WEDNESDAY:
I woke up at 7, but just kept on sleeping more and more, but really woke up at 9. I ended up hanging out with Rach and Katie while Katie's apartment got fixed (her shower, toilet, and ceiling). It was just Rach, Katie, and me and it was nice just to hang out with them and catch up because I hadn't seen them for like a day! I ended up leaving around 3pm and then taking buses home. When I was getting onto the bus from be'er sheva to arad, I walk on and am looking for a seat when I hear someone say "Curhan?" It ended up being a girl in uniform. It was Keren Walsh! I sat next to her and talked to her. It was really nice seeing and talking with her. She is a shooting instructor at the base in arad! She is almost done being in the army. She did garin tzabar, which is what cara and kendall are doing. Cara also wants to be a shooting instructor! We exchanged numbers and she invited me to come stay with her in the north if I have time-she has her own place.
I went to ulpan when I got off the bus in arad, which was stupid-I was happy I was late. There was only the low group and the high group. I went to the low group-but all we did was play a game. I thought that it was because i was late that I found it useless, but people who were there for the entire time didn't get much out of it. They need 3 groups at least! The middle one could be for the ones who are okay in hebrew and want to practice speaking! After ulpan I came back to the apartment to drop my bags off before going to the mall to buy food for rach, michal, and I for yam l'yam. I also had to find rope for rach. It took so long and then I was late for Shai's dad speaking. It was at the ulpan. I am so annoyed just walking back and forth so many times from the same places!!! Shai's dad talked about his most intense experience in the army. I was late, but still got part of the story. After, alex told a personal story. So scary. It is even scarier that I know people in the army. When I came home I packed up in Leah's bag and didn't go to bed much later.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
TUESDAY:
I went with Boaz's family to a park where all of his family was there for a bbq. I talked with his cousins and aunts and uncles and sat with his dad's mom for a bit. She was on the kinder transport and she was from austria. It was really interesting to hear her story. It was nice how I was comfortable with everyone. Oh, but before lunch, i played horse with Boaz and I beat him! Ha ha! Yoav was all over me, but he's so cute!! I hung out with Anat and she worked on her english while I worked on my hebrew. I did the same with maya, his cousin that is sophie's age and acts similar to soph-not her age! I juggled the soccer ball with them for a bit too. Boaz is good at soccer. It was nice how his family were impressed by my juggling skills. It was funny how we had lunch and his mom kept on feeding me. there were so many different families there. It was such a cool experience. Yoav saw one of his friends and introduced me hahaha. When everyone was eating their popsicles (because it was hot out), Boaz's dad grilled steaks. So funny. In Boaz's family, desert is steak! It was such a great yom hatzmaoot. After, Boaz and I hung out for a bit before he had to go catch a bus. At the CBS I took a bus back to katie's. I packed up and wanted to catch a bus back to arad that night...after waiting really long for one bus, I got to the CBS with 3 minutes left before the bus was going to leave. I got there and people were still in line. No room. Great. I was in such a bad mood because I was just so tired. I had to wait a long time for the bus back to katie's (waste of 2 times on my cardisia) and talked to mom for a little. When I got back to Katie's I just went straight to bed.
I went with Boaz's family to a park where all of his family was there for a bbq. I talked with his cousins and aunts and uncles and sat with his dad's mom for a bit. She was on the kinder transport and she was from austria. It was really interesting to hear her story. It was nice how I was comfortable with everyone. Oh, but before lunch, i played horse with Boaz and I beat him! Ha ha! Yoav was all over me, but he's so cute!! I hung out with Anat and she worked on her english while I worked on my hebrew. I did the same with maya, his cousin that is sophie's age and acts similar to soph-not her age! I juggled the soccer ball with them for a bit too. Boaz is good at soccer. It was nice how his family were impressed by my juggling skills. It was funny how we had lunch and his mom kept on feeding me. there were so many different families there. It was such a cool experience. Yoav saw one of his friends and introduced me hahaha. When everyone was eating their popsicles (because it was hot out), Boaz's dad grilled steaks. So funny. In Boaz's family, desert is steak! It was such a great yom hatzmaoot. After, Boaz and I hung out for a bit before he had to go catch a bus. At the CBS I took a bus back to katie's. I packed up and wanted to catch a bus back to arad that night...after waiting really long for one bus, I got to the CBS with 3 minutes left before the bus was going to leave. I got there and people were still in line. No room. Great. I was in such a bad mood because I was just so tired. I had to wait a long time for the bus back to katie's (waste of 2 times on my cardisia) and talked to mom for a little. When I got back to Katie's I just went straight to bed.
MONDAY:
We had to wake up early in the morning and walk to basically the CBS so the coach could pick us up and take us to Har Hertzl. We were walking and then we eventually had to run and it was really hot out and I was wearing a jean skirt that wasn't too flexible. When we finally met up with the bus and got on I was so sweaty. When we got there we were given different tasks. I helped hand out flowers. Others handed out candles or water. I doubt in the U.S. that all of this stuff would be free. It was meaningful to be able to hand out flowers. After doing that for a bit, I walked around with Rachel. When the siren went off for the second time, everyone there just stopped moving and walking. I remember being there last year, but it was not the same. This time we were among soldiers and families, while when I was there on MOTL, yeah we were in an area with families, but only one, small, selected area. Also, we didn't volunteer. Similarly to my experience from the night before, I think I would have found the ceremony to be more meaningful if I understood what was being said. I would understand bits such as how these people we are remembering aren't strangers but our sons and daughters and friends and brothers and sisters. We were there for about 4 hours before meeting back up and then shevet/FZY had our own little activity. We were given about 30 minutes to go light a yahrzeit candle. I wanted to find the grave of the soldier who I came across on TM08, but ended up going to a different one.
When we came back together we got divided up based on if we wanted to go see Michael Levin's grave or Roie Klein's where a family member of theirs would be talking to us. It was weird that we had to decide...I went to Roie's, but I think his sister, wasn't able to make it to speak to us, but was interested in speaking to us another time. People who went to Michael's grave (who also got to go to Roie's grave, just saying) got to see Michael's dad and he spoke to them for a couple of minutes. It was meaningful to go to their graves. After going to another grave we had time to talk in small groups. We talked about how significant it is that this day and yom hatzmaoot are the day after each other and why we think it is that way and how we think people deal with it. It is nice to think that we still are thinking about those fallen soldiers when we are celebrating-celebrating that Israel is a country that those soldiers died for. We honor them by celebrating what they fought for and what they believed in.
Then shevet had the option on going on this short tour. The tour guide showed us before his friend who died in a car accident that was in the same area as Roie's grave. It is so weird and foreign for me to understand and know how to handle being at your good friend's grave. We were given a tour of Har Hertzl and saw how no matter how old you were or what you did in the army or how you died (you are still buried where soldier's are buried if you are a soldier-even if the cause of death didn't have to do with war). We saw that the youngest soldier who died was 10 years old. I was shocked. I can't even describe what I thought about.
After our "tour" I was walking with Katie and recognized the area we were in- right by the grave I wanted to see. After searching and almost giving up, I found it. I was so happy and whenever I go to Har Hertzl I am always going to go visit that grave. We then left the cemetery and waited for a bus to take us close-ish to Katie's. We were all so tired and hungry because we had barely eaten at all that day and it was hot out. When we got close to Katie's we bought food and then ate it at Katie's. After taking a little nap, we had to walk back to beit ar-el where shevet has doing things with shelem-shachariet. After, it was no longer yom hazekaron, but yom hatzmaoot. The transformation is so important, but so crazy. After, shevet (including marva people!!!!!!) all went out for dinner. It was so nice talking with marva people and catching up with them. The dinner was good. After getting back to beit ar-el and maybe showering in my old apartment (where the shelem boys are now) and maybe borrowing someone's shoes and maybe their towel, we left to walk back to katie's. Katie was a little stressed and tired. When we got back we got ready quickly to go to ben yehuda for yom hatzmaoot!
I walked to town with cara and katie and on the way we saw fireworks. There were more fireworks that night. It was funny how I got to town right when last year I had to basically leave (11pm)! There was not as many dance things going on on ben yehuda street, which was a bummer. After hanging out there and seeing people, we went to bar alley and celebrated with friends there. It was fun. It was weird thinking about how happy everyone was, when only a few hours before they were mourning. Later that night I met up with Boaz who was somewhere else and went back with him. I left my phone in the taxi and I realized it after about 2 minutes and when I talked to the driver, he told me if he came back it would have to be in about an hour and would cost me about 100 sheks. So ridiculous, so Boaz talked to him and we were going to meet up with him the next day (so it would be for free.)
We had to wake up early in the morning and walk to basically the CBS so the coach could pick us up and take us to Har Hertzl. We were walking and then we eventually had to run and it was really hot out and I was wearing a jean skirt that wasn't too flexible. When we finally met up with the bus and got on I was so sweaty. When we got there we were given different tasks. I helped hand out flowers. Others handed out candles or water. I doubt in the U.S. that all of this stuff would be free. It was meaningful to be able to hand out flowers. After doing that for a bit, I walked around with Rachel. When the siren went off for the second time, everyone there just stopped moving and walking. I remember being there last year, but it was not the same. This time we were among soldiers and families, while when I was there on MOTL, yeah we were in an area with families, but only one, small, selected area. Also, we didn't volunteer. Similarly to my experience from the night before, I think I would have found the ceremony to be more meaningful if I understood what was being said. I would understand bits such as how these people we are remembering aren't strangers but our sons and daughters and friends and brothers and sisters. We were there for about 4 hours before meeting back up and then shevet/FZY had our own little activity. We were given about 30 minutes to go light a yahrzeit candle. I wanted to find the grave of the soldier who I came across on TM08, but ended up going to a different one.
When we came back together we got divided up based on if we wanted to go see Michael Levin's grave or Roie Klein's where a family member of theirs would be talking to us. It was weird that we had to decide...I went to Roie's, but I think his sister, wasn't able to make it to speak to us, but was interested in speaking to us another time. People who went to Michael's grave (who also got to go to Roie's grave, just saying) got to see Michael's dad and he spoke to them for a couple of minutes. It was meaningful to go to their graves. After going to another grave we had time to talk in small groups. We talked about how significant it is that this day and yom hatzmaoot are the day after each other and why we think it is that way and how we think people deal with it. It is nice to think that we still are thinking about those fallen soldiers when we are celebrating-celebrating that Israel is a country that those soldiers died for. We honor them by celebrating what they fought for and what they believed in.
