2/21/14 continued

Oh yea, had a deep conversation with my friend Chloe earlier on the bus about things we take for granted on a daily basis. Like the view that we saw all around us, and like the people who can wake up and be able just rub their eyes and see around them (since both of us are very reliant on glasses and contacts).

Oneg Shabbat tonight was EIE survivor. After that I did kinda the same thing as last night and just hung out with a few people (Ilana and Andrew and a few others for a little bit). We just layed on the ground and watched the stars. I saw a shooting star and we also got to see the moon rise as we were heading back to our rooms which was super pretty. Unfortunately I didn't have my phone so I couldn't take a picture but it was cool. 

Bedouin tents

Please excuse any spelling/grammatical errors, these were written on my phone during a bus ride. 

2/22/14

Today was a relaxing kind of day. We woke up late, had services outside, then headed off to the Dead Sea where we spent most of our day at the Ein Gedi spa. Before I get into telling about that, I just want to say that it was so cool to be having services and all you had to do was turn around to see Masada right there. Okay, now back to the dead see. After we got there I'm sure you can all guess what we did first. Did you guess right? It was mud! After covering ourselves in the mud, then we walked down to the Dead Sea and the floating began. We rode the little train back up to the spa and ate lunch. After lunch I went with my friend Jenna and we layed in the sun to dry off a little more. Can you believe that they don't have the pool open because it's winter? It was like 80 degrees out and everyone was in shorts, tank tops, and bathing suits. What type of a winter is that?? Anyways, then I went and hung out with some friends in the shade with some couches they had and got some ice cream then went upstairs to shower and get the salt off. We had like 30 minutes left after that so I went back down to the couches and took a cat nap with Ilana and Andrew. We got back on the busses and drove about 2-3 hours to the Bedouin tents. We set up our stuff in our respective sides of the tent and then went for Havdallah and dinner. The food was so good! And it was so  fun getting to eat on the little mats on the ground in the tent! After dinner was bonfire time followed by star gazing (because what else do you do in the middle of the desert?). It felt like a mix of camp and camping. 

2/23/14

I don't recommend sleeping on the ground, even on a little mattress it is still extremely uncomfortable. We woke up and got ready then went to breakfast. Chocolate spread on pita? Seems like a healthy breakfast to me! My group got to talk to a Bedouin first. He showed us how they grind coffee, played some music, and told us about their culture. Next was...camel rides! I rode with Chloe and we named our camel after one of the J-Hist teachers. It was a lot of fun! Then we went to the little school/plaza by Bengorions grave. One of my madrahim used to do a program there so she give us a little tour. After some free time there, we got on the bus to Gadna where we will be until Thursday afternoon. I'm excited but a little nervous too. 

2/21/14

Today was really nice. We got to sleep in till 8! Woke up a bit hoarse but it's okay, don't worry. We went for a hike to a little waterfall in Ein Gedi. It was so pretty! On the way back down we were learning Hebrew from one of the program leaders kids and we were teaching them a little Spanish.Then we ate lunch outside the park and hung out for a bit. We all got ice cream of course. Now we are all just chilling out until services later. 

מצדה

2/20/14 (I'm gonna try to start putting dates on these since I never seem to post them on the actual day)

Today we woke up at 2:30. Got on the buses around 3:00 and headed for Masada. We all slept on the bus of course. We were scheduled to arrive at 4:45 but didn't get there until 5:15. That put us a half hour behind schedule. It was still pitch black but by the time we started hiking the sun was already staring to come up. Of course we went up the snake path and let me just say it was a good thing I was half asleep or I might not have made it. If you've never heard or just don't know anything about Masada, the snake path is a windy trail on which you walk up steps the entire time (usually about 45 minutes). It was a long and tiring walk but it was worth it. The sun came up about 10 minutes after me and the friends I was hiking with (Tessa and Ophir) reached the top. It was so pretty!!! After watching the sun rise we waited for the people who still hadn't quite made it up to the top then we had services. It was amazing being able to have our little service looking out at the sun going up over the Dead Sea and over the mountains on Jordan. During the service we did a thing that I've done before at kallah and really enjoy. It's when during silent prayer you get up and find a spot just to look around and take everything in around you, and when you are onto of Masada, the view is spectacular. Next we had Jewish history. Who needs those headphone guided tours when you've got a 4 Jewish history teachers telling you and showing you everything? :D We learned about King Herods use for Masada, and the Zealots and their time occupying it, and of course the Roman conquest. My favorite part though was that we got to go out on a platform at the edge of the platou, and scream at the top of our lungs into the mountains and then here the eco. We yelled "שלום" and we yelled "שנית מצדה לא תפול" and          "עם ישראל חי" and lastly we all yelled "NFTY-EIE". 

