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Saturday, June 5, 2010
Volleyball, Chili, finding Dashiell and playing Dominion - not to mention finishing my book!
Finally made it to the U.S. Embassy for my passport, I was starting to worry that they would mail it home or something. I don't like how inflexible the new passports are, and they want me to keep it flat, dry, not to warm, not to cold.
From there I went to HaCarmel Market, and then Neve Tzedek. In the market, I had a coffee and croissant and finished my book. I meandered through Neve Tzedek, checking out some little shops I enjoy browsing through and eventually making my way to the bookstore. I was able to find two books, one is from the author I just read: Jhumpa Lahiri, the other book being One Hundred Years of Solitude. I have vivid memories of being in middle school and my seventh grade professor at the time telling a few of us it's one of the most powerful books he has read, and he reads it religiously annually. I tried to start it once before, but I was distracted, and didn't get into it.
However, I find Tel Aviv cafes perfect for reading, they don't mind if you order just a coffee and spend many hours taking up a seat in the cafe.
I found Dashiell on the beach and we hung out for a bit, I was also able to give him everything I want him to take home for me. I am living only with bare bones clothing. It feels good to be unhindered. As I was talking with a friend a few days, I was commenting that were I to come into great wealth, I would downsize as much as possible, clearing baggage from my life. I am sure my parents are laughing at that considering the many boxes I have in the basement of backpacking gear, ski stuff, books from college, etc.
Played volleyball with Xan after waiting to get on the court. Won the first two, not sure about the third, he says we lost - but I don't really know, and definitely won the fourth game. Chili afterwards with him and Katie, and then Dominion with all new cards. An awesome evening.
I was intending to go to the beatles concert in Yafo, but left late. Jennifer called me - her and stephanie were there - and there were maybe 12 people. I should have explained it was a sunk cost to them, but instead said I would walk down. 15 minutes I said, not really thinking where I was.
An hour later I arrived, and called them for directions. Google maps failed me. They said they would come meet me at the bridge since the concert wasn't worth coming to. We walked back to the central bus station, made sure Jennifer got a sherut and then Stephanie and I headed back to Ramla.
I was careful when arriving to make sure not to wake Izy, only to discover an empty house. A late night snack of hummus and I turned in deciding to take today to sleep in after a week of waking up early - sometimes by choice, other times by necessity.
From there I went to HaCarmel Market, and then Neve Tzedek. In the market, I had a coffee and croissant and finished my book. I meandered through Neve Tzedek, checking out some little shops I enjoy browsing through and eventually making my way to the bookstore. I was able to find two books, one is from the author I just read: Jhumpa Lahiri, the other book being One Hundred Years of Solitude. I have vivid memories of being in middle school and my seventh grade professor at the time telling a few of us it's one of the most powerful books he has read, and he reads it religiously annually. I tried to start it once before, but I was distracted, and didn't get into it.
However, I find Tel Aviv cafes perfect for reading, they don't mind if you order just a coffee and spend many hours taking up a seat in the cafe.
I found Dashiell on the beach and we hung out for a bit, I was also able to give him everything I want him to take home for me. I am living only with bare bones clothing. It feels good to be unhindered. As I was talking with a friend a few days, I was commenting that were I to come into great wealth, I would downsize as much as possible, clearing baggage from my life. I am sure my parents are laughing at that considering the many boxes I have in the basement of backpacking gear, ski stuff, books from college, etc.
Played volleyball with Xan after waiting to get on the court. Won the first two, not sure about the third, he says we lost - but I don't really know, and definitely won the fourth game. Chili afterwards with him and Katie, and then Dominion with all new cards. An awesome evening.
I was intending to go to the beatles concert in Yafo, but left late. Jennifer called me - her and stephanie were there - and there were maybe 12 people. I should have explained it was a sunk cost to them, but instead said I would walk down. 15 minutes I said, not really thinking where I was.
An hour later I arrived, and called them for directions. Google maps failed me. They said they would come meet me at the bridge since the concert wasn't worth coming to. We walked back to the central bus station, made sure Jennifer got a sherut and then Stephanie and I headed back to Ramla.
I was careful when arriving to make sure not to wake Izy, only to discover an empty house. A late night snack of hummus and I turned in deciding to take today to sleep in after a week of waking up early - sometimes by choice, other times by necessity.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Last Day of Ulpan
Today was our last day of Ulpan with Michal, we started five months ago with nothing and learned the present. In the past few months we explored our past, and today, we finally made it to the future.
Chaval.
it's a pity for the time.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Dashiell Comes to Israel
After Ulpan, I sped to the airport, only to discover that in fact, my brother's plane was two hours late in arriving. Ben Gurion is not a very exciting airport to hang out at while waiting, not even an ok restaurant to sit and read and have a bite to eat.
