So cute! After me being awkward (ughhhh) I slept on Katie for the bus ride. (note to self: 2 of you).

We got to bat yam earlier than we thought and then I ran home to drop my things off and then go to do something I waited to do last minute. The bus system is no longer doing the bus passes we have, instead they are doing this thing where you put money onto a card and then have a scanning system. For the card you have to have your picture on it and I wanted to wait for a day where my hair was down and looked good! hahahaha. Since I waited so last minute and that day was my last chance to do it or else I wouldn't have a bus pass for next month, I went without showering and my hair in a side braid and being over tired. attractive! When I got to the mall there was a really long line. It took an hour. no big deal. UGH. It was so painful to stand in. Everyone passing for some reason would always ask ME what was going on. I understood most of what they said and would respond in broken hebrew (after telling them I dont speak hebrew too well.) When it was FINALLY my turn all 3 of the guys working started to hit on me. Really?! They started saying I was beautiful (one of the few words they know in English) and then of course my face got red. MY FACE IS RED IN MY PICTURE. AH. You can actually see the redness in my face. Then they asked where I partied, where I'm from and how old I am. They asked about my program and if I party a lot. Geez, I just wanted to go! Then my madricha wrote my name in english, and they needed it in hebrew. I kept on saying "cur-han" but then they would say "cur-een? cur-een!" I tried to say "קרהן," but they didn't want to listen to me and now on my bus pass my name is "ג'סיקה קוריין." Great. Then since my number is on my sign up sheet they asked for my number!!!! I told them no and they were asking me why not. Oh. My. Gosh. My face was so red and it was awful.

When I got home I showered and packed up to go for the weekend-a Shevet weekend to Moshav Modiem. It was about a 40 minute bus ride. It was really nice there- only 35 families or something like that. We went there during Chanukah. We got some cookies and were taken to where we were going to sleep. Everyone except 8 girls would stay in the Rabbi's house. The other 8 stayed in a caravan. Then after learning a bit about the area, we lit candles and then went to the shul (it was the shul that was painted beautifully.) Services were a little hard to follow every now and then because some pages in my siddur were missing. I love Lecha Dodi. The words are so nice! (especially the verse about the bride and groom :) ) Then we all fit for dinner and dinner was pretty good. After talking for a bit about different things we all hung out. After a bit, a couple of us went back to our caravan to go to bed. Then guys from the moshav came and we hung out with them for a bit. I had my retainers in. Ugh. We got to sleep around 12ish. (note to self: alisha hahahaha)

THURSDAY:

On Thursday Boaz and I didn't get out of bed until 3:30!! I woke up every now and then, but he was out cold! Sometimes I would get woken up by my phone and being stressed for a bit-because of me being last minute. I am really going to stop! Anyway, I forced us to get up to go eat because I talked to Rachel a couple of times and I needed to get going so I could meet up with her and Katie at Katie's apartment. I had 2 bowls of sugary, chocolate cereal. YUM. After watching another episode of that 70s show, Boaz walked me to the bus stop. I got on the bus and it took so long for me to get to Katie's apartment. Shockingly, I got off exactly at the right stop! Check me out!! I changed into more appropriate clothing for the kotel and the nigh time cold weather, and off we went! We weren't sure when the ceremony would start, but as we approached it, we heard a lot of cheering. It was the soldiers singing and dancing. So many people were there. The ceremony didn't start until an hour after we got there. We couldn't see too much, so I got on Katie's shoulders. It was a completely different view and incredible. I tried to take pictures from Rach's camera (mine sucks), but nothing looks as good as the real thing. There were so many soldiers and after some prayers and speaking, fun music played and then the soldiers got their guns and Tanachs. It was beautiful to see.

However, I do think I got more pleasure watching the soldiers go to their proud family and friends. Rach, Katie, and I tried to get pics of that, but that didn't work out so well. Then after seeing some friends and finding eitan, we were freezing and decided it was time for dinner. After walking for bit we bumped into some friends and chatted with them for about 15-20 minutes. It was nice, but I was starving and couldnt feel my toes. We ended up eating and marakiah (soup.) It is this really chill place (like hippie style.) When we got there it was really quiet and katie almost fell and screamed. We were dying and from that point on we were just phycos. The waiter did not get our humor. The place only serves soup and only a couple of types. Also, it is all in different shaped, used bowls. The bread was so good and so was the soup. I got sweet potato. It was so full. As soon as we left, we all got so cold again. We were planning on going to a party, and went to the grocery store to buy some stuff-including a 1.2 liters of ice cream. We were so tired and cold when we got back and decided we would nap for a little and then get ready to go out. We all fit in the dream/romantic bed that i love. We just talked and decided not to go out- we were all too cold. Then we ate the ice cream in bed straight from the box. We thought we would have like 1/2 for another time. No. We all ate all of it. About .4 liters per person. Then we set the alarm in case we fell asleep, so we can get up and brush our teeth and change in pjs. We all passed out and did not brush our teeth or change into our pjs.