After class we hiked back down the snake path to the youth hostels where we are lunch (we are staying there for the next 2 nights). We had been told earlier in the day that what we were doing after Masada was a surprise so we were all very anxious and at long last they told us: Repelling. So pretty much just casually walking down a cliff in the dessert. It was fun, the scariest part was definitely the ladder to get up there. Then we just all hung out until everyone had gone. A bunch of us were laying In a Tetris-cuddle pile (can't explain it any other way). 

Now we are back at the hostile just chilling out. My roommates for now are Alexandra, Kira, Maddie, and Noa. It's a pretty awesome room hahaha. 

Tonight I also hung out with some people. We just sat watching the stars for a while and talking about random things until rooms in. 

Wednesday..?: Full day Tiyul today. Went to the old city to continue learning about the second temple period. Saw lots of very old stuff and got free time. Tomorrow we are waking up at 2:30 In the morning to leave. Guess I'll get to talk to everyone then since it'll only be 7:30ish at home. 

Sunday night was really chill. We haven't had much hw this week so it's just been nice to be able to hang out with friends. Yesterday I got a visit from this world traveler who just so happened to stop in Israel on his way home from the Olympics. Hahaha I got special permission to miss math and go out on a weeknight. We went to the old city, shopped a little, then went to Ben Yahuda and had dinner right around there at a really good restaurant. But I must say, the best part of the meal was real bread! Not pita, real bread! 

Today (Tuesday...I think) was our last day of classes for a while. We had a half day Tiyul to the Israel museum and learned about the 4 sects of Judaism during the second temple period and saw a huge model of Jerusalem under Roman rule. Then we got to go see the Dead Sea scrolls which was pretty cool too. 

When we got back we had general studies. I had to go do my first lab here tonight which was fine but my 11 hour school day just became 13 hours. We also had a bit of a packing party in my room tonight since we have to pack all our stuff up and check out of the hotel before we leave on Thursday morning (3 in the morning actually). It's sad to be packing all our stuff because when we come back we are changing rooms and roommates but at the same time I'm really excited for this trip. We are going to Masada, then Ein Gedi, and the Dead Sea and Bedouin tents and Gadna and then Eilat. It's gonna be a crazy next 2 weeks! Right now though, it feels a little like the last night of camp with all our bags all packed and laying around. 

Saturday: Not to much news for today. We had a lot of free time which was nice since we don't get much during the week. Got to do all my hw and do some laundry with my friend. I also got to help my friends out who were leading Havdalah tonight. Later this week we are packing up our stuff and checking out for our trip to Masada and Gadna. I know I'm looking forward to that, it's gonna be one crazy week and a half!

Let me start out by just saying Happy Valentines Day!!!!

Last night after classes were done and all, we went to Ben Yehuda Street for our weekly Thursday night outing. It was really fun just to walk around there for a bit with everyone. Finally got some shawarma, and it was good :D. Today we woke up a little later and did our next tzedakah project. We went to a factory that gives work to people with special needs and disabilities. Since we went on  a Friday none of the workers were there but it was still nice to know that we were helping them reach their quota. After that we went to a shuk outside of Jerusalem for some free time. Of course we all went strait for food. I got some little pizza thingys and some really good, fresh rugala. Oh and an iced chocolate from Aroma (pretty much a chocolate slushy). Then we came back to the Kibbutz and had a little down time which of course I pretty much slept for most of it.

For Shabbat tonight we (well the people who didn't go out this weekend) split into two groups. One group went to a service at a synagogue in Jerusalem, the other group went to one a little closer. I thought it was interesting to go to a service that wasn't our own and to join the people praying there. It was also pretty cool since the whole service was in Hebrew. I didn't understand a lot of it but when you hear words you know its fun.

And now I'm skyping with my friend (you can all probably guess which one hahaha).

That's all for now, but lots of super cool things to come in the next few weeks and I look forward to sharing them here with everyone!

In case you were wondering...

Tomorrow we have our first Jewish History test. That's a 3 hour test and essay. Sounds like we are going to be up studying all night! But on the bright side I have strawberries again...

The City of David

I know I haven't been doing the best job at posting these when they actually happen but you know, busy busy schedule over here!

Sunday:
So today we had our first full day Tiyul (field trip). For the first half of the day i got to have class outside in the sun looking out at the old city and the hills. When we did our mid-day prayer, it was really cool to be able to see the Temple Mount, the same place that all Jews all over the world are turning to as they pray, and we were lucky enough to be able to see it not to far away.
After lunch we got to walk around in the Jewish quarter of the Old City for a little while. Me and some of my friends walked around and got some shawarma (it wasn't the best but still worth it). Then we walked down to the City of David. I never realized how close it was. For the second half of my day i got to learn about King David and King Saul in the City of David. Learning about things at the place where they happened has a whole different meaning then learning in a classroom. We got to go through the ancient Canaanite tunnel under the city (it was a little to cold for the water tunnel). Then we ended our day with a little shopping and a short ride back to the Kibbutz!

