Hello from the holyland!
I have been having a little bit of an up and down week.....
Since the last time I posted I went to the dentist (last Tuesday) and got a good bill of health...she said my gums/tooth cleared up and the medicine did its job. I still worry about my tooth a little bit here and there but hopefully it doesnt give me anymore problems until I return to NYC. The rest of that day I relaxed ran errands...went to the gym lived my daily life.
Wednesday was more of the same...went to work...ran errands and then came home and packed for Eilat/Ketura. Thursday morning I woke up early to prepare to leave for Kibbutz Ketura (which is a half hour north of Eilat) in the Negev. A coach bus picked us up and the Tel Aviv Wujies and Jerusalem Wujies were off on our first overnight together. The bus ride wasn't too bad and before we knew it we were in the middle of the desert!
When we got there we had time to find our rooms and then get ready for our first activity...I picked the hike. I was super excited to hike through the desert so I changed into shorts, a tank top and sneakers and packed a bottle of water for this adventure. The hike was amazing...we climbed cliffs that literally if I looked to my side the ground next to me was wayyy far down...wouldnt have been a fun drop..lol! What was supposed to be a 1.5 hour hike turned into a 3 hour hike and needless to say I was starving!! We finally made it back to the Kibbutz and prepared for our BBQ dinner which was amazing after that long hike. We then had a talk from the events coordinator of the Kibbutz about kibbutz life etc.
We made sure to get to bed early that day because we had to wake up at 4:30am to leave for our hike at 5:30am the next morning. We went to hike really early because by the time we finished at 10am it was already scorching!!! I was not used to that type of dry heat...def not fun! This time we hiked through the Red Canyon. It was amazing! It reminded me of the hike I did on Birthright in Mitzpe Ramon...amazing natural scenery!! After the hike we went back onto the bus so that they could take us to Eilat! I was super excited to go to Eilat since I have never been there before but unfortunately it wasn't all I think people make it to be! I had fun lounging and getting my tan on but def glad we didnt spend more time than a bunch of hours there. We then went back to the Kibbutz to prepare for Shabbat. When we got back we went to the pool...they have such an amazing pool and it felt amazing to jump in after being the heat the whole day. That night we had shabbat dinner (which was ok) and then a moonlight walk through the kibbutz.
On Shabbat we didnt have an early wake up call..we could sleep in and the first activity we had was at 11am....then lunch and then free time which we spent at the pool. I literally was in and out of the pool for a bunch of hours. The minute you got out of the pool to dry off...10 minutes later you needed to cool down..lol! The rest of the day and evening consisted of eating dinner and then packing up and getting ready to leave that night. The bus ride back was really annoying....no one would be quiet from Jerusalem and everyone from Tel Aviv had work the next day and wanted to get some rest...finally fell in and out of sleep...but my butt killed from sitting on the bus for 4 hours!!! (All in all the overnight was amazing! The Kibbutz was great and super nice compared to other kibbutizm I've stayed in and I think it really helped all of Tel Aviv to bond with one another.)
We got back to the apartment I unpacked and went right to bed. I woke up an hour later than normal the next morning and made my way into work Sunday morning only about a half hour later than normal. It was a pretty busy day at work but it was good...I wanted to be busy! That evening I had the last of my training sessions at the gym and took another great kickboxing class.
Monday was also really busy. I got into the office we went to visit an old project and then went to the current construction site and sat in the construction meeting and looked at my boss's family's apartments. Then while I was in the construction meeting I got asked to help one of the project managers with something on AutoCAD. It felt good to be back on the program...its been soo long! The rest of the day was pretty quiet...then went home...went to the gym and skyped with my parents and then one of my good friends from back home!!! It felt soo good to talk to her...it had been soo long and def made me miss her and nyc!! I also almost cried when I saw my parents on skype...for some reason I have been super emotional these past few days and just seeing them "in person" made me miss them even more than usual! Then I went to bed super early...I was exhausted...I slept so sound that even when my roommate came in to go to sleep she didnt wake me...and I'm a super light sleeper.
Tuesday began with our typical group meeting at 8:15am and then at 10am we started our bike tour to the Olympic Museum. We met at the TLV Port (where I got an amazing pastrami sandwich..mmm) and then started off on our bicycles. We rode through the Yarkon Park (Tel Aviv's Central Park) and made our way to the Olympic Museum. The museum was amazing...the design was very futuristic...my kind of design...and the museum was great in general...I love the olympics so it was nice to see a museum just for that. One part of the exhibit explained to us who has competed and won for Israel. One of the competitors only won bronze but during his story he mentioned how he was overwhelmed by the amount of Israelis who came to cheer him on that after the medal ceremony they all started to sing the Hatikvah (Israeli National Anthem) at that moment I had a tear in my eye. I have noticed that everytime I hear the Hatikvah I have such a sense of pride for being Jewish and for Israel...I def dont feel that as an American when I hear our national anthem but now I feel that for the Hatikvah and I truly treasure that feeling!!!
