This one's for you tants!!!! <3
Sorry it has been a while...between passover and traveling a bit its been pretty hectic this last week and a half.
Since the last time I posted I went to Yavne for Shabbat at the house of one of my coworkers. Her husband cooked an amazing meal for Shabbat dinner and Shabbat lunch. I spent the weekend speaking hebrew, playing with her kids and having a relaxing weekend!!! It was soo nice to be out of the city and surrounded by this wonderful family. Sunday morning I went to work with my coworker and realized it was going to be my only day of work that week because Pesach started that Monday night.
On Monday I spent the day working out and getting ready for Pesach. Went to one of my friend's for the Seder. It was definitely a different experience being at her Seder vs. my own back in NYC. Her uncle and father read through the whole hagada (where as back in new york we go around the whole Seder table for everyone to participate in the reading of the hagada) and therefore wound up getting to the meal pretty quickly. The food was amazing and lets just say you could probably have rolled me out of there...lol!
On Tuesday I went with my friend and her cousins to Cesarea for the morning and walked through the ruins over there and sat for coffee and tea at one of the cafes. That night we wound up staying in and watching a movie and just relaxing which was really nice.
Wednesday morning she dropped me off at my apartment where I spent the rest of Pesach. Wednesday afternoon my uncle's cousin picked me up and brought me to his home to meet the rest of his family. I proceeded to spend the rest of the afternoon and entire evening at their house. All I can say is that it is amazing how it feels to be with family. They welcomed me with open arms and made me feel at home! She fed me very well....I had my first and only matza brie of the holiday and a ton of other food...again was stuffed to the brim...lol!!! They helped me figure out how to get to an art museum in Holon and a bunch of other questions I had they answered. I cannot thank them enough and I look forward to keeping in touch with them for the rest of my stay and thereafter!
On Thursday I went to the Tel Aviv Art Museum with one of my friends from WUJS. During the week of Pesach all museums are open for free so it was definitely worth it to visit. It was great to see the art and there was one exhibit in particular that took my breath away...I wish I could have taken a few of his paintings home with me ;) The rest of the day was spent with my roommates getting pedicures and having a nice night out!
Friday my cousin picked me up and we went to a private art show. The artist finds these amazing stones within nature and melts metal around the stone and then puts glass stones in different patterns on top of the big stone...my explanation does not do her justice....needless to say her artwork is amazing and i was truly inspired. Then we went to the Azrieli Center (Tel Aviv's version of Roosevelt Field Mall - Shopping Mall) and walked around a bit...went into H&M...where everything is double the price...and then went to the Herzliyya marina for lunch with my cousins. Then we sat on their boat for a little while and enjoyed the weather and the water. The rest of the night was pretty low key...dinner with some more WUJS friends and then bedtime....I needed to get a good nights sleep for my day up North on Saturday.
Saturday I went up North to Haifa and Akko with my friend and her cousins. We visited the Bahai Gardens and had lunch overlooking the water in Akko. It was amazing!!! I was soo lucky to have traveled around this holiday! That night I spent walking around the cute town of Neve Tzedek - the oldest town in Tel Aviv.
Sunday I had a half day of work and then came back to Tel Aviv where I walked around Neve Tzedek (this time with my camera) and then south on the Tayelet to Yaffo. We walked by Aboulafia (that ones for you Mom :) ) but it wasn't open because of Pesach and also Dr. Shakshuka which is supposed to have the most amazing Shakshuka. The rest of the night was pretty low key.
