the Rothberg experience

Photo

Thu, 02 May 2013 23:31:23 -0400

My brother(s?) going on a birthday trip to the mountains. I WISH...

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 04:36:03 -0400

My brother(s?) going on a birthday trip to the mountains. I WISH I’D BEEN THERE!!!

Eyal Golan, another fantastic option….

Thu, 31 May 2012 00:40:23 -0400

Eyal Golan, another fantastic option….

One of my favorites. Idan Raichel, Mi’ma’amakim (out...

Sun, 20 May 2012 08:29:30 -0400

One of my favorites.

Idan Raichel, Mi’ma’amakim (out of the depths)

And a taunt of kindness

Sun, 20 May 2012 08:21:40 -0400

And a taunt of kindness

Meows from home

Sun, 20 May 2012 08:20:43 -0400

Meows from home

Epic breakfasts and climbs

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:10:18 -0400

So the title’s two main subjects actually have nothing in common, except that they really were both epic.

The first will be the climb. Because there aren’t really words that I can find to describe the long and tall shlep up the Masada mountain, I will provide visual support.

The sunrise at Masada is famous and for a good reason. King Herod built his palace on the desert mountain because he was completely paranoid and this mountain gave him the best view of the surroundings. He was able to see the Dead Sea, Jordan, south into the Negev, and even north through the Judean desert. Needless to say, on a mountain chosen throughout history for its views, the sunrise at six o’clock in the morning was no let down.

My friends and I had a car take us at 3 am down south so that we could hike in darkness up countless stairs and steep inclines to the top. Regardless of the fact that it was undoubtedly cooler than it would have been in the later day, we were all drenched and relieved when we made it triumphantly at the top. There’s hardly a more satisfying feeling and more of an urge to do the Rocky dance.

After Masada our car took us (at about 6:45 in the morning) to the Dead Sea. It was brilliant because not many people bother going at such an unG-dly hour of the morning. Our driver found us some mud to smother ourselves in, and while I wasn’t really tan, I had suddenly become the darkest I’d ever been with deep, brown gooey stuff all over me. After letting it dry and crack on my skin for about fifteen minutes I washed it off in the saltiest and maddest sea on earth. Winner.

We then tried to explain to our driver that we wanted to go to Ein Gedi springs. Keep in mind that most Israelis know some amount of English. Most Israelis are pretty good at interpreting broken and horrendous Hebrew to communicate with the less clever tourists that come their way. Well this guy was a bit of a shock to us. His first language was definitely not Hebrew, but Arabic. This left both him and us trying to communicate to each other in a language that we were both unnatural with. It took Rebecca and I about fifteen minutes to explain what we were trying to get to. With lots of laughs as we were both using hand motions and our driver definitely thought we had lost it. Regardless we made it there and relaxed in the coolest springs ever. We also realized that while we felt like it had to have been about three in the afternoon, it was only 10 in the morning. Weirdest realization ever. After returning home to a much needed shower and nap, my roommates and I got ready for Shabbat. It had been an extremely last minute plan, and an ambitious one as well. By the end of it we were all convinced that we had redefined epic.

As for the breakfast, Marisa and I took a day off to visit Tel Aviv. Being the epitome of a beach city, it makes the perfect vacation from a sometimes tense-feeling Jerusalem. We skipped breakfast and went straight for brunch at a restaurant with a fantastic beach front view. We also knew exactly what to order, because Marisa had been explaining this fantastic breakfast place to me for about three weeks prior. The Mediterranean breakfast. For 44 shekel (about 11 dollars), I got shakshuka (see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakshouka), a loaf of bread with four spread options, an Israeli salad, a cappuccino, and a strawberries and milk shake.

I don’t think I need to explain how my face looked after this meal.

After our meal of champions we went to the beach (a grand 30 second walk away) and watched the most adorable puppy try to hop over the sand. When I couldn’t stand it any more I walked over and asked to pet it. The guy said sure, and promptly turned to his girlfriend 20 feet away saying, “eh, ze magnet banot!” Which, using my amazing Hebrew skillzz I was able to understand as “hey it’s a chick manget!” Alert to the public, Prince Charming has been found.

The last part of the Tel Aviv vacation was the weirdest pedicure I hope to ever have. We walked into the Sheridan hotel on the coast and were directed to the spa where we asked for a fish pedicure. In case this doesn’t instantly make sense, you stick your feet in a fish tank with a special kind of fish that eat dead skin. So I can officially cross off “get eaten alive” off my list. Because those are the kinds of things I want on my list haha. We had our feet in there for about 30 minutes and we left feeling… well slightly weird but definitely with less dead skin. So we voted it a success.

3 days with endless meanings

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:23:38 -0400

Israel goes through an intense week late in April.

