time to say goodbye....or rather see ya later

Hello!!!!

I know I said my last blogpost would be the last but as I sit here on my last full day in TLV I thought I should recap my adventures over the past month since my program ended.

On August 14 my program ended.  It was so surreal those last bunch of nights in our apartments....all our rooms packed up...we were cleaning like crazy to pass inspection and just hanging out with eachother before everyone went their separate ways.

So the morning of the 14th I got up super early said goodbye to my bestie and got in a cab to Ben Gurion Airport to start my European adventure.  I had so many emotions going through me but mostly I couldnt believe that this part of my life was over.

I flew from TLV to Milan.  I took the train to the city stored my bags...hopped on the subway and headed to the Duomo and to see The Last Supper.  It was amazing!  I couldn't believe I was looking at one of Leonardo da Vinci's famous paintings in person...with my own two eyes!  After spending a few hours in Milan I headed back to the train station grabbed my bags and took the train to Venice.

I arrived in Venice in the early evening.  I took the Vaporetti (or taxi boat) to my hotel and settled in for the night.  I was stayed right by Piazza San Marco...it was a great location!  While I was in Venice I literally saw everything there was to see in my guidebook.  It was also really easy to navigate because they always had directional signs on the streets so you knew which way to Piazza San Marco or the Rialto Bridge...etc.  On my last day in Venice I took an afternoon trip to Murano...very cool!  I really loved Venice...it was def my favorite city in Italy.

The next morning I woke up and took the vaporetti back to the train station to take my train to Florence.  Of course as i was wheeling my suitcase one of the wheel broke and I was left with one wheel and a pretty heavy piece of luggage...lol!  So once I got into Florence I took a taxi to my youth hostel and found out where the nearest luggage store was located.  When I arrived in Florence and went on the computer to finally check my email (I hadn't had computer access since the Saturday before I left TLV) thats when everything hit me!  I saw some of my friends were home some were still in Israel and most of all I wasnt going to be returning to my program when I got back to TLV.  I was really sad and really homesick for TLV and WUJS!  I missed it soo much...that feeling of comfort that was my home for the past 5 months.

But then I met a girl who was also staying at my youth hostel and we went out all day sightseeing together...thank goodness because I dont think I could have spent the day alone.  Then that night when we arrrived back to our hostel..we checked in and I met some other girls who were also staying there.  The next couple days consisted of sightseeing...I saw some of the most famous paintings and sculptures...The David...The Birth of Venus...etc.  It was unbelievable to see these works of art that I learned about in the past in school actually with my own two eyes in person...its very different than seeing it on a projection screen in a college classroom...lol!  The last two evenings in Florence consisted of dinner and hanging out with my new friends at the hostel.

After Florence I took a train to Rome.  Of course luggage and I were not friends during my travel days.  I found a luggage store and bought a wheely suitcase that was cheap but that was all i could find so sure enough as I was wheeling my suitcase to the train station the whole wheel mechanism broke.  I was not happy!  But i made my way onto the train and once I got to Rome I took a cab to my hotel and tried to settle in.  However it all came to a head and I just broke down.  I spoke with my parents and just started to cry...I really missed everyone...from home...from TLV and I just wanted to be traveling with someone and not on my own.  So I calmed down and wound up meeting two other girls staying in my hotel and we went out for the rest of the day together.  We saw the Trevi Fountain...I was sure to throw a coin in the fountain so I knew I would eventually make my way back to Rome :)  Then we walked by the Spanish Steps...had amaazing gelato (which I proceeded to have everyday when I was in Italy...lol!)

The rest of my days in Rome consisted of waking up early...sightseeing...going back to my hotel for a rest in the AC and dinner at night.  Again in Rome it was soo amazing to see...the Pantheon...The Collosseum...The Roman Forum...all these amazing sites that are soo old and soo timeless and I got to see them in person!! I was inspired beyond belief!

My last day in Rome I walked around the city sat at a winebar and read a book and couldn't wait to get to the airport for my flight to Barcelona where I was meeting Sam (my older sister) for the start of our trip together.  I hadnt seen her in 5.5 months (basically since I left NYC in March) I couldn't wait!  The flight went off without a hitch...yay ryanair...oh and I got myself a good piece of luggage...a samsonite...so I didnt have any more problems...except that it was overweight twice...lol!  I took a cab to the hotel in Barcelona and finally had my reunion with my sister!  It was soo great to see her!  One side not though about Barcelona...no one speaks English...so not cool!!!!  The cab driver was talking to me in Spanish and I kept on saying...I dont understand you!!! My only complaint about Spain!

Barcelona was great!  We spent the next two days sightseeing...we saw all of Gaudi's buildings...the Picasso Museum...the Joan Miro Museum and a bunch of other famous sites.  The first night we met up with one of my friends from WUJS for dinner.  It was soo great seeing her...it was such a sense of comfort seeing someone who had been my family for the past 5 months!

After Barcelona we went to Stockholm, Sweden!  One of my all time favorite cities!  It is soo quaint and everyone is so nice and speaks English...lol!  We arrived to the airport...took a bus to the city and a cab to the hotel.  We stayed in a beautiful boutique hotel in the middle of Gamla Stan (or Old Town).  One of  my good friends was also in Stockholm so we met up with her and her husband and her son...who got soo big!!!! It was great to catch up with her again hadnt seen her since I left NYC in March.  The rest of our time in Stockholm was spent sightseeing...we went on a tour of the archipelago one day...went to Skansen...the open air museum another day...Art Museums and just walked around this beautiful city.  We also went to the Ice Bar one night which was amazing...but very cold...I def didnt dress appropriately...lol!