Another exhibit was about the Munich Olympics when 11 Israeli athletes were killed in a terrorist attack. The museum has the original torch from that Olympics...the only original torch that they own!
After we finished our tour through the museum we rode our bikes back to the TLV Port. Instead of stopping at the port we wound up riding all the way to the Tel Baruch beach which is the northern most beach of Tel Aviv. It was amazing...to be riding by the beach on this Tuesday afternoon. It really helped to put things into perspective...I felt truly blessed to be here in Israel...having this amazing adventure!!! I decided to not go to kickboxing that night and instead we had a celebration on the beach for one of our fellow Wujie's birthdays. We got to the beach right before sunset and had a wine and cheese party in the middle of the TLV beach...life can't get much better than that!
However when I got home I kind of got a little depressed...I was feeling really down and a little homesick..I spoke with my mom about life...boys...adventures etc and was just upset...she helped me talk through it but this morning I finally realized that life is too short and I am here for my own adventure no one else's and I have to start getting back to what I was doing and how I was feeling prior to last week! I want to be excited to be here and not upset about trivial things! So from this moment on I am back to putting me first and being in Israel for me!!!
This morning I went online and had an email from my high school reunion committee with our 10 year reunion yearbook. It was crazy to see where everyone is currently in their lives...10 years after high school. It was soo crazy to see that some of my old classmates have 3 kids or are super religious..living in Israel and some are just married and others are just like me. I was a little annoyed because they didnt use the picture that I gave them but se la vie! (hope I spelt that right...lol)
I'm super excited to go to Petra this weekend and Greece next week...so that is what I am focusing on! Then once I get back I'm spending Shabbat by one of my cousins who I haven't seen in 20 years (I was a flower girl at her wedding :) ) and then is my birthday and then my family comes to visit!!! Ahh I can't wait to see you guys!!! I miss you more than words can say!!!
Although it was a little bit of a rough week I am that much stronger for it and I'm realizing more and more how much my gut really tells me and how I have to really listen to it more often and not to what other people say! I am a good judge of character and I should never doubt that! I'm slowly getting back to my old-new self and am happy for all good and bad experiences here because it is helping me grow each and every day!
Can't wait to tell you all about Petra in my next post!
Love u and miss you all!!!
<3 D
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
a time to remember...reflect...celebrate...and live life to the fullest!
Hello!
I'm sure you are all worried with everything going on over here and everything that you hear in the news but just know that I am OK! It is a little disturbing and nerve racking to think about living in a dangerous place but I try my best to be aware of everything and just be super careful. I also (as stupid as it sounds) try not to watch TV when I'm near one or listen to the news or read newspapers because it makes me scared and I really dont want to be scared to walk down my street everyday...so I'm living my life as usual and being cautious with everything that I do.
Now on to the good stuff...lol...I know it has been a really long time and I am truely sorry for the delay in my weekly update but time just seems to fly by quicker than I'm used to...so here is what I have been up to these past few weeks....
On Tuesday the 3rd we didnt have any programming through WUJS only our weekly meeting to go over upcoming events and any logistical problems. Our supervisor Ricky asked us how we felt during Yom Hashoa when the siren sounded and everything stood still for two minutes. I decided to say something and before I knew it as I was talking I started to get choked up and cry. I didn't think it was going to affect me as much as it did...but my roommates were right next to me comforting me as I finished up what I had to say...I was glad I said something because I wanted everyone to hear how much it meant to me to be here in our homeland on such an important day in Jewish history.
We then heard a Holocaust survivor's story. This was the first time when I heard someone's story and realized that I didn't have my grandparents around to tell their story. It was the first time I realized that wow if my sisters and parents, aunt, uncle and cousins don't remember everything that we have been told about our familys' survival of the Holocaust it will all be lost. Many of this survivor's stories sounded very similar to things that happened to my grandma (may she rest in peace) when she survived. I then went up to her and thanked her for coming into our meeting and sharing her story with us....and sure enough the minute I went to go thank her I started crying hysterically...wow i'm such a sap!!!
The rest of the day was pretty quiet...went to the gym and then had a career seminar in the evening. It was soo weird to be back in that world listen to what companies have to say on how to use our internships to our advantage on our resumes when we look for jobs back home. I made a few contacts and all in all it felt good to at least start to think about what I would do when I get home. Although i'm not gonna lie it is pretty nice not to be thinking about that stuff right now and living in the moment and day to day here in Tel Aviv. I am very proud of myself though because I think for the first time in my life I'm not thinking about the future but only the NOW (dad you'd be very proud...lol)
Wednesday and Thursday were typical days...went to work...gym and then came home and relaxed. Friday I decided to take a trip to Holon and visit one of the most amazing design museums I have seen yet...the Design Museum Holon. It was designed by Ron Arad Architects!!! All I can say is that it was truely inspiring to walk around that museum. The exhibits were amazing as well. That was definite the highlight of my week...people at the museum must have thought I was crazy the way I was walking around the structure and taking pictures and looking at it from every different angle...the last time I saw a building like this was in LA when Sam and I went to visit Frank Gehry's Disney Concert Hall!