Three important dates are placed almost one after another, for the Israeli people to honor.

The first one marks the ending of something inexplicably horrible, and the necessity to remember.

The second stands for the mourning of the seemingly never ending battle that comes with the territory. Literally.

The third begins a period of utmost euphoria in the biggest celebration around the country.

Yom HaShoah was heartbreaking. If you didn’t feel your chest being crushed and your heart sink into your stomach you had to have been under a rock. The entire country has huge ceremonies at all hours of the day where people sing, read diary entries, and express their sincere sadness and disgust at the happenings of the Holocaust. At the ceremony here at the International School, two of my friends participated in it. One choreographed and performed a dance, and the other told of her grandfather’s experience having survived the Nazi regime. I called my father that day when I realized I was too empty and sad to cry. I called him and asked him quite simply as a child would: “Why do they hate us dad?” As if such a question even makes sense. “Why did they do this to us- what was it that they hated so much that they decided to methodically exterminate us?!”

As always, for questions these large and impossible, my father couldn’t give a very solid answer. He told me it was terrible. That there is nothing we can do about it now except remember. It’s up to us to ensure it never happens again.

The next was Yom HaZikaron. It’s the day of remembering all of the fallen soldiers in the busy history of the Jewish State. It is a day of mourning for Israelis, because literally everyone- EVERYONE- knows someone close to them that was killed in one of the wars. There was another ceremony, this time at the Kotel. President Shimon Perez spoke, and at the end everyone joined in HaTikvah. It was incredible.

Then. At the end of Yom HaZikaron, the insanity begins. It’s literally insane. The Israelis come out of their mourning in order to celebrate Yom HaAtzmeut- independence day. If there is any nation that should be awarded for their pride in country, it should be the Israelis. They’re not just happy about the fact that they are their own country, they’re ecstatic. Jubilant. Absolutely insanely happy. And it’s nothing less than beautiful. Live music everywhere, shaving cream, silly string, dancing, flags EVERYWHERE. It’s the best experience one could ask for. We stayed out until morning, watching everyone being silly, proud, and happy. On July 4th everyone says ‘Happy birthday America,’ and people grill out and sometimes we see fireworks. On Yom HaAtzmeut, it could not be a more obvious and out of control celebration. It’s such a different atmosphere, seeing everyone so clearly and purely thrilled to just be there. Just to be there.

-And the Breaking Point.

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:40:00 -0400

The tragedy that reached me by phone on Wednesday night is impossible to articulate accurately and truly. It’s impossible for me to express the horror and terrifying minutes that broke me into sobs I’d forgotten how to conjure. The thoughts and fears and pains that went through my head absolutely broke me to pieces as I still cannot fathom how this could have possibly happened.

When there is a terrible process, you believe that while the journey might give you all of hell and back, it will work out. It will be okay and as long as you keep moving, it will turn around. You believe it because you have to believe there is some minuscule version of justice in the world that makes it revolve from the awful into the better.

And sometimes it just doesn’t. Sometimes the sick humor of the universe does not deliver the justice we’re brought up to believe in.

He’s gone now, and I hope to anything and everything that he is no longer suffering. I hope he is as free as he was a year and a half ago- before his world became a hell of hospitals and sickly radiation. Free to move his fingers and toes and laugh about his endless talent.

We lost someone incredible. His brilliance was blinding, charm unmatched, and wit impossible to parallel. Worst perhaps, his potential was literally endless. There was no border he could not move, and no heart he could not capture.

I know people will remember him forever, his name ringing through everyone’s memory as the hero that deserved the best. To his family I send everything in my heart, wishing there was anything I could do, but knowing that the only thing I can offer is that I’m sharing a portion of their inexplicable pain. To our friends I say I long more than anything to be with you right now. I know how much we need each other and I know together we’ll remember his genius, his sharp wit, and beautiful smile that loved a strong joke.

And I’m left both honored to have been granted the little time I had with him, and completely heart broken that he had so little with the clay of the earth I know he would have sculpted into something more beautiful than we could have imagined.

זיכרונו לברכה
Z. A. Shporer

Forever loved. Always remembered.

There's the Break-

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:19:35 -0400

I’d say I finally had a teensy feeling of homesickness recently. I’m not entirely sure what conjured it but I’d never felt so excited to be in the Philadelphia airport on June 8th. The first place I’ll be where when I ask a question I won’t have to think twice, I will get no confused faces, no rough or rude answers, and I will most likely get a smile along with a kindly explained answer. I’m so excited.

I still love it here. I wouldn’t have Israel any other way really- but it takes so much more energy to survive on a daily basis than it does back home. Not to mention, you know exactly what to expect back home, where here it seems that literally everything runs on absolutely no schedule whatsoever. In this regard American culture is so much more lazy, because we don’t have to stay on our toes from dawn to dusk. There’s also much less arguing and pushing. Things tend to be slightly more ‘bumpy’ here.

