SATURDAY:

On Saturday I slept in, but when I had to get up at 10 I was so tired. Lori and I slept in the “romantic getaway” bed. Everyone always sleeps so well in this bed. At 10:40 we left to start walking to the place where we would eat lunch. It was supposed to take us only 45 minutes, but it took us much longer than that. We went the wrong way a couple of times and with nothing in our bodies (we didn’t eat breakfast) it was such a hard walk. It was pretty warm out making it harder. I wore my boots and got such bad blisters. When we finally got there there were yeshiva british boys there. We knew a couple of them. The house we went to was a british couple who have been married for 3 months. They were so cute and so nice. The wife was such a good cook and knows how to cook in such big quantities (there was about 20 of us)!! We had sushi as appetizers and then we had salad, schnitzel, ah and so so so much more food! After lunch we were invited to stay and wait for the 3^rd meal (light dinner). Some people played games but a couple of us passed out. We put 2 beds together and lori, rach, and I slept. It was such a nice nap. When we woke up we waited until people came home from shul and then we had the 3^rd meal—which was not so little. After that when all the boys went to shul, us girls stayed and played a game. I was on a team with Naomi and Katie and we won. Woo hoo! While we were playing the guys came back so they joined in. After the game we did havdallah and then after schmoozing and playing with their gerbils. After thanking the couple a million times (the husband was so cute--he wore a shirt that said "hashem rocks") and them inviting us to come back whenever, we headed back home with the yeshiva boys. We didnt go the wrong way so the walk was only about 45 minutes. We sang and just goofed off. When we finally got back lori and i took quick showers because we were supposed to meet yoni and his friends at burgers bar on emek refiem for his birthday. We already knew we were going to be late, but by the time we got there they were finishing up eating and about to go. It was nice to see yoni and we made plans to see him on monday for lunch. Lori and i then split chicken fingers, fries, and a hamburger. We both decided that it was overrated. It was just so messy and it wasnt that good. We couldnt finish everything because it was just so much food. I was so bummed when the chicken fingers was just schnitzel pieces. After dinner we needed to walk around and we bumped into shoshie! We talked to her for a little and then started to walk to the gas station where we would meet up with boaz. We went to his friends house where we watched some of mr and mrs smith but then his friend told us that we had to go.

SUNDAY:

On Sunday lori and i left the apartment at 12. First we went to mamila where we had aroma for breakfast/lunch. When lori ordered her salad they forgot to put down that she wanted a drink, so she went back in line. I was waiting for our food and the guy kept on yelling "michal" because her food was ready. After yelling the name like 7 times lori yells my name saying that it is her. she told the people that her name was michal!!! hahahaha. Then after waiting a long time just to have the left over of my sandwich put in a bag, lori and i went to different stores in mamila. None of the stores had great things. Lori needed underwear so she got cute underwear from top shop. The music at top shop was so good. Lori and i were dancing and just being weird for the heck of it. When we left mamila we headed to the shuk. As everyone knows i suck at directions and almost got us lost. We met up with kendall and some of her family. After saying hi, we walked with kendall. It was really nice to see her and we just all caught up a lot. Kendall took us to cool stores and i got a leotard that snaps in black and white. They are good undershirts with sleeves. After walking around we waited until 5 so kendall could break the fast. Kendall kept on bumping into her friends and since they are israeli she would speak to them in hebrew. ah so cool!

We went to this one place and had dinner. I wasnt hungry, but i just sat with them. Then we went to the coffee shop where i got a hot chocolate and they got coffee. Kendall bought these chocolate things at the shuk and so she told us we had to try it with our drinks. It was good and just so chocolaty. Then kendall had to go so we said goodbye and lori and i went back to katies. We just stayed there for the rest of the night and just hung out.

MONDAY:

On monday lori and i woke up and showered and then left the apartment around 11:45 to go meet yoni at the aroma at emek refiem. We walked with everyone else and we carried our laundry. It weighed so much. Anyway, lori and i had lunch with yoni and we bought him lunch for his birthday. It was really nice. We just caught up and lori and i just cannot stop saying how happy we are for him and just how nice of a kid he is. During lunch I realized that my Jewish star charm from the necklace Lori gave me for my birthday wasn't on the chain. It fell off! I was so upset. All of my jewelry breaks. Ugh!

After lunch we walked on emek refiem for a bit and then we took a bus to the old city. We went to the kotel and then went to some of the shops. Then we walked through mamila and then decided to get falafel on ben yehuda. We were going to also go to the shuk but we were exhausted from walking. I took lori the wrong way from mamila to ben yehuda by doing a huge loop. It was good falafel and the chips were good so i went back twice asking for more fries. The 2nd time i was a little more embarrassed so lori was giving me a pep talk and all of the sudden a guy sitting by us also tells me to do it. When i get the chips we talk to this guy for a little. He was nice and then we sat around. We were meeting shoshie and her sister and some others for ice cream a couple of hours after on ben yehuda so we decided to look at some stores. My toe was killing so i would limp and sit down whenever i could. Lori got a cute pair of winter boots. ugh they were so so so cute!! We then sat down and moved to another table after lori accidentally stole a pastry. hahahaha.

