Hello Hello!!!!
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.
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