Then shevet had the option on going on this short tour. The tour guide showed us before his friend who died in a car accident that was in the same area as Roie's grave. It is so weird and foreign for me to understand and know how to handle being at your good friend's grave. We were given a tour of Har Hertzl and saw how no matter how old you were or what you did in the army or how you died (you are still buried where soldier's are buried if you are a soldier-even if the cause of death didn't have to do with war). We saw that the youngest soldier who died was 10 years old. I was shocked. I can't even describe what I thought about.
After our "tour" I was walking with Katie and recognized the area we were in- right by the grave I wanted to see. After searching and almost giving up, I found it. I was so happy and whenever I go to Har Hertzl I am always going to go visit that grave. We then left the cemetery and waited for a bus to take us close-ish to Katie's. We were all so tired and hungry because we had barely eaten at all that day and it was hot out. When we got close to Katie's we bought food and then ate it at Katie's. After taking a little nap, we had to walk back to beit ar-el where shevet has doing things with shelem-shachariet. After, it was no longer yom hazekaron, but yom hatzmaoot. The transformation is so important, but so crazy. After, shevet (including marva people!!!!!!) all went out for dinner. It was so nice talking with marva people and catching up with them. The dinner was good. After getting back to beit ar-el and maybe showering in my old apartment (where the shelem boys are now) and maybe borrowing someone's shoes and maybe their towel, we left to walk back to katie's. Katie was a little stressed and tired. When we got back we got ready quickly to go to ben yehuda for yom hatzmaoot!
I walked to town with cara and katie and on the way we saw fireworks. There were more fireworks that night. It was funny how I got to town right when last year I had to basically leave (11pm)! There was not as many dance things going on on ben yehuda street, which was a bummer. After hanging out there and seeing people, we went to bar alley and celebrated with friends there. It was fun. It was weird thinking about how happy everyone was, when only a few hours before they were mourning. Later that night I met up with Boaz who was somewhere else and went back with him. I left my phone in the taxi and I realized it after about 2 minutes and when I talked to the driver, he told me if he came back it would have to be in about an hour and would cost me about 100 sheks. So ridiculous, so Boaz talked to him and we were going to meet up with him the next day (so it would be for free.)
SUNDAY:
Boaz had to be at the Kotel for the army, but he didn't have to get there extremely early so we got to sleep in until 8 or so. On my walk back to Katie's (because I thought I would go to biet ar-el, but then i decided not to), I bumped into Steve Copland! In case you forgot, he was my genesis parables teacher! I had had a feeling he wouldn't remember me, but when I said hi he started speaking to me in hebrew, so (i understood him!) and would just answer him in english and then kind of hint that i am now in arad and it is different than beit ar el. Such a cute man! When I got to katie's after some indecisiveness, Naomi, Julia, and I walked to Beit Ar-El. We decided to try and go a different way by taking side streets and only got a little lost. We ended up right where Boaz's grandparents live! hahaha. Once we got to beit ar el, we hung out with the madrichim (or, emma, moran). Moran helped me with my Tanach final. It was fun just hanging out and messing around. After getting such a good sandwich with Naomi, we heard moran and or's stories about their army experience for yom hazekaron. It was really sad, but crazy how common it is.
Then we went back to katie's after hanging out on the grass for a bit and being confronted by this poor lady with a huge basket on her head. After being at katie's for only a little, we all got dressed and all of us walked to emek refiem to go to this ceremony for yom hazekaron. That was my 4th time walking back and forth that day. It is not a short walk either. There were so many people. After the flag was lowered the alarm went off and I saw some soldiers who were there saluting. I thought about how many people there knew people who had died or know of people who know of people who know someone who had died. Also, this day isn't just to commemorate and remember fallen soldiers, it is also to remember people who were victims of terrorist attacks. The ceremony involved children singing different songs and playing instruments and with everyone there singing softly along and speeches. I feel like I would have gotten more out of the ceremony if there was some english, or if I was fluent in hebrew so I could understand what was being said. It is cool to be able to go to events like these on my own and having the real experience, but it sometimes is hard to get that experience if I don't know what is going on.
After the ceremony, some of us decided to walk to the kotel. When we got there we bumped into a few people we knew and then saw the soldiers guarding the torch. It was really meaningful to see these soldiers. The kotel was pretty empty, which was nice. I like going there at night. On the walk home we bumped into the same people and some others. Katie and I bought some food for the next day and walked so so sooo slowly home because we were so tired. When we got back we went to bed quickly after. It felt so good to have my feet elevated!
-beit ar el, moran and paper, yom hazekaron stories, emek refiem, kotel
mon:
Boaz had to be at the Kotel for the army, but he didn't have to get there extremely early so we got to sleep in until 8 or so. On my walk back to Katie's (because I thought I would go to biet ar-el, but then i decided not to), I bumped into Steve Copland! In case you forgot, he was my genesis parables teacher! I had had a feeling he wouldn't remember me, but when I said hi he started speaking to me in hebrew, so (i understood him!) and would just answer him in english and then kind of hint that i am now in arad and it is different than beit ar el. Such a cute man! When I got to katie's after some indecisiveness, Naomi, Julia, and I walked to Beit Ar-El. We decided to try and go a different way by taking side streets and only got a little lost. We ended up right where Boaz's grandparents live! hahaha. Once we got to beit ar el, we hung out with the madrichim (or, emma, moran). Moran helped me with my Tanach final. It was fun just hanging out and messing around. After getting such a good sandwich with Naomi, we heard moran and or's stories about their army experience for yom hazekaron. It was really sad, but crazy how common it is.
Then we went back to katie's after hanging out on the grass for a bit and being confronted by this poor lady with a huge basket on her head. After being at katie's for only a little, we all got dressed and all of us walked to emek refiem to go to this ceremony for yom hazekaron. That was my 4th time walking back and forth that day. It is not a short walk either. There were so many people. After the flag was lowered the alarm went off and I saw some soldiers who were there saluting. I thought about how many people there knew people who had died or know of people who know of people who know someone who had died. Also, this day isn't just to commemorate and remember fallen soldiers, it is also to remember people who were victims of terrorist attacks. The ceremony involved children singing different songs and playing instruments and with everyone there singing softly along and speeches. I feel like I would have gotten more out of the ceremony if there was some english, or if I was fluent in hebrew so I could understand what was being said. It is cool to be able to go to events like these on my own and having the real experience, but it sometimes is hard to get that experience if I don't know what is going on.
After the ceremony, some of us decided to walk to the kotel. When we got there we bumped into a few people we knew and then saw the soldiers guarding the torch. It was really meaningful to see these soldiers. The kotel was pretty empty, which was nice. I like going there at night. On the walk home we bumped into the same people and some others. Katie and I bought some food for the next day and walked so so sooo slowly home because we were so tired. When we got back we went to bed quickly after. It felt so good to have my feet elevated!
-beit ar el, moran and paper, yom hazekaron stories, emek refiem, kotel
mon:
SATURDAY:
On Saturday, I went with Boaz and his dad and Miki to the tennis center. I watched them all play tennis for a few hours. It was fun to watch and it was pretty hot out. I hung out and talked with Boaz’s dad when Boaz and Miki played together in doubles. It was funny to watch them fight and get mad at each other. Boaz’s dad made a joke saying that if they keep on playing how they are playing then they won’t get lunch. Such dad humor. I have never heard “shut up” said in Hebrew so many times in such a little time-span. At the end they started to hit tennis balls at each other and have a little fight. Hahahaha. When we got back we had a nice lunch together that was so good. Anat asked me if I would come to her competition on May 15th. I told her I want to, but I’ll let her know if I can for sure. Then we watched some tv and napped before he took me around 9ish to town for the JAMD reunion! I wanted to be a little late and as Boaz says “fashionable late,” so when I got there a little after 9, I was actually one of the first people. Orly called me so we met up and then we met up with Jamie and David. Then Rachel came and then we called some people, but everyone was running a little late, so we decided to go officially start the reunion by going somewhere. We decided to go to Coffee Bean. We all talked about different things (summer plans, pesach break, marriage at 18) and on the tv was how to make pig nipple. We were all freaking out. We saw the pig hung and cut open. This was not only playing at a coffee shop, but at a KOSHER one where a lot of relig people hang out. People then had to go because of their sem curfew (!!!!) and I got picked up by Boaz.
On Saturday, I went with Boaz and his dad and Miki to the tennis center. I watched them all play tennis for a few hours. It was fun to watch and it was pretty hot out. I hung out and talked with Boaz’s dad when Boaz and Miki played together in doubles. It was funny to watch them fight and get mad at each other. Boaz’s dad made a joke saying that if they keep on playing how they are playing then they won’t get lunch. Such dad humor. I have never heard “shut up” said in Hebrew so many times in such a little time-span. At the end they started to hit tennis balls at each other and have a little fight. Hahahaha. When we got back we had a nice lunch together that was so good. Anat asked me if I would come to her competition on May 15th. I told her I want to, but I’ll let her know if I can for sure. Then we watched some tv and napped before he took me around 9ish to town for the JAMD reunion! I wanted to be a little late and as Boaz says “fashionable late,” so when I got there a little after 9, I was actually one of the first people. Orly called me so we met up and then we met up with Jamie and David. Then Rachel came and then we called some people, but everyone was running a little late, so we decided to go officially start the reunion by going somewhere. We decided to go to Coffee Bean. We all talked about different things (summer plans, pesach break, marriage at 18) and on the tv was how to make pig nipple. We were all freaking out. We saw the pig hung and cut open. This was not only playing at a coffee shop, but at a KOSHER one where a lot of relig people hang out. People then had to go because of their sem curfew (!!!!) and I got picked up by Boaz.
FRIDAY:
I kept on waking up and was wide awake at 10. Then people came over to Katie’s and we all just hung out and talked and around 8ish Boaz and his family came to come pick me up for Shabbat dinner. Shabbat dinner was nice- hung out with his cousins and his younger sister. During Friday Night Live there was a skit about boombamela. After that, Ron came over and then Boaz, Ron, me and Stav walked to town. We met up with some of Boaz’s friends and when we got back to Boaz’s, he forgot the key at his grandparents house, but luckily Miki wasn’t fast asleep and unlocked the door for us.