Exam week was ‘gehinom!’ as my horrible Hebrew would translate. My essays for my first class could not have possibly had a more vague prompt, which of course meant she received an essay probably substantially longer than what she was expecting. Serves her right. If you’re going to frustrate your students with a vague prompt, vague answers when they ask questions, you are going to get a long danged essay! So I think I know what she was doing all break… The frustrations continued all week as I was trying to prepare to get to England. It became a very packed schedule to study for my exams, write my essays, clean everything, pack, and of course, get a hold of my new phone for England (which turned out to be ridiculous).

I’d really like to fast forward to the tube ride from the airport to South Kensington- where I met my mother.

So I had forgotten the joke Katelyn had told me about the phrase ‘Mind the Gap,’ but while I’d found it funny, I’d never heard it actually used seriously. I started laughing out loud in front of a bunch of tired looking travelers when I heard the speaker say: “Please mind the gap between the train and the platform.”

After walking out of the station I was feeling pretty darned satisfied. Everything had gone smoothly, I had made my flight (and a friend on it), gotten through passport control (where the guy asked me if I’d been living on a kibbutz. Random? And how many Englanders know about kibbutzim?!), found the tube station and bought a ticket using the pounds that I’d so cleverly had exchanged from shekels earlier in the Israeli airport (granted it was really my mother’s clever idea). I walked out into the street and waited to meet my mom. I plopped down my stupidly heavy bag- that also stupidly doesn’t have WHEELS- and waited to see her. London was cool looking. There was a scone shop right in front of me with people sipping coffee and reading the paper. Double decker buses whizzing past on the wrong side of the road. The fashionable pedestrians made me want to shower immediately and put on something besides my- wait for it, wait for it- white tee shirt and jeans (I know that shocked everyone), which is really a feat. Bravo England. Katie’s thrilled I’m sure :)

I was waiting for about three minutes, thinking to myself “oy I’m waiting for my mother looking like the most obnoxious tourist outside of a tube station. WHY isn’t she here,” when I saw her looking right into the exit I had come out of. You see I’d conveniently taken about five steps to the left so that I wouldn’t be smack in the middle of traffic in and out of the station. So I guess I was out of sight, but no matter. While I would have started walking towards her, I couldn’t bring myself to lift up my wheel-less bag again. So I screamed her full name- the one she’s expecting to hear from a reporter. Needless to say she saw me, and came over into the biggest hug ever. I really don’t know how I went three months without seeing her. I don’t think I realized how hard it was until I saw in person how much I was missing.

After eating a scone and discussing the plan for the day, my mother informed me that it was about a 12 minute walk to the apartment. Definitely not a problem. Except I really didn’t want to carry the stupid bag anymore. So we had dad and Gavry meet us halfway. I had this crazy hug with both of them. I’m sure the Londoners that passed probably thought we’d been reunited after years of separation. It’s weird because it definitely never feels like that when I’m in Israel but seeing my family in person was a different story. It felt like it had been ages.

That day was mostly filled with a shower and a long walk, visiting all the places my parents used to go to when they were there. We ate dinner out at a pizza place (trying to get as much bread in us before the carb free, eight day diet- I mean- Holiday.

Overall England was amazing. Couldn’t have possibly asked for a better vacation.

-Windsor Palace: Jaw dropping. Absolutely incredible. It doesn’t make any sense to me that people can live in a place so huge and obviously royal. What the devil do you do with all those rooms?! I’d think the tourists would be so annoying. We saw Queen Mary’s Doll House, which boasts a working vacuum (because that’ll be useful when it’s completely encased in glass), and plumbing (also obviously very useful). All snide comments aside it was awesome. It was incredibly detailed and entertaining to look in all of the rooms. The vacuum was cool, and if I remember correctly there were also miniature crown jewels. Oy! We also saw the staterooms inside the castle, which were nothing less than grand. Huge, beautifully furnished, and packed with history, each room had a different story. Call me weird but my favorite part of every room was the ceiling. They were gorgeous and intricate. It’s obvious that the objects and art on the wall are going to be more than worth looking at, but it’s so hard to remember to look up sometimes. I tried to make a point of it. The art on the ceilings were very cool as well. Basically, Windsor was insane. Amazing, but insane.

-Oxford. While being a much smaller town than London, it’s no less awe inspiring. I couldn’t get over the architecture of the university. I saw the stairs that Daniel Radcliffe walked up in the first Hp movie when he’s about to be sorted (any fans there?), and everything looked like a dream. College campuses can only try to look like this one- and I have never seen anything like it. The rest of Oxford is just as charming. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip. It has all the architecture beauty that London royalty does, but with a small town feel.