Monday was a great day besides that it was the last day of Pesach...yay for bread at sundown....it was another day where I explored Tel Aviv with one of my roommates. We walked all the way from our apartment to the water up north on the tayelet to the Tel Aviv Port and then back down through the city.....for those of you who don't know Tel Aviv...our walk lasted 5 hours...we then broke Pesach on pancakes and french toast...yummmm!!! The night ended with a birthday celebration of one of my fellow wujies! (oh and one of the last stops we made on our tour through the city was Dizengoff Square....I finally felt like I saw the Tel Aviv that I remembered from years ago...it reminded me of the first time I had come to Tel Aviv with my family (back in '97 during Pesach)...when we used to take walks at night from our hotel to the center of town...don't you remember? I miss you guys!!!! <3 <3 <3)
Today also turned out to be a great day. We had a trip to the Rubin Museum where I saw amazing art work by Reuven Rubin. His wife was one of the first members of Young Judea so there was a nice connection between the museum and our program (since WUJS is part of Young Judea). Then we went to Yarkon Park (Tel Aviv's Central Park) and went paddle boating for part of the afternoon....then wound up taking a little bit of a detour on our way back to the apartment but finally made it back safe and sound!!! I took an amazing kickboxing class at the gym...which made me feel sooo good....and then it was time to get ready for the daily grind of the rest of the week!
And I forgot to mention....most importantly yesterday I booked my plane tickets to Greece!!!!!! I'm super excited to start planning that trip!
It probably sounds like I didn't have much enthusiasm in my post today but I'm definitely having an amazing time...just a little tired tonight but I wanted to get this post out to you since it had been sooo long. Pesach in Israel was amazing...although this wasn't my first time in Israel during Pesach (I was lucky enough to have come with my family for the first time 14 years ago...I know how crazy...I'm getting old...lol) but this time I wasn't staying in hotels I was living here on my own....every supermarket only sold kosher for passover food...mostly every restaurant that was open was either totally kosher for passover or had passover options...so it was soo easy to keep kosher over here.
I'm really working through all my ups and downs and feel like everyday im growing as a person...which is a major reason why I came out here....to find out who am I...who is Dina J. Silberstein??
To everyone back home thank you for all your support...your phone calls...emails...messages and facebook posts...(keep them coming!!!) they definitely remind me what a lucky person I am!!!
Til the next post...Laila Tov...Love u alll!!!!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
a jew in the cosmopolitan holyland...
Hello there!!!
I know I'm writing another post less than a week after the last one...yay...lol!!!
I just had this yearning to share with everyone back home how amazing it is being a Jew in a Jewish state! For the past week my office has been receiving gift baskets, wine and many other gifts all in honor of Pesach. Everyone in my office couldn't understand why I thought this was strange...I proceeded to explain to them that the only time we receive big baskets and gifts or when vendors come into our offices in NYC is during Christmas time....which obviously doesn't mean much to us Jews but has become part of our life back in the states. It is soo nice to see my holidays as national holidays...where all offices and schools, etc. are closed and I don't have to take personal time or vacation time in order to celebrate a holiday like I do in NYC.
Although I don't really see myself living here after these 5 months there is something to be said about the generosity, kindess and warmth that exudes my office and mostly everyone I come into contact with here. I am definitely enjoying looking at a calendar and seeing Jewish holidays as national holidays its great! It makes me proud to be Jewish. Where as in the states it becomes..."oh great more vacation time I have to use in order to celebrate all these Jewish holidays". Here you embrace it...everyone embraces and celebrates the holidays...whether you are a religious Jew or a secular Jew everyone comes together for every Jewish holiday.
Well anyway....enough of my zionistic ranting...lol....just thought I'd share this one amazing experience with all you Jews out there!
This week has definitely been a better one....been getting to the gym...still trying to recover from the 10k I ran and trying to fit ulpan, work and mandatory WUJS activities into my schedule...yess can you say hectic!!!
Besides all of the Pesach celebrating I went to the Ayalon Institute and the Rabin Center on Tuesday. The Ayalon Instiute was really cool. It is where bullets were made secretly for the Hagana during the Independence War. The way the secret factory was constructed underground was amazing and quite inventive.
The Rabin Center (Israel Museum) actually impressed me more than I thought it would. I left the museum quite touched, inspired and heavy hearted after our hour long walk through the complex. The building and exhibition design is beautiful and really speaks to the material on display. The first part of the tour is in a room with a 270 degree screen showing a video of the night Rabin was assassinated. Then you walk through the museum on your own (with your own headset) and learn about his life and Israel's birth up until his death in 1995.