I kept on waking up and was wide awake at 10. Then people came over to Katie’s and we all just hung out and talked and around 8ish Boaz and his family came to come pick me up for Shabbat dinner. Shabbat dinner was nice- hung out with his cousins and his younger sister. During Friday Night Live there was a skit about boombamela. After that, Ron came over and then Boaz, Ron, me and Stav walked to town. We met up with some of Boaz’s friends and when we got back to Boaz’s, he forgot the key at his grandparents house, but luckily Miki wasn’t fast asleep and unlocked the door for us.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Today I woke up around 9ish, but I wasn't that tired! I blogged and showered before going to my new volunteering place. I forgot to say that on Tuesday I found out that Danielle wanted to work with Darfur Refugees and didn't want to work at a maternity clothing store, so I took it! I didn't have to get there until 11. Had trouble finding it. When I got there and a person from a daycare called her to let me know I didn't know where to go, Debbie came down and told me that they aren't open today. Okay! Oh, last night I talked to someone who likes Masada, but would prefer Ein Gedi and if he can get to Ein Gedi then I can have his place! I hope it works out. If not when Katie came over with falafel she made for me, she told me that Naomi doesn't love where she is volunteering-which is at a different falafel stand...maybe ill work there! I think I will just be a volunteer whore in Arad, I'll just keep on going to different volunteering placements! When Katie was over we reminisced about last night (aka this morning) and we (she) made the peanut butter cookies. We made a little over 2 batches, but we forgot about the 2nd one and they looked like they were chocolate cookies. Then I packed up for a week in Jerusalem before meeting up with Katie to go to the doctors with her and then to go to be'er sheva to go to J-ru. I have become a better, quicker, more efficient packer. Oh, so my paper is supposed to be due on Sunday. If anyone (Papa Larry?!) knows any good websites that will have insight on the קרי and כתיב in Esther that would be really helpful!!--Jk, now that I am finally finishing this post, I have already finished my paper!
After waiting for about 3 hours on my couch, we finally left for be'er sheva. Then when we got there and Katie almost peed her pants and walking far so we got a free bathroom (and we didn't have to pay a shek). When Naomi and I were waiting at the Be’er Sheva CBS, a soldier asked us when the bus was coming. Hearing us speak Hebrew with our accents, he then asks where we are from, etc. He kept on talking to us, but it was fun. We would speak in Hebrew and he would practice his English. Too bad Naomi and I are unavailable because he was so cute! He was a commander and had a purple hat (I think). When we got on the bus, it was the bus that stops everywhere and takes forever. The soldier said that he thinks the express one wasn’t coming. Once we got on the bus I had to pee really, really badly. I thought maybe I could hold it, but knew that if I was about to burst before we left, I would not be able to make it through the entire bus ride. I asked the bus driver to wait for me…he said I had 3 minutes (btw’s all of this is in Hebrew!) I ran to the mcdonalds because they have a bathroom, but you have to pay a shekel. When I got there the guy said that the bathroom wasn’t working. Great. I run back to the bus and when I tell Naomi and the soldier that it didn’t work, the soldier showed me where the public bathroom is, so I tell the bus driver to wait for me and then I run down there and got to go pee. Phew! The bus left right after I got on the bus. I slept for most of the bus ride, while Naomi and the soldier talked. After about 3 hours we finally get to Jerusalem and after saying bye to the soldier (he knew our names, but we didn’t know his!) it was around 11.
We called Naomi’s friend who lives right by the Shuk and asked if we could drop our stuff off at his place and then go to town and grab our stuff later that night and walk back to Katie’s. So we did that and hung out with them for a bit. Then we walked to town and it was so fun. I love seeing people that I know from section 2 and people I just know because I see them all the time on ben yehuda. By the time we walked back to Naomi’s friends to get our stuff and walked all the way to Katie’s it was about 5am. Cool. Unfortunately, even though I slept in the dream bed alone, I didn’t get such a good night’s sleep.
After waiting for about 3 hours on my couch, we finally left for be'er sheva. Then when we got there and Katie almost peed her pants and walking far so we got a free bathroom (and we didn't have to pay a shek). When Naomi and I were waiting at the Be’er Sheva CBS, a soldier asked us when the bus was coming. Hearing us speak Hebrew with our accents, he then asks where we are from, etc. He kept on talking to us, but it was fun. We would speak in Hebrew and he would practice his English. Too bad Naomi and I are unavailable because he was so cute! He was a commander and had a purple hat (I think). When we got on the bus, it was the bus that stops everywhere and takes forever. The soldier said that he thinks the express one wasn’t coming. Once we got on the bus I had to pee really, really badly. I thought maybe I could hold it, but knew that if I was about to burst before we left, I would not be able to make it through the entire bus ride. I asked the bus driver to wait for me…he said I had 3 minutes (btw’s all of this is in Hebrew!) I ran to the mcdonalds because they have a bathroom, but you have to pay a shekel. When I got there the guy said that the bathroom wasn’t working. Great. I run back to the bus and when I tell Naomi and the soldier that it didn’t work, the soldier showed me where the public bathroom is, so I tell the bus driver to wait for me and then I run down there and got to go pee. Phew! The bus left right after I got on the bus. I slept for most of the bus ride, while Naomi and the soldier talked. After about 3 hours we finally get to Jerusalem and after saying bye to the soldier (he knew our names, but we didn’t know his!) it was around 11.
We called Naomi’s friend who lives right by the Shuk and asked if we could drop our stuff off at his place and then go to town and grab our stuff later that night and walk back to Katie’s. So we did that and hung out with them for a bit. Then we walked to town and it was so fun. I love seeing people that I know from section 2 and people I just know because I see them all the time on ben yehuda. By the time we walked back to Naomi’s friends to get our stuff and walked all the way to Katie’s it was about 5am. Cool. Unfortunately, even though I slept in the dream bed alone, I didn’t get such a good night’s sleep.
I thought all I had yesterday was just Lunch and Learn and that was it...nope. I wanted to work on my other paper...The rabbi didn't come to lunch and learn and I was upset because I needed help for my paper. I emailed my teacher earlier that day, but still. After lunch and learn I had a little bit of time, but then I went back to the ulpan for the peulah with FZY. I was really happy I went. We talked about Yom Hazekaron and what we are going to do. The day is not only to remember the soldiers that have died for Israel, but also the victims of terrorism. You will find out what I am doing when I post it! We watched the video about Michael Levin and were given different sheets about different victims. Last year, when I was here, I didn't know of any soldiers, now I have many friends who are soldiers. I think this year I will be less of an outsider, tourist, but more like an Israel. After that I went home for about 10 minutes before going back to the ulpan for the optional hebrew class. Since there wasnt much time, we all just sat in a circle and talked about our day. We played some games and I am really excited. We are just going to be speaking and reading newspapers-just doing what we want to do!
I forgot to mention that I was the only one in my apartment because arts track was on an overnight and rach was in Jerusalem for the the Jewish Leadership seminar that I really, really wanted to do, but couldn't because I had to miss one of the days. UGH! Anyway, the water for our apartment was turned off from 8am-4pm that day. (rach--> hafsakah!)
After that I worked on finding things for my paper. I found a lot of things in Esther, but not sure of what all the ancient hebrew means. I had an apartment meeting (it was just me), so Shai helped me for a little. Did you guys know that Shrek came out with an episode of the holidays?! I didn't know that!! Since I didn't want to sleep alone in the apartment...scawwwy...Katie slept over. We wanted to make cookies, but didn't have enough ingredients so we walked to her place at like 11 to get stuff and then walked back to mine. We ended up making 2 batches of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, 2 batches of chocolate chip cookies, and the batter for peanut butter cookies. Some were undercooked, others were over cooked, some were soft, some were hard, some were big, some were small. We finally figured out that to make them soft don't take them off the pan right away. I kind of knew that, but I would never go against with what katie does! During this time we watched "Dear John." katie was bomb and found an online version where the color was really good. The movie was so sad!! I didn't get to bed until after 4.
I forgot to mention that I was the only one in my apartment because arts track was on an overnight and rach was in Jerusalem for the the Jewish Leadership seminar that I really, really wanted to do, but couldn't because I had to miss one of the days. UGH! Anyway, the water for our apartment was turned off from 8am-4pm that day. (rach--> hafsakah!)
After that I worked on finding things for my paper. I found a lot of things in Esther, but not sure of what all the ancient hebrew means. I had an apartment meeting (it was just me), so Shai helped me for a little. Did you guys know that Shrek came out with an episode of the holidays?! I didn't know that!! Since I didn't want to sleep alone in the apartment...scawwwy...Katie slept over. We wanted to make cookies, but didn't have enough ingredients so we walked to her place at like 11 to get stuff and then walked back to mine. We ended up making 2 batches of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, 2 batches of chocolate chip cookies, and the batter for peanut butter cookies. Some were undercooked, others were over cooked, some were soft, some were hard, some were big, some were small. We finally figured out that to make them soft don't take them off the pan right away. I kind of knew that, but I would never go against with what katie does! During this time we watched "Dear John." katie was bomb and found an online version where the color was really good. The movie was so sad!! I didn't get to bed until after 4.
TUESDAY:
On tuesday we drove to Sderot and we got a tour of the area to basically see how the government is putting in a lot of money to build more and more bomb shelters made of concrete and steel. Since I didn't have my camera, I took notes in my cute, little green notebook. For the past 9 years there have been 12,000 Kasaam rockets that has hit Sderot. Since the "cease fire" in Gaza, 350 rockets have been launched, 2 were on sunday night. Every single day 60-100 IDF trucks go into Gaza with supplies for its people. We were at the police station which has a showcase of some of the rockets that were found. We learned a little bit about the rockets. First, the rockets we saw were only 1/3 to a 1/2 of what the rocket was before it was launched. Some were painted red and green to show that it was from hamas and the ones painted yellow were from Al-Azza. Most of the rockets are home made and from telephone poles. Some have have written in hebrew Al Guz, which is the name of Jerusalem in Arabic, which sends a message that they are going al the way there. Right now, the rockets usually just go about 2 miles, but are starting to go further and further. Because of this, 1 million Israelis are living under the threat and 70% of kids are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Syndrome, but the problem with this is "post" because the traumatic events haven't stopped. They are under the constant threat and of צבע אדום giving ON AVERAGE 15 seconds. It can range from 0-15 seconds.
We visited the playground that has bomb shelters on it. I have always seen pictures and remember JAMD donating money to have it be built. The shelter is painted like giant caterpillars. We also saw that 5 new schools are being built because building a new school that will be protected from rockets is less expensive than building shelters on top of the already built schools. It is important to realize that the government does not think that these rockets will end soon or else they would not be spending so much money on these shelters.
Then we climbed up a hill and had a good view of Gaza. It was crazy how close it was. The border was about 1km from where we were standing. There is no intense border, just a road that divides it up. American and others money being sent to help build Gaza are being used for the rockets and terrorism. The U.S. gives about $9 million. Ashkalon is so close to it and 70% of Gaza's electricity comes from Ashkalon's power plant. When looking at Gaza, you could see these really big, dark buildings. Those are apartment complexes named "Kafor Shahad" meaning martyrs (or something like that). These apartments are for families who have a martyr (terrorist) in their family. The government rewards them with an apartment.