-Harrods: Good G-d I couldn’t believe that store. Store might not really be an appropriate term, but maybe this will be closer: Let’s-go-broke-in-5-minutes-because-even-the-queen-could-live-here-without-realizing-this-isn’t-actually-a-residential-building. Honestly I would be afraid to know the total square feet that building is. Not to mention they had a huge section devoted to coffee and tea (it was obviously my favorite section). The escalator was insane!!!! There were advertisements for South Carolina on the walls (I have absolutely no clue why), and a lady singing something really high pitch (could I sound any less cultured?!).

-The Tardis: So while we did venture out to see the Doctor Who store, which was SO cool to see, there was something Whovian that I thought even cooler. We found a Tardis just chillin’ right outside a tube station. It was the coolest sight ever. Gavry and I went crazy and probably confirmed to my dad that we’re abnormal.

Gavry and I also watched more television shows in that week than I could have hoped for. It wasn’t even that much really, but it was more than I’d watched in a while. We usually fell asleep by 11 or 12 at night though because we were exhausted by the end of the day.

On another side note, London food was tasty. Not only did I have the best coffee of my life in London (which says something because Israeli coffee is kick butt), but their idea of fast food is vastly different from what America has. Soups and simple sandwiches and fruit are offered almost everywhere- and I seriously wonder if we found and replaced every Mc Donalds, Chickfila, KFC, Burger King and TacoBell with the places like EAT. and Pret A Manger if America would look different in another generation. I very much think it would. And I think it’s a brilliant idea. Too bad American capitalism would definitely not permit it haha. Not that I’m dissing America. It was just a thought.

After returning to Israel for the rest of Pesach I went to Tel Aviv with one of my roommates, Tara. We were on the beach for maybe 2 hours tops and we both look significantly tinted now- luckily I somehow escaped getting burned though. I’m actually pretty proud- and I think Rebecca would laugh at me right about now… We also went to Qaesaria, a gorgeous and ridiculously overpriced port city (where of course it rained). Honestly though, after returning and hanging with my cousins, and finally ultimately returning to Jerusalem I was thrilled to see my bed again. Absolutely and completely thrilled.

A small bit before dinner

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:22:20 -0400

This won’t count as my normal post, but instead as an extra bonus post in between my horribly spaced out and hopefully semi interesting posts.

A lot has happened in the past week and I won’t dwell on any of them too much. It is not, however, because I am not thinking about each item constantly when I should be studying for midterms. It is not because they do not slightly terrify me, or because I don’t actually care. It is because they are worthy of stating ‘out loud.’

Perhaps the first part should be the rockets that fell on southern Israel a bit over a week ago. Schools all over southern Israel were shut down for days because the alarm went off so often that many students simply lived out of the bomb shelter. The students who actually live in Israel take this much better than those who are studying abroad. Perhaps that’s to be expected, but for some reason it seems to escape people’s mind that it should come as extremely depressing that that is the case.

Secondly, having absolutely no information about a friend in danger is an excruciatingly irritating situation. It has been months since I have heard about my person, regardless of the multiple people from whom I have asked for information. No one will tell me anything. Even the people reassuring me that they will investigate and let me know. You have failed me.

Thirdly, midterms are hard. They are by no means any easier abroad. Back home most people back off during midterms week, and try to make sure you are not any more stressed than you already are. Apparently that concept is completely lost on people as soon as the student decides to study abroad. You’re right. The process spontaneously becomes infinitely easier once you’ve taken me to a completely different situation, totally different school system, ensured that I cannot get to a library after 5 in the evening, and dropped me with new people with whom I’m not nearly as comfortable. I just needed reminding I guess.

Lastly, I recently found out about another old friend that has been sick. While they are undoubtedly on the road to recovery, their life will never again be the same. This person has had it rough from the beginning, and I cannot imagine going through not only their childhood, and now this. Every question that has run through my mind was silenced by the thundering: “Will they ever actually recover from this?” And it makes my soul weep because I don’t believe it is possible. And I don’t think it’s an individual thing- I literally don’t think this person will ever fully recover from this. They will forever have some part of this within them that will nag at them until their last breath. The torture that cannot be touched, moved, or corrected. These people that you thought you knew, the signs you thought for sure you would be able to catch, it all means nothing at times like these when we’re brought to our knees to pray for something good, something right, something justified, and yet something merciful.

There are about seventy-four other pinches in my mind at the moment, but perhaps four is enough for now. Now being 2:20 in the morning, about to write the conclusion on the last of my three essays for a single class’s midterm. I wasn’t lying. Study abroad midterms are no better than study-in-my-dorm (or the library if I G-d forbid want to)-at-my-in-state-school midterms. In fact I’m currently debating if they’re worse…

Purim and shenanigans

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 06:34:00 -0400

So I’ve been more than ridiculously awful about keeping this updated, but here’s my billionth attempt to catch up.

