Video Tour of the casa!

I get out of class at 1...and Sex in the City starts at 10:55 so there's a lot of down time.  When i'm not at the beach, I dance and sing around the flat.  Well, the homework was done and Aaron Carter was playing, how could I resist?!

This is a video of me attempting to lip sing Baby It's You by Aaron Carter and show you my flat!  I kinda dance and this is mostly something i'm doing because I'm just super bored, but for those of you who haven't gotten a tour yet, here ya go!

PPS obviously since I get super bored...cawledge friends, inbox me your class sched so we can find a good time to skype because I really do miss you all.  AND send me LETTERS! Inbox me for my address.  I love snail mail and I promise if you send something to me, I will send something back!

Jerusalem Round 1

Dear All,
   Not sure if this has occurred to you all yet, but I live in a foreign country.  I mean I live in Israel.  Well, this didn't really hit me until my "sherut" ride up to Jerusalem today for, ya know, just a basic day trip to Jerusalem.  I mean Tel Aviv feels a lot like America especially since I have May and her family and home to "go home" to when I feel homesick.  But today, riding across the country to my favorite city in the country, did I finally understand I live in an entirely different place.

     So at about 9:30am, two of my friends and I got our way to the central bus station in Tel Aviv and took a "sherut" to Jerusalem.  A sherut, is like a bus but holds less people and is cab styled.  It has a route, goes faster than busses and you must tell the driver where to stop.  We got to Jerusalem at 10:45am and were off and running.  Went to a poster store, the Jerusalem shuk (much better than TLV), and then did my all time favorite thing to do.

This is me two years ago with the Dome and Western Wall in the background....well....

I never thought the day would come, but here I am two years later taking the same picture.










So yes, we went around to all the quarters and visited the Western Wall. We did so twice actually.  We went earlier, walked around and then went around 6:15 pm and watched as more and more people filled the place for Shabbat. People were singing and dancing, many different outfits and beautiful scenery.

Jerusalem is truly an amazing place.  If I thought Haifa was hilly, then Jerusalem is a mountain range.  There is not more than 10 feet that isn't on a hill of some sort.  People that live there must have amazing legs and butts, because the work out I got was crazy!  But really, it is my favorite place to go.  The different cultures, the old city, the lack of humidity, and beautiful scenery all make this one great city.  Thing is, it is still a bumping city at night (even on shabbat) because there are a lot of young people, but at the same time, there are neighborhoods that have kids walking in the middle of the street because their neighborhood is religious.

We got home about midnight and now I'm sitting writing this.  Point is, I just did a day trip to a crazy important, worldly city.  I don't care if you're not Jewish, not religious, and think you have no connection to Jerusalem...part of being a worldly and educated person is to see places like these...so ALL of you, get your butt over here fast.

Shabbat Shalom,
         Mary

Things That Never Get Old

I've been gone for almost 4 weeks, and only recently is it hitting me that I'm living in a foreign country. And one very foreign from home.  All the while, i've been making mental notes of things that I don't think will ever get old while being here.

Things That Never Get Old

1. History around every corner
2. Scenery like such:

3. A totally different language to catch up on.
4. Having to grow up and live on my own.  I love that I get to do this in a real city and not a college campus because I have to grow up much faster.
5. A beach accessible by bus
6. Only having to take a bus or train to get from one end of the country to the other.
7. Cheap airfares to Europe.
8. My Hilarious and amazing roommates:

...and now my 9th thing thus far. I went to a formal Shabbaton this weekend in the Golan Heights.  Though I've been very exposed to the Jewish faith ever since I was little, this was a very different experience.  It was a more Orthodox experience, but totally modern at the same time.  Thing was, it wasn't just about the services and going to what I would call "church", it was about the family meal and the time you spend together.  The sense of community and familiarity I experienced was really cool.  Everyone knew the same songs, had the same prayers and the meal and day were all about spending time together.  There was such a sense of togetherness even if you weren't family that was super cool.  This is what I think makes me such a culturally jewish person.

Things That Will ALWAYS Get Old

1.  The drastic difference in skin color on my stomach and legs
2.  NO public transportation on Shabbat (sundown Friday-sundown Saturday)
3.  The obnoxious humidity
4.  People calling me a "bebe", saying i'm nine or any younger age, or using the whole "Oh you're so high school" phrase.  I get it, i'm a youngin, but I think i'm a little more mature than most for going to a foreign country my first time away from home.
5.  No feasible bacon...or bacon pizza for that matter...and Senior Group for that matter
6.  The 8 hour time change for skype dates
7.  No netflix, hulu, pandora or anything else that doesn't yet "exist in my country" blahhhhh

Other than that, it's pretty great here.

For all mi amigos heading to school in the following weeks, good luck! Hope you guys have just as great of a first month as I did!

Haifa

Alright, if there is only one piece of advice I can give to someone traveling to Israel...it would be to go to Haifa.  Because I mean...look at this!

Ok, now I mean that's a lie because each and every city in Israel has such flare and something so special about it, but Haifa...oh, it's just gorgeous! 

I booked it out of class so fast on Thursday to catch the train to Haifa. My favorite foreigner George had a driving lesson and they picked me up from the train station!  After a very authentic arabic meal, we were headed out into the broiling heat to help me do every tourist-y thing possible...so that meant the Baha'i Gardens.

We decided to walk there because it's not that far, but it was such a crazy walk.  What most people don't know is just how hilly and not flat Haifa truly is.  It is honestly the San Francisco of Israel.  I don't mind walking anywhere, but coming from Flat-ville USA, it was quite a challenge.

But we finally made it to the entrance...only to learn that you're not allowed to even walk in the lands without being completely covered.  I was wearing jean shorts...I mean it's the Middle East, I would be crazy to even think about wearing something that covers my knees because of the heat.  But I have a whole year!