After this and having lunch and relaxing (it is so beautiful there-full of trees and grass) we drove to Yad Mordachi. We all thought we were going to see the honey factory, but we learned a bit about who Yad Mordachi was named after (the leader of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising) and visited its Holocaust museum. One thing I learned was post WWII 40 something Jews got murdered by their neighbors when they went back to their towns after being liberated. I never knew that! So sad and disgusting. It wasn't just the Nazis and not all of the people did what they did just because they felt like they had no other choice, they wanted to do what they were doing. When we talked about Israel she brought up how "Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
When we came home, Rach and I got 8 shek ice cream from the mall and then later that night we watched "Unsettled" about the disengagement from Gaza. I strongly recommend it.
On tuesday we drove to Sderot and we got a tour of the area to basically see how the government is putting in a lot of money to build more and more bomb shelters made of concrete and steel. Since I didn't have my camera, I took notes in my cute, little green notebook. For the past 9 years there have been 12,000 Kasaam rockets that has hit Sderot. Since the "cease fire" in Gaza, 350 rockets have been launched, 2 were on sunday night. Every single day 60-100 IDF trucks go into Gaza with supplies for its people. We were at the police station which has a showcase of some of the rockets that were found. We learned a little bit about the rockets. First, the rockets we saw were only 1/3 to a 1/2 of what the rocket was before it was launched. Some were painted red and green to show that it was from hamas and the ones painted yellow were from Al-Azza. Most of the rockets are home made and from telephone poles. Some have have written in hebrew Al Guz, which is the name of Jerusalem in Arabic, which sends a message that they are going al the way there. Right now, the rockets usually just go about 2 miles, but are starting to go further and further. Because of this, 1 million Israelis are living under the threat and 70% of kids are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Syndrome, but the problem with this is "post" because the traumatic events haven't stopped. They are under the constant threat and of צבע אדום giving ON AVERAGE 15 seconds. It can range from 0-15 seconds.
We visited the playground that has bomb shelters on it. I have always seen pictures and remember JAMD donating money to have it be built. The shelter is painted like giant caterpillars. We also saw that 5 new schools are being built because building a new school that will be protected from rockets is less expensive than building shelters on top of the already built schools. It is important to realize that the government does not think that these rockets will end soon or else they would not be spending so much money on these shelters.
Then we climbed up a hill and had a good view of Gaza. It was crazy how close it was. The border was about 1km from where we were standing. There is no intense border, just a road that divides it up. American and others money being sent to help build Gaza are being used for the rockets and terrorism. The U.S. gives about $9 million. Ashkalon is so close to it and 70% of Gaza's electricity comes from Ashkalon's power plant. When looking at Gaza, you could see these really big, dark buildings. Those are apartment complexes named "Kafor Shahad" meaning martyrs (or something like that). These apartments are for families who have a martyr (terrorist) in their family. The government rewards them with an apartment.
After this and having lunch and relaxing (it is so beautiful there-full of trees and grass) we drove to Yad Mordachi. We all thought we were going to see the honey factory, but we learned a bit about who Yad Mordachi was named after (the leader of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising) and visited its Holocaust museum. One thing I learned was post WWII 40 something Jews got murdered by their neighbors when they went back to their towns after being liberated. I never knew that! So sad and disgusting. It wasn't just the Nazis and not all of the people did what they did just because they felt like they had no other choice, they wanted to do what they were doing. When we talked about Israel she brought up how "Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
When we came home, Rach and I got 8 shek ice cream from the mall and then later that night we watched "Unsettled" about the disengagement from Gaza. I strongly recommend it.
MONDAY:
I was a little disappointed that we didn't have the day off for Yom HaShoah or do anything for it during the day. We had volunteering. I am at a Darfur Refugee place and when we got there it was basically just a nursery with toddlers. We just played with them, but since the guy who was supposed to show us around, we left after about an hour. The kids were so cute, we just ran around with them and chased them. I just really want Masada...it would be so cool to volunteer there!! When I came home I worked on my paper and finished it after a few hours. After eating lunch Rach and I went and edited each other's papers together. What are we going to do next year when we won't be together?! We then worked on her college essay for IDC. Maybe after I graduate from umich I could go to IDC for my masters...not sure in what though! Oh, at 10am there was the siren. None of us knew it was going to go off. My music was on and I didn't even hear it. I was so upset and bummed. That night we went and heard a surviver tell her story. She was an infant and went through the camps. Her mom was able to keep her young children and a baby?! The guards knew about it, but they were fine with it. I guess some children were allowed to stay alive- I never learnt about that. In the cattle car to the 1st concentration camp, her mother was so hungry that her body wouldn't produce milk and so the survivor said that she drank milk from another woman. It always interests me to hear these stories because each one is so different and seems like a miracle. After, we had a peulah and people who went to poland told us a little about their experience and then we were supposed to watch "The Uprising" but it is 3 hours and people were complaining about having to sit for that long when they are hungry. I was so annoyed with them. Are they serious?! The sound didn't work, so we ended up not watching the movie. I wish we had done what we did that night during the day-during Yom HaShoah.
I was a little disappointed that we didn't have the day off for Yom HaShoah or do anything for it during the day. We had volunteering. I am at a Darfur Refugee place and when we got there it was basically just a nursery with toddlers. We just played with them, but since the guy who was supposed to show us around, we left after about an hour. The kids were so cute, we just ran around with them and chased them. I just really want Masada...it would be so cool to volunteer there!! When I came home I worked on my paper and finished it after a few hours. After eating lunch Rach and I went and edited each other's papers together. What are we going to do next year when we won't be together?! We then worked on her college essay for IDC. Maybe after I graduate from umich I could go to IDC for my masters...not sure in what though! Oh, at 10am there was the siren. None of us knew it was going to go off. My music was on and I didn't even hear it. I was so upset and bummed. That night we went and heard a surviver tell her story. She was an infant and went through the camps. Her mom was able to keep her young children and a baby?! The guards knew about it, but they were fine with it. I guess some children were allowed to stay alive- I never learnt about that. In the cattle car to the 1st concentration camp, her mother was so hungry that her body wouldn't produce milk and so the survivor said that she drank milk from another woman. It always interests me to hear these stories because each one is so different and seems like a miracle. After, we had a peulah and people who went to poland told us a little about their experience and then we were supposed to watch "The Uprising" but it is 3 hours and people were complaining about having to sit for that long when they are hungry. I was so annoyed with them. Are they serious?! The sound didn't work, so we ended up not watching the movie. I wish we had done what we did that night during the day-during Yom HaShoah.
SUNDAY:
On Sunday Boaz and I had a better game plan to get on the bus. I would push my way on and save seats for us while he put our bags underneath the bus. We ended up sitting in seats across from his commander! He really liked his old commander, but then he got moved somewhere else. Boaz was really upset, especially because the new commander is really tough and doesn't treat them nicely. It is so weird how he wouldn't say hi to his commander and they just don't speak to each other. After waiting for my bus to Arad with Boaz and when it came saying bye, as soon as I got to Arad I had to walk to the office because we had something for shevet then. I got a ride with Boaz and Alex because they saw me walking! We had a guide from Yam Vashem come and we talked a bit about lives of the Holocaust survivors after the war and when they came to Israel. Some were put on Kibbutzs, but they didn't want that life, they wanted to live in metropolitan areas. The survivors just wanted to be free and able to make their own decisions, but Israel and others made decisions for them-some thinking that they were helping the survivors rebuild their lives. People here did not respect or really know what the survivors went through. They were a bit disgusted by them because not many of them did anything to resist--yet, how much could they have done? I learned that this day is not to remember the victims of the Holocaust, but also the ones who were defiant and put up a fight.
After getting a ride back to our apartment by Boaz, I started to work on my Jewish Medical Ethics paper. That night we had a ceremony for Yom HaShoah and then walked to where high school seniors who went to poland put on a show about the difficulties during the Holocaust. They did a really good job. On the way to the theatre, Rach and I were talking about how we only have a month and a half left and we both were so upset. That night after I came home I really worked on my paper. I was hoping I would finish it, but by 1 I was so tired, so I went to bed.
On Sunday Boaz and I had a better game plan to get on the bus. I would push my way on and save seats for us while he put our bags underneath the bus. We ended up sitting in seats across from his commander! He really liked his old commander, but then he got moved somewhere else. Boaz was really upset, especially because the new commander is really tough and doesn't treat them nicely. It is so weird how he wouldn't say hi to his commander and they just don't speak to each other. After waiting for my bus to Arad with Boaz and when it came saying bye, as soon as I got to Arad I had to walk to the office because we had something for shevet then. I got a ride with Boaz and Alex because they saw me walking! We had a guide from Yam Vashem come and we talked a bit about lives of the Holocaust survivors after the war and when they came to Israel. Some were put on Kibbutzs, but they didn't want that life, they wanted to live in metropolitan areas. The survivors just wanted to be free and able to make their own decisions, but Israel and others made decisions for them-some thinking that they were helping the survivors rebuild their lives. People here did not respect or really know what the survivors went through. They were a bit disgusted by them because not many of them did anything to resist--yet, how much could they have done? I learned that this day is not to remember the victims of the Holocaust, but also the ones who were defiant and put up a fight.
After getting a ride back to our apartment by Boaz, I started to work on my Jewish Medical Ethics paper. That night we had a ceremony for Yom HaShoah and then walked to where high school seniors who went to poland put on a show about the difficulties during the Holocaust. They did a really good job. On the way to the theatre, Rach and I were talking about how we only have a month and a half left and we both were so upset. That night after I came home I really worked on my paper. I was hoping I would finish it, but by 1 I was so tired, so I went to bed.
SATURDAY:
On Saturday we got ready to go to the beach and then had an AMAZING breakfast. After making sandwiches with things from breakfast and taking food, we headed toward the Yafo beach. We then walked through Nachalat Benyamin. It was so cute there. Then walked all the way to the tel aviv beach. It was nice out...hot, but not too hot. I went in the water a couple of times, but read and also napped. It was a pretty nice, chill day at the beach. We bumped into our friends from boombamela which was so crazy! We decided to leave so we wouldn't be stuck walking back in the dark. The walk only took like an hour. We didn't have our rooms anymore so we couldn't shower. Everyone left, but I just stayed and read my book waiting for shabbat to end so the busses could start running again. When they finally did, I got to Arlozorov and then went to Jerusalem where I went out to dinner with Boaz and his friend before going back to Boaz's and showering before going to sleep.