Today it was so so so difficult to get out of bed. For the past 2 nights I have been wearing the coziest pjs- sweats and a sweatshirt. It takes so much effort and strength for me to force myself to change into presentable clothing. I was the first one at volunteering and I wasn't sure if the other 2 were going to show up. Our person was annoyed, but then they ended up showing up. We just helped some classes and during the break I hung out with the tzofiem. Ah I love them. They are just so great- I'm going to miss them so so so much. Before I left volunteering, I said bye to Basima and she told me to tell the other 2 that they can't just show up when they want. Then she begged me to stay one more hour, but I couldn't because I had to go home and do stuff before I had class. I felt kind of weird saying no when she was BEGGING me. Oy.

When I got home I had to do some homework. I told myself that I won't leave things to be done last minute, but I'm not stressed by doing it last minute. I did it quickly and that was that! I can't tell if this is bad or not. Classes went pretty well. In my first class we are talking about how Rambam is teaching us that God can prevent people from being prophets and no one can just be born with the gift, etc. It is interesting.

I forgot to bring this up, but a couple of classes ago in the David Project at the end of class our teacher was telling me how I should get up in front of the class and ARM it out against the accusation he gives to us as an exercise. I told him about my fear of public speaking and what "public" means. He told me he used to be like that, but in the army he got to a certain position where he was forced to public speak. After some practice, he started to get comfortable. I know the only way to cure it is by practice...TOO BAD! One thing we learned that was really important was that Israelis and Jews are always apologizing. We have to stand strong and stop being so nice and apologizing for everything we do. We saw some coverage of what Israel is doing in Haiti (note to self: hahahahaha) and it is truly unbelievable. Finally finally finally, I heard that CNN did a good reporting on it (after many reports being anti-Israel.) Go Israel! We also talked about how so many people are so foreign to Israel and I thought about this idea in the first day of the class, but have been too embarrassed for some reason to tell anyone. It just keeps on coming up in my head, so I just have to write it down! So you know how for the Teen Mission, we tried to raise money for Elem by doing caresquares.com? Well I was thinking about something that was hip today and I realized that reusable bags are!! To raise money for something in Israel, someone can make reusable bags and make them similar to the lu-lu lemon ones. One side is pictures of Israel and the other side can be all sorts of fun facts and important things to know about how great of a country Israel is. I feel like it would be easier for me to do this when I get home, but in case I forgot or if someone wants to use my idea-feel free!

Anyway, I feel better that I finally wrote that down! I think Rach and I discussed this between classes (after filling out the class registration form for AJU-mom, I'm going to email him so I can email u of m the info about the classes I'm taking now. Since the classes won't be done by the time I send it, I want to see what U of M's response is!), but basically we really wanted to skip thursday and go to Jerusalem tonight so we could just relax and go to Eitan's (friend we met on march of the living who was doing yj at the time, he has made aliyah and just finished his 4 month training in the army) induction ceremony. It wasn't so much for him, but whatevs. We really wanted katie to come, but she didn't want to miss volunteering, so we were just planning on leaving thursday after she had volunteering. Since I didn't have anything to do, I called Boaz and decided I would just go there tonight and then spend thursday with rach and katie! After being freaked out by being in the apartment alone (I can NEVER live alone!) and waiting for the 42 bus that never came, I went on the 18 bus and was nervous I wouldn't get to the station before the last 480 bus left. I always get stressed out because I do things last minute. I must stop!!! That is my new goal. I ended up making the 11:45 bus, which is the 2nd to last bus leaving for Jerusalem. Phew! It was really funny because I had the same driver I had the other time I went on the 11:45 bus.

Boaz's phone still isn't good, so when I got to Jerusalem I called him, to let him know, but he wouldn't pick up. I kept on calling, while waiting outside in the freezing cold. It was drizzling, so I wanted to go under a covering and spoke broken hebrew to the security guard trying to explain to her that I just want to stand under the ceiling because of the rain. I finally got ahold of him and after him telling me that he didn't get one of my many previous calls, he came to come pick me up. Since it was raining, it took him much longer than usual to get to the CBS. Great. That night we watched some of that 70s show and then I was exhausted so I passed out.

Today I got to sleep-in until 10ish. Then Shir, Julia, Rach, and I went to tel aviv for breakfast. On the bus ride there was this woman who kept on spitting on the ground of the bus. Note to self: Don't sit on the floor of busses. When we got off the bus we walked to our restaurant and it was so so so good. Rach and I split chocolate pancakes. I almost past out from all the sugar I ate. We sat behind Israeli soldiers and they wanted us to say "good evening ________ (something in hebrew)" on tape. We were a little hesitant, but what the heck! After lunch we walked around the artists shuk and then took a bus back home.

When we got home we hung out for a bit and later Rach and I finished a movie. After the movie and hanging out for a bit I had dinner and then I went to go bowling...again! Except this time I decided to just chill and not bowl. Tonight was tzofiem night and the plan was to have "sing and soda" night, but they rescheduled it and decided for us all to go bowling. It was pretty fun...taught some people the hoedown throwdown, cracked up with katie, hung out with tzofiem. The time i bowled for katie I almost got a strike. Then Katie bowled and when she missed it and did something funny I collapsed on the floor and when she saw me she started to laugh and didn't see where my foot was and tripped over me and fell. It made a huge noise and everyone made the "oooh" noise. We were so embarrassed. When I got home I showered and then went to sleep. I should have done my homework, but I have time to do it tomorrow. I feel like I'm so last minute, but it really isn't stressing me out! I should probably try and get things done ahead of time...

