Travel Log #16

September 3, 2009

Another city and another country. I have traveled again. This time, to the country of my final destination, at least for a while. Admittedly, it feels rather like a dream. I had nearly given up, after all. But here I am in the capital, Jerusalem, Israel, and all my nerves have been quieted.

I landed right on time, at 2:21 in the morning on September 1 in Tel Aviv. I sat next to two Norwegian women, a mother and daughter, visiting another daughter/sister who has lived in Israel for thirty years. Also, on the plane, I met a girl named Stephanye, who has moved to Israel for the year to be with her boyfriend. She's a graduate student in English. I run into these everywhere and remind myself that in my mind I am not switching disciplines although on paper, I am.

Luggage took about 45 minutes to arrive and Therem, who they took away at the gate, for supposed lack of space, was missing. I found her abandoned on an oversized luggage belt across the airport. I think I almost had a heart attack over her going missing, but no worries.

After the luggage was picked up, I sat around and waited for Sue for about an hour in the public part of the terminal. I read some more of the fantastic Amir Hamza and bought some water, after I traded my Euros for shekels. After a while, I wondered how we would find each other, since I don't think either of us knew what the other looked like. Somehow, she walked right up to me, recognizing me by Therem (who was luckily found), and then we were off!

It took almost two hours to get to Zichron, and I had a really good time and a good conversation in the car. When we got to the house, I opted to stay up and go on a walk with the two very aweesome dogs. The cat bit me and ran away. No worries, I understand. I'm a cat person. Anyhow, the "hike" was awesome and gorgeous, through a nature reserve kept up by the Rothschild foundation. I didn't get to go in because dogs aren't allowed and it was too early, but in the middle of the reserve is an amazing botanical garden. I saw the edge of it. In the distance, the Mediterranean.

Finally, we got back to the house, I took a shower and went to sleep, got up, and went to sleep again. When I really got up, we went to the grocery store, which didn't have fresh mozzarella, to my utmost dismay. But they did have good bread and Boursin.

At home, I met Keren over dinner, who will be eighteen on Monday. I also met Mike, the dad, and ended up having a thought provoking political conversation with him. It is very werid but very good how I feel like I fit in so well. Hopefully, I'll go back next weekend. Everyone will be home and there's a birthday celebration for Keren.

After dinner, some really good fish, etc, I took Therem out and sang for a while. In the morning, I rearranged my things, left a bunch of stuff here and repacked. Sue and Mike were at work, so a friend's daughter, Ayelet, picked me up and took me to the train station. The security guard had a little too much fun with all of my crap and ended up giving up. "I'm going to trust you," he said to me. "Don't blow up the train, ok?" Like I would have explosives.

The train ride to the airport was pleasant. Once I arrived, I waited twenty minutes for the Nesher shuttle, which took me right where I wanted, which ended up being JAFI, the Jewish Agency for Israel. Everyone was waiting there. I went to sign in and found myself face-to-face with Ya'el, who was my madricha from Seminar! "I knew you were coming. I told Benny [Levi!] to tell you." "He didn't but..." and both of us said "He was too busy getting married!" All is forgiven.

We had a very low energy pre-orientation. Almost everyone was jet-lagged. We piled onto the bus with all of our stuff and unloaded at the Yitzchak Rabin Youth Hostel where we will be staying until Sunday morning. The food here is amazing. Especially for a hostel.

Today, we had orientation, rules, regulations, scheduling, security issues, etc. I love having a phone again, but the plans here are ridiculous. I can change it at any time but I'll test it out for the first month. After lunch and more orientation, we went on a scavenger hunt through Jersualem (not the Old City). When it was over, we met at the windmill, then had dinner with representatives from our partnership communities. Mine is Yokneam-Meggido, which is twenty minutes from Haifa to the Southeast. In the hostel, I'm rooming with Andi from St. Louis, Rachel from North Carolina, and Stephanie from Pittsburg. I'll be living with Andi and Max (also from St. Louis) during Part II.

August 4, 2009
After all that was done with, Rachel and I desperately searched for a bathroom because we were about to experience spontaneously combusting bladder syndrome. The rest of the group walked of toward Ben Yehuda. We walked into the cafe, asked where the WC was located and ran off. Its amazing what a difference thirty seconds can make. By the time we were through, everyone else was long gone, so we walked and decided to wait for bus 17. We waited for forty-five minute! IT wasn't even 21:00 yet. What the hell kind of "good" public transportation system is that? Anyway, once we were on the bus, we realized that the driver should be in a padded cell. Tearing up the road, cutting people off, screaming at them at traffic lights, screaming at us to sit down when asking him a question. WTF. We actually arrived alive and unharmed at the hostel. Miraculously.

I forgot to mention the OTZMA opening ceremony, which took place at the windmill at Heinrich Heine Street. (Heinrich Heine seems to follow me around, right?) We did a ceremony in the manner of Havdalah, in order to separate ourselves from our "past lives" and to get on with the new. We were overlooking the Old City and the New.

August 5, 2009
For Shabbat, we stayed together at the Rabin Hostel and hung out on the porch with a unit of army boys who are being trained to be commanders. We sang and danced and chatted. Lots of people drank, etc, and I went back to my room around 1:30 and had some great bonding time with roommates. I forgot to mention that we went into the Old City and to the Kotel for Kabbalat Shabbat--before we went to the Wall Annie, Ariel, and I led a mini service for everyone.

During the day on Shabbat, we got to sleep in and then we had an educational program on some Halacha in the morning before lunch. Then, we had the OTZMA cafe, where we got together in groups of six and had more group bonding time with food. After that, chofesh, dinner, more chofesh.

Tomorrow, we hike perpendicular cliffs and end up in a Bedouin tent...until next time.