When we finally met up with everyone we got aldo ice cream. The portions in jerusalem are much less and it costs more. I missed bat yam. I got an ice cream for 17 sheks and i had it in a cup. I asked for a cone and then after they gave me the cone they said it cost an extra 3 sheks. WHAT?! i was so pissed. in bat yam i get more ice cream for NINE sheks. i am boycotting that place. After talking and seeing some people for a couple of seconds we went back to katie's apartment.

TUESDAY:

On Tuesday lori and i woke up and left the apartment by 11...i think? While waiting for the crosswalk to say walk, a car goes through a red and then since the light was green for us, this guy goes up to the car who is in the middle of the crosswalk and wacks the guy's car with his bag, which i think dented the car. The guy kept on calling the guy an asshole and then the driver got out of his car and pushed the guy! They were both at least mid to late 50s. It was crazy! Then these middle aged religious women stopped them from fighting. Welcome to Israel!

We went to the shuk and just bought some food--a lot of rugula from marzapan (i know i spelled it wrong). We then sat down and ate all of it. Since we didnt take pictures all week i took pictures of everything that day. many pictures were of us eating or food...duh! After the shuk we walked through ben yehuda and sat for a little. Then we came back to the apartment where she packed up and showered. Then we started to walk to the central bus station, but stopped for falafel. It was really good. Then i thought we just had to walk straight, but apparently you have to make a left on yafo and then go straight. We realized we had gone the wrong way when after walking with a bunch of frummies and seeing that we had hit mea shiriem...oops! After finally making it to the central bus station we get on a bus and then when we get to the train station we decide to take a taxi instead of the train. The guy says 150, but we lowered it to 130. We know we still got ripped off. ugh. we kept on telling him to use the meter but he said that he only uses the meter when he is driving in the city. such bull!

When we get to the airport after checking in her luggage we have to wait around for about 2 hours. We just listened to music and danced like crazy people. When delta finally starts to do stuff we end up not being first in line which is so annoying, but just listen to girltalk and just dance. People watch us. oh well! After checking in her bag we go and get mcdonalds and then after saying bye :( i went to where the train was. My train was coming in an hour. great. so i sat there in the cold waiting for my train freaking out because it was already getting late and i didnt want to miss the last bus that would take me to jerusalem. I get on the train and then some people help me and luckily i get off at the right stop. I then get on the bus and then walked home from the central bus station. It was dark and a little scary. Katie lives by the prime ministers house so for the 2nd time the guards told me to stop walking and then all of the sudden like 5 cars come speeding down the street. The first time this happened i was with lori and the police driver was the scariest driver. Then after i got back and showered boaz picked me up and i stayed with him.

WEDNESDAY:

On Wednesday I didn't get up until 1:30ish. Then Boaz and I had cereal at the kitchen table while his youngest sister, Anat, did her homework. It is so weird how in Israel school sometimes ends for students at 1. Also, it is so nice to be in a home because there are so many good cereal selections--not the cheapest kinds! After hanging out and watching some of "That 70's Show" (Boaz and his friends watch it all the time...I used to not watch it, but now that I have seen more than a couple of episodes I like it), Boaz took me back to Katie's apartment so I could help clean and pack up. Then Boaz said he would be able to drive everyone's bags to the Central Bus Station and . His dad's car ended up breaking down, so he had to pick up his dad. He still came, but his dad was with him and with all of our bags in his small car I was the only one who could fit in the backseat. I thought the car ride would be a little bit awkward, but it wasn't at all. His dad gave me a piece of bazuka bubble gum and after unloading the car and Boaz and I waiting outside for everyone to come, Boaz told me what the joke said. Boaz's dad was going to take the car back and Boaz and I would take the bus.

It started to rain after sitting and waiting (I found 2 lucky pennies!) so we took all of the bags where there was a roof. Then after waiting in there some more, I found Rach and everyone and showed them where we put the bags. We rushed to where the bus was and it had just pulled in once we got there. After getting the bags under the bus and saying bye to everyone I went with Boaz to the bus stop. We ran to the bus and we made it. It was so crowded and he saw an old teacher of his! When we got off I asked where we were going because it wasn't where he lived. He forgot to tell me that we were having dinner at his grandmother's. Oh dear.

She spoke really well english and dinner wasn't too uncomfortable. The food was good--it is just so nice to have a big meal prepared for you! After me, Boaz, Anat, and Miki (younger brother...not sure how he spells his name) finished dinner we played Set!!!! I found the first 2 sets really quickly and thought i should tone down my intensity-I'm just used to my family playing! Then they surprised me and were really good-quicker than me-when they got warmed up. I really like his family. After dinner we all got in the mini van and after dropping off Miki we drove home. For the rest of the night Boaz and I hung out and then we decided to watch "10 Things I Hate About You" (he had never seen it!) At the very,very end his friend came by. I had met him before for like two seconds. He speaks English in his home so he didn't have an Israeli accent. We then all hung out and just watched a couple of episodes of "That 70's Show." After his friend left we went to bed.