Purim as a holiday is a joke. It’s a fantastic couple of days where people dress up as the most absurd things, eat sweets and pastries like it’s their job, and talk about how, once again, the Jews barely survived a plot mass murder (It’s also -shockingly - a fantastic excuse to get very drunk).

So as a huge fan of alcohol my friends and I decided to dress up and go around the old city to see what was going down in the most religious part of Jerusalem. We took the light rail and walked around Mamila- (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Old_city_walls_and_mamilla_ave._at_night_-_as_seen_from_%22Rooftop%22_restauran_-_Jerusalem%2C_Israel.jpg) which was absolutely gorgeous. We entered a really expensive coffee place called Nespresso- and we totally got free espresso drinks. They were delicious. Of course they have locations in New York and Chicago but North Carolina is basically unheard of.

After coffee we went the market that leads to the Kotel, and we got sucked into the very first store we passed. Of course. The owner of the store said: “You be the last customers of the night, I give you good price.” To which I said in my sarcastic little head: Pshyeah by good you mean you’ll double it. But my friends were not as cynical and entered. So we looked around and the second sales tactic began. He gave us all a free pen. How sweet and thoughtful!!!! I knew I had to make my escape soon. I looked around and pretended to be interested until he commented on my eyes. “You have such beautiful eyes” was the line to which I bolted. He was trying to get me to buy jewelry but I laughed and said eeeehhh thanks, while slowly turning to leave. Instead, while my friends were buying stuff from his shop, I talked to the other two guys helping with the shop. They were up by the top of the stairs right by the exit. I basically made a new best friend that night because that guy was great. We talked about Chinese food, New York and Jerusalem. Pretty solid conversation I’d say. He also said that he was a member at the same gym here in Jerusalem so we’d probably see each other again. I’m excited.

Purchases were made and we finally went to the Kotel. We found a panda and superman praying at the wall, which we tried to photograph. The effect just won’t be the same though I’m sure. Then we walked towards the Jewish quarter and a random guy told us in Hebrew, “the women’s entrance is this way!” So obviously, we didn’t care what we were entering, but we followed his directions (Can you say that could have been the easiest way to trap us?). What we found was incredible. A religious party filled with dancing drunk men and women. They were separated of course, and the men were definitely dancing more intensely (because they had more room to do so) but I hadn’t seen so much joy since my friend’s wedding. We stayed for about 20 minutes before we decided we’d taken too many photos and finally left. It was interesting finding a way back home but we succeeded, and we realized we’d still not eaten any dinner. So we walked to the dominos right by our dorms and ordered a pizza that we’d been dreaming about for over a month. The guy behind the counter was watching soccer so I decided to be social. I asked him his favorite team and realized we were rivals when he said Real Madrid and I had to answer Barcelona. He turned into my hero though when he showed me a video on his phone (after we’d already received our pizza) of Messi scoring about six goals in a single game. Made my night… again. After he informed us that he was open literally 24 hours a day everyday -including Shabbat- we devoured our pizza and basically fell asleep instantly. It was fantastic.

On Sunday this week Marisa Alyssa, and I ventured out to the Rose Wohl gardens. We took a bus to the Givat Ram campus of Hebrew U, and walked through the government buildings to get the gardens. Along the way we saw a sign saying: “Prime Minister office” which I photographed. Except the two security guards weren’t such a fan. They ran over and said “did you just take a photo?” Which I then offered to delete instantly for fear of my life. They said the sign was fine, but I was not allowed to photograph the building it was pointing at. So I said I was sorry, I wouldn’t take a photo of the building, and we kept going. We met up with another security guard at the edge of the government complex and we asked him if we were close to the gardens. He responded instead with “oh are you the girl who tried to take a photo?” …My face must have looked pretty stupid. I now know why they have earpieces. TO MAKE FUN OF THE STUPID TOURISTS. Haha but anyways we walked around the gardens for a while and found the prettiest flowers- also we lucked out because it was a gorgeous day out. Then we went to lunch at Bolinat, a place known for its fruit shakes. They were amazing. Plus underneath the shakes section of the menu it said: “The addition of alcohol to these is possible and recommended!” Definitely a sound recommendation.

I also got the package my parents sent me on Sunday. Filled with chocolate and coffee and t shirts, I’d say my parents know their daughter to a tee. Needless to say I’m extremely thankful :)

Wednesday marked an important evening of talent because I succeeded in making a tasty meal. Proud might be an understatement because I was super pleased with how this came out:

It was basically broccoli, red pepper, garlic, and pasta. With parmesan of course.