On Saturday we got ready to go to the beach and then had an AMAZING breakfast. After making sandwiches with things from breakfast and taking food, we headed toward the Yafo beach. We then walked through Nachalat Benyamin. It was so cute there. Then walked all the way to the tel aviv beach. It was nice out...hot, but not too hot. I went in the water a couple of times, but read and also napped. It was a pretty nice, chill day at the beach. We bumped into our friends from boombamela which was so crazy! We decided to leave so we wouldn't be stuck walking back in the dark. The walk only took like an hour. We didn't have our rooms anymore so we couldn't shower. Everyone left, but I just stayed and read my book waiting for shabbat to end so the busses could start running again. When they finally did, I got to Arlozorov and then went to Jerusalem where I went out to dinner with Boaz and his friend before going back to Boaz's and showering before going to sleep.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
FRIDAY:
Friday we had to wake up around 7:30ish and then we had breakfast. It was pretty good. Then we packed up and left! It was so nice to sleep in a bedouin tent and not have to wake up early to go hike up masada before sunrise. It was also nice that Friday wasn't a day filled with events...we just left! I went to Bat Yam and then after not being able to get the key to our room to the hostel, Leah, Katie, Cara, and I went to Tel Aviv to go meet up with Rach and Jordan. Cara and I went to where Jordan and Rach were--where a guy was selling puppies!!!! They were so cute and small. Then Jordan got a piercing and the color "brought out the color in her eyes." After having lunch in Nachalat Benyamin at this good hamburger place, while walking around, I all the sudden hear "Here is Jessica Curhan!" It was Jason Bodnick! I talked with them for a bit-so nice to see them before going and going to get a pair of new earrings! It is just so weird that they are visiting Israel, but I have been living here. Now that it is getting closer to the end we are trying to do so much, thinking we didn't do enough. Stressful! Then we went to the hostel and we showered, napped and decided just to chill and not go out that night. Jordan left that night. She was so fun and so great to hang out with! It was her first time in Israel and Rach was such a good tour guide. I'm jealous!
Friday we had to wake up around 7:30ish and then we had breakfast. It was pretty good. Then we packed up and left! It was so nice to sleep in a bedouin tent and not have to wake up early to go hike up masada before sunrise. It was also nice that Friday wasn't a day filled with events...we just left! I went to Bat Yam and then after not being able to get the key to our room to the hostel, Leah, Katie, Cara, and I went to Tel Aviv to go meet up with Rach and Jordan. Cara and I went to where Jordan and Rach were--where a guy was selling puppies!!!! They were so cute and small. Then Jordan got a piercing and the color "brought out the color in her eyes." After having lunch in Nachalat Benyamin at this good hamburger place, while walking around, I all the sudden hear "Here is Jessica Curhan!" It was Jason Bodnick! I talked with them for a bit-so nice to see them before going and going to get a pair of new earrings! It is just so weird that they are visiting Israel, but I have been living here. Now that it is getting closer to the end we are trying to do so much, thinking we didn't do enough. Stressful! Then we went to the hostel and we showered, napped and decided just to chill and not go out that night. Jordan left that night. She was so fun and so great to hang out with! It was her first time in Israel and Rach was such a good tour guide. I'm jealous!
THURSDAY
On Thursday we had a hike, which we thought would be with all of year course. Nope...we were in our separate sections and would bump into them as we crossed paths. I was on the "harder" hike, so we did 2 hikes. The first one was more just climbing and it wasn't hard. The 2nd one was the ladder and rope hike. No clue why, but it took us so long to do it. Like I was sitting altogether for over 2 hours. After the hikes we went to bedouin tents and immediately (if we wanted) went for a camel ride. I rode with Katie. It was a funny ride. Camels are so cute! Then we hung out with everyone from different sections and got to hang out with Miki and Shir!!! Later that night, after dinner, there was this crazy dance party in a tent. It was so fun and warmed everyone up because it was so chilly outside. After sitting for a bit by a campfire that was failing, we went to bed. I love sleeping in my sleeping bag!
On Thursday we had a hike, which we thought would be with all of year course. Nope...we were in our separate sections and would bump into them as we crossed paths. I was on the "harder" hike, so we did 2 hikes. The first one was more just climbing and it wasn't hard. The 2nd one was the ladder and rope hike. No clue why, but it took us so long to do it. Like I was sitting altogether for over 2 hours. After the hikes we went to bedouin tents and immediately (if we wanted) went for a camel ride. I rode with Katie. It was a funny ride. Camels are so cute! Then we hung out with everyone from different sections and got to hang out with Miki and Shir!!! Later that night, after dinner, there was this crazy dance party in a tent. It was so fun and warmed everyone up because it was so chilly outside. After sitting for a bit by a campfire that was failing, we went to bed. I love sleeping in my sleeping bag!
WEDNESDAY:
On Wednesday a group of 7 of us ended up going to the dead sea! Jordan, Rach's friend, has never been, so we all went together. We took taxis and then after failing trying to sneak into about 2 hotels and walking on construction sites and the construction workers asking what the problem is when we keep on coming back because we failed again trying to get into a hotel. We finally just went to the public beach, but first we bought ice cream. The price was 2 sheks more. So annoying. Once we all got in, it was fun and really nice. I only get salt in my eye once. It was nice out, so we could chill for a bit in the dead sea. After having lunch and drying off, we go in a shyroot for cheaper back to Arad. I take a 5 minute shower before heading to our last Tanakh class. I didn't want it to end...I really really enjoyed it. We finished Ruth and there are just so many interesting things in Ruth. We learned about קרי and כתיב among many other things. After class, Leah and I made dinner together. When I was about to make the pasta, she told me that it is impossible to mess up pasta. Without thinking, as soon as I put water into the pot I put the noodles in. We were wonder what was taking the noodles so long to cook, until I finally realized that the water wasn't boiled when I put the noodles in!!! We couldn't breathe we were laughing so hard. Then when everyone went out and it was just Cara and I, we packed and then made hot chocolate and oatmeal while watching Gossip Girl. We didn't really start our plan until after everyone came home...whoops!
On Wednesday a group of 7 of us ended up going to the dead sea! Jordan, Rach's friend, has never been, so we all went together. We took taxis and then after failing trying to sneak into about 2 hotels and walking on construction sites and the construction workers asking what the problem is when we keep on coming back because we failed again trying to get into a hotel. We finally just went to the public beach, but first we bought ice cream. The price was 2 sheks more. So annoying. Once we all got in, it was fun and really nice. I only get salt in my eye once. It was nice out, so we could chill for a bit in the dead sea. After having lunch and drying off, we go in a shyroot for cheaper back to Arad. I take a 5 minute shower before heading to our last Tanakh class. I didn't want it to end...I really really enjoyed it. We finished Ruth and there are just so many interesting things in Ruth. We learned about קרי and כתיב among many other things. After class, Leah and I made dinner together. When I was about to make the pasta, she told me that it is impossible to mess up pasta. Without thinking, as soon as I put water into the pot I put the noodles in. We were wonder what was taking the noodles so long to cook, until I finally realized that the water wasn't boiled when I put the noodles in!!! We couldn't breathe we were laughing so hard. Then when everyone went out and it was just Cara and I, we packed and then made hot chocolate and oatmeal while watching Gossip Girl. We didn't really start our plan until after everyone came home...whoops!
TUESDAY:
On Tuesday, the bus Boaz and I were supposed to take was at 7:20, but we got there close to 7:30. I thought we missed the bus, but when we got there the bus was there, filled with soldiers. Soldiers pushing each other to get on the bus and pushing the door to stay open. We caught the next bus, but I don't think that people/ soldiers are pushy like this in America. It wasn't just for my bus, but all the buses. Boaz made me hold onto him and I was just surrounded and being pushed around. We sat on the stairs of the bus. I was exhausted and after waiting for my bus from Be'er Sheva, I saw Monica and we sat next to each other on the bus back to Arad. When I got home I napped in Rachel's bed for a little. I had lunch with Michal and her grandma and some other people at Mussa. That day I didn't do too much because I was just so tired! We had class...my last medical ethics class and in Tanakh we started to learn about Ruth.
On Tuesday, the bus Boaz and I were supposed to take was at 7:20, but we got there close to 7:30. I thought we missed the bus, but when we got there the bus was there, filled with soldiers. Soldiers pushing each other to get on the bus and pushing the door to stay open. We caught the next bus, but I don't think that people/ soldiers are pushy like this in America. It wasn't just for my bus, but all the buses. Boaz made me hold onto him and I was just surrounded and being pushed around. We sat on the stairs of the bus. I was exhausted and after waiting for my bus from Be'er Sheva, I saw Monica and we sat next to each other on the bus back to Arad. When I got home I napped in Rachel's bed for a little. I had lunch with Michal and her grandma and some other people at Mussa. That day I didn't do too much because I was just so tired! We had class...my last medical ethics class and in Tanakh we started to learn about Ruth.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
MONDAY:
On Monday we woke up late and just hung around his house and his family. We watched the movie "The Black Knight" with his brother. It is funny how Boaz and his brother don't really get all the jokes. Around 9ish we went to his grandparents to break pesach by doing a traditional Moroccan thing by having his grandmother make lafah and then we ate it with chocolate, honey, or other spread on it. There also was a lot of tea to drink. It was so good. Boaz's mom made me a chocolate and a honey one. Yoav wanted to sit next to me and he kept on holding my hand and touching me. Boaz's uncle asked Yoav if I was his girlfriend when I was sitting in between Boaz and Yoav. I was holding both of their hands. Boaz's grandpa felt bad so told Boaz and I to move to a couch where there was only room for us. After a bit more of hanging out and Yoav saying אני אוהב אותך and Anat showing me her do gymnastics and inviting me to come to one of her competitions even if boaz isn't home, Boaz and I left to go see a movie. We saw "Kick Ass." When we were getting popcorn, I remembered I was in Israel because everyone was just pushing and there was no line. In America there are always lines for popcorn and no one ever cuts! I wasn't too excited to see the movie, but it wasn't boring...it was so weird!!!! The movie was similar to "The Fight Club" where I was in a weird mood after, but not to the same degree. The movie combined humor simular to superbad to intense gang/mafia violence (blowing someone up by heat, beating them up, cutting off fingers with pliers). Some parts were so intense and it was weird how they tried to make it funny. For example, after the kid tries to stop people from jacking a car, he fights them and then he gets stabbed in the stomach. While he is slowely walking for maybe help, a car runs him over! He doesn't die, but my jaw dropped and every other person in the theatre was laughing. Boaz looks at me laughing saying "Isn't that funny?!" "NO!!!" Such weird humor. After the movie we went to Katie's so I could pack up and then we went back to his place and went to bed.