Friday night was the first day I got to see one of my friends who came in to visit. It was soo nice having a close friend here...it felt like home for a short time. We went to one of his friend's houses to watch the final four basketball game in the European league and Tel Aviv won!! woohoo!!! The night proceeded to have an interesting outcome but we got home safe and sound and thats all that matters. Saturday was a lazy day from what I can remember...then had dinner with my friend from home on the Tel Aviv Port...it was beautiful and the perfect end to another amazing weekend!
Now on to last week. Last week like the week before was quite emotional. Sunday evening was Yom Hazikaron for the Soldiers and victims of Terrorism. Most of the people in my group and I went to the MASA event on Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem for a commemorative service honoring 7 soldiers/victims who were killed. It was an amazing ceremony. While each of the 7 was spoken about either a song played in the backround...or their parents spoke about how they have kept their child's memory alive or they had someone speak about how this person touched their life. It was a very emotional evening and it made me miss my family dearly. I wished they were right next me so that I could give them a big hug and kiss and tell them how much I love them and how much they mean to me!!! I specifically lost it when one of the victim's fathers came up to say kaddish for his daughter who died in 2001 at the age of 15 in the sbarro terrorist bombing in Jerusalem. It just made me realize even more how fragile life is and how you have to be thankful and greatful for everything! and literally seize the day everyday!!!
At the end of the program when we all started to walk back to the bus I spoke with one of the guys on my program and realized that one of the 7 soldiers that was talked about who was from Philly I actually visited his grave on Mt. Herzl when I was on Birthright! It touched me even more to remember this and realize that these victims were closer to me than I thought. The rest of the evening I definitely reflected a little bit and was just super thankful for everything in my life!
On Monday...we had half a day of work in honor of Yom Hazikaron. At 11am a siren sounded to remember those that were killed however this time I was in the car with my boss on the way to our job site. So we pulled off to the side and listened to the siren from inside the car. Again a moving experience. The rest of the day was spent at home hanging out until the evening when I went with one of my roommates to meet up with one of my friends. She invited my roommate and I to a BBQ in the middle of the woods on the outskirts of Jerusalem to celebrate Yom Haatzmaut - Israel Independence Day! It was really cool and a little eery...we pulled up into the pitch black of the woods to a fire where families were gathered around the fire eating the typical foods at an israeli BBQ...pita..hummus..israeli salad...and tons of meat! I had a great time...ate a ton of food and finished the night in bed by about 3am to the sounds of the street parties going on in honor of independence day in my neighborhood.
The next day I got picked up by one of my cousins and we went to her parents yacht on the Herzliyya Marina. We spent most of the day hanging out on the boat...sunbathing and relaxing! It was great! I met one of my uncle's other cousins...it is soo nice to be around family!!! That evening I met up with another friend of mine (who I met at the gym) to go to a concert. The concert was of her fellow students who are a cover band. It was sooo nice to be around other Americans and listening to American music. I had an amazing time and look forward to more in the future!!!
On Wednesday it was back to a regular day of work...however the evening was no fun...my gums had been bothering me since Sunday but I figured i must have bit something the wrong way and irritated them but I decided to make a dentist appointment anyway to be on the safe side. So I made all the necessary calls to go through my travel insurance company and finally found a dentist at couple towns over who could see me that night. My cousin was kind enough to pick me up and take me there...needless to say thank g-d she came with me because the doctor spoke very little english and the minute I could tell something was wrong my translation skills went out the window...lol! But the doctor was really sweet..she put medicine on my gum and told me how to take care of it until I saw her the week after for my follow up visit. Went home right after and rested up.
Thursday was a crazy day...but good crazy...had work...then went to the gym and then had to come home and get ready very quickly for our rooftop party that we put together very last minute. All I can say is that it was a huge success...we had an amazing turn out and I had a blast! I went to bed super late and allowed myself Friday morning to sleep in! I'd have to say Thursday and Friday were two of my best days that I have had on this program in a while. Everyone really came together for the party thursday night and friday was just a great roommate/wujies day!
On Friday the 4 of us who are going to Eilat/Petra next weekend got together to book our hostel...Petra trip and go get our bus tickets for our ride down to Eilat. The evening concluded with a Shabbat weekend by a family friend in Ramat Gan. She was soo kind and picked me up early Friday evening and drove me home Saturday night after Shabbat was over. The weekend was very relaxing...I slept...ate a ton of homemade cake...apparently every time you have tea you must have cake...lol...and finally finished the book I started reading on the plane ride her two months ago...I know I'm soo not a reader!!!