MONDAY:

Yesterday I had to wake up for volunteering. Ugh. I was the only one that went! I got a text from one of them saying they had a cold. I just worked with students. I either worked in the class with some of them, but one time I took students out. There were 4 of them and 3 of them didn't get along with 1 of them, so it was difficult to deal with. (note to self: mall) For the last class I went around checking if students did homework and helping them. There were more than 30 kids in the class. I am starting to learn English! For example, I have never learned Present Simple and Present Progressive, but now I know what the difference is! Haha. Also, sometimes I wouldn't know where Basima was, so I would ask students and then they would talk to me in Hebrew (I understood them), but then would stop and try and speak English to me. I want them to speak Hebrew to me, but I guess I am there for them to practice their English.

After volunteering I woke Boaz up and Julia made us grilled cheese. When she asked if he wanted one, he said sure, but had no clue what it was!!! Hahahaha. Then we played Taki and since it was just us 2 playing, we started off with 8 cards and when we ran out we would have to take 7 and do that until we got to 0. He won. Then I was exhausted, so we napped. I would have gone to the beach with him, but it was raining. It was cozy just to stay in the apartment. I was hoping we would wake up and then go out for ice cream, but we didn't have enough time when woke up. It was such a good nap, though-I dreamed! After making myself dinner I walked him to the bus stop. The bus came right when I had to go, so we said bye and then I left to meet up with everyone for the basketball game.

I thought we were taking a coach bus, but we took a public bus. Instead of being stuffed inside the crowded bus, I waited with some people for another bus. I thought the ride would take a long time-only about 10 minutes. I knew it wouldn't be like a Piston's game, but it was like a high school game! Before the game, I had a water bottle and they wouldn't let me in with it. I chugged it and then asked a security guy where a recycling bin was-then he took it from me and threw it on the ground! I was going to grab it, but then he told me not to worry-someone will pick it up. Oy! There were dancers, but they weren't cheerleaders. They came on during every single time-out and did their little dance. Katie and I would do our own dances to the music (a guy filmed us, we were unaware of that) and it was so sad that no one would clap for them...so Katie and I were basically their biggest fans. After the first quarter everyone just moved where everyone else was standing. Katie and I went in the middle of everyone. It was really fun. The game wasn't too fun to watch. It was Holon against Narharia. Naharia is purple and Holon is purple and yellow. Luckily I wore purple! Holon won, woo hoo. During half time when we went pee, the girl stall wasnt working. A dad took his daughter and lifted her up and she peed into a urinal! It was the funniest thing to watch. I peed in the urinal too...jk.

When the game was over, the bus was not coming, so after katie, rach, and i bought some junk food, we walked home. It is right by the 5 shek falafel place. When we were walking home it started to rain a little. Luckily I brought my umbrella. (I forgot to mention that earlier that night katie tried to jump over a puddle, but landed right in it. When she tried to imitate herself later that night, she ended up falling into the puddle. hahaha) Anyway, it was really windy and then it started to pour and with me walking against the rain, my umbrella didn't do anything. I was soaked. After getting stuff to bake from super douche, when we were leaving the security guard asked if we bought vodka (in Hebrew.) Since Katie and I love taking advantage of any oppurtunity we can speak Hebrew, we spoke to him for a little. After he said that Katie attempted to say it was raining. hahahaha. When he said he wanted to join us, that was when we left. Btws, we didn't buy any alcoholic drink. When we got back we hung out for a little and I didn't get to sleep until 2ish.

SUNDAY:

I had to wake up at 8:20 and was so so so tired. Instead of getting divided up into apartments, we were all together. Before it started, I had a laughing attack with Katie about her weekend (she cycled the Kinneret with Michal, Rach, and Leah). It seems like she got a bite on her eye making it red and swollen. It looks so funny. Leah also told me a hilarious story about her. Crazy, Crazy. We then got our schedule and were told about the Purim parade in holon...we were asked to dress up or participate in it. I won't be missing that opportunity!! After the meeting we hung around there for a little because at 10 I had zman shevet. We learned about the mezuzah. Nothing too new. Then we always are given an optional project, so I made my own mezuzah. I just need the shema in it. Of course mine looks like a 3rd grader did it.

After this I came back with a couple of people and we cleaned up the apartment while some went food shopping. When we were done cleaning I went with Julia for 5 shek falafel. I splurged and got a coke with it. The coke filled me up, so I saved my falafel for later. I don't drink pop often, so the coke hurt my stomach. My philosophy class is starting to get a little better. We learned about what people think about prophets-if they are born with the power or if God intervenes. We learned about the perspective of the Pagans and some Jews, Philosophers, and Torah scholars. In the Israel Advocacy Class we learned about the Occupation again. We learned about how many times Israel was willing to give back the land for peace and that the land is a territory, not an occupation. So, when people say that it is the occupation that is not allowing the arab-israeli conflict to end, it isn't true at all. The Arabs simply don't want peace because we have been willing to give away our land for a peace agreement, but they have refused-more than once. Also, the land we won in 1967 didn't cause Arab terrorism to start. For example, in 1929, in Hevron, there was a massacre there-forcing all Jews to leave there after being there for 2,000 years.