On Monday we woke up late and just hung around his house and his family. We watched the movie "The Black Knight" with his brother. It is funny how Boaz and his brother don't really get all the jokes. Around 9ish we went to his grandparents to break pesach by doing a traditional Moroccan thing by having his grandmother make lafah and then we ate it with chocolate, honey, or other spread on it. There also was a lot of tea to drink. It was so good. Boaz's mom made me a chocolate and a honey one. Yoav wanted to sit next to me and he kept on holding my hand and touching me. Boaz's uncle asked Yoav if I was his girlfriend when I was sitting in between Boaz and Yoav. I was holding both of their hands. Boaz's grandpa felt bad so told Boaz and I to move to a couch where there was only room for us. After a bit more of hanging out and Yoav saying אני אוהב אותך and Anat showing me her do gymnastics and inviting me to come to one of her competitions even if boaz isn't home, Boaz and I left to go see a movie. We saw "Kick Ass." When we were getting popcorn, I remembered I was in Israel because everyone was just pushing and there was no line. In America there are always lines for popcorn and no one ever cuts! I wasn't too excited to see the movie, but it wasn't boring...it was so weird!!!! The movie was similar to "The Fight Club" where I was in a weird mood after, but not to the same degree. The movie combined humor simular to superbad to intense gang/mafia violence (blowing someone up by heat, beating them up, cutting off fingers with pliers). Some parts were so intense and it was weird how they tried to make it funny. For example, after the kid tries to stop people from jacking a car, he fights them and then he gets stabbed in the stomach. While he is slowely walking for maybe help, a car runs him over! He doesn't die, but my jaw dropped and every other person in the theatre was laughing. Boaz looks at me laughing saying "Isn't that funny?!" "NO!!!" Such weird humor. After the movie we went to Katie's so I could pack up and then we went back to his place and went to bed.
Monday, April 12, 2010
SUNDAY:
On Sunday Boaz and I first went to his dad's office so he could get his first credit card (because he got his first paycheck from the army). His dad is right by a bank so we went up this elevator that went up over 17 stories and went really fast. It was clear and it was a pretty view. Then we went to the mall. It was so crowded and I got to see Boaz be an aggressive, annoyed Israeli driver. So funny. He had to buy a wallet for the army and then we bought some things from the super market (covered with paper for the food that isn't kosher for pesach). When we came home with the stuff we bought we put butter on a pan and put bamba and white chocolate in the pan. I thought it was going to be gross, but was as rachel says, "delicious!" While we were eating it with anat, we watched Shrek the 3rd. In the car he asked if I have seen the movie. Little does he know about how Shrek's humor is my family. To give him some idea I told him about "Sugar Honey Iced Tea" and what dad did with that joke. We didn't finish the movie because Boaz had to set up the grill for the bbq. He failed. The bbq was nice and really good. I miss the smell! It is just funny how in Israel a bbq involves cooking many different little things. At home, I will choose between a hamburger or a hotdog. I had half a hotdog, 2 hamburgers (small ones), and steak. Yum. The only thing they had that I couldn't eat because I'm Ashkinazi is hummus. Then we rested and watched some of "The Reader" and showered before going to dinner at his grandparents.
Dinner was good and I hung out with more of his cousins. Yoav (the 5 year old) wanted to play all sorts of different games with me. I practiced my hebrew with him and Anat. Boaz and I left for a bit to walk to a gas station nearby to where beit ar-el is...I didn't know his grandparents lived so close by!!! When we left, Yoav started to yell my name and all the way down the street we heard him yell "JESS-I-CA" over and over again. I told him I would play cards with him before I left. So cute!!!!! After dinner and we got back to Boaz's, I hung out on the computer while him and his friend went for a run. When they came back we walked down this dirt road to have a bonfire with more of Boaz's friends. His friend knew english really well because I think his parents were American and so we talked about college and the whole deal with applying and SATs and ACTs.
When we finally found some wood so we could start the fire, none of the boys could do it! After about 20 minutes and offering them paper, I just asked if I could try. I couldn't do worse than them! Guess what...I STARTED THE FIRE :) 5 army boys and I was the one who did it. They had too much wood, so I took off the wood and then used paper (sorry dad, no newspapers around) and then blew to get it started!!!!!!! I then talked with an American who joined the army for most of the night. We talked about all sorts of things while Boaz and his friends prank called people, etc. At about 3 the fire was dying and so we were cold, so then we decided to go home.
On Sunday Boaz and I first went to his dad's office so he could get his first credit card (because he got his first paycheck from the army). His dad is right by a bank so we went up this elevator that went up over 17 stories and went really fast. It was clear and it was a pretty view. Then we went to the mall. It was so crowded and I got to see Boaz be an aggressive, annoyed Israeli driver. So funny. He had to buy a wallet for the army and then we bought some things from the super market (covered with paper for the food that isn't kosher for pesach). When we came home with the stuff we bought we put butter on a pan and put bamba and white chocolate in the pan. I thought it was going to be gross, but was as rachel says, "delicious!" While we were eating it with anat, we watched Shrek the 3rd. In the car he asked if I have seen the movie. Little does he know about how Shrek's humor is my family. To give him some idea I told him about "Sugar Honey Iced Tea" and what dad did with that joke. We didn't finish the movie because Boaz had to set up the grill for the bbq. He failed. The bbq was nice and really good. I miss the smell! It is just funny how in Israel a bbq involves cooking many different little things. At home, I will choose between a hamburger or a hotdog. I had half a hotdog, 2 hamburgers (small ones), and steak. Yum. The only thing they had that I couldn't eat because I'm Ashkinazi is hummus. Then we rested and watched some of "The Reader" and showered before going to dinner at his grandparents.
Dinner was good and I hung out with more of his cousins. Yoav (the 5 year old) wanted to play all sorts of different games with me. I practiced my hebrew with him and Anat. Boaz and I left for a bit to walk to a gas station nearby to where beit ar-el is...I didn't know his grandparents lived so close by!!! When we left, Yoav started to yell my name and all the way down the street we heard him yell "JESS-I-CA" over and over again. I told him I would play cards with him before I left. So cute!!!!! After dinner and we got back to Boaz's, I hung out on the computer while him and his friend went for a run. When they came back we walked down this dirt road to have a bonfire with more of Boaz's friends. His friend knew english really well because I think his parents were American and so we talked about college and the whole deal with applying and SATs and ACTs.
When we finally found some wood so we could start the fire, none of the boys could do it! After about 20 minutes and offering them paper, I just asked if I could try. I couldn't do worse than them! Guess what...I STARTED THE FIRE :) 5 army boys and I was the one who did it. They had too much wood, so I took off the wood and then used paper (sorry dad, no newspapers around) and then blew to get it started!!!!!!! I then talked with an American who joined the army for most of the night. We talked about all sorts of things while Boaz and his friends prank called people, etc. At about 3 the fire was dying and so we were cold, so then we decided to go home.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Sorry I haven't been blogging in a long time. I have had no time because of break and traveling and papers and exhaustion and too much to write about! These past week and a half have been so busy and so much fun. I'm a little sad I can't give as much detail.
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
On Thursday a group of us went to the CBS to catch a bus to Kafar Silver. My bag (Leah's) was filled with all of our food. I carried it!! We took a bus to the CBS and it was so crowded and I kept on hitting people and Katie had to direct me to move back or forward...I couldn't see and the bag was pretty heavy. Once we are on the bus and waiting until we get the bus station in Kafar Silver, a soldier told Cara that we should all get off and walk around to catch a different bus in the other direction to head to where boombamela is. We weren't sure if we should trust him, but a whole group (even people we just met) all got off to walk to where the soldier told us to go. I had to pee and was the first one to pee in nature for the weekend! Luckily, after some time the soldier on the bus was right and after taking a bus and then walking and taking a taxi and going through signing in or whatever, we get there! A bus took us to the beach and then we met up with some friends and put up our tent. Then we went in the water and walked around. Pretty much what we did for the rest of the time there. Lots of people- some 16 1/2 year olds. Not as many drugs as I expected/wanted....jokessss! There was a lot of police to prevent it. I copied Rach and put a shell on my necklace. We tanned, went in the water, danced... basically the spring/pesach break mom would never let me go on! Broke the rules on the way home and hitch hiked twice and luckily caught the bus we wanted to catch! We kept on bumping into americans who are now in the army. After going to Katie's and dropping everything off I then went to Ben Yehuda and met up with her and me and her and her friends and some of my friends got waffle, ice cream, and crepes kosher for pesach. It was really nice talking and catching up with Alex...so happy that it wasn't weird at all-it was actually really nice! Don't worry mom and folbe fam- we took pictures. She told me that Aunt Amy asked if we are going to bump into each other and how we HAVE to take a picture together! I then hung around with the people we kept on seeing at boombamela in town. I forgot that I saw all of my students from Jerusalem at boombamela!!!! It was so nice seeing them! I bumped into them again Saturday night when I was walking down to meet up with stav (Boaz's sister). We had a nice conversation and she speaks english really good. By the time we got home it was about 1, so I just went to bed once I got to his house.
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
On Thursday a group of us went to the CBS to catch a bus to Kafar Silver. My bag (Leah's) was filled with all of our food. I carried it!! We took a bus to the CBS and it was so crowded and I kept on hitting people and Katie had to direct me to move back or forward...I couldn't see and the bag was pretty heavy. Once we are on the bus and waiting until we get the bus station in Kafar Silver, a soldier told Cara that we should all get off and walk around to catch a different bus in the other direction to head to where boombamela is. We weren't sure if we should trust him, but a whole group (even people we just met) all got off to walk to where the soldier told us to go. I had to pee and was the first one to pee in nature for the weekend! Luckily, after some time the soldier on the bus was right and after taking a bus and then walking and taking a taxi and going through signing in or whatever, we get there! A bus took us to the beach and then we met up with some friends and put up our tent. Then we went in the water and walked around. Pretty much what we did for the rest of the time there. Lots of people- some 16 1/2 year olds. Not as many drugs as I expected/wanted....jokessss! There was a lot of police to prevent it. I copied Rach and put a shell on my necklace. We tanned, went in the water, danced... basically the spring/pesach break mom would never let me go on! Broke the rules on the way home and hitch hiked twice and luckily caught the bus we wanted to catch! We kept on bumping into americans who are now in the army. After going to Katie's and dropping everything off I then went to Ben Yehuda and met up with her and me and her and her friends and some of my friends got waffle, ice cream, and crepes kosher for pesach. It was really nice talking and catching up with Alex...so happy that it wasn't weird at all-it was actually really nice! Don't worry mom and folbe fam- we took pictures. She told me that Aunt Amy asked if we are going to bump into each other and how we HAVE to take a picture together! I then hung around with the people we kept on seeing at boombamela in town. I forgot that I saw all of my students from Jerusalem at boombamela!!!! It was so nice seeing them! I bumped into them again Saturday night when I was walking down to meet up with stav (Boaz's sister). We had a nice conversation and she speaks english really good. By the time we got home it was about 1, so I just went to bed once I got to his house.