When I got home Saturday night I caught up with my roommates on how their weekend went and what happened while I was gone.
Yesterday was business as usual....work...an amazing kickboxing class and then cooking with my roommate...eggplant lasagna...no noodles all veggies...it tasted interesting...ohh food experimenting...lol!
Today I was super tired but pushed through...went to work...went to the job site...sat through the construction meeting that was all in hebrew and semi understood what was going on...lol! Then I walked through the building that is almost done to see the progress..its amazing!!! My boss then told me that next week we were going to spend one day together on site setting up a model apartment...I'm soo excited! I will also be punch listing his family's apartments...these Israeli construction workers are soo not going to be a fan of me and my NYC standards ;) !! Then came home...went to the gym and have been relaxing the entire rest of the evening...felt really nice!
Tomorrow a few of my friends and I were supposed to go to Jerusalem but our supervisor thought it would be safer to go another time because of the Muslim holiday of Hanakba Day...the day Arabs mark the "catastrophe" of Israel's birth on May 15, 1948. So we will have to reschedule our trip...to the old city...dome of the rock etc.
This weekend is our trip to Eilat and Kibbutz Ketura with WUJS. Should be interesting..we have hikes...time relaxing on the kibbutz at the pool and about 2 hours total...yup thats it...in Eilat...but thats ok because next weekend I will be there again :)
Oh also my gums/tooth are feeling better...I have my follow up dentist appointment tomorrow and I'm hoping for some good news that its healing.
I will try my best to keep updating this blog as often as possible!
So until next time....
I love you and miss you all...Laila Tov!!!
<3 D
I'm sure you are all worried with everything going on over here and everything that you hear in the news but just know that I am OK! It is a little disturbing and nerve racking to think about living in a dangerous place but I try my best to be aware of everything and just be super careful. I also (as stupid as it sounds) try not to watch TV when I'm near one or listen to the news or read newspapers because it makes me scared and I really dont want to be scared to walk down my street everyday...so I'm living my life as usual and being cautious with everything that I do.
Now on to the good stuff...lol...I know it has been a really long time and I am truely sorry for the delay in my weekly update but time just seems to fly by quicker than I'm used to...so here is what I have been up to these past few weeks....
On Tuesday the 3rd we didnt have any programming through WUJS only our weekly meeting to go over upcoming events and any logistical problems. Our supervisor Ricky asked us how we felt during Yom Hashoa when the siren sounded and everything stood still for two minutes. I decided to say something and before I knew it as I was talking I started to get choked up and cry. I didn't think it was going to affect me as much as it did...but my roommates were right next to me comforting me as I finished up what I had to say...I was glad I said something because I wanted everyone to hear how much it meant to me to be here in our homeland on such an important day in Jewish history.
We then heard a Holocaust survivor's story. This was the first time when I heard someone's story and realized that I didn't have my grandparents around to tell their story. It was the first time I realized that wow if my sisters and parents, aunt, uncle and cousins don't remember everything that we have been told about our familys' survival of the Holocaust it will all be lost. Many of this survivor's stories sounded very similar to things that happened to my grandma (may she rest in peace) when she survived. I then went up to her and thanked her for coming into our meeting and sharing her story with us....and sure enough the minute I went to go thank her I started crying hysterically...wow i'm such a sap!!!
The rest of the day was pretty quiet...went to the gym and then had a career seminar in the evening. It was soo weird to be back in that world listen to what companies have to say on how to use our internships to our advantage on our resumes when we look for jobs back home. I made a few contacts and all in all it felt good to at least start to think about what I would do when I get home. Although i'm not gonna lie it is pretty nice not to be thinking about that stuff right now and living in the moment and day to day here in Tel Aviv. I am very proud of myself though because I think for the first time in my life I'm not thinking about the future but only the NOW (dad you'd be very proud...lol)
Wednesday and Thursday were typical days...went to work...gym and then came home and relaxed. Friday I decided to take a trip to Holon and visit one of the most amazing design museums I have seen yet...the Design Museum Holon. It was designed by Ron Arad Architects!!! All I can say is that it was truely inspiring to walk around that museum. The exhibits were amazing as well. That was definite the highlight of my week...people at the museum must have thought I was crazy the way I was walking around the structure and taking pictures and looking at it from every different angle...the last time I saw a building like this was in LA when Sam and I went to visit Frank Gehry's Disney Concert Hall!
Friday night was the first day I got to see one of my friends who came in to visit. It was soo nice having a close friend here...it felt like home for a short time. We went to one of his friend's houses to watch the final four basketball game in the European league and Tel Aviv won!! woohoo!!! The night proceeded to have an interesting outcome but we got home safe and sound and thats all that matters. Saturday was a lazy day from what I can remember...then had dinner with my friend from home on the Tel Aviv Port...it was beautiful and the perfect end to another amazing weekend!