After class, I came home and we had an apartment meeting with Noa. She wanted to get to know us so we each talked to her for a little. I went first, and then I showered. Boaz was coming and I was planning on him just tagging along with me to go meet the darfurians I was going to tutor in english. He got to the beach right when I was getting on the bus...we just missed each other. It was supposed to take an hour and I felt so bad. On top of that, his phone was really low on battery. Once I talked to him and he didn't seem upset, I found out that it would probably take 3 hours. Oy. Luckily he seemed more than happy...I think he likes the beach. When we got there we had to backtrack for a little. We (Yuval, Michal, Joe, Rach, and Daniel Boman) finally found the place, before we went in, Yuval told us about how this area we are working in isn't safe-especially for girls, and especially at night. There is an under-ground slave trade there and so we have to tell the dad's to pick us up and drop us off the bus stop when we go to tutor their kids.

After sitting and talking with a parent and the coordinator, Michal and I went with this 12 year old boy back to his place. We basically walked back to where we got off the bus. It was starting to rain a little. It was being in a completly different world, even though it was only a 20 minute bus ride. I am getting more comfortable with my hebrew, so I would ask him different questions in hebrew. Yay! Nathan used to work with him, which is so funny and such a coincidence. When we got to his apartment, a woman was holding a baby, maybe it was his mom, not sure though. She was so young and she only spoke arabic. The couches were also beds and more and more adults kept on showing up. As soon as we sat, the boy gave us a glass filled with juice-so nice. We figured out a schedule and got the number from the dad and we got the boy's cell phone number. The dad spoke english and hebrew well. Michal are going to go there every Sunday and Tuesday, starting with next Sunday.

Boaz told me that he went to the mall, so when I got back there I called him and then when I got into the mall I called asking where he was. His phone broke before he could tell me, so for the next 15 minutes I was walking all over the mall. The mall was closing and so I decided that waiting outside the main entrance would be the smartest place. Then I saw him there, he told me that he said on the phone to meet him outside...oops! We decided to go bowling and although I did better than 41 (only a little better) I didn't get a strike or spare :( Boaz got both and did better than me. When we were walking back it was raining a little, nothing more than a drizzle (by Michigan standards.) When we got back to the apartment we hung out with rach, julia, and katie. We were all talking until like 2 and I had volunteering the next morning.

I HAVE FINALLY CAUGHT UP. WOO HOO!!!

SATURDAY:

Today (I am so happy I can finally write today!) Moran and I got up at 10:30, so tired but got up so we could go to the movies. At 11, we all left (except for Drora and Phoebe) and the boys saw avatar, but Moran and I weren't dying to see that movie so we ended up seeing leap year. It was cute, but (spoiler) a little over the top with them getting engaged at the end. Like come on. The guy was hot though. After the movie, since we had to wait for Avatar to end, Moran and I had lunch at a cafe. We got hot chocolate and it was so good. I had some salad, but got full really quickly, so I took the rest to go. Then since no stores were open, we went into super-pharm where we just smelled different perfumes. I love how the stores aren't open on shabbat and how everywhere-every store and every theatre- there is a mezuzah.

When we came back home we hung out some more, and I showered. Then we had a late lunch/early dinner--steak. Yum. About an hour after that I took Drora and Shlomo by surprise by coming down all packed up and ready to go. Moran and I had been talking about it, but I forgot to let them know. I felt bad because I thought Shlomo thought I would be staying later and it seemed like he had some activity planned, but it was past 5 and it would take me a long time to get back. We had to wait a long time (at least 20 minutes in the cold) for the bus to come. When I got to the central bus station, I got so lost. The place is huge and just so confusing. I had to pee and went into the vilest of vile bathrooms. I don't want to go into more detail.

After I got out of the bathroom these 2 arseem guys came up to me. Great. I just said "I dont know" in hebrew when they asked me something. Then they were not satisfied with that answer so I confessed I don't know hebrew well. One of them unfortunately did speak English well. He asked me if they could ask my opinion about something. I gave in. He asked what my name was, stupidly I told him my name. He introduced him and his friend. Then he asked how old I was. I told him. Then he said I was old enough, maybe. Basically he wanted to know if it was okay for a guy to date his ex girlfriends best friend after a year of him and his ex breaking up and not speaking. He tried to make me imagine it by asking me for my friends name, etc. He said that this guy broke up with me for whatever reason-because he didn't like how I carried around a laundry bag the central bus station. hahaha. I told him it wasn't okay and gave him my reasoning. He was upset because he told me he gave his friend the wrong advice. I told him guys and girls think differently. After that I said good luck (in hebrew) and walked away. Phew. When I got home I updated my blog and talked to steph, soph, and some ferbers! It was really nice to talk to them. I feel like I have 2 seperate lives and it makes things so difficult. I love being in Israel, but whenever I think about living here (just for the fun of it) I know it is a typical answer: I can't because I want to live close to my family, but it really is true. I really do miss shabbat dinners and just being able to call them and talk to them whenever. I just want to note that I am not homesick though! hahaha.

When it got later I just hung around and made my bed (first time I made it in Bat Yam, usually Katie makes it for me). Benji came over with Nicola and he was offended he wasn't in my blog more and wanted to make sure I mentioned that he was over my apartment. There! He also made me happy when he mentioned that it was "so bright" of me to be doing this blog. So maybe this blog is worth it after all.