For dessert we made apple fritters. My roommate Rebecca commented: I love how you always keep butter in the house. I was surprised- “Do you not use butter at home?!” I asked completely shocked. Her reply was no- not really. I literally still cannot comprehend this. Thank G-d I was born in the south where butter is used for almost everything and where my mother easily admits that “EVERYTHING is better with butter.” I cannot imagine a life without it. Apparently New Yorkers live way too differently for me to imagine- if it means a life without the deliciousness of butter (You’d think I was obese writing such things- I by no means mean this in the same way that Paula Dean does- I promise).

This past weekend was also pretty sweet. We took a trip to the dead sea. It was really pretty cold and the weather was much less than cooperative so I didn’t go in, but it was wonderful to lay on a beach. I definitely plan on going back. Yesterday my aunt, uncle and his wife came to visit me. I was super impressed in my uncle. While my aunt had literally NO idea where I was in Jerusalem, my uncle knew exactly where to find me. He asked absolutely no questions- just parked right outside the gate and called to tell me to come out. We walked around Mamilla and admired it’s extravagance (though everything was closed because it was Shabbat) and then we went to lunch at one of the very few restaurants open. Fun fact: my eye swelled up for the first time in Israel! My family was actually really good about it. They didn’t freak out, they were just slightly curious. They didn’t make a big deal out of it, which actually really calmed me down. When we returned my eye had basically gone back to normal. Go figure.

Fun fact #2: My uncle brought me back a watch from China. It’s green, pretty cool looking, and might be bigger than my entire hand. Literally. It’s freaking huge.

The Weekend Update (sadly without Seth Myers)

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:14:00 -0500

I woke up this morning at 11:30 thinking about how much I really needed to sleep in and grateful that I was allowed. I made my breakfast of coffee and hamentaschen and cheerios- ridiculously healthy, I know. The problem I realized, was I had an awful lot to report. So I shall try to give as much as I can remember from the time I haven’t written.

Firstly, my Hebrew class has been split into two due to its very large size. I had been hoping it would give me the opportunity to escape my evil teacher (we had two Hebrew teachers for it and I was hoping to get the nice one), but shockingly Hebrew University didn’t follow my logic. Instead, the class I’m in got to keep both of the teachers, and the other class inherited a completely new teacher. If that’s not odd enough, the other class’s teacher is American. So suddenly I’m extremely thankful to be in the class I’m in. Maher, the kid in my class from Jerusalem that speaks Hebrew better than all of us put together, was placed in the American teacher’s class. He’s not exactly thrilled. “To hear Hebrew- with such an American accent- it’s terrible!” Definitely made me want to develop an Israeli accent on the spot.

Last weekend Jerusalem proved to me how much it hates my feet. Not only had it been raining and sleeting for an entire week without even so much as a glimpse of sunshine, it decided that this year would be the year it would snow. I would like to point out that every Israeli I had talked to was positive that it would not actually snow and that the weather people were just teasing with us. They clearly weren’t teasing. On Friday morning I heard shrieks of laughter and joy outside my window. The shades were closed which left me in a confused state of wonder for about 10 seconds before I realized I knew that sound. Loud shrieks aren’t usually happy sounds, and college students are not usually awake and yelling at 9:45 in the morning on a day off. I heard the snow before I actually saw it because the answer dawned on me before I opened my blinds to see the students laughing at the insanity of snow in a desert land.

(This was my view) Somehow we braved the snow and went to lunch at a lovely bakery called Kadosh. We stayed as long as we could because it was so cold outside and of course still snowing. When we decided to walk to the shuk to buy our shabbat ingredients my feet were officially soaked through and sloshing in my boots. I wondered if it was worth keeping them on at all and I decided that even though my toes were completely numb, somehow taking my shoes off would be worse. After we came home and my toes had returned to me, I made a massive pot of soup and pasta for our shabbat meal, and two hours afterwards we started our tradition of coffee and dark chocolate for dessert.

On Tuesday I went to my four hour class on Neruoeconomics with by far my most hilarious teacher, The Gingi. If you think that’s his nickname you may want to consider his introduction on day one: “hello, this is neuroeconomics, you can call me Gingi,” or his email: thegingi@gmail.com. Definitely not kidding around. So on Tuesday he opened telling us that he didn’t realize the strike going on at Hebrew University had also affected the Rothberg International School. “So obviously I feel very uncomfortable teaching you today. I think we will go for an hour and a half and then maybe we leave.” Cutting out two and a half hours sounded brilliant to me so I highly doubted of course, that he was actually serious. About half an hour later though he tells us something else of importance. “So one week coming up we will not be having class. I cannot remember which class though.” I’m sitting in class laughing out of disbelief because the degree of disorganization. He tries again: “Oh! You know Yom Hastudentim? We won’t have class, and then the week after we will not have class because I am going to have fun in Brazil.” …How fantastically honest. No mystical canceling of class, just ‘hey guys I’m going on vacation to South America. No class while I’m beaching it out.’ I thought it was great.