The last room (where they show videos of the aftermath of his assassination and his funeral) was where I lost it....I just broke down crying after I walked out. I became very emotional especially after watching Rabin's granddaughter speak at his funeral. For those of you who don't know I lost my grandma this past January so it hit close to home...listening to this speak and being in a room that evoked sadness but hope at the same time. To say the least, this room was my favorite! I highly recommend a visit to this museum.
Therefore I am dedicating this post to you....Nanny!!! You were the glue and strength of our family and we miss you soo much! I wish you had the opportunities that I have been afforded and I wish you had the opportunity to live and visit Israel but just know that as I walk throughout the holyland you and Grandpa are with me every step of the way!
Love u and miss u all!
Chag Sameach L'kulam!!!!
<3 D
I know I'm writing another post less than a week after the last one...yay...lol!!!
I just had this yearning to share with everyone back home how amazing it is being a Jew in a Jewish state! For the past week my office has been receiving gift baskets, wine and many other gifts all in honor of Pesach. Everyone in my office couldn't understand why I thought this was strange...I proceeded to explain to them that the only time we receive big baskets and gifts or when vendors come into our offices in NYC is during Christmas time....which obviously doesn't mean much to us Jews but has become part of our life back in the states. It is soo nice to see my holidays as national holidays...where all offices and schools, etc. are closed and I don't have to take personal time or vacation time in order to celebrate a holiday like I do in NYC.
Although I don't really see myself living here after these 5 months there is something to be said about the generosity, kindess and warmth that exudes my office and mostly everyone I come into contact with here. I am definitely enjoying looking at a calendar and seeing Jewish holidays as national holidays its great! It makes me proud to be Jewish. Where as in the states it becomes..."oh great more vacation time I have to use in order to celebrate all these Jewish holidays". Here you embrace it...everyone embraces and celebrates the holidays...whether you are a religious Jew or a secular Jew everyone comes together for every Jewish holiday.
Well anyway....enough of my zionistic ranting...lol....just thought I'd share this one amazing experience with all you Jews out there!
This week has definitely been a better one....been getting to the gym...still trying to recover from the 10k I ran and trying to fit ulpan, work and mandatory WUJS activities into my schedule...yess can you say hectic!!!
Besides all of the Pesach celebrating I went to the Ayalon Institute and the Rabin Center on Tuesday. The Ayalon Instiute was really cool. It is where bullets were made secretly for the Hagana during the Independence War. The way the secret factory was constructed underground was amazing and quite inventive.
The Rabin Center (Israel Museum) actually impressed me more than I thought it would. I left the museum quite touched, inspired and heavy hearted after our hour long walk through the complex. The building and exhibition design is beautiful and really speaks to the material on display. The first part of the tour is in a room with a 270 degree screen showing a video of the night Rabin was assassinated. Then you walk through the museum on your own (with your own headset) and learn about his life and Israel's birth up until his death in 1995.
The last room (where they show videos of the aftermath of his assassination and his funeral) was where I lost it....I just broke down crying after I walked out. I became very emotional especially after watching Rabin's granddaughter speak at his funeral. For those of you who don't know I lost my grandma this past January so it hit close to home...listening to this speak and being in a room that evoked sadness but hope at the same time. To say the least, this room was my favorite! I highly recommend a visit to this museum.
Therefore I am dedicating this post to you....Nanny!!! You were the glue and strength of our family and we miss you soo much! I wish you had the opportunities that I have been afforded and I wish you had the opportunity to live and visit Israel but just know that as I walk throughout the holyland you and Grandpa are with me every step of the way!
Love u and miss u all!
Chag Sameach L'kulam!!!!
<3 D
Saturday, April 9, 2011
through the good days and the bad....
Hello Everyone!! I just looked when I last posted and realized it has been a while...I guess thats a good thing because it means I've been busy..lol! Anyways today is catchup day and relaxation day.