FRIDAY:

On Friday I had to wake up at like 11:15, where I took a quick shower, ate breakfast, woke nathan up and then all of us left to meet yoni on a street corner. A group of 15 of us got together and we all took a bus to where the best hummus is-in yafo. So there is a restaurant, which has more food options and more space, but the hummus sucks compared to the other place. Obviously, we had to go to the other place for the experience. We had to wait in line and the only thing they serve there is hummus and pita!!!! Katie and I put on a show for everyone and it was so crowded and hectic. The hummus was such good quality, that it took me some time to get used to it and appreciate it. We saw a madrich there with his friends and this reporter we saw spoke during our israel advocacy class.

Then after taking a picture with the reporter and katie and talking with everyone and hugging and saying bye, I went back with a couple of people to bat yam. Then I finished packing up (to go to Shlomo's for the weekend) and took a bus to the central bus station. I got lost and had to go into a gross bathroom to pee. I asked the bus driver in hebrew to tell me when to get off the bus (the stop). He couldn't really understand me, but a girl overheard me and knew what I was trying to say. Phew! Then Shlomo called me at like 5 telling me that I should be getting there soon and to not miss the stop. I got anxious, so I eventually asked these soldiers and then everyone overhead me speaking English, so they all wanted to speak to me. Everyone said they would let me know when I should get off. I felt like I should have gotten on the loudspeaker before I left the bus to say Todah Rabah to everyone!! Shlomo, Ido, and Phoebe met me and walked me back to their house (only a 2 minute walk.)

I hung out and caught up with Moran and after a good dinner and talking about Nadiv's bar mitzvah and his parsha (detailed instructions on how to build the Tabernacle) and hanging out in Moran's room, we all watched the Israeli form of SNL and ate ice cream. I wore one of Moran's sweatshirts (University of Minnesota..shhh) and it was fun to watch the show in Hebrew. I forgot to mention that I could follow along in conversations they have! Yay!! I really think my Hebrew has improved! Then we were all so tired at like 11:30, so we went upstairs, but Moran and I didn't go to bed until way later. We were so tired, but are facebook addicts! Also, when we got into bed we couldn't stop laughing and quoting things from "Mean Girls."

I just want to note that this is my 100th post! Yay!!! This means I have been here for like 10 or more days more than 100 days...me in Israel for over 100 days. So weird to think about!!

THURSDAY:

On Thursday, since I didn't have volunteering, I didn't force myself out of bed until 10:50ish. When I got out of bed I did my ulpan homework. I had to write a 3 minute speech about whatever. I wrote about why I think my birthday is in the center of the year and I talked about my family and how old everyone is, etc (so original, I know.) When I finished that and worked on my blog for a bit, I then I went to a lunch and learn at the ulpan at 1:30. It was a nice lunch and I learned something really interesting that I want to bring up at the seder in 2 years (because I wont be there this year.) I'll say it now and so feel free to talk about it at the seder. In Exodus Chapter 6 in verses 6-8 there are 4 verbs: והצלתי, וגאלתי, ולקחתי, והבאתי. Translated these words mean: I will save, I will deliver/rescue, I will redeem you, I will bring. There is a mistake with this translation because in hebrew, it is saying these verbs in the past, but in English they say it in future tense. Why is this? This is because Hashem isn't restrained by time so when He says this, He is saying this in our future, but in His past. The reason this should be discussed during the Pesach seder is because as we all know, 4 is a special number during Pesach--so here is another example of 4, the 4 promises/verbs God tells us.

Another thing I learned, that clicked for me was the reason why we sing for Eliyahu during Havdallah. The reason is because the Prophet is said to come during the week and since Eliyahu is supposed to come before the Prophet to let us know, we sing this song, asking for Eliyahu to come this coming week. Lunch and Learn was also really fun because some scouts surprised us and came (Tomer, Adi, and Ohad). Katie and I are a little embarrassed to say this, but it really made the lunch and learn so much better with them there. A funny thing that happened was I dropped some food and Boaz (leader of Shevet) told me to wipe it up and when I asked with what he said "ehh with your shirt!" He walked right into an inappropriate comment. So I responded saying "Boaz! You want me to take me shirt off?!?!" He then gave me the hand.

After lunch and learn Katie and I went for a really short run. Because we got a late start on my tight schedule, I didn't have time to shower. I was so so so hot and had to carry a shirt in my bag because I was too hot to wear anything more than a tank top. After Zman Madrich, I had Ulpan. I was so upset because no one did their 3 minute thing and she didn't even bring it up. But because no one else did it I obviously couldn't remind her. UGHHHH. I was really proud of what I wrote! After Ulpan I grabbed an apple and took a bus to the central bus station where I met up with Erez. We couldn't find each other because we ended up being opposite sides of the street from each other! hahaha. While I was waiting for him, a girl asked me if I knew where a bus was. IN HEBREW and I understood her the first time she asked me. Check me out!!!!