Now on to last week. Last week like the week before was quite emotional. Sunday evening was Yom Hazikaron for the Soldiers and victims of Terrorism. Most of the people in my group and I went to the MASA event on Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem for a commemorative service honoring 7 soldiers/victims who were killed. It was an amazing ceremony. While each of the 7 was spoken about either a song played in the backround...or their parents spoke about how they have kept their child's memory alive or they had someone speak about how this person touched their life. It was a very emotional evening and it made me miss my family dearly. I wished they were right next me so that I could give them a big hug and kiss and tell them how much I love them and how much they mean to me!!! I specifically lost it when one of the victim's fathers came up to say kaddish for his daughter who died in 2001 at the age of 15 in the sbarro terrorist bombing in Jerusalem. It just made me realize even more how fragile life is and how you have to be thankful and greatful for everything! and literally seize the day everyday!!!
At the end of the program when we all started to walk back to the bus I spoke with one of the guys on my program and realized that one of the 7 soldiers that was talked about who was from Philly I actually visited his grave on Mt. Herzl when I was on Birthright! It touched me even more to remember this and realize that these victims were closer to me than I thought. The rest of the evening I definitely reflected a little bit and was just super thankful for everything in my life!
On Monday...we had half a day of work in honor of Yom Hazikaron. At 11am a siren sounded to remember those that were killed however this time I was in the car with my boss on the way to our job site. So we pulled off to the side and listened to the siren from inside the car. Again a moving experience. The rest of the day was spent at home hanging out until the evening when I went with one of my roommates to meet up with one of my friends. She invited my roommate and I to a BBQ in the middle of the woods on the outskirts of Jerusalem to celebrate Yom Haatzmaut - Israel Independence Day! It was really cool and a little eery...we pulled up into the pitch black of the woods to a fire where families were gathered around the fire eating the typical foods at an israeli BBQ...pita..hummus..israeli salad...and tons of meat! I had a great time...ate a ton of food and finished the night in bed by about 3am to the sounds of the street parties going on in honor of independence day in my neighborhood.
The next day I got picked up by one of my cousins and we went to her parents yacht on the Herzliyya Marina. We spent most of the day hanging out on the boat...sunbathing and relaxing! It was great! I met one of my uncle's other cousins...it is soo nice to be around family!!! That evening I met up with another friend of mine (who I met at the gym) to go to a concert. The concert was of her fellow students who are a cover band. It was sooo nice to be around other Americans and listening to American music. I had an amazing time and look forward to more in the future!!!
On Wednesday it was back to a regular day of work...however the evening was no fun...my gums had been bothering me since Sunday but I figured i must have bit something the wrong way and irritated them but I decided to make a dentist appointment anyway to be on the safe side. So I made all the necessary calls to go through my travel insurance company and finally found a dentist at couple towns over who could see me that night. My cousin was kind enough to pick me up and take me there...needless to say thank g-d she came with me because the doctor spoke very little english and the minute I could tell something was wrong my translation skills went out the window...lol! But the doctor was really sweet..she put medicine on my gum and told me how to take care of it until I saw her the week after for my follow up visit. Went home right after and rested up.
Thursday was a crazy day...but good crazy...had work...then went to the gym and then had to come home and get ready very quickly for our rooftop party that we put together very last minute. All I can say is that it was a huge success...we had an amazing turn out and I had a blast! I went to bed super late and allowed myself Friday morning to sleep in! I'd have to say Thursday and Friday were two of my best days that I have had on this program in a while. Everyone really came together for the party thursday night and friday was just a great roommate/wujies day!
On Friday the 4 of us who are going to Eilat/Petra next weekend got together to book our hostel...Petra trip and go get our bus tickets for our ride down to Eilat. The evening concluded with a Shabbat weekend by a family friend in Ramat Gan. She was soo kind and picked me up early Friday evening and drove me home Saturday night after Shabbat was over. The weekend was very relaxing...I slept...ate a ton of homemade cake...apparently every time you have tea you must have cake...lol...and finally finished the book I started reading on the plane ride her two months ago...I know I'm soo not a reader!!!
When I got home Saturday night I caught up with my roommates on how their weekend went and what happened while I was gone.
Yesterday was business as usual....work...an amazing kickboxing class and then cooking with my roommate...eggplant lasagna...no noodles all veggies...it tasted interesting...ohh food experimenting...lol!
Today I was super tired but pushed through...went to work...went to the job site...sat through the construction meeting that was all in hebrew and semi understood what was going on...lol! Then I walked through the building that is almost done to see the progress..its amazing!!! My boss then told me that next week we were going to spend one day together on site setting up a model apartment...I'm soo excited! I will also be punch listing his family's apartments...these Israeli construction workers are soo not going to be a fan of me and my NYC standards ;) !! Then came home...went to the gym and have been relaxing the entire rest of the evening...felt really nice!
