Where I've Been, Where I Am, and Where I'm Going......
How does one begin from the beginning when she is no longer in the beginning? Or better, how does one pretend to begin when one has already begun? I've probably lost you already. Okay, I'll stop being so verbose. Basically, today is the 27th of July and I have been in Israel for 25 days. This is excellent and all, except I had promised myself to start a blog much sooner so that I would not be put in this exact situation. I have been here for almost a month and how in the world can I possibly tell you in one blog what has happened to me over such a large span of time? This is a question I have been grappling with for the last week or so instead of starting this blog, so without further ado, I am just going to begin. I won't get everything, but from not on I'll try to be more up to date. I think the best way of doing this is to first make a list/calendar of what I've done and then fill in with all the crazy stories afterwards.
July 2nd-13th ~ Birthright: Mayanot 65!
(in no particular order)
-climbed the golan heights
-climbed masada
-went to the golan heights winery
-slept in bedouin tents
-rode a camel
-swam in the mediterranean
-swam/floated in the dead sea
-swam in the red sea
-eat more hummus and israeli salad than anyone could possibly ever hope to
-kayaked down the jordan river
-went to tsfat and met an amazingly amazing artist
-went to the israel/lebanon/syria border and saw a hezbollah flag flying...
-visited Rabin square
-visited Mount Herzl
-toured Yad Vashem
-mountain biked (yes, that's right. biked. on a mountain. and rocked it.)
-toured the City of David
-prayed at the Western Wall (twice)
-toured the Old City secret tunnels
-swam in the Ein Gedi falls
...and did many other fabulous things that are escaping me at the moment....
July 14-18 ~ Trip Extension With Lauren and Taylor
-Stayed with our trip guide Tzofia overnight
-Slept the whole next day due to absolute over-exhaustion from the trip
-Went to Tel Aviv
-Went out in Tel Aviv
-Had my bag with my wallet and camera stolen at 4am
-Went to the police station and made a report in Hebrew!
(p.s. I didn't wet myself, I was in the ocean. I swear.)
-Got my wallet back (minus money and identification)
-Went to Eilat
-Tanned
-Snuck into an amazing hotel pool and lounged alllll day
-Went kayaking and snorkeling
-Tanned
-Came back to Jerusalem
-Met the Liffs (my hosts/parents/saviors in Jerusalem)
July 18-Present ~ Living in Har Nof, Jerusalem at the Liff's
-Slept/Sleeping
-Got a cold from running around Israel so much without sleep
-Looked/Looking for an apartment
-Visited Pardes (my yeshiva)
-Continued looking for an apartment
-Saw Arizona friends
-Made new friends
-Went to the Western Wall a few more times
-Looked at more apartments
-Bought super cool Israeli clothing (for cheap!)
-Went to see Batman and Hancock (with Hebrew subtitles)
-Saw the Godfather for the first time (finally!)
-Drank some good Israeli red wine, sat down, and wrote my first blog
The Future....
Be'er Sheva ~ July 29th-August 1st
University of Haifa for Ulpan (Intensive Hebrew Learning) ~ August 4-28th
Pardes Yeshiva ~ September 1, 2008 - May 29, 2009
.....and then who knows?
**Since my camera was stolen, I have borrowed these pictures from my friends on the Birthright trip. Mine were great....but theirs are also wonderful and will have to suffice as my own.**
5 comments:
Thanks for letting me in on the blog. Barry and I had such a great time in Israel last month, and I found myself reliving some of our experiences reading about yours.
Keep in touch.
Mims Cohen
Amrita! I miss you. Awesome blog, awesome pics and I will bookmark this and keep reading up. Seems like you've had plenty of adventures already!! I hope you have loads of fun and I know this will be a fantastic and enriching experience for you. I have an old friend in Haifa, and have heard nice things about the university. I wish I can get the chance to visit Israel some day. =)
hey! sounds like you had a lot of fun post Mayanot! (minus the whole lost/stolen wallet/camera thing!) you can check out my blog on here too: havingmycakeandsharingit2.blogspot.com
its definitely not as exciting as israel:) have fun and keep in touch!
I have missed you so. To see that smile and joy in these photos brings me closer to you.
I have heard the struggle and the frustration and I believe that that is what it will take now to help you get to the next level. The reality of this next year has finally set in. However, you have achieved so much in so little time. Your foundation is strong.
Use what you have learned. Build on those tools. Keep stretching!
Soar like an Eagle!
I love you so.
Mommy
Lovely. Your writing needs no editing, and it's great to hear your experiences with such an authentic voice. With your eyes so wide, and your heart so open you will surely grow and prosper. Thinking of you --
with love, xoJulie
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