Liran Danino. Same rise to fame, also a lovely listen.

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:03:43 -0500

Liran Danino. Same rise to fame, also a lovely listen.

His name is Idan Amedi, he was on the Israeli version of...

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:51:27 -0500

His name is Idan Amedi, he was on the Israeli version of American Idol. I absolutely love his music

Also. Proof that I’m eating ‘well.’ This thing...

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 04:23:55 -0500

Also. Proof that I’m eating ‘well.’

This thing gushes- literally gushes- out syrupy chocolate. I have no idea why people haven’t thought of this back home.

The semester has officially begun

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:49:00 -0500

Though it seemed like eternity before my classes would actually begin, they have finally started. Yesterday I had three four hour classes: Hebrew, Architecture of Jerusalem, and Cognitive Neuroscience. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you which one is so far my favorite :)

The weather has also decided to come around a bit, as it is no longer hailing every time I step outside my door, and the sun is being cooperative. Thank G-d.

Most of the teachers so far speak English extremely well, although they definitely slip into Hebrew from time to time which I find hilarious. My psych teacher will be speaking in fluent English and suddenly: “But b’emet, it’s very difficult for…” and I’ll be grinning because the experience seems too absurd to be real.

My roommate Tara and I went to Burgers Bar for a tasty salad yesterday and met this lovely Canadian girl from Toronto. She’s only here for a few days and staying in the student village, but we got ice cream with her afterwards and apparently we’re having dinner with her tonight. Considering NONE of us have any solid dinner foods I’m very curious to see what my roommates are planning on serving her…

… a few days later…

So dinner went well and lovely Canadian girl hung out with us until Friday afternoon, when she had to start packing to return home. Thursday evening we found the most fantastic restaurant in the city (quite a title from a tourist right?)- it’s called Tmol Shilshom (in case you want to see it proven: http://www.tmol-shilshom.co.il/en/home/default.aspx) and it is a cross between a book shop/coffee house/restaurant. I’m thoroughly convinced that it’s the best idea that’s ever hit the planet. I had heavenly sweet potato soup and a nearly liquified chocolate pie. Words don’t really work in trying to describe the amazingness that came from that kitchen. Our Canadian friend nearly cried of joy. And I’m not kidding.

This weekend I was with my aunt Esther, who lives in Givata’im (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Giv%27atayim_Panorama.jpg). It’s slightly east from Tel Aviv but it’s absolutely adorable with coffee shops and falafel joints on every corner. I’m also realizing I’m very easy to please. Coffee and some form of delicious food and I’m thrilled. She was going to take me to a movie, but she also mentioned the possibility of going to see her daughter Ronit and her three boys. I was, for some reason, exhausted, and I knew the second I walked into a dark movie theatre would be the second I’d fall asleep. Not wanting to waste shekels on a movie that I’d surely not remember, I suggested visiting my cousin. Turns out we ate dinner at Ronit’s. Her apartment was awesome, with a yard that had lemon, pomela, and starfruit trees (WHO DOES THAT?!). Also her kids are ridiculously sweet, and I can finally remember their names: Amit, Roy, and Ido. Also, Ronit has a dog named Mocha. She reminds me of a miniature Jenna. It was love at first sight as she licked my face all over. After returning to Esther’s and sleeping harder than I have in a while, Saturday Esther took me to the Tel Aviv port where there is a huge boardwalk with shops that are overpriced and of course an Aroma (the starbucks of Israel). Kids were screaming and running with joy from every direction; skaters, bladers, bikers, runners, and all forms of exercise were present. For someone used to the city life being basically dead on Saturday because Jerusalem closes down, I was pleasantly shocked to see so much life. Ronit and her kids met us there and her friend bought me a cappuccino. Obviously he’s my new best friend.

We then all met again at Ronit’s house for Shabbat lunch and we sat around playing cards and drinking tea until nightfall. We then visited Amir, Esther’s oldest and only son. He was doing well and he showed us his latest photography. He asked how much I knew about photography, and compared to his library of knowledge I’m sure I know absolutely nothing so I just listened to the stories behind the photos.