After Stockholm Sam went back to NYC and I traveled to London for the last part of my european adventure.  The minute I got into the airport I called one of my best friends from WUJS (who was also there visiting) and we set up a place to meet.  I went through passport control got on the Gatwick Express...then the tube and then made it to my youth hostel in Soho near Oxford Circus.  After I checked in I ran to meet up with my friend.  It was sooo good to see her!  It had been soo long since we spoke!  Plus I didnt have any internet access on my phone so no Whatsapp for 3.5 weeks...very difficult...lol!  We spent the rest of the day catching up...grabbing dinner and hanging out at her friends apt in notting hill gate where she was staying.  She was there til Saturday (I got in on Wednesday)...so the rest of the days that we had together we went out sightseeing...she went on the London Eye with me...showed me Buckingham Palace...Big Ben...Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey (I saw all of them when I was in London 10 yrs ago with my fam)....had dinner with her friends...who are awesome and just spent our down time together like old times back in TLV!  It was soo nice!

Then she left on Saturday and I def felt things coming to and end.  On Sunday I did some more sightseeing on my own...of course that is the day it decided to rain...I had amazing weather the entire time I was there except for Sunday and Tuesday when I left.  Sunday night I met up with an old friend from NYC and we went for drinks and dinner at a pub.  Monday I went to the last of my museums and sights etc and then got myself ready and packed up for my journey back to TLV.  Monday night is when it hit me....this is over...this amazing adventure I had been planning for soo long is over...now back to TLV but a different TLV than I am used to.

Tuesday morning...of course it was raining...my luck...so I got in a cab and went to the bus stop where I was taking a bus to Luton airport.  Well guess what the bus decided not to stop for me so I wound up taking a cab all the way to airport.  I had the nicest cab driver...he even got me water from the gas station :) 

So a little more about London...I really fell in love with this city. It reminded me alot of NYC but was soo European and that was what I had been surrounded by for the past 6 months...I could def see myself living here at some point.  Everyone is also sooo polite...especially the cab drivers!  Plus boys with English accents nevery hurt lol ;)

I finally got the airport and waited for my flight...this time easyjet...great airline!  I got into Ben Gurion Airport and my cousin picked me up and brought me back to their house in North TLV.  It was soo great to see my cousins...I missed them alot!

However the next couple days I was kind of depressed.  I wasnt in my old apartment with all my friends around and it was weird...everyone was working the streets were much more quiet than I remembered and it was just really starting to kick in that my program was over and now im here on vacation visiting...im not living here anymore...which was an upsetting realization.  I started to take the bus into dizengoff area and started to feel more like myself again by the time the week ended.  I also had to start saying my goodbyes as I didnt have that much more time left here.  I went to another cousin for Shabbat on Friday and stayed until Saturday night. 

Then Sunday I started my crazy week which consisted of getting back to the gym...a necessity...lol...seeing friends and family to say my goodbyes.  Yesterday I visited my internship in Herzliya Pituach.  I went out for lunch with my old coworkers.  Then I saw my boss and caught up with him about the past month.  When I said goodbye to them yesterday it really started to kick in and I was really sad as I stood at the elevator outside the office.  These women and men were my family for the past 5 months and now I just said goodbye...

Today I went to Jerusalem for the last time til I come back...i went to the new Israel Museum...it was amazing!  The design is beautiful!  Then tonight and tomorrow again consists of saying more goodbyes.

I thought I was really ready to come home...to NYC...when I first got back to TLV...but the more I started traveling back into South TLV and seeing my friends I realized that yes this was a good transition after Europe and after my program but no I am not ready to come home.  I dont think I will ever be ready to come home because TLV has become my home too and will always remain my home!

This program and Israel changed my life and I def will not be the same now that I have gone through all these amazing experiences over the past 6 months....I've grown up...my coworkers even said you came here a child and are leaving an adult (literally translated from hebrew...lol)....ive come into my own...im a much more confident and stronger person than I was 6 months ago! 

I know it will not be an easy transition coming back to NYC but I am really excited to see all my friends and family who have been there for me throughout my journey!  I also look forward to returning to my city...NYC...I missed it soo much!!!!  I have come to love NYC over the past 5-6 years...there is nothing like it...the energy and architecture and just over all everything that is NYC...which is me!

I love u all very much and I look forward to catching up with each and everyone of you when I get back home on Friday!

thanks for following me through this amazing journey of my life...I was soo happy to share it with all of you!

<3 D 

the end is near....but the adventure has just begun!

Hello Hello!!!!

So looks like this will probably be my final installment or second to last post of my blog (unless I have a lot to say before I leave for Europe or when I am back in TLV in 4 weeks after my Europe adventure :))!

So updates since my last post....

I had a crazy beginning of the week during the last week of July...had work and then had to prepare and pack myself up for our trip up north.  Wednesday morning (July 27) we got on a bus very early in the morning to drive up north for our first hike of the trip.  Well it wasn't really a hike it was more of a walk through nature...lol!  They wound up switching what we were doing on Wednesday and Thursday because there was a heat wave and we werent allowed to hike in such high temperatures...thank g-d was nervous I was going to pass out!!  After the hike we went to Tsfat for a tour around the city.  We also met with a WUJS alum who is an artist that lives in Tsfat.  Then we went to the Sefardi shul which was a nice change of pace since I visited the Ashkenazi one when I was on birthright.  Afterwards we walked around grabbed a fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and then headed off to Pekiin where our youth hostel was located.

Once we arrived at the youth hostel we dropped off our stuff...rested for a bit and then we went on a walk to the druze village where we had a lecture on the village and its roots.  We also sampled the druze lafa and zaatar...all I can say is amazing!!!  Then we headed back to the youth hostel for dinner.  After dinner we had the option of watching a movie or going to bed.  We figured we'd sample the movie...wasn't that interesting...so my friends and I wound up sitting in the courtyard of the hostel hanging out...reminiscing on our time in Israel and just having fun and laughing alot....then it was bedtime because we had another early morning on Thursday. 