Tomorrow a few of my friends and I were supposed to go to Jerusalem but our supervisor thought it would be safer to go another time because of the Muslim holiday of Hanakba Day...the day Arabs mark the "catastrophe" of Israel's birth on May 15, 1948. So we will have to reschedule our trip...to the old city...dome of the rock etc.
This weekend is our trip to Eilat and Kibbutz Ketura with WUJS. Should be interesting..we have hikes...time relaxing on the kibbutz at the pool and about 2 hours total...yup thats it...in Eilat...but thats ok because next weekend I will be there again :)
Oh also my gums/tooth are feeling better...I have my follow up dentist appointment tomorrow and I'm hoping for some good news that its healing.
I will try my best to keep updating this blog as often as possible!
So until next time....
I love you and miss you all...Laila Tov!!!
<3 D
Monday, May 2, 2011
from the desert to remembrance in the city...
Hello there...
This post is especially close to my heart because I am writing it on Yom Hashoah or Holocaust Remembrance Day....where we remember the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. And today for the first time my grandparents who survived are both no longer with us
זכרונו לברכם.
Normally the day wouldn't feel any different back in New York...I'd be going to work and only remember it was Yom Hashoah because I would have looked at my Chabad calendar where it states that today is the day of remembrance....but today as I walked to work at 10am it was quite different. As I walked from the bustling highway to the overpass (I use to get to the otherside where my office building is located) I heard a siren and thought ok something must have happened somewhere and the cops are going to help out the situation but then I noticed the people on the overpass were stopped looking over the highway so I went to take a look and saw that all the cars were pulled to the side of the road...lights flashing...everyone was out of their cars and all those who were walking stopped to stand in silence to remember this horrible time in Jewish history. This truly touched me...again being in a country where your history is remembered as national holidays really never gets old...each time we have a holiday it still baffles my mind that I am here experiencing these events in my homeland! I then came to work and went on facebook to see a post from a fellow wujie who experienced the same event on her way to work.
Again I can't say it enough and you're probably sick of hearing me say it but I feel truly blessed to be here and especially to call myself a Jew!
Now here's a recap of the past bunch of days since my last post....
Wednesday and Thursday were typical days...work...gym...food and sleep...lol.
Friday however was the start of a wonderful weekend. I got invited by one of my coworkers to a party in the desert in the Negev. She picked me up...we had lunch at her grandma...Iraqi cuisine...amazing!!!! Watched the royal wedding on TV before we left for the party then drove about 2.5 hours south about an hour away from Eilat. We were basically driving in the middle of nowhere until we saw a sign that said party this way (in hebrew of course)...then we proceeded to drive through barren desert terrain until we came to people pitching tents and a larger tent area where people were starting to make food and set up equipment. We then found a spot where we got out and started pitching our tents. Yes I roughed it and stayed in a tent and camped for the first time!!! I'm very proud...lol!
The rest of the evening consisted of eating a ton of amazing food...meat...salads...corn...soup...baked goods...etc....all homemade...and listening to music...some Israeli karaoke and hanging out with amazing people. It boggled my mind as I sat there just trying to take it all in that we were in the middle of the desert but somehow we had the technology to project a computer screen on the side of a mountain....very kool!
It was during this time that I was the most present I had been in a while since coming here...I really took a moment to realize where I was...thinking about how I was in Israel...I was amongst new friends who I consider family...I was in my home country but away from what I called home for 27 years of my life. This was an empowering feeling and made me greatful for these wonderful new experiences I get to experience everyday.
Then at around midnight we went to bed...can't say I had the best sleep..I was in and out of sleep for most of the night...it also proceeded to rain which was fun being in a tent and all...but no worries I didn't get wet...the tent was a wonderful protector...lol. But of course I have to go to the bathroom in the early morning in the middle of the rain....lucky I had my trusty umbrella...so I ventured out to our 5 star bathrooms in the middle of the desert only to find no electricity....so I guess I roughed it a little ;) Then I remembered I had my iPod so I put that on and got a couple hours of sleep.
The next morning we woke up to a wonderful homemade breakfast and some more shmoozing. We then packed up and left. They showed me around their friends moshav where he grows organic peppers that are amazing and then made our way back to Tel Aviv. I got a couple hours of sleep in the car but was looking forward to a nice shower and an early night of sleep. I finally took a shower however never made it to bed early enough...what else is new...lol! The rest of the evening consisted of hanging out with my roommates and booking more of my Greece trip..yay!!!