Erez and I just wanted a coffee place, we thought it would be easy to find. We were wrong. We ended up walking through neighboorhoods and then to the beach and did basically a huge rectangle. In the end, we ended up where we started and then went in a different direction. We were so desperate that we gave into a place called "Post Cafe." It was a bar. Ugh. We split this sandwich that ended up being good, but did not fill me up at all. We talked a lot and it was really nice. I am jealous because I can see that he has really changed and now he knows what he wants in life and what he values. I have realized that I may not ever know exactly what I want. At least now I am more aware of the power I have and how I am able to go out and be active. After we finished our meal, Nathan had met up with us (he came from Arad, so it took him a long time). By that time, we had to take Erez to the train station so he could catch his bus. We all talked for a bit and after letting this guy who was really cold and shivering use Erez's phone to yell at the other person saying "!!!איפה אתה,אני פה!!" and saying bye to Erez, Nathan and I got on the bus. We were both so hungry, so we decided we would wait until 12, so we can get moses for half off (they have a dinner that is 1/2 the price of other regular meals when you get it past 12.) We had to wait like 25 minutes until 12 and we didn't want to wait outside because we were so cold, so we went to this pastry place where we split a piece of chocolate cake. It was so so so good. Then we had to wait outside for like 20 minutes to get a seat inside. We saw Yoni, a scout, with guys from his apartment. (NOTE TO MOM: SKIP THIS PART IF YOU WILL BE MAKING COMMENTS ON THIS) I'm not friends with the boys, but when Yoni wanted to hug me to say hi I made a joke that I was shomer (I don't mean it in an offensive way). Then the boys were trying to be quiet and guess my name (they got it right!) and so they were like "jessica?" and then they informed me that Moses wasn't Kosher. I told them I knew that and kind of said it in a way wondering why they felt the need to tell me that. They believed that I was shomer negiah. Oy. Then they thought I was on a date with Nathan because Yoni joked about it. Oy, again.

Finally Nathan and I got a spot inside and we ordered quickly to a crazy dancing, not-sober waiter. We weren't even hungry by this time and so Nathan ate everything except for some fries and had a quarter of my hamburger. The fries were so good, so since I was so so so stuffed, I took them in a box. I know that cold fries aren't good, but if I eat them at home, I'll definitely eat them in Israel! After me waiting for Nathan when he went pee and having the waiter ask if the backpack in our spot was ours (it was nathans), we left to go to the bus stop. We walked pretty far and had to wait so long for the bus and it sucked because I had to pee so badly. When we got back we went on facebook and then hung out with some of my roommates and Katie. Then we went to bed around 3ish, Nathan crashed on the couch.

WEDNESDAY:

It was really hard for me to wake up in the morning because I only got about 6 hours of sleep. Volunteering was easy and nice--first we stayed in the classroom and helped students in there. I got to practice my hebrew with some of the students not so good at english. Yay! We also took students out to help them with their homework. Most of the students we worked with weren't really good at english. I felt really useful because I helped a kid do his homework and it was based on vocabulary...like library, hospital, post office, restaurant and other places and I knew how to say them in both english and hebrew! Oh and i forgot to mention that this past week (and maybe the week before) the bell song was "I've Got a Feeling." How funny?! (In case I didn't mention this in earlier posts, the school changes the bell song every 2 weeks. My first 2 weeks there it was "Poker Face.")

After volunteering I made myself lunch and then we had class. My classes were good (Israel advocacy being better (as always) than my other class.) After my classes, we walked the long way home and then I helped Rach make hamburgers for dinner! I TOUCHED RAW MEAT!!! I didn't however actually cook them, but I helped shir cut up veggies for a salad. I am the SLOWEST cutter, still. Dinner was really good and after dinner I just hung out and helped rach write in her blog about dialogue in the dark. Then since I didnt have volunteering on thursday, I stayed up until 1ish watching part of a movie with rach. Sorry this is a short blog, well maybe it is a good thing! haha

TUESDAY:

Because our siyyur (dialogue in the dark) wasn't until late afternoon, rach and I didn't get out of bed until 11ish. Then we hung around the apartment for a little and I tried catching up on my blog (still so behind...oy). At around 2 we left to go to tel aviv to go to the artist's shuk. On the way there we saw different, hilarious things. For example, we saw cats making love underneath a park bench. Then once we got there we bumped into some sofiem, but mostly just walked around. There were so many birthright kids and I would get really excited whenever I saw someone wearing a Michigan hat or sweater. I was too embarrassed to walk up to their table to let them know that I am a wolverine too! It is really fun to speak hebrew around them and they all wear clothing that has their college on it. Also, it was hilarious to watch them try to bargain (although I shouldn't laugh because I do not know how to bargain at all.)

After walking around there, we walked into some nearby bookstores. One of the bookstores was selling used books and one of the few books in english was an art book called "Impressions" or something like that. Inside was a note from a guy (maybe his name was John or Tony?) saying something like making an impression on each other....ugh I wish I could remember what it said! It was from 1975 and just so nice! We then took a bus back and had a quick dinner before running out the door to be at the mall by 5:45. After waiting for a bit, we take a coach bus there. Rach and I talked about our thoughts and Rach wrote them down in her blog about our experience at Dialogue in the Dark.....(I copied and pasted)

So Dialogue in the Dark was absolutely amazing. Family that was here in November, you definitely should have gone to this. So it is located in Holon which is a neighboring city to Bat Yam, about a 10ish min bus ride. We are split into 4 different groups of 10 ppl each. Jessica and I are the only girls in our group. Just a note, that they clarified for us: it is not a blind museum, it is not going to make you see or feel what it is like to be blind, it is only going to give you a hr of time with your other senses heightened and not being able to see; however, you are not blind for that time. You see darkness not nothingness.