Thursday we woke up had a great breakfast....grabbed our packed lunch and headed to our 3.5 hour hike in Nachal Ziv.  The hike was intense but amazing....we hiked all the way down into the valley...then walked through the valley...walked through water...was fun walking with wet feet...lol...and then finally walked up from the valley to the end of the hike...soo much fun...I will miss these amazing hikes!  Then we sat had lunch and headed back onto the bus to Rosh Hanikra.  Since I went there when my parents visited I wasnt so interested in going back but we didnt spend too much time there so it was good.  Then I wound up passing out on the bus because I was exhausted!

The weekend consisted of relaxation and meeting up with one of my cousins who extended her stay in Israel after her birthright trip.  It was a great weekend again of hanging out with friends...walking around TLV...walking through the tent city that is on lovely Rothchild Blvd...and just soaking up TLV as much as I can!

Last week was my last week of work...it was so weird.  I couldnt believe it had been 5 months from when I started!  It has gone by so fast and doesnt feel like I've been away from home for that long.  On wednesday we celebrated my internship coming to end.  My boss said a few words and gave me a lovely gift to use for my European travels.  I of course wound up getting choked up while I said my thank yous...oh typical me...lol!  Then on Thursday my last day of work...I was there for about half a day...tied up loose ends...and sat with my boss for our final meeting of the past 5 months.  He gave me tips on how to boost my portfolio and how I can make myself stand out when applying to hotel companies...he wrote me the sweetest recommendation letter as well.  Then in the early afternoon I said my final goodbyes and I was off to TLV from Herzliyya for the last time.

[So rewind a little...on Tuesday we went to Haifa for the day with WUJS.  We went to the Bahai Gardens (which I already visited but it was cool to see it again).  Then we visited the Technion - the Israel Institute of Technology...where they thought we were here for them to recruit but the best part was when one of the professors was giving us a presentation about their MBA program and then I said well I kinda have mine already....was a pretty amazing feeling to say that...I think they were just very confused even though we told them like a million times we are on a post college program!  Whatever...then we went to Ein Hod...this artist village.  It was amazing.  They are located in the area that was affected by all the fires 8 months ago.  We saw painters...sculptures...ceramics and an actual piece of the Berlin Wall...it was soo cool!!  My kind of place to live!  Then it was back to TLV after a long day!]

Friday my friends and I woke up early went food shopping for our final Shabbat dinner together...then ran back to the apartment to take part in an interview for The Marker - of Haaretz.  Its the economical newspaper where we spoke about how we budgeted our money to come here for 5 months.  Interesting interview....was a little long but I think it will be cool to be featured in an Israeli newspaper :)  Then I ran to the gym to kickbox and finally made my way back home to help prepare for the dinner.  I came home to a music filled...food preparing kitchen with my besties!!  We drank the entire afternoon and were very happy ;) by the time we were ready to eat dinner.  We had planned on going out dancing that night but wound up being real cool people and literally passed out on the couches after sitting up and talking all night...lol! 

Friday was an amazing day!!!  Those are the days I am going to miss the most...hanging out with my girlfriends...shopping...laughing...cooking...drinking and just amazingness!!!

Saturday...I woke up wayyyy too early but wound up staying in all day...doing laundry (by hand...yes mom I finally did my own laundry!)...hanging out....and just lounging around.  Then we ordered in burgers and fries for dinner...yummm...again notice our laziness...we didnt even leave our apartments...lol!  Then once shabbat was over we ran to dizengoff center because one of the girls needed a piece of luggage and we wound up getting manicures and pedicures at the express nail place in the mall.  Then again we were going to go out for a drink but wound up crashing the minute we got home...ohhh we are sooo crazzzy...lol!

Today, Sunday we had our final WUJS activity during the day (well kind of we still have one last siyur on Tuesday) and our final ceremony and BBQ on our roof at night.  We went to the  beach in Bat Yam to do kayaking and paddle boarding...was alot of fun....just hanging out at the beach together!  We then ran home...prepared food for the BBQ...in between got ready and then finally were able to sit back and enjoy our final night together as a group.  The food was great and the company was even better.  We ate...then watched a video of pictures and video clips of the past 5 months in Israel.  It was so amazing to see what we were like at the beginning of the program and how we are all now after these past 5 months together. 

It was very emotional at times...especially when one of my best friends on the program said a speech...and of course I started crying during that...then they gave out superlative awards...mine was #1 Kickboxer...most productive....and that i used the most words in one sentence...very true...lol!  Then our supervisors gave us certificates that showed we successfully completed this 5 month internship program in Tel Aviv.  After everyone cleared the roof my friends and I sat and reminisced about the past 5 months...and how we can't believe that our time here is up already!  One of my other good friends and roommates is leaving tomorrow so thats super sad :( So we sat in her room and helped her finish packing and just tried to take it all in without getting too emotional.

The rest of the week is going to consist of a siyur to Dialogue in the Darkness on Tuesday....where you experience what it is like to be blind.  Then we have to start cleaning our apartments and packing up everything!  As of Thursday I will have the whole apartment to myself...which is def going to be weird.  I leave for Europe on Sunday early morning so Saturday is going to be a crazy day of finishing packing...cleaning....meeting my cousins so I can give them my bags to store and meeting up with my coworker to return my work phone.  Then its a night of goodbyes and last hang outs with all my friends who are left in the apartments.