Sunday was a great work day...I met my boss at the office and then we went to a meeting about the design for the sales office for their new project....very kool....then went to the site of the building that is under construction...was really kool to see the progress that has been made in just 8 weeks...amazing! The rest of the day was smooth sailing and ended with me going grocery shopping and cooking dinner with one of my roommates....yess I am getting the hang of this thing they call cooking :)
The rest of today will be pretty quiet...
I hope you are all able to look at my pictures on facebook so that you are able to see visually my experiences in our homeland!
Love u and miss u all!!!
<3 D
This post is especially close to my heart because I am writing it on Yom Hashoah or Holocaust Remembrance Day....where we remember the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. And today for the first time my grandparents who survived are both no longer with us
זכרונו לברכם.
Normally the day wouldn't feel any different back in New York...I'd be going to work and only remember it was Yom Hashoah because I would have looked at my Chabad calendar where it states that today is the day of remembrance....but today as I walked to work at 10am it was quite different. As I walked from the bustling highway to the overpass (I use to get to the otherside where my office building is located) I heard a siren and thought ok something must have happened somewhere and the cops are going to help out the situation but then I noticed the people on the overpass were stopped looking over the highway so I went to take a look and saw that all the cars were pulled to the side of the road...lights flashing...everyone was out of their cars and all those who were walking stopped to stand in silence to remember this horrible time in Jewish history. This truly touched me...again being in a country where your history is remembered as national holidays really never gets old...each time we have a holiday it still baffles my mind that I am here experiencing these events in my homeland! I then came to work and went on facebook to see a post from a fellow wujie who experienced the same event on her way to work.
Again I can't say it enough and you're probably sick of hearing me say it but I feel truly blessed to be here and especially to call myself a Jew!
Now here's a recap of the past bunch of days since my last post....
Wednesday and Thursday were typical days...work...gym...food and sleep...lol.
Friday however was the start of a wonderful weekend. I got invited by one of my coworkers to a party in the desert in the Negev. She picked me up...we had lunch at her grandma...Iraqi cuisine...amazing!!!! Watched the royal wedding on TV before we left for the party then drove about 2.5 hours south about an hour away from Eilat. We were basically driving in the middle of nowhere until we saw a sign that said party this way (in hebrew of course)...then we proceeded to drive through barren desert terrain until we came to people pitching tents and a larger tent area where people were starting to make food and set up equipment. We then found a spot where we got out and started pitching our tents. Yes I roughed it and stayed in a tent and camped for the first time!!! I'm very proud...lol!
The rest of the evening consisted of eating a ton of amazing food...meat...salads...corn...soup...baked goods...etc....all homemade...and listening to music...some Israeli karaoke and hanging out with amazing people. It boggled my mind as I sat there just trying to take it all in that we were in the middle of the desert but somehow we had the technology to project a computer screen on the side of a mountain....very kool!
It was during this time that I was the most present I had been in a while since coming here...I really took a moment to realize where I was...thinking about how I was in Israel...I was amongst new friends who I consider family...I was in my home country but away from what I called home for 27 years of my life. This was an empowering feeling and made me greatful for these wonderful new experiences I get to experience everyday.
Then at around midnight we went to bed...can't say I had the best sleep..I was in and out of sleep for most of the night...it also proceeded to rain which was fun being in a tent and all...but no worries I didn't get wet...the tent was a wonderful protector...lol. But of course I have to go to the bathroom in the early morning in the middle of the rain....lucky I had my trusty umbrella...so I ventured out to our 5 star bathrooms in the middle of the desert only to find no electricity....so I guess I roughed it a little ;) Then I remembered I had my iPod so I put that on and got a couple hours of sleep.
The next morning we woke up to a wonderful homemade breakfast and some more shmoozing. We then packed up and left. They showed me around their friends moshav where he grows organic peppers that are amazing and then made our way back to Tel Aviv. I got a couple hours of sleep in the car but was looking forward to a nice shower and an early night of sleep. I finally took a shower however never made it to bed early enough...what else is new...lol! The rest of the evening consisted of hanging out with my roommates and booking more of my Greece trip..yay!!!
Sunday was a great work day...I met my boss at the office and then we went to a meeting about the design for the sales office for their new project....very kool....then went to the site of the building that is under construction...was really kool to see the progress that has been made in just 8 weeks...amazing! The rest of the day was smooth sailing and ended with me going grocery shopping and cooking dinner with one of my roommates....yess I am getting the hang of this thing they call cooking :)
The rest of today will be pretty quiet...
I hope you are all able to look at my pictures on facebook so that you are able to see visually my experiences in our homeland!
Love u and miss u all!!!
<3 D
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
the wandering jew......
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!!!!
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!!!!