So here we go...recap of the past two weeks:
Work is going great...sitting in meetings for a new project that is in the works; site meetings at the residential towers that are nearing completion and general office work. I can't say enough how amazing everyone is that I work with...so inviting and warm really feels like a family. This past week i got invited out with the rest of the staff for drinks and snacks to celebrate Pesach. It was soo nice being around everyone from the office and seeing how much each and everyone of them is appreciated by the company.
Last Friday I got invited over to my boss's house for Shabbat dinner...it was amazing. He is quite the chef! I brought my roommate Jessica with me and we met two other couples around our age who were also at the dinner. The evening started out with cosmos and ended with this amazing chocolate cake type of dessert and fresh watermelon!!! We then got a ride back to Tel Aviv from one of the couples.
Saturday was spent relaxing and exercising and just catching up on everything....which has become my typical saturday...as sad as that sounds..lol! But it is technically our Sunday here so I think thats a valid reason for a lazy day :)
On Sunday we got tickets to the Macabi TA vs. Macabi Haifa came at Nokia Stadium...let's just say the journey to get there was quite interesting...the neighborhood we were going to walk through was quite sketchy so we wound up taking the bus through the new central bus station (which I pass by every morning...but never go into) and finally got a bus that would take us there so that we would be on time. Finally made it to the stadium to watch the game...let's just say I could play basketball better than these people and thats not saying a lot for supposedly one of the best teams in the league..lol!
The next day was work and ulpan and I also had to stop by Kikar Rabin to pick up my packet for the 10k I was running on Friday. Definitely typical Israel I get there and they can't find my packet so I have to go get one without my name on it but whatever it all worked itself out.
This week I was def feeling under the weather...I don't know if it was allergies or catching a cold that is going around this country but I tried to take it easy as best as I could.
On Tuesday we had a day trip to Jerusalem...which was more like a reenactment of birthright through the old city...mainly the Jewish Quarter through the Zion Gate. It was great being in Jerusalem but it def felt like a blur the minute we got back to Tel Aviv...the weather had been rainy and gloomy all day and all week for the most part so it def was a little tiring. But we ended the night with an evening of grey's anatomy and popcorn and chocolate in our apartment...it reminded me of home as we sat around our living room watching this TV show that I love soo much!!!
Wednesday was a really busy day...had work in the morning....then the Pesach get together with work and then I had my first accupuncture appt in Israel...it was soo nice being around that type of environment but I'm not gonna lie...accupuncture here is nothing like at home...miss you Kim!
Thursday consisted of work and then a seminar about Israeli culture...however to get to the seminar after work was quite a feat...no sherut would stop for my friend and I...we finally caught a bus that took us into Tel Aviv and took another bus to the seminar and finally made it there only a half hour late. The rest of the night consisted of carb loading and getting a good night sleep for my run the next morning.
So the 10k....I had been so apprehensive about running this race...I didn't train at all when I was here...just went to the gym and did the usual...but I guess from my kickboxing and weight training the month before I came I had enough strength to finish the race without stopping (i'm very proud!!!!) in 58.57 minutes!!!!! After that race I was soo proud of myself and this accomplishment! I was definitely on a high from finishing for the entire day...of course until I got back to my apartment and was ready to pass out from being soo tired. Spent the rest of the day relaxing and hanging out and proceeded to get a good 10 hours of sleep last night so that I woke up this morning quite refreshed and a little sore which I'll take...I love feeling sore however bad that sounds just makes me feel like I did something good for my body the day before...lol!
Today I am going to check out "Fresh Paint" Tel Aviv 2011...an art show of young artists that happens once a year here in TA. Should be great!
These past two weeks have been a little bit of an adjustment emotionally and physically...I've def felt lonely here and there but I try to look at the positive of every situation and I know that when things are rough they are just making me a stronger person in the end so that I appreciate everything in life even more! So thank you all for all your support and guidance because I really think back to it during my bad days and it helps me get through and change them into great life changing days!
Love u and miss u all!!!!