Honestly I can't believe 5 months of my life have gone by that quickly!  I am really sad to leave.  I wake up some mornings or just think when im sitting in my apartment how this has been my home for the past 5 months and I dont want it to change.  I will miss my ghetto neighborhood....and my bus rides to and from the gym...my sherut rides to work and all in all just living here in Tel Aviv one of the most amazing cities in the world!  It truly brings me to tears that this is over!  I have made some of the most amazing friendships that I know will last a lifetime.  We have been through so much together and they have been by my side through the thick and thin!

I have no other words to say other than my life will never be the same and this is a good thing...I have really grown up and come into my own in more ways than one after living here!

I definitely can't wait for my European adventures....Italy is first on the list (Milan...Venice...Florence and Rome)  :)

Then Barcelona and Stockholm...where I def can't wait to see you Sam...I miss you dearly and can't believe it will be about 5.5 months since I've seen you...that is going to be one sappy reunion...lol!  Jen...I can't wait to be back in NYC seeing shows and living in the same house let alone same city as you...miss you like crazy.  Mom and Dad...you have given me such support while I was here....spoke with me at all hours sometimes a few times a day at the beginning.  Guided me through decisions and didnt kill me when you didnt hear from me for a few days because you knew that meant that I was off having fun or living it up here in TLV.  To the rest of my family and friends...it means the world to me knowing your waiting for my return back home...thanks for being patient with me when I didnt get back to you right away and thanks for all your support!

To my Israel family...although I will see you again in September (after London) I would still like to say thank you for these past 5 months! Thanks for inviting me into your homes and treating me like one of your own.  I will always remember your kindness and unconditional love during my time here....I love u more than you know and will cherish our times together forever! 

Not sure what else to say...except it is the most surreal moment right now....writing one of my last blog posts...I remember writing my first one during my layover in Zurich in March...wondering how my life would change....whether everything I was seeking here in my homeland would come true...well it has....I am the same person but yet very different than when I arrived 5 months ago! I feel more complete and feel like my life of adventures has just begun...definitely can't wait for the next one....and I'll leave it at that!

Love u all very much...see you in 6 weeks!

<3 D

times slippin away....

Hello everyone!!! 

Once again I know I have been slacking on writing my blog but that just means i've been living it up here in TLV!

Since my last blog post I have been doing much of the same.  Going to work...going to the gym...going out at night and spending the weekends around town trying to hang out with my fellow wujies as much as possible.  We are all trying to spend as much time together considering we only have 3 weeks left of our program...I know how crazzzzy!!!!

Work has been a bit hectic I've been on site for most of the time and also helping with the new project that is starting its presale period.  Its been an amazing experience working here in real estate development and it has shown me that what I concocted in my head of combining both my degrees really does exist out there and if i look hard enough I will find my place doing the same thing back in good ole NYC!

Otherwise during the week I've literally been going out every night (with a few recovery restful nights in between..lol)...we are trying to get in all the partying we can before we leave!  Its been so much fun!  We have all really bonded over the past month and a half and I will be very sad to say goodbye when our program is over.

The past 2 weekends have been filled with meeting my friends' parents...museums...architectural tours....going out at night...relaxing during the day and beaching it on saturdays as much as I can...def milking this tan for as long as I can!

On the Europe trip front...all flights and hotels are booked and now it is time to figure out what exactly I will be doing when I am in each city!

Next week we are going up north for our final overnight with the program.  I am super excited to get away from Tel Aviv for a bit and spend some more quality time with my friends.  We are also compiling a bucket list of things we must do before we leave TLV...like restaurants, bars, clubs etc we must visit and experience before our time is up.

I know this post was a short one but for some reason not much was coming to my mind...I think I am still dealing with living in the moment yet realizing that I am leaving this wonderful place soon...not sure I am ready to be honest!  I know I still have time here but I kind of feel like its slipping away as I hold on tightly...I have had the most amazing 4 months of my life and am sooo happy that I decided to take a leap and go outside my comfort zone and do this program! 

Thank you all for your love and support it has meant the world to me knowing I have such an amazing support system back home!

Thats it for now....Love u all!!!

<3 D

wiser...stronger...happier....dina 3.0 ;)

Hello Hello Hello!!!

I know it has been wayyy too long!  The past 3 weeks have been a crazy whirlwhind! 

Ok so lets go back to where I last left off...June 15...my last post...

So that weekend I had a great birthday weekend!  Went out to an awesome club friday night and then saturday I hung out on the beach with my friends.  Saturday night I went to a family birthday party.  I finally met the rest of the family which was really nice!  Then work as usual on Sunday and we went out to a new club Sunday night.

Monday was my birthday!  All I can say is that my friends over here are amazing!!!!  My roommate made me a homemade ice cream cake to replicate the carvel ice cream cakes my mom usually gets me every year!  I got flowers..chocolate rugulach...flowers and awesome birthday cards!  The love from everyone back home was also overwhelming!!  I felt so loved that day!  My friends took me out for a really nice dinner that night and we hung out the rest of the night in my apartment. 

The rest of the week consisted of a free day on Tuesday where I actually met up with an old friend who I hadnt seen since I was in the 6th grade...and then Wednesday and Thursday I was in Jerusalem for the President's Conference.  It was amazing...I heard Peres...Netanyahu and Sharansky speak.  Just the security alone to get into the final plenary session to hear Netanyahu was insane!!!  I also met Dr. Ruth and saw an interview of Moshe Safde a brilliant Israeli architect who designed the Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem...amazing!!!  We also heard a panel discussion with Matisyahu and Sarah Silverman which I have to say was underwhelming!  Matisyahu was insanely rude and Sarah Silverman didnt really have much to contribute to the discussion.  Thursday night we saw Matisyahu...I was soo excited because I got to hear both of my favorite songs that he sings...so that was a highlight for me!