As we are in the grey (still some light but not really) we are being told how we will be walking around for a 1 hr and a 1/2 in complete darkness where you cannot see your own hand in front of your face. All of your senses become heightened. It was really eery walking into a darkness that completely envelopes you. It makes you feel tiny and insignificant. Every sound and vibration directs you in a certain path. The voice of our Guide, Talya, led us into a room by the sound of her voice and the touch of a wall. This room had three masks that we had to find and feel--an African, Bull head and Indian. There was also a bed, a wall that was made out of bamboo, a book shelf with old books, a chair, and a trashcan. We were again, guided by the wall and the voice of Talya into a magical garden. As we walked around we walked, as I would assume zombies would walk--arms out, with a timid walk scared that we might fall, unsure that our feet would be able to support us.

We were again, guided by the wall and the voice of Talya into a magical garden. We stepped out on the gravel, only detectable by the crunch beneath our feet. "Find the benches, they are on the grass." Slowly stepping out, trying to sense the difference beneath our feet. The difference was soon felt and with hands out in front of me I sat down and announced it, calling others with my voice. Explaining to others how to sit down so that they wouldn't sit on me was the next step. Yoni sat beside me. We scooted to the edge to make room for others. As everyone sat we were told to listen to our environment. Birds, water, breathing. It felt like any other park that I've enjoyed when I take my naps, except that I didn't have the warmth of the sun beating down upon my body. We stood and followed the whispers of the waterfall to touch the water. On to the next room...

We feel the uneasiness of a bridge beneath ourselves, the clank of a chain against the railing. We slowwwwwllllyyyy continue in the boat, trying to be careful not to fall and make a fool of ourselves. I sit down and I'm between Yoni and Jon. We are trying to figure out if we are actually on water or if it just a simulation--in this day in age we aren't very trusting unless we actually see the water. We reach behind the boat and feel the raised hebrew letters spelling out the name of the boat-Chana--chet, nun, hey. We here birds chirping and we can feel the wind rustling through our hair. We make it to the other side of some place; where, I don't know. And walk up a rickety bridge into the next room...

A busy street corner. Fell the cobblestones beneath your feet! Be careful not to trip on the curb! listen to noise. Feel the doorbell, window, door knocking thingamajig, a car with a license plate number of 86, a bicycle, streetlight, and garbage can. There is a banister that we were supposed to follow to the right. So I went right. We followed Talya's voice to the banister and I was at it. Little did I know that I was on the wrong side of the banister. I hear that we are getting farther away from Talya. I turn around but Josh is in my way thinking that we are going the correct way. After some confusion and shouting as to where Jessica is. We can't be separated like this! We make it to the other side of the banister and continue to the next room....

And all of a sudden we are in the middle of Jerusalem at a bustling shook--Machena Yehuda. Our hands are drawn to the bins lining the wall, filled with fruit and vegetables. We are told we can eat whatever we want. My left hand falls upon an orange. I peel it, placing the peel in the pocket of my jacket. While eating the orange I found a spot where I hadn't peeled. It was at this point that it hit me that I cannot see. This wasn't just me flouncing around in the dark. I had an opportunity to use my touch and I fall back on my eyes. Kai asks for the trashcan and he finds it with the help of Talya, I hand him my peel and he tosses it away. And Jessica continues to find me by touching my hair. We continue on our journey to the music room...

Our instructions are to go find a wall and lean against it. I find a wall and lean against it waiting for everyone to do the same. We are told to sit down, which I had already done. Lay down, we scoot out and lay down. As I would if I were to look up into the night sky and stare at the stars. The entire time music is playing. Beautiful, sweet music. The kind of music to melt away all of your fears. Being told that it was time to move to the music dancing around in my head was almost painful. Music is so much richer when all of the distractions of sight are taken away. If music is richer than what is food like...

We enter the cafe by being led to a counter. While holding onto the counter practically for dear life, considering that it is the only thing that we actually know in this strange environment we are read the menu--drinks and snacks--everything under 10 shekels. I wasn't hungry so I didn't buy anything and I had experienced eating without sight--my orange from the Shook. Those of us who didn't buy were led to a table. I was the first to sit down on the bench and I had to scoot all the way down to the left, the only way to know I was at the edge was by almost falling over. Here again, I am between Jon and Yoni. Well Yoni is on the bench to my left that is perpendicular to mine. Everyone is curious to know what everyone else ordered and if we can share food and how to pass. More importantly it is our opportunity to talk with our wonderful guide, Talya.

Talya is Israeli. Her English is very good. She lived in LA for a few years. She taught Ivrit in a Jewish Sunday School in LA. She took the buses. She also taught while she was in Israel. She is retired now but still very active and works at Dialogue in the Dark anywhere from 2 to 4 days a week. Oh and did I mention that she is blind? She was born blind. She cannot see us. She can see some shading between dark and light but cannot tell you if it is a tree or a pole before herself. She told of a time when she was in LA and had missed her stop so she had to cross the street to go on a bus in the opposite direction. However she wasn't used to the area and didn't know where the bus stop was and since everyone in LA drives there weren't any people on the streets for her to ask help from like there would be if she were in Israel. She obviously made it, but it was very frustrating for her. And I had fears about coming to Israel! We asked many questions about the museum, it's history, how it was arranged and apparently they are very simple rooms and we would probably laugh at them if we were able to see them. For us they were like a maze and indescribable. She learned the layout in about 3 minutes.

