An American Type of Week

Gotta say, I went a long time before I started falling into an American mindset.  I tried to live like any Israeli up until this week, but there are just some things I can't help but be a true American about.

Thursday (the Israeli Friday) I went to a basketball game! Israel vs. Montenegro. Israel lost... but it was fun!  My friend, Ericka, and I grabbed a flag and took a picture infront of the court before 3 groups of 12 year old boys wanted pictures with the two blonde Americans in the stadium.  If you didn't know any better, you'd probably think we were celebrities!

Friday was actually a very enlightening day. It was the first day I really did much on my own.  I went to the beach with friends, but they all went back to the dorms while I stayed back to wash up at May's house before I left on my own meet my friend for a quick hang out.  I walked down Ben-Yahuda/Allenby street to find one of my favorite people, Elias from Haifa.  It was a nice slice of familiarity again, before heading off the May's boyfriend's birthday party.  It was fun, but to be honest, the best part of the evening was coming back to my room.
     And with that, I have to say...for the first time since being here, I actually thought "ahh, I'm home". Yes, home.  Nothing felt better than walking into our kitchen and grabbing a glass of water and just sitting down, in my home.  And to add to that, two of my best friends were on Skype.  Now because they're in school, it's harder to catch up especially with the time change.  Before, I was the only one gone and the only one living a separate life, but it's finally hit me that everything really will be separate from this moment on.  Seeing them in their dorm rooms, naming names I've never heard of, and going to collegiate games was truly a wake-up call.

Saturday I called mommy dearest at home solely to tell her that I'd like to skype with our home TV so that I could watch the Notre Dame football game.  I did end up having a good phone conversation with her, but not until I told her I needed some good ol' college ball.  Oh and they won 50-10.

Sunday (the Israeli Monday) I bought Oreos, Pringles and a Snickers bar...all things I have not had nearly enough of while I've been here.  But we also ventured to a lovely place called "Mike's Place".  While I was at the beach with two friends, we got to ranting about certain foods that just don't but should exist here.  This lead us to walk multiple blocks to "Mike's".  While I may just call it heaven on earth, it is also known as the American bar/restaurant in Tel Aviv.  The food is American style, with only English Menus and an American owner.  There was a pool table and best of all...Bacon Pizza! And to top it all off, there was a Cardinals World Series Flag.

Overall, I do love Israel and I wouldn't trade being here for the world, but every once and a while, it's nice to have that little taste of home.  I'm just happy to know where to go on SuperBowl Sunday!