Friday was filled with errands and preparing for our Shabbat dinner and Roof Party that night!  Both were a huge success and I had soo much fun but most of the week consisted of me anticipating seeing my parents and my sister at the end of the week...Saturday morning when they arrived in Israel!

So I left the roof party a little early so that I could get some sleep so I could wake up early to meet my family at the hotel.  Saturday morning came and I couldn't believe it!  I had been waiting 3 months to see them and I missed them soo much!  I was soo excited to see them and finally have a conversation face to face!!!  I took a sherut up to the Hilton and walked up to the hotel.  As I walked past the lobby and saw them I started to cry...I gave my dad such a big hug...then my sister who of course was crying too and then my mom!!!  We went for breakfast where we started to catch up!  The rest of the day consisted of resting and walking along the beach.  That night we all went to my cousin's yacht on the Herzliyya Marina...which was soo nice!

Unfortunately I had to work the whole week so I planned stuff for them to do while I was at work and then I met them at night to go out for dinner and hang out!  Tuesday we took a day trip to Jerusalem...sherut rides were no fun but the day itself was great!  We visited the kotel...went on a great tour called the Chain of Generations Center...glass sculptures depicting points in Jewish History...then walked through the Jewish Quarter...got some amazing chocolate rugulach from Marzipan and then headed to the Mamilla complex.  And what a complex that is!!!  The hotel is amazing!!!  It just made me want to delve right into hotel development and really made me yearn to be doing that already!  The rest of the day consisted of shopping on ben yehuda and then back to good ole tel aviv!!!

Wednesday night we had dinner with my best girlfriends from my program.  It was so nice to finally have them all meet my family and vice versa!  It was amazing food and amazing company! Thursday was the only day I was able to take off of work so I met my family at the hotel...had breakfast and hung out at the pool for most of the morning...then my sister and I went shopping...we all ate dinner together and then my sister came back to my apartment and we prepared ourseves for Layla Lavan...which is a birthday celebration of tel aviv - the white city...there are concerts all day...museums open to all hours of the night and an amazing concert of Balkan Beat Box at 1am that I had tickets to!!!  We left our apartment at 12am and walked down to Rothchild and over to Dizengoff Center where the concert was being held.  It was one of the best nights that we had here...we wound up getting back to our apartment at 4am...had chicken in a lafa and went to bed...lol!

Friday was a relaxing day...Jen and I had a lunch with one of her friends in Yafo and then we rested that evening.  Saturday we went up north with one of my friends to Rosh Hanikra...Bahai Gardens in Akko and Zichron Yaakov for lunch!  The rest of Saturday was really hard for me...I was super anxious because I knew my family was leaving and I didnt want to say goodbye again...I know I only have a little time left here and I'm really excited but it was still hard saying goodbye when it felt soo natural to have them here!  So we went for one final dinner in Israel and my family took me to the bus stop and I said goodbye...of course started crying and watched them walk away!  I got back to my apartment and wound up crying a little bit when I went to hang out with my friends but they were amazing as usual and totally there for me.

It felt weird waking up Sunday morning...I really missed my family but I saw one of my friends as I walked out to work and it felt good to talk to someone.  This week has been pretty busy...work is insane...I've been on the jobsite all day today and Monday and will be there tomorrow all day as well.  It is fun but exhausting and extremely hot!!!

Monday night we all celebrated July 4th at Mike's Place...a bar by the beach where I actually went on birthright...it is about as American as you will get...beer...BBQ and a bunch of drunken idiots...lol!  Needless to say I had a blast...started celebrating at 6:30pm and went to bed at 1:30am...good times!!!

Yesterday we went to Jerusalem to the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  They both very interesting places.  The Supreme Court is architecturally brilliant!  The materials the design...everything was astonishing!

I've also finally started to plan my Europe trip....wow its making me super anxious and overwhelmed...lol!  Trying to book all my flights and hotels etc in Europe soo not as easy as booking a trip within the USA!  But slowly slowly I know it will come along...the old planner in me is trying to come out but im trying to remain easy going as I have been out here and trying to go with the flow as best as I can which I know I will have to do once I am in Europe!

My friends and I are trying to go out as much as possible and plan tons of stuff to do in the next 5 weeks because soon soon it will be time to come home!  Part of me is really ready to come home and see my family and friends and the other part of me is really happy here.  I love my lifestyle (much simpler than in NYC) I love how I have grown and Israel helped me do that!  I am still the same me but I think just more mature and wiser and I know once I get back to NYC I will have to try and be strong and keep up that part of my life even in a big crazy city like new york!  I am excited though to find a job and move out into Manhattan.  I've definitely become alot more independant and can't wait to live on my own again after living here by myself!  But I am not trying to get ahead of myself...still trying to live in the moment and soak up the rest of my time here in Tel Aviv!!!!

I hope you are all doing well and I definitely can't wait to see all of you really soon!!!

Love you and Miss you all!!!

Yalla Bye!

<3 D

Pix of Mykonos, Greece

Hey Everyone...here is the link to my picasa web album of my adventures in Mykonos!  Hope you enjoy :)

https://picasaweb.google.com/104710240781056273125/GREECE2ndStopMykonosTimeToRelaxAndParty?authkey=Gv1sRgCKPEzMi3g4vx-gE#

xoxox

<3 D

life gets better and better!!!!

Hello Hello!!!!

All I can say is how amazing life is these days!!!