Wednesday:
Today we were planning on waking up early to go to the shuk, but didn’t get up right away. We also watched some of a movie. I talked to Lisa Kurzmann for a bit and we are bummed that we won’t be able to see each other…sorry mom!
When Katie and I were finally about to go to the shuk, everyone wanted to come with us, but not everyone was ready and wanted us to wait for them. Great. I was anxious and just wanted to go so then we could start shopping for all the food we would need to bring for the next couple of days. We first went to ben yehuda where people got smoothies and Cara got a waffle. She is trying to practice sharing and so I got a few bites. It was so good-and the best part is that it was kosher for pesach! When we finally got the shuk, after buying many cucs, Rach came! She didn’t come back last night because she has a cold hasn’t been feeling well. We split up and 4 of us got carrots, fruits, dried fruits, nuts, and potatoes. Cara and I waited by the fountain when Rach and Katie went to buy stuff from Super Sal. First, this girl came up to us and she wanted to interview us about faith. The girl talked to us in Hebrew, and she is our age, but American. She just went to a religious school and has been to Israel many times. Ugh! I was too embarrassed to get interviewed. Then these 2 girls near us were trying to sell jewelry and one of the girls approached us and asked if we wanted something, when we said no thanks she kept on trying to convince us and when we said chag sameach she refused to answer!! She tried getting us to buy something from her twice!!
After Rach and Katie were done we walked back and then made matzah pizza for lunch. Then Rach, Katie, and I walked to the City of David and did the water hike. We were surrounded by religious people- kind of funny. Then Rach and I went to the Kotel while Katie went to go to this play she has been wanting to see called “Thirteen.” The Kotel was packed. We have seen it more crowded, but it was definitely crowded. We didn’t stay for long and then walked home, which was so painful. When we got home we (Rach) started to make dinner and then while it was cooking Cara, Rach, and I played asshole and then when Katie came home she joined in. We were all so tired and cranky. After the really good dinner (chicken and potatoes,) we started to pack up for boombamela. Then we got ready for bed and I caught up on my blog!!! My fingers are killing. I had to leave my bed because rach is sick and snoring. I plan on blasting my iPod tonight. Great for my ears, right?
Oh, I talked to Alex for a bit- we are hoping we can meet up in Jerusalem on Sunday.
Today we were planning on waking up early to go to the shuk, but didn’t get up right away. We also watched some of a movie. I talked to Lisa Kurzmann for a bit and we are bummed that we won’t be able to see each other…sorry mom!
When Katie and I were finally about to go to the shuk, everyone wanted to come with us, but not everyone was ready and wanted us to wait for them. Great. I was anxious and just wanted to go so then we could start shopping for all the food we would need to bring for the next couple of days. We first went to ben yehuda where people got smoothies and Cara got a waffle. She is trying to practice sharing and so I got a few bites. It was so good-and the best part is that it was kosher for pesach! When we finally got the shuk, after buying many cucs, Rach came! She didn’t come back last night because she has a cold hasn’t been feeling well. We split up and 4 of us got carrots, fruits, dried fruits, nuts, and potatoes. Cara and I waited by the fountain when Rach and Katie went to buy stuff from Super Sal. First, this girl came up to us and she wanted to interview us about faith. The girl talked to us in Hebrew, and she is our age, but American. She just went to a religious school and has been to Israel many times. Ugh! I was too embarrassed to get interviewed. Then these 2 girls near us were trying to sell jewelry and one of the girls approached us and asked if we wanted something, when we said no thanks she kept on trying to convince us and when we said chag sameach she refused to answer!! She tried getting us to buy something from her twice!!
After Rach and Katie were done we walked back and then made matzah pizza for lunch. Then Rach, Katie, and I walked to the City of David and did the water hike. We were surrounded by religious people- kind of funny. Then Rach and I went to the Kotel while Katie went to go to this play she has been wanting to see called “Thirteen.” The Kotel was packed. We have seen it more crowded, but it was definitely crowded. We didn’t stay for long and then walked home, which was so painful. When we got home we (Rach) started to make dinner and then while it was cooking Cara, Rach, and I played asshole and then when Katie came home she joined in. We were all so tired and cranky. After the really good dinner (chicken and potatoes,) we started to pack up for boombamela. Then we got ready for bed and I caught up on my blog!!! My fingers are killing. I had to leave my bed because rach is sick and snoring. I plan on blasting my iPod tonight. Great for my ears, right?
Oh, I talked to Alex for a bit- we are hoping we can meet up in Jerusalem on Sunday.
TUESDAY:
Moran and I didn’t wake up until a little past 1 and after forcing ourselves to get up, we went downstairs and watched some of “The Pink Panther” and eating really, really good pesach bread that Drora made. We got ready and then Shlomo’s sister and her family came with his mom. We had a nice bbq lunch. I was so stuffed after it and then Moran and I chilled out for a bit and watched some episodes of Deseperate Housewives. It is so easy to become addicted to it. I talked to Boaz for 20 minutes, which was nice because I never get to talk to him for that long anymore!! Then we had cake and really good strawberries for dessert before going back upstairs for a bit. Eventually, Shlomo told me that his sister, who lives in tel aviv, could drive me to the station there-if that would be easier for me. It would be so much shorter of a ride and easier. I gave Shlomo and Drora the gift card to the restaurant before I left and they were shocked! Anyway, in the car I talked to them for a bit about what I am doing, etc and then just zoned out for the rest of the car ride. When I got there I needed to pee, so I walked towards the train station. I was on the phone and I thought this taxi driver asked if I want a taxi, so I said lo todah and then he laughed and told me that he wasn’t talking to me, but his friend. He was telling him a story. Great. Why do I always embarrass myself?! When I got closer to the train station I saw that it still wasn’t opened yet…I had to wait in line for a bit. I then got on the bus and met up with Katie and a few others to walk back to her apartment. When we got back we hung out for a bit before going out to meet up with Benji for a bit. We didn’t stay for long because a few of us were so tired.
Moran and I didn’t wake up until a little past 1 and after forcing ourselves to get up, we went downstairs and watched some of “The Pink Panther” and eating really, really good pesach bread that Drora made. We got ready and then Shlomo’s sister and her family came with his mom. We had a nice bbq lunch. I was so stuffed after it and then Moran and I chilled out for a bit and watched some episodes of Deseperate Housewives. It is so easy to become addicted to it. I talked to Boaz for 20 minutes, which was nice because I never get to talk to him for that long anymore!! Then we had cake and really good strawberries for dessert before going back upstairs for a bit. Eventually, Shlomo told me that his sister, who lives in tel aviv, could drive me to the station there-if that would be easier for me. It would be so much shorter of a ride and easier. I gave Shlomo and Drora the gift card to the restaurant before I left and they were shocked! Anyway, in the car I talked to them for a bit about what I am doing, etc and then just zoned out for the rest of the car ride. When I got there I needed to pee, so I walked towards the train station. I was on the phone and I thought this taxi driver asked if I want a taxi, so I said lo todah and then he laughed and told me that he wasn’t talking to me, but his friend. He was telling him a story. Great. Why do I always embarrass myself?! When I got closer to the train station I saw that it still wasn’t opened yet…I had to wait in line for a bit. I then got on the bus and met up with Katie and a few others to walk back to her apartment. When we got back we hung out for a bit before going out to meet up with Benji for a bit. We didn’t stay for long because a few of us were so tired.
MONDAY:
Although we were planning on waking up early, that didn’t happen. We packed up for wherever we were heading for the Pesach seder and around 12ish we left to first walk around Ben Yehuda and then walk to the CBS. When we (Rach, Katie, and I) got there we bought flowers and scouted out the best thing to eat. The winner ended up being a chicken salad from mcdonalds. It was crazy how everything was kosher for Pesach. I didn’t remember it being like that when I came when I was 13. Not only were things kosher for pesach, but it seemed like it wasn’t until we saw religious people eating it. They make bagels and pizza all kosher for pesach! Even mcdonalds does and hotdog places. Rach and I needed to catch the bus so we ate our salads on the crowded bus. When I told the bus driver that I wanted a ticket to Haifa, he told me to go on the other bus. It was going to Haifa and Ranana (where Rach was going) so I just went on the bus. The driver thought I was going to the same place as Rachel so he gave me a ticket for 40 something rather than 70 something. The bus ride was long to Ranana and when I said bye to rach, I didn’t think it would be that long until I got to Haifa. That was a lie. I was on the bus that stopped EVERYWHERE. No wonder why the guy told me not to get on that bus. I was going to pay the right amount when I got off the bus, but since I did NOT want a 2 way ticket, I decided I would just give the extra money to tzedukah.
I thought that a place we stopped at was familiar, but I thought the bus would just go into a station when we got to Haifa. Luckily I called Shlomo who told me he was there waiting for me, so he picked me up from the next stop. We had a nice conversation about his visit back to the U.S. and how we love Costco and how it is smart that I’m not doing Marva. When we got to their house I got ready for the seder and then we left because he thought there was going to be bad traffic. To all of our surprise, the road was completely clear! We went to Drora’s sister’s house. I sat with the cousins before the seder started and when I would focus I would sometimes be able to understand a bit about what they were talking about. It just drains the energy out of me! The seder was nice- it went by really quickly. Everyone just went around reading a paragraph and then that was it! Dinner was delicious and after dinner, we sang songs and talked before cleaning up and then chilling out. A few of the cousins talked to me, which was nice. One of them and I talked for a long time about dogs and different things. It was such a nice conversation!!!! After some good cake, people started to take out presents?! Apparently, Pesach is one of the times where they exchange gifts. I wasn’t expecting anything but got 3 things (box, chocolate, cleansing stuff.) It was so nice!!! Around 11ish, we left and when we came back I just wanted to go to sleep, but waited until I could talk to everyone at the seder at home. I was hoping I could talk to them at 12:30, but I didn’t talk to them until 1. I fell asleep waiting. Moran woke up Shlomo so he could say hi. I didn’t know it was going to be everyone and it would be so noisy and that no one would be able to hear what I was saying. It was nice to see everyone, but annoying that I couldn’t talk to anyone and I waited up! After that I went to bed.
