... to sounds of:- hail pounding on my window
- babies crying
- families playing
- car alarms
- Hebrew songs from men walking down the street to shul
The last 48 hours have been really nice. I've been in Ramat Beit Shemesh at the Elefant's and Ariela and Zeus have been taking great care of me. It was exactly what I needed upon arriving here. I've been spending the
majority of my time eating and sleeping. I miss Ariela's food so much! The boys, Akiva, Shlomo, and Ahron, have become so big. We've been playing a lot of games together and I've been listening to them recite the lessons they have been learning in school. They know way more Hebrew than me! I didn't
really understand how American families can send their children to Hebrew-only schools, but it is starting to make sense because it seems like the best way to learn the language, especially if the parents speak to the children in English at home.Last night it was just Ariela, Zeus, and I for dinner, which was so relaxing. After we ate, I went to an Oneg a few doors down in a building that my school, Midreshet Rachel v'Chaya, coincidentally was spending the weekend at for Shabbat. Zeus walked me there and I was so nervous. I really don't like the feeling of walking into big groups of people or parties. No one ever understands this about me because I'm so outgoing. I get really, really nervous though! Anyways, he walked me in so I wasn't alone and as soon as I saw familiar faces, I felt at ease. Zia gave me a big hug, which was quickly joined by Jill, Rachel, and Kate. It was great to see my friends again and exciting to see a sea of faces of whom I would soon become friends with. I'm nervous to make new friends (I know, surprising again). I love my current friends and I don't like changing things like that when everything I have is so great. I hope this doesn't hinder my social life.
Rabbi Shurin gave a great shuir during the oneg about Israel and the importance of the Jews
living here. I wish I was more awake to reiterate it here - it's definitely on my list of things to talk with him about because I want to share that shuir with as many friends and family back home as possible. I also read a blog earlier from my friend Kate who wrote about how Israel has everything you could ever want or need. It's true. It's such a small place that offers so much. I hope to discover more and more of this in the coming months and strengthen my passion for living and learning here even more.I slept really well last night (in addition to a 4 hour nap today!) and had a great meal with the Elefant's and a couple who just moved to the neighborhood. The girl was only 21 and had been married for two years. It's such a culture shock to see people like that. I feel like if I ever told my parents I was getting married a couple years ago, they would completely disown me. But, it is so interesting to see how happy these people are. All of them, the Elefant's included (who were married at 18 & 19 as well). It's interesting to see the age differences in couples, too, and see how age is really 'nothing but a number'. In my own life, I have seen that over the past few months, and it makes me laugh every time I take myself out of my world and look in at my life and think to myself how I can be so close to people years younger than me. But then I step back in and realize that I couldn't be happier. It's often difficult to adjust to things that you're not used to but it is amazing to realize that so many of our preconceptions are not actually based in much truth.
So tonight Shabbat came to a close and we had a nice havdallah in the dining room. Then we played cards - two new games I had never
heard of - one was called Shithead (but Ariela insists it is pronounced unlike it appears) and the other was Casino. The first was easy and fun and I quickly began beating both Ariela and Zeus and the second was so stupid. Ariela and I had no patience for Zeus's explanation and quickly gave up. Maybe another day...Tomorrow morning, Zeus is bringing my luggage to Jerusalem and then I'm heading in around noon to go to my first 'day' (well, half day) of school at Midreshet Rachel. I'm excited but not excited at the same time. I don't know if that makes any sense. I think I will be fully excited once I'm there. I like being organized though and I haven't moved into my apartment yet so I still feel very discombobulated. Big word, ha. For those of you who know my pet-peeve of having an organized 'Office Max' section of my room - this is definitely what's urking me now. I need my little office area all set up and ready to go (scizzors, glue, stickies, etc. all in the right place) before I can function happily anywhere. Soon enough though.
Here's to a great eight months in Jerusalem :)