Last time I posted I was about to go to the opening night of one of the hottest nightspots in Tel Aviv...Clara.  It was amazing...so much fun...it was designed beautifully...basically think about a awesome lounge in NYC except all open to the outdoors and overlooking the ocean!  Yea I know insane :)

Then Thursday went to work as usual...then came back to Tel Aviv to meet up with my mom's friend from NYC who was here visiting Young Judea and us wujies.  We surprised her with a rooftop party on the roof of our apartment building.  All of Hadassah was dedicating the redecoration of our roof to her...it is now called "Shelley's Roof Garden".  She was super surprised...I also felt pretty special that I knew her and I was on the dedication movie too...it pays to have a mom super involved with Hadassah :)  That night I finished packing and went to bed late only to wake up early the next morning to leave for my 7am flight from Tel Aviv to Greece!!!!

Woke up at 4am on Friday morning...got in a cab and was off to Ben Gurion Airport for a trip I had been waiting to take for a long time!  We flew from Tel Aviv to Athens...so excited to have my passport stamped...my new goal in life...get my passport stamped like crazy..lol!  Then we arrived in Athens and had to catch our connecting flight to Santorini immediately!  So we didnt check any luggage because of that...so we ran to the gate to catch our flight and of course i got stopped at bag check because had a few items that werent allowed in ur carryon...meaning liquids that were too big...I got away with it leaving Israel but no such luck in Athens :( So I literally lost a brand new bottle of mousse, gel, suntan lotion and my only small bottle of USA brand contact solution...but cest la vie...just bought it all again in Santorini.

We arrived at the Santorini airport...had a transfer to the hotel waiting for us.  We arrived at the tourist center and had to leave our bags until our room was ready so we went for lunch.  I had an amazing greek salad and a spread of greek dips and grape leaves..soo good!!!  Then we got walked to our hotel...lets just say walking down the side of mountains in flip flops on slippery rock not that kool...lol!  The hotel was beautiful...all the rooms were cave apartments.  Our view when on our balcony was of the Caldera and the whole side of the island.  Santorini was literally what you think of when you think of Greece!  We accomplished soo much in the time that we were there.  Unfortunately we only had two days and two nights in each location.  Therefore the minute we dropped our stuff off in the hotel we had to hit the ground running.  We were staying in Oia..which is very quiet and amazing for the scenery but not much happening there..so we took a bus to Fira (Thira) where it was more active.  We then took a bus to the red beach...amazing!!! and then back to the city center where we walked around...ate amazing baklava... and rode donkeys...never feared for my life so much...only made it down a few sets of steps and then I made them let me off and we walked the rest of the 600 Caldera steps by foot.  We then took the tram back up and waited for a bus back to Oia so we could watch the sunset and grab some dinner.

The next day we booked a trip where we hiked volcano island...swam in sulfur water (the hot springs) and visited Thirassia (used to be attached to Santorini before one of the volcano eruptions) and then got taken back to Oia or Fira.  We got off at Fira...visited the black beach...really not that kool...full of black rocks...hurts the feet!  Then we went to a restaurant in the town to watch the sunset. There is definitely a reason why Santorini is famous for its sunsets.  They were beautiful.

The next day we were off to the port to catch a fast ferry to Mykonos.  Two and a half hours later...we got picked up at the Mykonos port and brought to our hotel.  Another amazing and beautiful hotel!  We hung out at the hotel until our room was ready and then we were off to Mykonos Town.  We had a late lunch and walked around the town.  It is soo cute.  I finally found a bakery and ate my favorie greek dessert...galaktoboureko...doubt i spelt that correctly...lol...and a frappe...yum!  We watched the sunset and then headed back to our hotel.  The rest of our stay in Mykonos was more of a relaxing vaca...woke up the next morning to an amazing breakfast...my favorite breakfasts were at this hotel....then we sat by the pool for half the day and then went to one of the beaches for the rest of the day.  This is where my crazy dark tan came from...lol!  We had dinner at a gorgeous restaurant overlooking the water and then headed back to the hotel for a relaxing evening.

We woke up the next morning..checked out of the hotel and were off to the Mykonos Airport for our flight to Athens.  This time I checked my luggage so no hair products would be thrown away :)  However we had a delay in our flight but didnt matter anyway because it was only a 20 minute flight...so nice!  We arrived in the Athens airport and took the train to our hotel which was right by Monastiraki Square.  My first impression of Athens...not soo good.  It was very dirty...graffiti everywhere and just not a comfortable place to be...I was a little scared to walk around because we got told to watch out for pickpocketing! And to make matters worse I wound up booking us a hotel in the ghetto of Athens...not cool!  I figured this beautiful boutique hotel had to be located in an amazing neighborhood...but no!  Mom and dad..probably wont want to hear this and I forgot if I told you but I actually saw a hooker getting picked up on the street of my hotel while i was in the business center...yea bad neighborhood!) So we were just very careful and always kepts our eyes open. 

We had a great authentic greek lunch and then were off to see the sites!  We took a tram around Athens because I felt safer in a vehicle than being on foot. After the tram though we wound up getting out and walking around anyway...but I def felt much safer.  We also happened to have walked into the square by the Parliament where the daily afternoon demonstration was happening...basically because of all the economy problems there is a lot of unrest from the people of Athens and they have a demonstration everyday in the afternoon.  We didn't understand why there were so many police officers out in the streets and they were looking at us like something was wrong with us that we were just walking around...then we got to the square and realized what we had walked into...lol!  Btw all the Greek police officers are gorgeous!!!  That evening as well as the next one we hung out on our hotel rooftop where there is a pool/restaurant/bar.  We saw the acropolis lit up at night and the rest of Athens...what a sight!!!