<3 D
So here we go...recap of the past two weeks:
Work is going great...sitting in meetings for a new project that is in the works; site meetings at the residential towers that are nearing completion and general office work. I can't say enough how amazing everyone is that I work with...so inviting and warm really feels like a family. This past week i got invited out with the rest of the staff for drinks and snacks to celebrate Pesach. It was soo nice being around everyone from the office and seeing how much each and everyone of them is appreciated by the company.
Last Friday I got invited over to my boss's house for Shabbat dinner...it was amazing. He is quite the chef! I brought my roommate Jessica with me and we met two other couples around our age who were also at the dinner. The evening started out with cosmos and ended with this amazing chocolate cake type of dessert and fresh watermelon!!! We then got a ride back to Tel Aviv from one of the couples.
Saturday was spent relaxing and exercising and just catching up on everything....which has become my typical saturday...as sad as that sounds..lol! But it is technically our Sunday here so I think thats a valid reason for a lazy day :)
On Sunday we got tickets to the Macabi TA vs. Macabi Haifa came at Nokia Stadium...let's just say the journey to get there was quite interesting...the neighborhood we were going to walk through was quite sketchy so we wound up taking the bus through the new central bus station (which I pass by every morning...but never go into) and finally got a bus that would take us there so that we would be on time. Finally made it to the stadium to watch the game...let's just say I could play basketball better than these people and thats not saying a lot for supposedly one of the best teams in the league..lol!
The next day was work and ulpan and I also had to stop by Kikar Rabin to pick up my packet for the 10k I was running on Friday. Definitely typical Israel I get there and they can't find my packet so I have to go get one without my name on it but whatever it all worked itself out.
This week I was def feeling under the weather...I don't know if it was allergies or catching a cold that is going around this country but I tried to take it easy as best as I could.
On Tuesday we had a day trip to Jerusalem...which was more like a reenactment of birthright through the old city...mainly the Jewish Quarter through the Zion Gate. It was great being in Jerusalem but it def felt like a blur the minute we got back to Tel Aviv...the weather had been rainy and gloomy all day and all week for the most part so it def was a little tiring. But we ended the night with an evening of grey's anatomy and popcorn and chocolate in our apartment...it reminded me of home as we sat around our living room watching this TV show that I love soo much!!!
Wednesday was a really busy day...had work in the morning....then the Pesach get together with work and then I had my first accupuncture appt in Israel...it was soo nice being around that type of environment but I'm not gonna lie...accupuncture here is nothing like at home...miss you Kim!
Thursday consisted of work and then a seminar about Israeli culture...however to get to the seminar after work was quite a feat...no sherut would stop for my friend and I...we finally caught a bus that took us into Tel Aviv and took another bus to the seminar and finally made it there only a half hour late. The rest of the night consisted of carb loading and getting a good night sleep for my run the next morning.
So the 10k....I had been so apprehensive about running this race...I didn't train at all when I was here...just went to the gym and did the usual...but I guess from my kickboxing and weight training the month before I came I had enough strength to finish the race without stopping (i'm very proud!!!!) in 58.57 minutes!!!!! After that race I was soo proud of myself and this accomplishment! I was definitely on a high from finishing for the entire day...of course until I got back to my apartment and was ready to pass out from being soo tired. Spent the rest of the day relaxing and hanging out and proceeded to get a good 10 hours of sleep last night so that I woke up this morning quite refreshed and a little sore which I'll take...I love feeling sore however bad that sounds just makes me feel like I did something good for my body the day before...lol!
Today I am going to check out "Fresh Paint" Tel Aviv 2011...an art show of young artists that happens once a year here in TA. Should be great!
These past two weeks have been a little bit of an adjustment emotionally and physically...I've def felt lonely here and there but I try to look at the positive of every situation and I know that when things are rough they are just making me a stronger person in the end so that I appreciate everything in life even more! So thank you all for all your support and guidance because I really think back to it during my bad days and it helps me get through and change them into great life changing days!
Love u and miss u all!!!!
<3 D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)