I meandered out to the tour bus area, figuring I would probably know one of the guides. Small world, there was Uriel - my taglit guide from 5 years ago. To come full circle, he would be leading my brother's taglit trip. We talked a little about my time here (I had run into him a few months ago in a Druze village, and we had connected then and exchanged emails).
As I waited, another surprise when Shiri came over, having come to Israel. We caught up for a bit as well
Finally Dashiell came out. We spoke for a few minutes, and then I gave him some things for his trip, and off he went. I headed into Tel Aviv to meet up with Xan, we played some triples volleyball which is not really my thing - nor his - but there were only two games really going on the beach, mostly it was the foot volleyball games.
After, I headed back to Ramla for the new group and caught up with some people from another program. The new volunteers arrived and we were having a party for them.
Turning in for the night soon.
I meandered out to the tour bus area, figuring I would probably know one of the guides. Small world, there was Uriel - my taglit guide from 5 years ago. To come full circle, he would be leading my brother's taglit trip. We talked a little about my time here (I had run into him a few months ago in a Druze village, and we had connected then and exchanged emails).
As I waited, another surprise when Shiri came over, having come to Israel. We caught up for a bit as well
Finally Dashiell came out. We spoke for a few minutes, and then I gave him some things for his trip, and off he went. I headed into Tel Aviv to meet up with Xan, we played some triples volleyball which is not really my thing - nor his - but there were only two games really going on the beach, mostly it was the foot volleyball games.
After, I headed back to Ramla for the new group and caught up with some people from another program. The new volunteers arrived and we were having a party for them.
Turning in for the night soon.
Monday, May 31, 2010
BCI graduates do Beer Festival
When I first heard about this festival, I was very confused. Aviva was telling me Tel Aviv, but it was coming up when I put it into google maps in one of the most religious neighborhoods in Tel Aviv, Bnai Beraq. When I arrived, the germans were giving out condoms, and no one was giving samples. Also, the international selection was everything you can find in a hess station back at home. Nothing exotic, only one or two small microbreweries. I talked with a couple, and apparently, two weeks ago was the homebrewers festival - which was not even advertised, just word of mouth. They told me it was amazing.
After sampling a few beers, we were ready for some grub. Earlier, I had seen whole chickens roasting and assumed we could get the whole chicken. Turns out, you can't, so Aviva and I managed to convince the food staff to allow us to come behind the counter to at the very least take a picture with the chicken. Then, we split a burger.
I saw Mila as well, who was wearing this shirt which has many interpretations. I will leave it for you to interpret as you will. She came with her boyfriend, who is in the fourth photograph, and two friends (not shown). She also gave me a ride back to Tel Aviv, which was wonderful.
BCI 2005 unites.
BCI + Mila's boyfriend at the Tel Aviv Beer Festival.
A word of advice
If you want to have the same affect as attending an international beer festival when outside the country - just go to your local corner store in the usa and head to a frat party for some solo cups.
At festival in bene braq. A nice religious community in north tel aviv, perfect for a beer festival.
The beer is served somewhat luke warm in plastic cups because of safety regulations (no glass) and it's all stuff available in the usa. Oh well, hopefully music is awesome - not sure when it starts.
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Sunday, May 30, 2010
Palmach Museum
We went to our second museum today, the Palmach museum. It was very cool - although the last room rotates, and I was already feeling a little light headed from not really eating and the spinning room didn't help. I was glad to find my feet on stable ground.
(If there is anything that's not factual, please correct me - I will do my best to sum up the Palmach)
The Palmach, for those not aware, is the army that the British allowed the Jews to create during their rule of Palestine. Once WWII ended, they were ordered to disband, but instead went underground. They are the precursor to the Haganah and eventually the IDF (Israeli army).
Their story is told through the use of visual imagery and taking the group through a series of rooms that follow the lives of various members. It was especially interesting since they come up in the Source, the book I just finished recently. A descendant of the family of Ur helps defend the city of Tzfat in the book.
We were scheduled for a tour of Jaffa after, but were running very late. I still needed to go to the cellcom store to replace my phone, and so I told Nir I had done the tour a few times already with various birthright groups and other entities, and excused myself. For the third time in three days (four if you count the reverse trip) I walked from Jaffa to Gordon Beach. Stopping this time at Dizengoff center for a new sim card I still managed to make it on time.
I found Jonathan (israeli), Yarden and Dan playing and one other person whos' name I never got. Xan and I joined in, losing because of stupid mistakes. We played well, and finished our volleyball game early. Xan had to go, but I stayed and afterwards we went for a swim. I made sure that I had my phone before and after the water.
Stopped for a quick bite on the way home, where the guy gave me free french fries with my meal, and caught a sherut which decided to go to Lod first.
New group arrives tomorrow, Dashiell and Louis on Tuesday.
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