Although we were planning on waking up early, that didn’t happen. We packed up for wherever we were heading for the Pesach seder and around 12ish we left to first walk around Ben Yehuda and then walk to the CBS. When we (Rach, Katie, and I) got there we bought flowers and scouted out the best thing to eat. The winner ended up being a chicken salad from mcdonalds. It was crazy how everything was kosher for Pesach. I didn’t remember it being like that when I came when I was 13. Not only were things kosher for pesach, but it seemed like it wasn’t until we saw religious people eating it. They make bagels and pizza all kosher for pesach! Even mcdonalds does and hotdog places. Rach and I needed to catch the bus so we ate our salads on the crowded bus. When I told the bus driver that I wanted a ticket to Haifa, he told me to go on the other bus. It was going to Haifa and Ranana (where Rach was going) so I just went on the bus. The driver thought I was going to the same place as Rachel so he gave me a ticket for 40 something rather than 70 something. The bus ride was long to Ranana and when I said bye to rach, I didn’t think it would be that long until I got to Haifa. That was a lie. I was on the bus that stopped EVERYWHERE. No wonder why the guy told me not to get on that bus. I was going to pay the right amount when I got off the bus, but since I did NOT want a 2 way ticket, I decided I would just give the extra money to tzedukah.
I thought that a place we stopped at was familiar, but I thought the bus would just go into a station when we got to Haifa. Luckily I called Shlomo who told me he was there waiting for me, so he picked me up from the next stop. We had a nice conversation about his visit back to the U.S. and how we love Costco and how it is smart that I’m not doing Marva. When we got to their house I got ready for the seder and then we left because he thought there was going to be bad traffic. To all of our surprise, the road was completely clear! We went to Drora’s sister’s house. I sat with the cousins before the seder started and when I would focus I would sometimes be able to understand a bit about what they were talking about. It just drains the energy out of me! The seder was nice- it went by really quickly. Everyone just went around reading a paragraph and then that was it! Dinner was delicious and after dinner, we sang songs and talked before cleaning up and then chilling out. A few of the cousins talked to me, which was nice. One of them and I talked for a long time about dogs and different things. It was such a nice conversation!!!! After some good cake, people started to take out presents?! Apparently, Pesach is one of the times where they exchange gifts. I wasn’t expecting anything but got 3 things (box, chocolate, cleansing stuff.) It was so nice!!! Around 11ish, we left and when we came back I just wanted to go to sleep, but waited until I could talk to everyone at the seder at home. I was hoping I could talk to them at 12:30, but I didn’t talk to them until 1. I fell asleep waiting. Moran woke up Shlomo so he could say hi. I didn’t know it was going to be everyone and it would be so noisy and that no one would be able to hear what I was saying. It was nice to see everyone, but annoying that I couldn’t talk to anyone and I waited up! After that I went to bed.
SUNDAY:
On Sunday Boaz had to wake up at 6:15. His mom kept on trying to wake him up. When he finally started to get ready, he had to shower, so I had time to relax and slowly wake up in bed. When I was going to finally get out of bed he told me to stay in bed and I could go back to sleep and leave whenever I wanted to. His mom also said it was fine and she told me that she was leaving at 8:15 to take Mikki to work, so she could take me wherever. After Boaz left (I had to watch him put on his uniform!!!) I fell back asleep and slept well--I had weird dreams. Boaz moves around at night-either stealing all the covers or basically suffocating me.
After having breakfast with his mom and her dropping off Mikki at the tennis/country club, she dropped me off at Beit Ar-El. We hugged/kissed on the cheek and said chag sameach to each other. It is so weird how I am comfortable with her and the rest of his family!! I then went into the classrooms and after getting kicked out of the library because there was class there, I just hung out in a classroom and caught up on talking to people. Lori. I then did some research for my research paper and did a basic outline. Rach and Katie said that they would be coming early in the morning, but that didn’t happen. After chilling and catching up about our nights and doing some laundry, Rach and I went to go get this 15 shek delicious roll up for only 15 sheks at this relatively expensive restaurant. We ate it outside and had a nice talk. When we walked back and talked with more people for a bit we FINALLY (well I finally) got to work. I went into a separate classroom and did a bit of my paper.
Rach and I needed a break/nap, so after deciding we would nap in Miki’s bed, we were going to check on our laundry, but Katie was there. She was having a fight with her sister about the Pesach Seder, so we supported (laughed) her. Then we took a nap for a bit, but ended up just talking and closing our eyes. We talked with Katie for a bit and then we went back to work for a little before having to take a bus back to Katie’s. When we got back we hung out for a bit and then later that night we went out to town for a little. We bumped into Britty who had just come back from America. It was so nice to see her! I left town with Rach and Ilana around 2:30ish.
On Sunday Boaz had to wake up at 6:15. His mom kept on trying to wake him up. When he finally started to get ready, he had to shower, so I had time to relax and slowly wake up in bed. When I was going to finally get out of bed he told me to stay in bed and I could go back to sleep and leave whenever I wanted to. His mom also said it was fine and she told me that she was leaving at 8:15 to take Mikki to work, so she could take me wherever. After Boaz left (I had to watch him put on his uniform!!!) I fell back asleep and slept well--I had weird dreams. Boaz moves around at night-either stealing all the covers or basically suffocating me.
After having breakfast with his mom and her dropping off Mikki at the tennis/country club, she dropped me off at Beit Ar-El. We hugged/kissed on the cheek and said chag sameach to each other. It is so weird how I am comfortable with her and the rest of his family!! I then went into the classrooms and after getting kicked out of the library because there was class there, I just hung out in a classroom and caught up on talking to people. Lori. I then did some research for my research paper and did a basic outline. Rach and Katie said that they would be coming early in the morning, but that didn’t happen. After chilling and catching up about our nights and doing some laundry, Rach and I went to go get this 15 shek delicious roll up for only 15 sheks at this relatively expensive restaurant. We ate it outside and had a nice talk. When we walked back and talked with more people for a bit we FINALLY (well I finally) got to work. I went into a separate classroom and did a bit of my paper.
Rach and I needed a break/nap, so after deciding we would nap in Miki’s bed, we were going to check on our laundry, but Katie was there. She was having a fight with her sister about the Pesach Seder, so we supported (laughed) her. Then we took a nap for a bit, but ended up just talking and closing our eyes. We talked with Katie for a bit and then we went back to work for a little before having to take a bus back to Katie’s. When we got back we hung out for a bit and then later that night we went out to town for a little. We bumped into Britty who had just come back from America. It was so nice to see her! I left town with Rach and Ilana around 2:30ish.
SATURDAY:
On Saturday we woke up not until 11ish and after laying in bed and talking about how great we all slept, we got dressed for kiddish, which was fine. More Americans (basically just everyone in my room) than brits showed up! Then after kiddish we had lunch, which was okay. Some people staying there would do the hamotzi over bread, not matzah and they had to do it outside because the dining room was already koshered. There was this one religious man who would watch to see if anyone would bring in the challah. When someone did, the guy would yank them back and kind of yell at them. After leaving lunch early with rach, we then chilled out in the room and waited for everyone else to come back. After some more resting, we went to the optional class led by Boaz. We read different, interesting things talking about when you are repenting you are supposed to have to same amount of passion you used when you did something you were repenting for.
We then planned on walking to the dead sea, but just hung out, napped and talked with people. After a long time of that, I showered before packing up before the 3rd meal. After that we took our stuff down to where we were meeting before havdallah. We were trying to hitch rides with people, so we did havdallah with them. It was a group of like 30 families that were all from Jerusalem. I ended up getting a ride with Boaz, Moran, and the Rabbi. I was happy because then I didn’t have to deal with meeting a new family and I could be comfortable. I didn’t expect them to ask me questions and talk about Boaz the whole time! Funny, but not comfortable. They dropped me off right before emek refiem and I waited a few minutes for Boaz to come pick me up. He was behind this tour bus and all of these elders were getting off it. I had Leah’s big bag and I kept on bumping into the people! Oy… Boaz’s dad bought a new car, it’s nice. When we got to his place we hung out with his family and watched some of “That 70’s Show” before having a midnight dinner/snack. We all had Sharshukah together. I don’t love eggs, but I obviously know how to deal. After dinner it was almost 1 and he had to wake up early, so we went right to bed…well he did. I went to brush my teeth and when I came back he was already passed out. Not fair.
Oh!!! Mom something crazy I forgot to tell you. I was talking with Boaz’s mom and we were talking about the floods from the dead sea and I asked her if she knew about Kibbutz Yahel and then she told me that in 12th grade she hosted someone from America that volunteered on the Kibbutz! I think it was the same program you, mom, were on. She is a few years older than you, but she is looking for the pictures to show me!!
On Saturday we woke up not until 11ish and after laying in bed and talking about how great we all slept, we got dressed for kiddish, which was fine. More Americans (basically just everyone in my room) than brits showed up! Then after kiddish we had lunch, which was okay. Some people staying there would do the hamotzi over bread, not matzah and they had to do it outside because the dining room was already koshered. There was this one religious man who would watch to see if anyone would bring in the challah. When someone did, the guy would yank them back and kind of yell at them. After leaving lunch early with rach, we then chilled out in the room and waited for everyone else to come back. After some more resting, we went to the optional class led by Boaz. We read different, interesting things talking about when you are repenting you are supposed to have to same amount of passion you used when you did something you were repenting for.
We then planned on walking to the dead sea, but just hung out, napped and talked with people. After a long time of that, I showered before packing up before the 3rd meal. After that we took our stuff down to where we were meeting before havdallah. We were trying to hitch rides with people, so we did havdallah with them. It was a group of like 30 families that were all from Jerusalem. I ended up getting a ride with Boaz, Moran, and the Rabbi. I was happy because then I didn’t have to deal with meeting a new family and I could be comfortable. I didn’t expect them to ask me questions and talk about Boaz the whole time! Funny, but not comfortable. They dropped me off right before emek refiem and I waited a few minutes for Boaz to come pick me up. He was behind this tour bus and all of these elders were getting off it. I had Leah’s big bag and I kept on bumping into the people! Oy… Boaz’s dad bought a new car, it’s nice. When we got to his place we hung out with his family and watched some of “That 70’s Show” before having a midnight dinner/snack. We all had Sharshukah together. I don’t love eggs, but I obviously know how to deal. After dinner it was almost 1 and he had to wake up early, so we went right to bed…well he did. I went to brush my teeth and when I came back he was already passed out. Not fair.
Oh!!! Mom something crazy I forgot to tell you. I was talking with Boaz’s mom and we were talking about the floods from the dead sea and I asked her if she knew about Kibbutz Yahel and then she told me that in 12th grade she hosted someone from America that volunteered on the Kibbutz! I think it was the same program you, mom, were on. She is a few years older than you, but she is looking for the pictures to show me!!
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