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
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
life as an israeli
Hello!!! Sorry its been soo long...I was planning on writing a blog everyday but I think I've come to realize that every week will be more like it :) Today I had such an amazing and productive day...woke up early had my first training session at the gym...went food shopping and then spent the day in the apartment...cleaning up...organizing myself and just getting things done!!! Mom...would be soo proud ive definitely become quite domesticated...its amazing what Israel can do to you...lol! I was also very proud...I actually cooked fresh veggies for the first time for dinner...I sauteed eggplant and onions to eat with my prepared chicken for dinner...I was sooo happy and super proud!!!
I think I'm finally starting to feel at home...besides the whole no personal space thing and the rude sherut and bus drivers...I thought NYC was bad but I think TA tops the list of rude individuals! Besides that though I'm really loving my life right now. I left work yesterday with a huge smile on my face so happy to be in Tel Aviv and working in the most amazing office...surrounded by amazing coworkers who have literally invited me into their homes like I am one of the family...I have been blessed with their support and kindness.
To recap last week...I started my first week of work and ulpan. Work is amazing...I'm sitting in meetings all spoken in hebrew and I have to say I can understand a lot of what is going on and the little I dont my boss is there to explain it to me. Ulpan is good but I'm hoping the slowly but surely my hebrew speaking with come back..otherwise its good for right now...not sure if i will keep it up after the first month but we will see. I signed up for a gym and started going to classes and weight training.
Last Tuesday we had a seminar about Israeli politics and where the country stands today...it was pretty interesting and pretty disturbing at the same time to hear about how things are in Israel. Then we had a walk through Neve Tzedek...one of the most beautiful old neighborhoods....I definitely can't wait to go there for a day and sit in a coffee shop or walk around and take pictures of the buildings...they are beautiful.
Last Thursday we had another seminar with my old birthright leader...it was great to see him...he talked about traveling around Israel and what to do and see while we are here.
Then on Friday I got invited by my coworker to Shabbat Dinner at her brother's house. It was soo nice to get out of the apartment and what we all call Real World: Tel Aviv...lol and be with Israelis and her family. They were soo welcoming and again helped me practice my hebrew...although i definitely have to be more proactive in my practicing ;)
Saturday was a relaxing day...slept in...went to the gym and then at night we got tickets to the Israeli soccer game against Latvia. It was pretty cool sitting in a stadium and listening to the Hatikvah being sung before the game started...def an amazing experience! Then it was time to get back to the apartment to get ready for my new work week which begins on Sunday.
All in all I am having an amazing time here...I'm soo happy I decided to do this program....this week so far has been one of my better ones but I can't wait for more amazingness (yess im making up words...lol!) More ulpan tomorrow and dinner with Lee on Thursday..yay!!! Then we'll see what happens this weekend!
Miss u and love u all!!!!
Laila Tov!
<3 D
I think I'm finally starting to feel at home...besides the whole no personal space thing and the rude sherut and bus drivers...I thought NYC was bad but I think TA tops the list of rude individuals! Besides that though I'm really loving my life right now. I left work yesterday with a huge smile on my face so happy to be in Tel Aviv and working in the most amazing office...surrounded by amazing coworkers who have literally invited me into their homes like I am one of the family...I have been blessed with their support and kindness.
To recap last week...I started my first week of work and ulpan. Work is amazing...I'm sitting in meetings all spoken in hebrew and I have to say I can understand a lot of what is going on and the little I dont my boss is there to explain it to me. Ulpan is good but I'm hoping the slowly but surely my hebrew speaking with come back..otherwise its good for right now...not sure if i will keep it up after the first month but we will see. I signed up for a gym and started going to classes and weight training.
Last Tuesday we had a seminar about Israeli politics and where the country stands today...it was pretty interesting and pretty disturbing at the same time to hear about how things are in Israel. Then we had a walk through Neve Tzedek...one of the most beautiful old neighborhoods....I definitely can't wait to go there for a day and sit in a coffee shop or walk around and take pictures of the buildings...they are beautiful.
Last Thursday we had another seminar with my old birthright leader...it was great to see him...he talked about traveling around Israel and what to do and see while we are here.
Then on Friday I got invited by my coworker to Shabbat Dinner at her brother's house. It was soo nice to get out of the apartment and what we all call Real World: Tel Aviv...lol and be with Israelis and her family. They were soo welcoming and again helped me practice my hebrew...although i definitely have to be more proactive in my practicing ;)
Saturday was a relaxing day...slept in...went to the gym and then at night we got tickets to the Israeli soccer game against Latvia. It was pretty cool sitting in a stadium and listening to the Hatikvah being sung before the game started...def an amazing experience! Then it was time to get back to the apartment to get ready for my new work week which begins on Sunday.
All in all I am having an amazing time here...I'm soo happy I decided to do this program....this week so far has been one of my better ones but I can't wait for more amazingness (yess im making up words...lol!) More ulpan tomorrow and dinner with Lee on Thursday..yay!!! Then we'll see what happens this weekend!
Miss u and love u all!!!!
Laila Tov!
<3 D
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