Not gonna lie, the best part of being there was getting to see people I haven't seen in forever.  What was really funny was when George and I were walking down the street to get a good view of the whole city, we saw a group of people walking down the street.  So, I turned to George and said, "ya know George, I think that's Rawy." And sure enough, the closer we got the more we realized it was him!  Rawy is another one of our Hands of Peace friends and I didn't think I was going to have time to see him because he lives 20 minutes out of the city. 

Other than Rawy, I got to see my friend Talia for the first time in 2 years, since I visited.  And we also got to spend time with our friend Elias, who I've known since I was 8 but wasn't really friends with until now.  Those times are honestly the best because I know that even though I haven't seen them in forever, nothing has changed, best friends as usual.

Moral of the story, go see Haifa. 

Officially 2 Weeks!

Well, like my title says, it's officially been two weeks since I've been here.  To be completely honest, it feels like it's been months, but I know that's just the shock talking.

Yesterday, I mastered my 2nd bus line.  Here's the deal, Tel Aviv University is in a place called Ramat Aviv.  It's still technically Tel Aviv, but it's like living in Lincoln Park in comparison to downtown Chicago, except without all the fun local things.  Ramat Aviv is like a nice suburb type place with more room and more money, but that makes more sense, you can't just stick a big university in the middle of a city.  So, you have to take busses or cabs to get to the local areas.  Normally I take the 25 to get to May's house, but I took the 274 to get the the huge mall, Azreili.  I was going to meet with my friend Noa who was an participant and XL with me in Hands of Peace.  This would be the first time I was to see her in two years.

This was us saying goodbye 2 years ago, so you can imagine how great it was to finally see her again!  The best part is she is based in Tel Aviv along with May and so I can see her for coffee and go to Jerusalem and such with her on weekends.

Other than that, I had my first Hebrew test!  It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but i'm not in the brightest of Hebrew classes.  The thing is we took the test on Monday but we haven't gotten it back yet because one person in our class hasn't shown up and won't take the test...grrrrrrr. 

Figured I should take some pics of the campus. 

 

So this is what I see on my walk to my building every morning and afternoon.  By 8:20, it's already blazing outside and super sunny.  Not a cloud in the sky and the grass looks a little dry, but when it cools down it will be spectacular. 

Also, i've found myself addicted to the following product. 

It is an icecream bar.  It's called magnum and then I don't know what the icecream name is, but it is a solid piece of white chocolate covered by chocolate icecream and coated in a white chocolate hardshell.  Literally the best thing ever and I can't get myself to stop eating them.  But again, i'm still losing weight even though I eat more icecream here than back home. 

Lastly, I've just been doing homework and me-andering about town.  I went to the Shuks again to get some grapes for cheap and plan to go on a run soon...but don't worry it's almost 6pm here!  But this is my notebook for Hebrew class...see if you notice something that doesn't seem right.  If you do, comment!  Ten bucks says some of you just won't notice at all! 

                                    

Ok, tomorrow I'm heading up to Haifa to see my favorite foreigner George and will finally get to see the Baha'i Gardens.  When I was here 2 years ago they were working on the temple and had it completely covered, so expect to see some pictures! 

It's natural I swear!

Just a fun post because I recently noticed how crazy this was.  I know I said my hair was getting super blonde, but I didn't know just how blonde it was.

 

On the left is a picture I took 5 days before I left for Israel...when I already prided myself on being super blonde.  On the right, is a picture I took yesterday, roughly 10 days of being in Israel.

So when I said I was getting super blonde, I meant it!  I don't think hair dye people make this color blonde, I think people go straight to bleach!! I'm not sure if I like that I'm this blonde yet, just because I don't want it to look fake.  What's more interesting is I know it is from the sun because if you change my part to the other side of my head...my hair has super dark roots! 

And to think...I still have months left of super sun to bleach my hair...!

First Week In!

Last time I posted, it was before my first day of class...Well, needless to say, it is something to blog about.

I'm taking the Hebrew Intensive offered at Tel Aviv University before starting my classes for the semester.  It is call UlPan...and it is definitely an intensive. Although I started class on Monday, classes are from Sunday to Thursday and from 830-1 with one 30 minute break and one 15 minute break.  I'm in the lowest ability class because as you all may have guessed, I really don't know any Hebrew.  I mean it really is intense.  I've learned a lot more than I ever thought I would learn, and the teachers already warned us that it will get even more crazy next week.  There is a test once a week, my first will be on Monday, and there will be homework everyday.  Hopefully by the end of these 7 weeks of class, I can get by without sounding too stupid.

But other than that...We've been spiffying up the place!

For starters, MANY THANKS to May and her mom for giving us a plethora of free pots, pans, glasses and utensils.  We are now totally ready to make and eat anything our heart desires here!

We also have filled our fridge and cabinets with everything we need to eat since we've all somewhat decided we don't want to eat out that much...college kids saving money, GO US!

Plus, along with not eating out...we take as much free food as we can get!  We went to a group meeting and they told us to take these noodles and salads home...yep it's in our tupperware right now!

Lastly we went to these things called the "shuks".  It's kind of like a flee market but year round everyday. It's just like bartering except that they know we're American, so it's a little hard.  But we already plan on going back one day when we're not as tired and understand what they're saying!  Here's what it somewhat looks like! 

The rest of the weekend will just be basking in the sun and kind of studying.  My hair is already super bleached and I'm burned in the most strange places, but hopefully I come home super tan and super skinny because I haven't been eating massive amounts of goldfish or Wendy's...but this Irish skin might think other wise!

OH and I'm going by MK with new people I meet...Mary just doesn't seem to stick...but you all aren't really allowed to call me that, sorry!