THURSDAY:

On Thursday we didn't get up until 12:30. I sleep so well in his bed--much more room than in the tiny bed Rach and I share!! ּBoaz wanted "to make something taste" so after correcting/laughing/making fun of what he said he made us an omelet. His mom wasn't happy that that was all we had and that we weren't having it "עם לחם או משהו" so even though I told her I was full she made me salad and cut up bread with cheese slices. I eventually gave in and had the salad and some bread. The salad was really good and it is funny how in Israel salads usually have more cucumbers and tomatoes than lettuce. Then I helped Boaz's mom use my computer so she can receive a document in hebrew. Later that day Boaz and I looked at all of my hebrew music and just hung out and watched some spongebob in hebrew with his brother. Then I had to get the 7 bus back to Bat Yam, but since Boaz's dad's car is broken, I had to go earlier. Boaz and I sat in back and Boaz's dad was driving with Anat in the car. They picked up their Aunt and her 2 kids. Then Boaz's dad dropped them and me off at the central bus station. After saying bye I went through and waited a little for the bus to come. The bus was about an hour and a half and luckily I got off at the right stop.

I then had some dinner and got ready with Rach for New Years. Then we headed over to Katie's apartment where we waited for her and everyone else to get ready. Around 11ish we left and got on a bus to Tel Aviv. We were debating between going to this club or a street party. We decided to go to the street party. It was weird because there wasn't any TV to watch a ball drop. We knew it was 2010 when our phones said it was 12 and when everyone around us was screaming. Then we saw some sofiem, Miki, Nathan, Ari, and other year coursers. I had a balloon and was hitting everyone with it saying happy new year. Katie and I crashed an apartment party while looking for a bathroom and I ended up using it. (note to self: stairwell). Then we left at a perfect time with some sofiem, but had to wait about 30 minutes for the bus to come. When I got on the bus some mean guys popped my balloon!!! I was so upset. We got back to our apartment around 4 and then fell asleep. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!

FRIDAY:

Yesterday Rach and I got up at 8:40ish to go the the Young Judaea office to get our bus passes for January--they said we could only get them between 9 and 10 on Friday or else we had to wait until Sunday. We could not find the place and we were wearing our PJ's. We were cracking up because in Jerusalem in Beit Ar-El it would be fine to wear our PJ's, but it probably isn't so good to do this when we are on main roads! haha. After stumbling and turning around and finding the place and getting our bus passes we fell back asleep and slept until 12:30. I then took a shower and we went shopping for Shabbat dinner. Then we got food from aroma and Katie met up with us. I got the same salad I got when I had lunch with Lori and Yoni. I was so disappointed-it was not nearly as fresh and good as my last salad. Then I used the internet for a bit because the young judaea internet in our apartment is down.

After being there for awhile and the mall closing for Shabbat Katie and I came back to the apartment. We started to prepare dinner-I made the salad, but it took me so long. I am so slow at cutting compared to Nicola or others. Hopefully with practice I will get better. Then after lighting candles for Shabbat (I got them from sem girls on my way entering the central bus station in Jerusalem), I got ahold of mom and dad. We ended up talking for a half hour but it was a good catch up. Then I had dinner with Rach, Nicola, James, and Daniel. It was a nice dinner and after dinner we played Apples to Apples Jewish Edition. It was so annoying because the Brits did not get American/my humor. Ugh!! Then we left our apartment to go to a different apartment where we hung out and watched this funny Brit TV show called "The Inbetweeners." It was funny only because I watched it with Brits. Then around 12ish Katie, Rach, and I left and when we got back to our apartment we watched the last 30 minutes of "Another Cinderella Story" and then when we got into bed Rach and I watched the first 45 minutes of "Remember the Titans."

SATURDAY:

Today I really took advantage of it being Shabbat and rested for the majority of the day. Katie's alarm went off every 10 minutes. We were all so pissed, including Katie! hahaha. Around 12ish Rach and I finished watching the movie in bed. Then James came over and we had lunch. Then Katie, Rach, and I started to watch "She's the Man" but then i fell asleep and had weird dreams. After that Julia called saying she just got out of the taxi, so we came down to greet her. It is nice to have her back. Then we all hung out some more, cleaned a bit and then I started to make the 3 of us dinner...Katie has been in bed with a fever. When we checked her temperature it was 102 degrees :( I made noodles with veggies. It turned out to be fine. Few! Then I had chocolate spread on some (some is a bit of an understatement) rice cakes. I then caught up on my blog and hung out with Katie, Rach, and Leah.