After the cafe we went into the light. The shock of the light after being accustomed to the dark was painful. Jessica still makes fun of the expression upon my face when I walked into the light. In the light we were able to see books of Brail in both Hebrew and English as well as a game of checkers. The pieces of the checkers set were not black and white, rather raised and flat pieces with little sockets on the bottom to place into the raised or indented checkered board. There was also a brail typewriter. And of course I had to sign the guest book.

There truly is a foreign world out there, out there in the dark.

Strangely enough throughout the whole experience I kept bumping into the same people over and over again--Jessica and Kai. And whenever we needed to sit I was between Yoni and Jon. As we left every room, Talya would ask if anyone was left behind.

And as a note writing this was extremely difficult because I don't have the ability to think about as to what I saw. I have to delve into a different part of my brain to try and remember the order of what happened, what I touched, and sensed. Just ask Jessica...oy vey. So we came to realize that this blog was a joint effort.

Super long, I know, but we tried to include as much detail as possible!! After waiting for buses and getting a bit lost, we make our way back to bat yam. Then after being in our apartment for only 20 minutes, Rach, Shir, and I decide to go bowling with some people in other apartments at like 11. Late night! We walked there and it ended up being so much fun. Everything is a lot funnier when we are with the tzofiem. I bowled really, really badly. I was just so hyped up that I really messed up. I only got ארבים ואחד. I was so mad. I got 0 the first time and then i got 8 or something. Then I got a spare, so I thought I was warmed up...I thought wrong. 4 or 5 turns in a row after the spare I got ZIP. SO ANNOYING. UGH! I really want to go back there to do better. I am still upset! After that we came home, I showered and didnt get to bed until 1:30ish.

MONDAY:

On Monday I woke up for volunteering and during volunteering we just took students out to either talk with them or do work with them. During the 20 minute break we were outside of the school gates and while we were walking back we saw a girl trying to jump the fence to get out. Jo is telling her to stop and go back down because she works for the school, so the girl goes back down but we all keep on looking back to see if she will climb when we aren’t looking. Jo wanted to tell the guard so in broken Hebrew I explained to him what happened. He asked in Hebrew if she was climbing the fence to get in or get out. When I said out he said that he doesn’t care and it is only his problem as a guard if someone tries to get in. He doesn’t care if they try to get out!!!! After volunteering, Rach, Katie, Naomi, and I went to Tel-Aviv where we went to the castro outlet store. It was nice just to hang out and relax/goof off. I didn’t find anything I wanted…besides some skirts, but I didn’t try on because if it looked good I would have been tempted to buy it.

When we got back to Bat Yam, Rach and I were going to just chill at the ulpan. Julia was already there (she went to shevet optional classes, rach and I just needed a break from them) and so we lied down on grass right by the ulpan. While we were resting we all heard 3 gunshots, but didn’t think anything of it. During the break I found out that those gunshots killed someone and wounded another. Here is an article on it: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3832935,00.html

It is just so weird and crazy that it happened so close to me. I’m not scared or anything, just weirded out. I guess what weirds me out the most is I just don’t know how to act. There is no organized thing the city is doing to discuss what happened. Everyone just goes on with their lives like nothing happened. It is sometimes hard to not think about your life and realize what just happened. I wish there was an appropriate way to respect the person who was murdered. Unfortunately, there isn’t one. I’m also embarrassed to say that it is hard to at least to be respectful to that person and family.

That night, life went on for my roommates and me. Rach and I went for a run, while everyone else in the apartment went for a power walk. It was a hard run because we ran all the way to the beach without any stops (unfortunately all of the crosswalk lights were green when we reached them.) Then we walked back and the power walking group caught up and passed us. Rach and I had a nice/funny conversation realized we needed more bonding time. For us, bonding time sometimes means the most alone you can get on year course without actually being alone. Being with just each other is not a common thing…and this happens way more than real alone time. It is the closest thing we got. When we got back I showered and then we all had a healthy dinner together. I had tuna on crackers (Julia makes good tuna), Israeli salad, and quinoa (guilty-googled how to spell that.) Rach and I then left around 10ish. On the “rape path” I thought I saw something on the path so I stopped. I thought it was the same porcupine I almost stepped on from the other day. Rach didn’t believe me and right before she shined her cell phone light on the ground it ran away. Rach got so scared and screamed like a little girl. We were peeing (almost.) Then when we turned the corner we see this tall man with a dog which made both of us scream. The guy was asking in Hebrew what was wrong with us J James was behind that man and since we were in hysterics, we were unable to get comprehendible words out. We somehow get to tel aviv and go to yogurt world or whatever. 19 sheks for a small with 3 toppings!!! We ate it on a chair and after that we went home. The buses are always so crowded. I don’t like that! When we got back, we ended up watching “Flirting at Forty” together until 2 because our siyyur on Tuesday wasn’t until 5:45 (meaning we could sleep in.)