After we got back I watched Atlantis in my friends room with some people and made cake in a mug and some quesadillas until I pretty much fell asleep and that was my day! :)

Weekly Update

Thursday: 

Just another school day in Israel. For Jewish History today we walked to a place known as Sataf and had class while hiking down the hill to our buses on the bottom. We got to see terraces that were built Into the sides of the hills for farming in ancient times and go through a little tunnel which led to the source of the water being used for agriculture. Then we came back to the Kibbutz and had our other classes. After they finished, we had dinner then went out to a mall in Jerusalem (a school week here is Sunday- Thursday so this was our "Friday" night). I walked around there with my friends Tessa, Ophir, and Ben. We went to Toys R Us and Aroma where we got some really good chocolate croissants :D. We were also debating getting a pet from the pet store but then we were told we weren't allowed hahaha. 

Friday: 

Today we got to sleep in a bit, and it was amazingggg. We had our first tzedakah project this morning. We went to a farm where they hire kids who aren't in school and give them a job and an education on life skills like financing and stuff. When we came back we went to lunch then had some free time. Me and a bunch of other people decided that we wanted to hike up the the Tel. It was maybe a 10 minute walk to the top of the hill and just wow. There were ruins from a bunch of different things like an old crusader castle and there was also barb wire from more recent times during the war of independence. On top of how cool that was, the view was stunning. It felt like we were on top of the world. We spent an hour or so climbing around the ruins then came back to get ready for Shabbat. After dinner and our oneg Shabbat, some of us went to the party. I went for a little bit then left and ended up going for a walk with my friend. We found some places with a really nice view on the kibbutz and saw a shooting star and befriended a cat which we then named Ginger and then went and hung out in the spice garden.

Saturday: 

Had another day to sleep in...yay! Me and my friend Tessa made chocolate cake in a mug today, and it was really really good. Since a lot of people went out this weekend, there are only 50 of us here. We did some hw in the street and hung out. We also got to see the little "chocolate factory"/chocolate store which is on the kibbutz. Now we know where to go if we want real ice cream!

The Old City

So this was Saturday but I guess it never posted so...here it is :)

Last time I was here, I was 9 or so. There are certain parts of our trip that I remember completely, but I don't really remember what it was like being at the kotel. So for me, this was almost like being there for the first time. Before we went in each of us was given a branch of Rosemary; the point of that was so that we would not only have the sights and the sounds of all around us at that moment, but we would also have a smell. When we walked into the old city, you could hear the Muslims saying their last prayer of the day. As we moved towards the wall our madraheem gave each of us a slip of paper which asked us to think about who we wished could be there with us. Although I've been to the wall before, this time I really could understand the meaning and know more of the history. It was really amazing just to be there. When we were walking out some of us were crying a bit, and everyone just had our arms wrapped around each other. We may have only been together for a week but we are already a family. 

After we went to a pizza place for dinner then to a Debbie Friedman memorial concert at HUC. Then we went to an outdoor mall for free time.

I walked around with my friends for a while. Some of the kids who had brought their guitars for the concert had started playing and the rest of us started joining in. It was really cool cause it just kind of happened. All of us with our arms wrapped around each other were just singing in the middle of this mall. Some of the Israelis even stopped to take pictures and videos of us. Overall it was a really nice night, and one that I'll remember for a very long time. 

שבת שלום

     Shabbat Shalom! 

Today I figured out how to get hot chocolate from the machine. It's not quite as good as in Australia but it's not too bad. I may now be able to survive this semester since (For those of you who don't know) let's just say that hot chocolate is my version of coffee. 

     We also had out first field trip. It's the first time we've left the kibbutz since our arrival. We did an archeological dig in the lower Judain  hills and found some pottery which is believed to be from the Byzantine era and the time of the second temple. Then we climbed though some tunnels which were used during the (some name that I can't remember) rebellion. We also took a tour of the grounds. The view is stunning, surrounded by hills on all sides and only one city with big buildings anywhere in view. It was a lot if fun and I'm looking forward to our next trip (which is actually tomorrow!) 

     Tonight we had our first Shabbat here. 

I'm not sure if the foods getting better or if I'm just getting use to it. 

Every Friday night the teens who live on the kibbutz throw a party (can't tell you where or what went down there but it was...interesting).