The next morning we woke up super early to go to the Acropolis.  It was sooo amazing to see this piece of Greek history and architectural history.  I learned all about that in school and it was unreal seeing it in person!  We then went to the New Acropolis Museum and back to our hotel to rest.  Then we got picked up by the tour that we had booked.  We went to Cape Sounian to see the Temple of Poseidon.  It was also really beautiful but thats def an area where you see the sunset and it was too early to see it...but it was nice to get out of the city.  Came back to the hotel for our last evening in Greece.  We watched the sunset from our hotel bar...out of this world! and ate our final greek meal.  Oh also that same day I had finally tried all my traditional greek desserts...including baklava...honey greek cookies and these powder sugared greek cookies...yummmm!!!

The next morning we woke up had breakfast...and took a taxi to the airport.  We arrived back in Tel Aviv in the early afternoon.  I was sooo excited to get back to Tel Aviv...first of all it wasn't like coming back from vacation where you have to go back to work...lets be real i was coming back to tel aviv for another 2 months of vacation..lol!  Plus I was really excited to see my other roommates and friends in the program!  Its been really nice...I've def gotten closer with ppl over these past few weeks and its soo nice to have that friendship!  Had an easy rest of the day...just relaxed...went out for dinner and started packing for my shabbat by my cousin.

I woke up the next morning and finished getting ready to go to my cousin's house in Petach Tikva.  I took the train there and she picked me up from the train station.  So I haven't seen my cousin in 22 years.  I was a flower girl at her wedding (along with my older sister) and then she made aliyah and we never saw eachother after that.  All I can say is that time doesn't matter...we literally sat talking for hours about anything and everything.  It was amazing to see her and her family.  She has a wonderful husband and 6 amazing children (I only met 4 of them).  It was so nice to be with family!  It felt like home being in her house with them for Shabbat.  We spoke about our grandparents...mothers...families back in brooklyn.  We looked at her wedding pix...I saw little me at 6 years old...i was soo cute...lol!  We went to shul on friday night and had a beautiful shabbat dinner.   We went to shul the next morning where there was a bar mitzvah....stayed after for the kiddush and then went back to her home for lunch where she hosted another family and a few friends.  We all hung out some more...took naps and then had shalah shulus together saturday evening.  After shabbat was over she drove me to the sherut and we made plans to be in touch for when my parents and sister come and visit.  I just want to say thank you thank you for having me over....it was amazing and i look forward to another shabbat with you and your family before I leave in August!

I came home saturday night and organized myself for the coming week where I would be returning to work after all this vacation!  Sunday and Monday were pretty typical days...went to work for the day and then gym at night.  After the gym I've been trying to upload pix for all of you...so please bear with me...they will be coming soon!  Then Monday night I literally sat with one of my friends on the program and hung out for the entire night...it was awesome...it felt like we were in summer camp...lol!

Tuesday was group meeting and trip day!  I was really excited to go on our trip this week.  We were going to Sderot...a town in Israel that gets hits with kazams very often.  However I was disappointed in the trip...we got a security briefing first and then literally got on and off our bus a bunch of times to see different areas of the town and how there are bomb shelters all over the place in case there is a warning which happens often...or sometimes not for a while..you never know!  We also saw gaza at one point on our tour...pretty crazy!!!  Our tour guide I think was the problem he didn't do a very good job! 

Then we went to a kibbutz that is housing a bunch of families who lived in Gaza and were kicked out of their homes in 2005.  They are from Gush Katif.  It was definitely interesting hearing the story of one of the families...I felt really bad about the fact that she got kicked out of her home and was forced by the israeli government and the IDF to leave where she had lived for 30 years! Her story truely touched me!  However I then heard a different side of the story.  One of our Israelis (who lives in the apartment building with us) came along and sat right next to me during this speech.  Afterwards he explained to me and some of my other friends how he was a soldier in Gaza and in that area where these people lived and he said it was not an easy task to be stationed there and a bunch of other things.  It just showed made me realize that there are many different sides to a story and the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle! 

We then went to Yesodot to see where they are building their new community.  We finally made it back to Tel Aviv only a hour later than expected!  We to kickboxing that night...had an amazing class...and finally uploaded pix of Petra to Facebook!

Today was a typical day at work and then more gym and picture uploading tonight!

I'm super excited for the weekend...we are celebrating mine and another girl's birthday on friday night...then beach on saturday...and a family birthday party on saturday night!  Then next week I am going to the President's Conference in Jerusalem next Wednesday and Thursday and going to see Matisyahu on Thursday night...sooo excited...shout out to all my birthright jew crew...Jerusalem...if I forget you!!!!  Love u and miss you all!!!

Then in exactly 10 days my parents and younger sister are coming to visit!  I seriously can not wait to see them!!!  I can't believe I have been here for exactly 3 months and that there are only 8 weeks left to my program!  It is insane.  The more I think about it I am super upset...I have gotten closer with people on my program and have started to get used to coming home to them every night.  I will miss that dearly! I am excited to travel after my program and see my older sister in the middle of those travels...love u and miss you tons!!! 

But Israel definitely has a special place in my heart that I never thought would be there...I am truely blessed to be here...I thank g-d everyday that I decided to come here and do this program...it has made me a better person and appreciate the little things in life that I definitely wouldnt have realized in NYC!  I know when I get back home the transition is going to be difficult...life is a lot simpler out here but I hope to find a good balance and not completely loose everything I've learned while I am here!

Love you and miss you all!!!!

<3 D

the amazing adventure that I call my life....

Shalom!!!

What a crazy week its been so far....

The last time I posted I was a day away from going to Petra.  Let me just say what an amazing trip that was!!!!  I went to work as usual last Thursday and then left early to go home meet my friends...finish packing and then go to the new central bus station to take a bus to Eilat.  The bus ride wasnt too bad...then 5 hours later we were in Eilat.  A taxi drove us to our hostel...which was really nice and we grabbed food for the next morning and went to bed early so we could get some rest for our eventful Friday.