After returning again to Esther’s apartment and sleeping away, Sunday morning I made my way to the bus station to go back to Jerusalem. The weekend was fantastic, only made slightly bitter by the realization of how much I need to learn in Hebrew. I can understand about 65 percent of the conversation, but coming up with a reply in my head at the same time while trying not to butcher the grammar is something else entirely. I’ve never felt so stupid as legitimately not understanding a surely easy question. When Amir spoke especially, he spoke quickly (but normal I’m sure for an Israeli) and it was difficult for me to catch the meaning. So all I could answer was that I couldn’t understand. So incredibly aggravating! I’m sure I would be able to answer something had I at least understood the question but instead I sat there feeling somewhat useless and as though my IQ had dropped indefinitely within the last 30 seconds. If anything it’s new fuel and motivation to pick this up more quickly. SO THERE!

The in crowd

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:31:13 -0500

Well Tu B’shvat was wonderful, ate slightly more fruit than usual- which is actually quite a feat for me. The activity that the madrichim planned was to plant flowers in the student village. I may have been the most enthusiastic. Instead of worrying about the muddy ground and wearing gloves and planting the minimum of one pansy, my jeans got a browner hue, my fingers looked suddenly much tanner, and I planted seven stinkin’ flowers. Also my shoes were a lovely sight. I really enjoyed it!! It’s crazy that we planted them in such cold weather, but I’m sure they’ll make it. Besides I got to feel a bit like a Kibbutznik :)

On a different note, almost immediately after arriving to the Holy Land, everyone in the program was sick. Whatever the cold/flu thing was, it’s basically been hopping from one apartment to the next, generously helping our immune systems by infecting us all. Sadly for me, I was starting to feel left out. It had been three weeks and I’d been healthy as a horse!!! Was I just not good enough for these germs? Finally after weeks of being extremely careful, washing my hands so much I needed more lotion, and eating pretty healthily, I finally got sick. Three or four days ago my throat started feeling funky- so I figured it’d go away soon enough. Then yesterday the germs fully accepted me by making my nose and throat a horror. But now I’m cool like everyone else!!!!!

Anyways the amount of healthy things I’ve been eating and drinking has been absurd (tons of tea, more garlic than I care to admit, chicken soup, fruits high in vitamin c, and vegetables) but I’m really just hoping it will shorten the cold. It’s awful!

Who needs to be cool?!?!!? I just wanna be healthy again!

The first holiday

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:25:00 -0500

Tomorrow will be the first holiday I experience in Israel on this trip. It’s called Tu B’shvat, which is celebrated as the birthday of the trees and plants. It’s a brilliantly hippie holiday for a desert- I’m super excited. Tomorrow for my ulpan class we’re required to bring in our favorite fruit (easiest homework ever considering I carry four fruits in my backpack every single day) and I’ve decided to present a persimmon. I’ve been consuming them like it’s my job, as I’ve had three today already. They’re fantastic here. I’m very curious to see how Israel celebrates Tu B’shvat, because it’s never a terribly big deal back in the states.

I think the madrichim have planned some activity tomorrow where we plant a tree or something. It sounds awesome, and they said they will be serving tons of dried fruit- which is huge here. They dry everything: dates, mangos, watermelon (an oxymoron, I know), figs, strawberries, pineapples, coconut- EVERYTHING. It’s like candy, and it stays good for a good bit as well. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on what actually goes down tomorrow, but for now I’m just excited in the preparation. Seeing other people getting ready for this holiday has me really happy that it’s here. I’ll be sure to eat tons and tons of fruit tomorrow!!!!

Typical, really

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:02:55 -0500

Sitting in my ulpan class today we finally started learning past tense, or ‘ha-aver.’ Most exciting class ever, I was thrilled. An hour and a half later we finally have a small break to stretch our legs and eat lunch before we have yet another hour and a half of Hebrew. However, in the second half of the ulpan, about 15 minutes into class we all hear a siren. It goes like 15 seconds without the teacher acknowledging its existence and the entire class glancing from one student to the other in hopes of a clue as to what was going on. Since most of us are American and have experienced many fire drills in school, we urged the teacher that we should probably evacuate or at least look to the other classrooms to see what the protocol was.

She didn’t seem to think that was worth the four seconds that it would take her to open the door to look.

Except the siren continued and we convinced her, finally, to see what the issue was. She said, “Ani choshevet she-zeh maspeak, ze lo b’emet biayah.” Meaning: I think that’s enough it’s not really a problem. Keep in mind half the class had already packed their things in preparation to evacuate, and the other half closely watching the teacher for guidance. The teacher returned, saying no other classes were leaving, and that it would shut up in a moment.

It did shut up in a moment or two, but the fact was, the entire class was stunned to see how blase the teacher had been over something that in America, we are trained to be alert about. I think she would have completely ignored it, how it’s even possible to ignore a glaring and obnoxious siren I have yet to understand but go figure, the hard-headed Israelis have clearly mastered it.

(needless to say there was some mistake, nothing smelled of smoke, no buildings or humans burned/died, and the lesson - as always - continued.)