Friday morning we woke up at 6am and got ourselves ready for our trip to Petra.  A taxi picked us up at 7am and drove us to the Arava border in Eilat.  A guide from the tour company met us and helped us leave the Israeli border and sent us a few hundred feet to the Jordanian border where we were picked up by our guide who would be with us for the rest of the day.  We sat and waited for our passports to be stamped and then we were off on a coach bus through Jordan to Petra.  It was crazy being on the bus we were literally driving through the desert without anything to either side of us on the road except for bedouin tents scattered throughout the landscape. 

After a bathroom stop along the way and about a two hour drive we finally made it to Petra.  My friends and I got geared up for an amazing adventure...and that it was.  Our guide walked us throughout Petra.  Eventually at the end he let us have half hour to walk around as we pleased and then we had to meet back at the bus.  Words and pictures cannot explain how amazing and jaw dropping Petra is.  The size and height of these mountains is insane.  Needless to say we had a wonderful day and I was soo happy that I decided to take this trip!

After we got on the bus our guide took us to a buffet lunch in a Jordanian restaurant.  The food was amazing!! It felt soo good to eat and sit in air conditioning after that 3 hour hike through Petra.  All I can is that I am sooo not made for the heat...it was sooo hot in Petra and Eilat..not a fan...lol!  Then the tour took us back to the Jordanian border so that we could enter back into Israel.  We got driven back to our hostel and rested for a little while.  That night my friends and I explored the hotel area of Eilat.  We walked on the tayelet and went to eat by the hotels.  We then grabbed a drink on the beach at one of the beach bars.  It was soo nice to just hang out and chill on the beach on a friday night!

We had a bus ticket to go back to Tel Aviv at 7pm Saturday night but we were really over Eilat (lol) and wanted to get back to Tel Aviv earlier so we decided to wake up early grab breakfast at the hostel and then walk to the bus station to try and make it onto the 11:30am or 1pm bus.  So we walked to the station figured we could make it for the 11:30am so we ran back to the hostel grabbed our bags from storage and took a taxi back to the bus station.  While we waited for the station to open at 11am (Israelis def dont believe in 11am on the dot!) all these other people started creeping up to the front of the line to "look" at the schedule on the board but then literally cut in front of the whole line!  I was pissed. 

New York came out of me and I literally yelled at this woman who knew exactly what I was saying and pushed her way in front so that she could either buy a ticket or switch hers!!!  I was soo annoyed and over Israelis at this point.  I was hot...tired and annoyed...not a good combo..lol!  Then when I was one person away from changing my ticket another israeli came up on the side of the line and asked the teller to change his ticket and I screamed again and since he was friends with the teller what happened but the teller changed his ticket!  I had had enough at that point and just let it go!  So we instead got tickets on the 1pm bus back to TLV. 

We hung out in the bus station until our bus boarded and we made it back to TLV at 5:45pm after another 5 hour bus ride...I'm kinda over those bus rides!  We rested for a while and then went out that night to a club on the TLV port for a friends birthday.  I had a great night with my girlfriends dancing the night away to American music...yay!!!

Woke up the next morning exhausted after only getting 5 hours of sleep but knew I had a crazy busy week at work.  Made it through work on Sunday and crashed that night.  Monday was another busy day at work then rushed home went to the gym and went out for dinner/dessert with a friend.  Had another great night of sleep..lol and then woke up early Tuesday morning to get ready and try and finish posting pix from Petra and my other weekends before our group meeting and siyur for the day.  As you can all see (if you have facebook) I am slowly posting pictures :) 

After our group meeting we took a bus to the Tishbi Winery in Zichron Yaakov to have wine and chocolate tasting..the wine was amazing and we made some new friends who lived on a kibbutz right near there.  We were then driven to this really cute street in Zichron and given a half hour to eat lunch and be back on the bus...so not enough time but I wound up getting the most amazing shakshuka that I have had since I've been here.  Ate the rest of my meal on the bus on our way to Atlit.

Atlit is a museum that tells the story of a Jewish Detention camp that held Jews who were captured by the British before..during and after WW2.  It was a little eery being in the camp...and I feel for anyone who was held there until they were released. 

After Atlit we took the bus back to TLV.  I then relaxed in my apartment and kickboxed at night.  After I got home from kickboxing I was supposed to pack for Greece...supposed to being the operative word...and we all know I am the biggest procrastinator when it comes to packing...I'm usually up the night before I leave finishing it up...lol!  So instead I got home ate...showered and went to bed.

I woke up this morning got ready and actually began to pack...lol.  I have an exciting day at work today...I am going to the site with my boss and we are setting up a model apartment in the building that was just finished.  Then tonight I am going to Clara this lounge/club on the beach...it is the opening night!  I am super excited! 

Tomorrow is another crazy day...work...then I must change shekel into Euro for Greece...run home...have dinner with a friend of my mom who is visiting..run back home...be on our roof by 8pm for a cocktail party and then out with a friend for drinks...finish packing at some point and hopefully get some sleep because I must be in the airport by 5am Friday morning for my flight to Athens, Greece...yay!!!!

These past few weeks have seemed to fly by...I can't believe I have been here for 3 months its insane!!!  I am having a blast and literally the time of my life!!!  I'm super excited for Greece and the weeks to come!

My bday is almost here and I always seem to relfect on the past year of my life and I'd have to say that this past year has been eye opening...amazing...tough...and so fulfilling!!! I am soo happy to be in Israel...in my homeland...with such Jewish pride...I can't explain how much it means to me to be here!

And for those of you who don't have facebook or didnt see my post...I booked my ticket home...I will be back in NYC on September 16!!! 

I'll be in Greece til next Thursday and then I'm away for the weekend...I will try my best to post asap after Greece.

Love you and miss you all!!!!!

<3 D